pairing: knight! neteyam sully x fem! princess! na'vi! reader!
word count: 15.8 k
warnings: fluff, angst, reader gets hurt, emotional, blood, humans, protective neteyam, mentions of death, destruction, knifes, fighting, guns, war, destruction, smut!, oral, mating, p in v,
summary: every two years since the age of 13 you have been assigned a knight to protect you and guide you. when you are 17 you meet your new knight, neteyam sully. you quickly realise he is not like your previous knights, developing a close bond with him. on the day of your 18th birthday, your clan gets ambushed, leading to neteyam having to drag you away from the destruction- leaving the two of you alone.
masterlist!
you were born into the life of strict expectations, your every move planned by the adults around you. destined for a life you had never even agreed to. pushed to be a leader from the day you were old enough to speak your first word.
when you turned 16 and realised you could defy authority, you did everything with the little power you had to break out of the chains modelled to your wrists.
you quickly came to the conclusion that no matter how much you fought, nothing could ever change. no matter what words you yelled, how many times you ran- you could never escape the burden of the title. when you pushed, they pushed harder.
so you conformed, you followed the rules, you were polite and kind- you did everything that was asked of you. you wore the robes that were itchy and scratchy, you ate the food that was offered to you without complaint. you attended every clan meeting without a whine. you morphed into an echo of the girl you yearned to be.
you weren't happy but you learnt your happiness did not matter in the grand sceme of everything. you were apart of something bigger than yourself.
when you turned 17 you were everything your parents hoped for, the clan looked up to you and your gracefulness. your smile was passionate and caring, your way with the people was undenying.
you were hiding behind the expectations of your parents- they didn't need to know that though.
with that came the knights.
you can't remember a time when you didn't have someone looming over your every move. you thought your father would give it up after your rebllious streak died down, but you were wrong- as usual.
the knights stayed with you, though they changed over the years they all were the same. plain and boring, never wanting to enagage in a conversation with you.
all they did was pull you back in line like your parents, ward you off from the stray path. keep you far behind the strict lines that were drawn.
this happened every two years, the rotation of who guarded you- who seemingly protected you from the harsh reality of the world.
first there was takurah, your knight from the ages of 13-15. he was a warrior in training, a fierce one. the best in your clan. you thought he was cute when he was first assigned to you, but that quickly changed after you realised he reported back everything to your parents- and he was 8 years older than you, so even your 13 year old self knew you were dreaming.
then there was izeah, from the ages of 15-17 he stayed by your side. he was far nicer than takurah ever was to you- maybe that was because he hardly spoke, but that was far better than a blabbering asshole. he left after he was called onto much better things, as they all are.
then, there was neteyam.
a warrior from the omaticaya clan, first born son of toruk makto- your parents were more than pleased to have him look over you, they practically bathed in his presense. everyone did.
it was hard not to, he was perfect in every way.
though when you first met him at age 17 you wondered why someone so important got stuck with the role of babysitting you. you assumed he would be like the past two protectors, simple and boring- only speaking to you when necessary.
but when you saw him for the first time, something in you switched on.
something you had never felt before, when his yellow eyes met yours you felt like the world had shifted on its very axis- you thought you were going to be sick. you didn't even realise he was greeting you, you were stuck in a trance.
though you quickly snapped out of it, your eyes wide with what your body had just felt- what was going on with you. "uh- hi." you muttered, your eyes falling to the floor beneath you not wanting to meet his intense gaze.
"it is an honour to serve you, my tsakarem." he bowed his head respectfully, though you thought you were going to combust at his thick rough accent.
safe to say as soon as you could you bolted out of the hut, or walked away until you were sure no one could see you-then you bolted.
at first, you did not speak too much to neteyam- if you were being honest, he intimidated you. not because he was scary or mean, but because he carried himself with such pride and confidence.
someone that perfect has got to be hiding something, right?
until one day he sat next to you during a rainy afternoon, where you sat alone tying together a piece of clothing you had torn from the day before.
you heard him crouch down beside you, you just did not expect him to begin speaking to you- like a friend, like an equal.
something not many often did.
you were 17 then and he was two years older than you, you thought back then that the excitement that bubbled in your chest when you saw him would die down over time.
but it never did.
"y/n," groaning you rolled over, mind scrambled from your sleepy state, not even processing the person looming over you. "you need to wake, it is your ceremony today."
you gave no reply, it was too early to speak to anyone- just as you were about to fall back into your slumber you felt a nudge on your side. "go away.." you mumbled, slurring your words. "10 more minutes..." rolling over to the other side, facing away from whoever was waking you.
"guess i will tell them the princess is too tired for her 18th birthday."
your eyes snapped open, jolting up from the ground suddenly. your eyes wide, mind finally clear- wide away at the mention of what day it was.
neteyam was crouched down in front of you, smile on his face from your sudden awakening. "ah- she awakens."
your hair was sticking up in all different directions from your restless sleep, you had been so excited you had barely been able to fall asleep. "why didn't you wake me sooner!" pouncing off the ground to get ready.
neteyam slowly rose from the ground, eyes following your frantic motion around your hut. quickly grabbing your jewellery and beads to do your hair with. "where is my brush?" scaveging through items, throwing them behind you in search for the object. "it was right here last night!" maybe the stress was getting to you. "i lost it-" your hands ran through your knotted hair, "today is ruined." speaking to yourself.
neteyam coughed, catching your attention. your head snapping to his smug expression on his face, in his hand your brush. your shoulders immediately relaxed at the sight of it. "consider your day," throwing the brush to you, which you caught instantly. "saved."
you had no time to reply to him, sitting down quickly to do your hair- it needed to be perfect. you were definitely not a perfectionist- but today, today was differant.as soon as you saw your reflection staring back at you, you gaped.
your hair was no easy fix. "oh no.." mumbling, aggressively combing the brush through your hair like a child. it wasn't budging, your face scrunched up from the pain of the tugging.
neteyam simply watched amusedly from afar, smirking at your frantic struggling. it wasn't until you gave up that he came over to help.
"here," he stopped your hand, putting the brush in his hand. "let me help." he began combing through your mane gently.
"i look like a mess," you grumbled as he tugged on your knots, earning a wince from you. "ow!"
he chuckled, "what do you do in your sleep?" he playfully commented untangling your hair. "fight ikrans?" trying to lighten your mood up.
"you aren't funny, you know?" glaring at him from the mirror.
before he could speak the flap to your tent flung open, "oh my!" a dramatic voice, high pitched- you knew exactly who it was without even having to look at the reflection in the mirror. your grandmother. "move! move!" she signalled for neteyam to stand to the side, which he politely moved to.
your grandmother studied your state in the mirror, horror in her eyes. this was exactly what you were dreading. "what happened to you!" she bent down, her hands on your tense shoulders. "we need to get you fixed up in an instant!"
you glanced over at neteyam, mouthing 'help me' to him. he gave you a sympathetic smile in return.
your grandmother always did have a tendency to be a perfectionist, you often wondered how you were even related.
before you knew it you were surrounded by your grandmothers helpers, overwhelmed by how many people were touching you at once. you had one girl doing your hair, one scrubbing your body, another one cleaning your feet and the other forcing food into your mouth.
all while your grandmother stood there watching and lecturing you, "you are lucky you have neteyam!" announcing, arms flaying in front of her, motioning towards the boy who stood not far from you. "it is a miracle anyone can put up with your lack of preparation!" turning to neteyam, "thank you for waking my incompetent granddaughter."
he chuckled lightly, he knew your grandma now for a year. he knew how she was. "it is not anything-"
she cut him off before he could even finish. "oh! you are far too modest young man!" you rolled your eyes, yelping slightly at the sudden tug at your hair- your grandmother always swooned over neteyam. "do not roll your eyes young lady!"
of course she saw you. you swore she had a second pair of eyes on her. "i wouldn't have slept in on my ceremony grandma!" trying to defend yourself.
her eyebrow raised slightly, her wrinkled face scrunching with disbelief. she sighed dramatically- as she always did. rubbing her temples slowly, "one day you will make me have a heart attack child." see, dramatic. "how do you think you will find a mate with this unorganised state!"
that was another thing she always pestered you about, finding a mate. neteyam glanced towards your face when she said the word mate, seeing your face immediately drop with annoyance.
he knew you inside and out by now, though a year was not long when you are by someones side every day it is very hard not to know every little detail about them- or thats what he liked to tell himself.
huffing you slouched in the chair, immediately being pulled back up straight by one of the women fixing you. "all the men here are stupid."
your grandma gasped at your words, her hand clutching over her chest like you had personally insulted her. "you may all go!" she waved off the women who were all surrounding you, they stared back at her confused. "go!" they quickly scrambled out of the tent, darting past neteyam.
gazing up at your grandma, slouching, preparing for the lecture.
"you are 18 now young lady!" pointing accusingly towards you, your hand resting on your chin, unamused. "it is about time you find someone to mate with." neteyam watched your tail sway behind you lazily, something you always did when your grandmother spoke to you- which he knew by the amount of times he has had to endure her lectures towards you. "you will be the leader of this clan one day, and you need a man to lead with." her withered hand gestured. "you will have my grandkids and-"
your hand dropped from holding your face, your tail dropping behind you. eyes widening. "grandkids?" eyes turning pink, a blush coming up to your face.
"yes," she did not even blink an eye at your flustered state. "you will be mated before eywa and bare a child- i have seen it, eywa has shown me."
you were suddenly very conscious of the fact neteyam stood 3 feet away from you. your whole body heating up in embarrassment. “Grandma!” burying your face in your hands, wishing you would sink into the floor.
but she kept on going, pasting back and fourth, her bangles cluttering with each movement. “i have seen it- you will mate with a brave fierce warrior, and will lead the clan into greatness together.”
groaning loudly, thrashing your head back in frustration. “oh do not give me that!” her long hands motioning towards neteyam, “i am sure neteyam here already has a lovely girl waiting for him back at home, right neteyam?”
your head snapping to where neteyam stood, your heart sinking at the thought of him having courted someone back at his clan.
neteyam eyes widened, caught off guard by the sudden personal question. He quickly regained himself. “no- I don’t.”
your grandmother hushed him, “oh do not be so humble.” ignoring his claim. “a strong man like yourself is sure to have many na’vi waiting.”
that might’ve been the only thing you had agreed with that your elder had said.
you waited for neteyams response, until the flap of the tent flew open again. your dad now walking in.
“mother,” putting his hand on his mothers shoulder, “let’s give y/n some time before the ceromony.” he knew what his mother was like, he grew up with her after all.
you silently thanked him as he lead her out of your tent, much to her disapproval.
as soon as she disappeared you felt yourself relax instantly. turning towards a smirking neteyam. “sorry about her.”
he shrugged, not seeming to care. “do not apolgise, she didn’t say anything bad.”
“not to you atleast,” you huffed out, “apparently i am going to mate with a fierce warrior.” you mocked your grandma, earning a snort from your knight.
though he couldn’t deny the jealously that flooded his system at the thought of another na’vi getting to touch you- he knew it went against every moral he had as your protecter, but he just could not help it.
“Ah,” nodding, braids shaking. “so the prophecy says.”
your relaxation did not last long. it was all of 10 minutes before you grandmother and her maids strut right back in and dove straight into making you ready for your 18th celebration.
this time you did not have the comfort of neteyam being there for you to make jokes with, he was requested to help with the preparations for the ceremony. leaving you.
by the end of it, you felt like a dressed up doll.
you hair was soft and silky, braids done throughout it- paint adorned across your body in the traditional ceremonial body paint- but what really made you feel special was the beautiful top you were wearing.
your nan finally was satisfied, putting on final touched to your look. her hand cupping you cheek with a soft smile. "you will bring honour to us all." feeling like a child, melting into her soft touch.
"it is time." neteyam entered your hut, your back facing him.
at the sound of neteyams voice you slowly turned around to meet him, a nervous smile forming on your lips- or embarrassed, you weren't sure which one it was.
when his eyes landed on you turned to face him, he was speechless. oh eywa, you looked beautiful- he knew if he was not so composed he was sure to have fallen weak at the knees at the mere sight of you.
even if it was wrong that he did.
the great tree shimmered in gold. bioluminescent tendrils swayed softly overhead, dancing reverently through the soft light over the gathered clan. the air was thick with song, low and tender voices blending with the steady rhythm of drums.
you stood at the centre of it all as they were welcoming the age of their future tshaik.
singing of your kindness and silk touch, their voices echoing of the bright future you were yet to make. welcoming you into your 18th year of existence.
your ceremonial beads laid heavy against your collarbones, each one carved from the line of tsahiks before you. your hair woven with white seeds and soft forest blossoms.
neteyam stood just behind, to the right of you- exactly where a royal guard should be. silent, steady. watching everything- watching you.
the smile that made him go weak. that hit a spot he didn’t know could be so soft. you were so delicate, your eyes trailing to meet his own as your grandmother slowly raised her hands to begin the blessing.
there it was again, that look- protective. devoted. a vow of loyalty- you had seen it in the eyes of your past knights, but never did they hold the same depth as neteyams eyes did.
"my granddaughter," your grandmothers force carrying across the clearing. "tonight you step into womanhood. tonight you-" her voice faltering.
turning slowly to where she stood, confused at her sudden stop, frozen in place. eyes focused on something that was not there- or where something would be.
you were about to question her, until the forest screamed.
the birds took flight, exploding from the canopy in a chaotic storm of wings. then came the sound, distant at first, but unmistakably unnatural.
engines.
the ground trembled, the drums stopped.
neteyams head snapping upward before anyone else reacted. his hand already reaching for his bow before the second tremor hit.
"no." breathing out. not in fear, but in fury.
a flash split the sky beyond the trees.
then another.
the elders began shouting. warriors leaping to their feet. mother grabbing children. the sacred calm of the ceremony now forgotten about
the night no longer glowed gold.
it burned.
smoke choked the air, thick and bitter, swallowing all that was once sacred. the great tree, your home- your heart- trembled under the assault, bark splintering, leaves raining down like dying stars.
screams echoed through the chaos.
war cries. orders. the crack of human weapons splitting the forest in two.
standing frozen at the edge of the clearing, your heart pounding so violently you could barely hear anything else other than the harsh drum of your chest.
until your father grabbed you.
hands firm on your shoulders, pulling you down to meet his eyes. ash streaking his face. blood streaking down his temple- it was not his own though, you realised distantly.
"you listen to me," his voice sharp but shaking beneath it. "you do not stay here."
"i'm not leaving!" you shot back, even as another explosion rocked the roots beneath your feet. "this is my clan-"
"and you are its future!"
the words silenced you.
behind him, neteyam loosed another arrow into the daunting smoke. movements precise despite the chaos, his jaw set tightly, eyes scanning constantly for threats- arm bleeding from a cut, but he didn't seem to notice.
running towards where you and your father stood, eyes set on you.
"neteyam," your fathers voice shook, "you take her now."
neteyam agreed instantly, even in war- he answered like he was born to it. "yes sir."
your eyes flickering to the burning trees behind you, sky full of metal and fire. "i can fight." eyes pleading with your father, "please."
" you live, that is how you fight tonight." he did not falter, shaking his head. "take her neteyam."
no other word needed to be said, neteyam began running with you, hand pulling on your own- firm and grounding.
another blast shook the earth. the great tree groaned, a deep ancient sound- a wound beyond saving.
you shook your head, tearings blurring your vision, mixing with smoke. "neteyam-"
the great tree cracked.
not a small break, not a branch.
a splitting sound that ripped through the forest like the ground had been torn open.
neteyam did not falter, pulling you towards the outer vines, weaving through roots and failing debris with instinctive precision- sheilding you from sparks, from splintered bark, from everything.
your legs moved beneath you robotically, your mind racing. your home burning behind you as you left it.
you stumbled, trying to glance back at where all that you loved was. he caught you instantly, one arm around your waist, bow slung across his back.
another explosion illuminated the forest edge.
"don't look back."
but you did.
through smoke and flame- your father rallying warriors- silhouettes of your people standing their ground. the sacred place of your childhood swallowed by orange light.
a sob breaking through your lips, neteyam stopped just long enough to turn you toward him. his hands framing your face, thumbs brushing ash and tear from your sheeks.
"i swear to you," eyes boring into your own, voice rough but unshaking. "this is not the end of your clan."
a gunship roared overhead.
he pulled you into the dense forest, away from the firelight, into shadows and bioluminescent glow- where the evil could not reach.
branches whipped against his skin as he led you deeper and deeper until the sounds of destruction dulled- not gone but distant.
only then did your steps begin to slow, feeling frozen. "we need to keep moving." he said low, trying to push you further.
your hand slipped from his, chest rising too fast. the glow of your burning clan reflecting in your eyes.
"we must go back."
he shook his head, "no," saying firmly, commanding. "we need to get somewhere safe."
"no," mumbling under your breath, "you cannot expect me to just-" your voice cracking. "hide!"
another distant boom rolled through the forest, head snapping towards it.
that was it.
you ran.
not away from the fire and war.
but towards it.
you barely made it four steps when neteyam caught you around the waist with crushing force, yanking you backward before you could break into a sprint- gasping as your back collided with his chest.
"let me go!" struggling against him with anger that was not directed towards him, clawing at his arms. "they need me!"
"they need you alive." he snapped.
twisting violently, you managed to face him- fists shoving harshly into his chest. "you are a warrior, you should fight!-" his posture still straight and powerful, "you should understand!"
"i understand perfectly!"
his hands moved to your shoulders, gripping hard enough to stop you from moving. "you are not running back into gunfire." he spoke, not as a plea- but as a direct order.
your veins boiling with anger, "i am not a child!"
"and i am not your friend right now." he shot back, "i took an oath to protect you as your knight and i am not breaking that."
the words hit harder than his grip.
he stepped in front of you again when you tried to sidestep him, physically blocking the path. you pushed against him, desperate- but he did not move.
he caught your wrists when you went to push him again, "stop."
you thrashed against him, furious tears blurring your vision. "that is my clan burning!" you could not recognise your own voice. "my father!- my family! they are all there!"
"and if you die out there, what was the point of him sending you away?" his voice broke- only slightly, but it broke.
you froze, staring into his eyes.
he didn't let go, "do you think i want to be here?" he demanded quietly. "do you think i do not hear it too?"
another explosion echoed faintly.
his grip shifted, one hand sliding to the back of your neck, pulling you closer so you couldn't bolt. "i was ordered to protect you," he said. "and i will not fail that."
shaking your head, breath hitching. "if he dies and i'm not there..." losing your voice before you could even form the whole sentence. "i am suppose to protect- i am suppose to fight!" almost as if you were saying it to yourself rather than him.
you beat against his chest once more, but the fight was draining out of you. "i am suppose to protect my clan." tears streaming down your dirtied face.
his hand came up to cradle the side of your face, thumb brushing away a tear streaked with ash. "if they fall," he said softly. "they fall buying you time." your breath shuddered. "and if they live, they live knowing you survived." you knew he was right, "do not dishonour that by running to your death."
silence stretched between you, broken only by the distant roar of destruction. finally, your fingers curled into the front of his chest, not pushing him away- but holding on.
falling into his chest, sobbing silently.
his shoulder dropped slightly in relief. arms cradling you tightly, protectively. "how could someone do this?" you whispered.
"i dont know."
another distant crack echoed through the night. pulling away just enough to look at you properly. "you may hate me for this. he spoke, voice steady again- knight once more. "but i would rather you hate me than bury you."
your chest tightened at the thought- you didn't try and flee again, you didn't fight the impossible fight.
you didnt want to run- but your hand found his, and held it tightly
behind you, the sky fell- crumbling in on itself.
and neteyam stood between you and it, shielding you from harm.
the forest morphed the farther you ran.
first, the smoke thinned out.
then the orange glow disappeared behind you, sheilded behind layers of thick canopy and ancient stone.
neteyam didn't stop until his lungs burned.
he led you through narrow passes, between roots thicker than oceans, across shallow streams that swallowed your footprints, into a part of the forest few have ever traveled.
only when the air smelled like rain instead of ash did he slow.
there, hidden beneath towering rock formations wrapped in glowing moss, was a hallow half cave, half cradle of roots. sheilded, quiet and forgetten.
you hadn't even registered you had come to a stop until neteyam spoke, "we stay here."
you didn't argue this time.
you stepped quietly into the refuge, the silence hitting you harder than any explosion could have.
no drums.
no shouting.
no fire.
just you, neteyam and the steady hum of the forests breath.
kneeling down, your legs gave way- finally resting, your legs burning with ache.
he knelt down with you, still leaving a bit of distance. "we are safe here." the words sounded hollow.
the cave glowed faintly from bioluminescent threads running through the old stone. blue light flickered over his face- ash smeared along his jaw, a small cut near his brow.
pandora had fallen asleep, darkness filled the sky, just as silence fell between the two of you. your breaths being the only thing one could hear.
you reached out without thinking, brushing his cut.
he went still. "you're hurt."
his face turning away from you, "it is nothing." brushing it off like the noble warrior he was.
your hand stayed planted there, gentle. for the first time since the attack began, he wasn't scanning the horizon, he wasn't listening for engines. he was looking at you.
"i am sorry your ceremony ended like that." he murmured, apologising as if he was the one to cause its collapse.
you gave him a tight smile, the wound still fresh and burning with guilt.
eyes moving to the cold ground beneath you. shivering slightly- which didn't go unnoticed by neteyam.
he shot up, not saying a word as he collected wood and made a fire.
it was warm- controlled unlike the flames you had seen earlier on. its soft hum echoing off the caves walls.
your hands stretched out to feel its touch, sighing in relief from its warmth. "thank you." whispering to neteyam as he sat down next to you, soaking in the fire.
neteyam slowly turned to look at you, the fire illuminating your features. your ceremonial clothes and jewellery still clinging onto your skin- even with the ash and muck on your face you were still beautiful. hair falling softly infront of your face.
he was entranced by your beauty, he did not want to stop admiring you, but he forced himself to tear his gaze. "you should get some rest."
you knew you wouldn't be able to, but you did not have it in you to argue with him once more- all your fight was drained out of you.
laying down on your side, staring at the fire in front of you- you tried to grasp the events of today.
neteyam still sat, his eyes drifting to you every so often- checking in if you were asleep or not- or that was what he was telling himself.
"you should rest too." you spoke, voice low and barely a whisper. you could see the tension in his body.
his features softened at your kindness, you always did treat him more as a friend than you did your knight. "i need to stay watch." your eyebrows sinching together, frowning slightly from where you laid.
"neteyam," his name rolled of your tongue like a prayer, one he wished he could hear on repeat. "please, get some rest." before he could open his mouth you spoke once more. "you deserve it too." your voice a plea.
his lips parted, his body relaxing from the tightness he had not even realised he had been holding in. "alright,"
sleep did not last for very long, ending up waking up to the soft glow of the embire flames. the night still upon you.
sighing, you knew you would not be able to go back to sleep. rubbing your hands over your face in frustration- or maybe you were just sad, you did not know which one it was.
glancing over, neteyams peaceful figure coming into view. his features soft and lush, oh how wrong it was how handsome you found your knight.
trying not to wake him, you got up slowly- walking carefully towards the small body of water that resided just outside the open cave.
it looked inviting, the moonlight reflecting off each individual ripple of liquid. water lilies sprouting in their home.
taking off your clothes slowly, careful not to break the delicate beads on your neck- setting them aside on the rock next to the pond, staring at them like an old friend.
your feet stepped into the water, trailing deeper and deeper until it engulfed you whole. cleansing your whole body.
sighing in satisfaction you splash your face with water, all the dirt and ash flowing away in the calmness of its soul.
for a second, just a second- the world fell still. you fell still, flowing with the water- not against or with, just letting it take you in whole.
everything was always peaceful emerged in water, water always able to slip through the cracks of evil- never letting it be effected. suddenly the weight of everything was balanced by the pressure of the water.
but, the need for air soon came.
air filled your lungs, the scent of the trees tracing your nose once more.
so consumed by the water- you did not even hear the faint footsteps approaching behind. "y/n," he calls softly, voice low careful not to startle you.
in that exact moment, he examines you.
and for a heartbeat, he looks.
not intentionally, not lingering.
just long enough.
long enough to see the moonlight spilling on the water, silver against your skin, your hair floating around you like ink in starlight. you are not armoured in silk or ceremony. not hidden behind status.
just you. bare and vulnerable.
his eyes widen slightly- not in hunger, not in impropreity, but in shock. in realisation, in sudden hyper awareness that you are bare in front of him.
his gaze shifts instantly. so fast its almost painful.
"i am sorry," he says immediately, voice rougher than before. "i did not mean-" his jaw tightened, regaining himself- reeling himself back in
you stiffen at the sound, turning to him.
he was not looking at you- you noticed that immediately, his front was slightly turned, his gaze set on the tree line rather than you.
"i woke and you were gone," he continues, controlled but tense. "you should not leave without telling me."
there was no anger in his tone, only fear.
"i could not sleep," you admit softly, "everything felt too close."
he steps closer to the waters edge- still not looking at you- positioning himself between you and the dark woods without even thinking of it.
"i understand."
you watch him from the water, even exhausted, even wounded. he stands guard. "i am sorry if i worried you."
he glances towards you just long enough to meet your eyes, "do not apologise." his eyes fled back to the tree line, respectfully. "you did nothing wrong."
humming you step towards the shallows, water lowering around you.
he hears it, immediately looking further away- giving you privacy without being asked.
"you may turn now," you say once you've wrapped yourself back in your garments.
theres a hesitation before he does.
almost like he was scared to loose control over his thoughts.
when he faces you again, his expression is composed. "did i fluster you knight?" smirk evident on your face.
though he does not falter at your teasing, even if his heart did flutter. "no your honour."
your face crinckles at the title, he never addressed you proper. "we have known eachother for a year now, neteyam." your voice soft, "you do not have to address me so proper."
"it is just respect,"
he notices the way your tail slows behind you, humming at his response.
the cave feels differant now when you two returned. the air is cooler, the moonlight barely reaches inside.
you sit near the still burning fire, damp hair hanging over you shoulder.
neteyams stands near the entrance. of course he does- always between you and the world.
"after this," you say quietly, his shoulders stiffening slightly, "after we find saftey. after my father gathers the survivors, after the humans retreat." your fingers twisting lightly with the fabric of your cloth.
"you can return to your own clan."
he goes still.
"i am not holding you to your oath forever," you continue, eyes not meeting his. "you have done more than was asked of you. once this is done, you will be free to go home."
the words echo softly against stone.
he doesn't move, doesn't blink.
part of you selfishly, wishes he denies it.
"i swore an oath to your father to protect you." he steps forward. "i will not leave unt-"
you cut him off, "i am 18 now," your words had power, "my father does not command what i do or dont now- you were sworn to me, i have the power to let you leave."
"and when the fighting ends-"
"it will not be."
the interruption is quiet and firm.
you look up at him, the moonlight catching half his face, carving sharp lines across his expression.
"you think this ends when the fighting does?" he asks. "when the fires die?"
you do not answer. "you think my oath is a chain," he says quietly, "it is not." he kneels slightly, closer now to your level. "my vow was to protect you, but it was also mine to give."
your breath catches. "yes your father bound me to you, but it is my choice to stay protecting you." eyes bearing into yours. "even if you may be 18."
the cave suddenly feels smaller. "then when will you go home?" the question hard to even form.
"i will return back to my clan when the time is right."
in that moment- like many before, you were swept off your feet by his strength. before you could even stop it, you spoke. "you have a strong heart, neteyam." whispering. "you will be a strong ole'kayton for your people."
for reasons he did not quite understand, he felt seen.
he bowed his head respectfully, "and you too will make a strong leader." your eyes lifting off your head slightly- he was the first to break the eye contact, as he always did.
morning comes quicker than you expected it to.
pale light spills into the cave- the forest feels quieter than it did the night before. outside the air is crisp. the pond glows faintly in early sunlight. mists hangs low between the trees as they wake from slumber.
neteyam is already awake when you step out. checking arrowheads, testing the string of his bow. focused. controlled. his head does not lift when you approach, "you always do still find a way to sleep in." he says without looking up, a smirk on his face.
"i need to practice my fighting." ignoring his playful tone.
not expecting you to say that, he looks up. "you already fight well." he would often train with you back at your clan.
"i am no use to my clan if i can just fight well," you reply, persistent.
"very well."
moving to the clearing just beyond the pond you follow. removing the knife from his cloth first and placing it on a rock, then his bow- turning to face you fully.
neteyam was a skilled fighter, you saw it many times when he would spar with the warriors in your clan.
"show me your stance."
lifting your chin slightly, you shift into a firm position- as you were trained to do so.
circling you slowly, he observes. his intense gaze making you shiver. "you are balanced," he says, behind you. "but you hesitate."
you turn your head in offence, glaring at him "i do not."
"you do."
before you can argue, he steps in suddenly. not striking, just testing your reaction.
you flinch, just slightly- you knew he saw it.
"you are a skilled fighter," he walks to be in front of you, "but you are reckless, you do not think before you strike- that is dangerous."
your brows furrow, "how am i suppose to think before i strike?" you question, "there is no time to think in a fight."
"that is where you a wrong."
you hum, quiet, calculatingly- before you swiftly swipe your feet below him, knocking him off balance by your sudden attack. sending him crashing to the ground. "you hesistate." you smirk above him, towering over him.
you should have known he would strike back, but you were so entranced by how he looked that you did not have time to register you were being pinned down.
his muscular arms pinned you down, caging you in tightly. his face close to yours- you could see every detail on his face. "just because your opponent is down," you feel your heart beat fasten. "does not mean they are beaten." he gets off you, leaving you flustered on the ground before you quickly regain yourself and stand.
"sxchawng."
the morning grows warmer.
you've been circling each other for several rounds now- light strikes, defensive pivots, measured corrections. sweat glints faintly along your skin. his braids stick slightly to his neck.
you're breathing harder, and so is he.
your eyes are locked on eachother, waiting for the other to attack- you move first, a faint left, he blocks- pivoting right, faster than before. he counters automatically- but you do not hesitate, you drop low, hooking your foot behind his ankle, and shove.
in one smooth, calculated motion you shift your weight and pin him.
your forearm presses lightly across his chest, your knee braced near his hip to keep him grounded. your other hand holding your blade to his throat.
not touching, just there.
his chest heaving up and down hard, the world going still around you.
for a long second, neither of you move. staring up into one anothers eyes. "you're dead." you whisper, pretending to cut his throat.
he does not respond, staring up at you hovering over him in awe, his lips parted slightly- suddenly aware of your body on top of him.
you dart your eyes to anywhere but him, heat growing to your cheeks from his stare- that did not leave you for a second.
you cough, getting off him quickly. he mentally curses himself as you stand, him following- cursing himself for letting himself falter.
night falls heavier than the one before- training left its mark.
the cut on your palm was shallow, but it bled enough to make neteyam go unnaturally quiet. demanding that you finish the session at your small cut.
you sit across from him, your injured hand resting in your lap. "give me your hand," he says finally, formal and controlled. you move closer, extending it. he takes it gently, like you were porcelain he was scared to break.
the contrast between his large, calloused fingers and your smaller palm makes your stomach curl for reasons that had nothing to do with the cut.
his eyes scan over it, "i am sorry for hurting you."
"we were fighting," you say, "it's okay."
he begins wrapping your palm with a clean leaf torn from a nearby tree. his movements careful and precise- focusing hard on the task- a bit too hard as if it was the only way to avoid something else.
"you held back." you say softly, cutting the silence.
he finishes looping the cloth, but does not yet tie it. shaking his head, "you are not an opponent."
"and that is why you lost."
that makes him pause. his fingers still around your hand. "you think i lost because i feared hurting you?" your silence was all the answer for him.
he ties the bandage securely, but his hands remain there- holding your own. "i know i am your protecter" he begins, "but i am also your friend." friend, the word sinks in deep. "i do not wish to hurt one of my friends."
in the morning neteyam sits you down, telling you his plan. "we will continue south." neteyam declares, pointing forward. "in two days time we will reach my clan."
your eyes widen, "your clan?" you question.
he nods, "we will be safe there- my clan know how to protect themselves against the humans. they can send people out to look for your clan and your father."
nodding, you were excited to visit the omaticaya people- you had heard great stories of their strong hearts and leadership. "are you excited to see your family?"
neteyam smiles at the thought- the smile that made you want to fall to your knees. "yes, i am." nodding, "you will get along well with my brother lo'ak, he too is very stubborn."
you roll your eyes at him, "maybe we can both talk about how annoying you are." glaring at him.
he snorted, shrugging his shoulders. "i am sure he would love to engage in a conversation with you about that."
"my mother will like you too." he calmy stated, as if the sentence hadn't brought a redness to your cheeks.
"do you think?"
"yes." how could anyone not like you he thought- you were perfect in every way. one would be nothing more than a simple fool not to enjoy your presense.
the forest floor is damp on your feet, leaves cling to your ankles as you move through the undergrowth. no ceremonial silks now, no polished jewels. only leather, braids and the blade at your hip.
neteyam walks slightly ahead, not far. never far. you have noticed he doesn't let more than three steps exist between you anymore. the forest you were in now belonging to no one.
that is what makes it dangerous.
"you are quiet." he says without turning, causing your head to rise.
"i am thinking."
he hums, "that usually leads to trouble." you almost smile, almost- until a twig snaps to your right, neteyam stopping instantly.
so do you. silence, too clean. no insects, no distant calls. just the slow drip of water from the canopy.
your eyes meet neteyams alert ones, his hand lifting slightly, a silent signal to stay behind.
you do not, you shift to his side instead, trying to see what is lurking deep in the forest.
his jaw tightens but he says nothing. then thats when you hear it, a low mechanical whirr- your blood runs cold.
neteyam turns just as a stun round blasts from the trees, hitting the trunk beside him , exploding bark into your face causing you to stumble back.
"move!" he shouts as gunfire erupts. you dive behind a fallen log as bullets tear through leaves overheard. the smell of smoke burns your nose.
humans pour from the brush, four, maybe five- you could not count with your mind racing.
neteyams arrows flies before they fully emerge, one dropping instantly- you follow him, drawing your bow, heart pounding- aim, then release.
your arrow strikes a soldiers thigh, but he does not drop- the soldier turns towards you with anger, rifle lifting.
neteyam sees it, moving with thinking- jumping to move you from the line of fire, the gunshot ringing as you both collapse to the ground.
you roll in the dirt, getting up as quickly as you can to see the soldier who shot at you charging towards you- you grab your bow once more, striking him straight in the chest. your chest heaving up and down at the motion.
neteyam finishes off the last soldier with brutal precision. then its quiet, too quiet. you do not have time to speak before you hear more humans approaching.
you and neteyam run straight.
branches whip against your face as you dart through them. lungs burning. the sound of human voices echoing behind you- closer than they should be.
"faster!" neteyam shouts at you.
"i am trying!"
gunfire cracks somewhere in the distance, leaping over a fallen trunk- your foot catchesm not on wood, not on roots, on wire.
it tightens around your ankle with a matallic snap that yankesyou backward. hitting the ground hard.
pain shooting up your leg. "neteyam!" you gasp, he skids to a halt a few steps ahead, turning to you on the forest floor, twisted in metal cable anchored to a buried stake.
a trap.
he's at your side in an instant, worry flooding his eyes. "get up." his eyes wide, hearing them approaching closer.
"i cant-" trying to pull free, the wire biting deeper into your skin. your eyes flick up to neteyam. fear in your eyes, "its stuck."
voices grow louder, branches snapping- the humans are close.
neteyam drops to his knees, grabbing the cable, trying to pry it open with his fingers, using all his strength- but it doesn't budge.
you breath starts to fasten, "do not panic." he says, but his voice is already shaking.
you shake your head, "i'm not panicking." you lie, but your quivering voice gives you away.
another gunshot cracks through the trees, too close.
neteyam glances toward the sound, then back at you. his breathing changes, faster, sharper. "hold still." pulling his knife, he wedges it between the wire and your ankle, trying to create space.
it scrapes uselessly, the metal is reinforced.
"neteyam," you whisper in fear, eyes wide- nothing was working.
"its okay- its okay." trying to calm you, putting the knife back into his side. yanking harder on the cable, hands already raw.
footsteps. you can hear them now. "neteyam!" turning your head to where the voices were approaching, thrashing it back towards him.
neteyam stands abruptly, bow in hand, firing an arrow blindly into the brush- a cry answers. but more voices follow- he drops back down to you, desperate now. "can you pull your foot out of the boot."
looking down at it, you try pulling out of its hold- but its grip only tightens. sucking in a sharp breath as it cuts deep into your skin. "neteyam-"
"i will get you out," he says, almost to himself. "i will get you out."
another bullet hits the tree above you, showering bark over your heads- he moves in front of you without thinking, sheilding you with his body while he grabs the trap once more.
"stop," you whisper, terrified now. "they will hit you neteyam!" your breathing rigged.
"then they will hit me first." his hands yank on the metal, groaning from the sheer force of it- using all his strength, and it works. popping open. the trap finally giving in. "pull your foot out." ordering, you yank it free just as another shot rings out.
neteyam grabs your hand and hauls you up so fast you nearly crash into him. "can you run?" you test your weight, pain shooting through your ankle.
"yes." a lie- he sees it, but there is no time to stay. he doesn't argue. hooking your arm around his neck and half drags, half carries you as arrows fly from his free hand toward the advancing soldiers.
you can feel his heartbeat, wild and furious through the contact. "you should have left," you breath against his shoulder, he doesn't slow.
"i would burn the forest before i leave you in it."
more gunfire, the trees thinning ahead. neteyam doesn't hesitate for a second, pulling you behind a thick cluster of roots and turns, loosing two more arrows with terrifying precision.
he looks back at you, your ankle bleeding crimson red. "stay down." he orders.
more voices come, not retreating- advancing. boots crush through undergrowth. metal clicking, reloading,
neteyam peeks around the roots and fires, one arrow, then another. a body drops, but more shapes move between the trees.
too many. his jaw tightens, "we cannot hold them here," you try to stand, but the moment you put weight on your injured foot, white-hot pain shoots up your leg, your vision blurring.
a bullet slams into the roots above you, splinters raining down on both of you.
he catches you immediately, holding you by your waist. "hold on to me."
he doesn't wait for your response, throwing you over his shoulders with one swift move, one hand secured around your body to make sure you dont fall.
branches whip past, his breath coming hard and heavy, but he doesn't slow- gunfire cracks behind you, he shifts you higher against him without breaking stride.
the sound hits you first, water- rushing voilent and angry. a river. neteyam bursts through the final line of trees and skid to the rocky bank. the river below churning white and furios, smashing against jagged stone- too fast, too deep, too dangerous.
before you could register, the river swallows you whole.
the impact rips the air from your lungs, the current dragging you under immediately, voilent and merciless. clinging to neteyam instinctively as water tumbles you both through foam and stone.
you can't tell which way it up- your ankle slamming against something solid, agony exploding through you, causing you to lose your grip.
panic floods your chest, water filling your mouth.
a hand grabs onto you, strong and certain- pulling you back against him, one arm locking around your waist as he fights the current with the other.
his legs kick harder, angling you both toward the darker undercurrent near the riverbed. letting the river take you.
you break above water only long enough for one sharp breath before he drags you under again as another shot rings from the bank. the current carries you far- farther than you realise.
your lungs start to burn, stars sparking behind your eyes- and just when you thought you could not hold it any longer.
he pulls you toward the side, slimming into a cluster of hanging roots along the riverbank, hooking one arm through them and hauling you up against mud and stone.
you cough violently as air finally fills your lungs. both of you silently regaining your breaths as the river roars past.
"you let go." he breathes, his chest rising and falling rapidly beside you.
"i coudln't-" you cough again, "the current pulled me under."
the cold begins to settle in now, your ankle throbs worse than before, soaked and swollen- you try to shift, a sharp cry escaping you before you can stop it.
neteyam freezes, the kind where something inside him stops- remembering you were injured. "hey- don't put weight on it."
looking up to him slowly, you opened your mouth to respond but nothing came out. neteyam starting to become blurry in front of you.
too much blood, too much pain.
"y/n?- can you hear-" neteyams words were a distant sound to you, flowing entirely over your head.
and then- nothing.
your body goes slack, slumping in one sudden motion- neteyam shifts instantly, pulling you into his chest, one hand cradling the back of your head, the other bracing your waist as your weight collapses against him.
"stay with me y/n." your lashes flutter once, then still. colour draining from your face under the light, breathing turning shallow, barely there.
neteyam was trained all his youth to remain calm in these sort of situations- but he could not stay clam, not when you were limp in his arms.
his hand slides to your jaw, thumb pressing gently against your cheek. "y/n," he shakes you lightly, just enough to jolt not enough to hurt. " look at me"
nothing. your head rolls faintly with the movement.
panic slams into him- "no-no..." he whispers under his breath, holding you tightly.
he runs, not carefully, not strategically, he runs.
branches whipping against his aching shoulders. wet leaves slapping against his legs. the forest floor uneven, treacherous- but he does not slow.
your head resting aginst his shoulder at a wrong angle, braids dripping river water down his chest. your hand hanging limp against his collerbone, fingers brushing uselessly with each stride.
"stay with me y/n!" he yells at you, voice breaking on the edges. shifting you higher, tightening his grip beneath your knees, careful not to jar your ankle.
your breathing is there, but faint, too faint. "we are almost there," he knew it was a lie, he knew you could not hear him.
he doesn't know how far you are- he calculates instead, the river bend they crosses, the slope of the bank, the way the trees thin slightly to the east. if he cuts through the ridge and avoids the low marsh, he can reach the outer patrol path of his clan.
if he runs fast enough, if he does not stop.
swallowing hard, his chest burning, lungs screaming for a break- any break, but he pushes harder.
the thoughts claw at him, if he reaches his clan, if he finds a patrol, if he finds his grandmother, if he finds anyone- anyone that can help.
"stay awake," he begs again, softer now, breath ragged.
around him, the forest begins to change- the trees grow taller, undergrowth thins. he knows this terrain, hope surges through him- sharp and desperate. 'just a little further."
your skin is cold, too cold.
he adjusts his grip again, pressing you tighter against him, trying to share warmth, trying to convince himself that you are still here- still breathing.
in the distance- he sees a shadow, moving not advancing.
neteyam pushes forward through the last line of trees and the he sees them- shapes in the distance, three figures moving along the ridge path, armed alert.
clan markings, his vision blurs with relief- he stumbles forward another few steps. "Over here!" his voice tears out of him, raw.
the patrol freezes at the sound of a call, heads snapping towards him.
running towards them now, no hesitation, branches breaking under foot. "i need help!"
one of the patrol members steps forward, recognition dawning their facial features. "neteyam?"
"get the healer!" he yells, not slowing. "she's bleeding-"
they move forward, running towards him- their eyes widening in alert at the figure in his hands, unconscious and bleeding.
one of them reaches him first, hands lifting instinctively to take you- neteyam doesn't let go immediately, for half a second his grip tightens instead. protective, reflexive.
carefully, reluctantly, he shifts you into their arms. the absence of your weight hitting him like a blow, his arms feeling empty instantly. "we are close to clan."
close, that words keeps him moving. running beside them now, close enough that he can still see your face, watching every rise and fall of your chest like it was the only thing anchoring him to the ground.
the lights of the omaticaya flicker through the trees ahead, voices rising as they enter the outskirts of the village. warriors turn, children are pulled aside. questios hang out on the air.
he ignored all of it, "call tashik!" one of the patrol shouts, another voice runs ahead toward the healers tent.
when they reach the healers space, they lower you carefully onto the woven mats. his grandmother already there, clam but sharp-eyed, examining the figure in front of her.
"what happened?" turning to her grandson, kneeling beside you.
neteyam would have hugged his grandmother if it wasn't under the circumstances currenlty, "trap." he answers immediately, "we were ambushed by humans." his voice steadier now, but still shaking.
his grandmother eyes him carefully- noticing. "step back," ordering her grandson who loomed over you.
her healer hands move with practice certainty, cleaning the sound thoroughly, washing away river silt and diluted blood. the water in the bowl turning pink, then darker.
neteyam stands rigid just behind the woven partition, every muscle in his body straining toward you. you stir faintly at the sting of herbs pressing into torn flesh, his breath catching. "is she okay?"
"she is alive," she replies evenly- glancing at him again, really looking at him.
mud streaked across his arms. blood covered hands. a cut on his temple he hasn't noticed, his chest rising too fast.
"neteyam."
he doesn't move. "she needs stillness. warmth. focus." her tone sharpens just slightly. "you are not still.
swallowing deeply, "i can help."
"you are shaking."
looking down at his hands, he realises that he is- but he can not control it.
"you carried her here," she says quietly. "now let me do what i was trained to do." her wise eyes bore into her grandsons aching ones.
for a moment he looks like he might argue- protest to stay with you. but as he looks down to your withering body, pale against firelight.
he exhales slowly- taking one final look at you, "I will be outside." stepping outside the tent.
the air feels colder without you in his arms. the village is quieter now, though still buzzing with the word of the eldest sons return with a broken girl still lingers in the air.
neteyam stands outside the healers tent, staring at the woven entrance like if he looks away something might just seemingly change.
he does not sit- he does not pace, he just waits.
minutes stretch into hours- his breathing finally begins to slow, but the panic doesn't leave, it settles deeper, like ink seeping into fabric. he replays everything.
the moment you went limp in his arms, the horrified look on your face when you thought you were about to die.
his thoughts were interrupted by an all too familiar voice, "neteyam," his mothers voice, soft uncertain.
closing his eyes before briefly turning to face her, seeing his father and mother stepping into the torchlight.
they both stop in their tracks seeing him, they have not seen their son in a year- not properly, not like this.
he looks older, harder, taller somehow- but tonight the composure he's built for himself is crack clean through.
his mother stepping forward first, "you're hurt," was the first word she said, noticing the blood. her hand reaching for her sons dirty cheek.
his shoulders relax slightly, "it's not mine."
his fathers expression hardens instantly, "what happened, son?" his fatherly stare boring into neteyam.
swallowing hard he answers, "we were running- and she got caught in a trap-" the words getting stuck in his throat, "and humans, they ambushed her clan."
his mothers eyes go wide, "and her father?"
"i don't know."
his father gaze sharpens, feeling his chest tighten at the thought of everything you and his son had gone through in the past week. "you did well son." putting his hand on his sons shoulder.
his gaze dropping to the floor at his fathers praise, he did not deserve it. he doesn't answer- because if he speaks too much, his voice might give him away,
but his father studies him, not the blood, not the injury- but the way his eyes keep flicking back to the tent entrance. "you did your duty." his father says evenly, "after we help her clan rebuild you can return home and stay."
though the words were suppose to be comforting, the only worsened the tightness in his stomach- only his mother picking up on the slight change in her dons demeanour at the words.
her gaze softens, understanding. "she is important to you." not a question, but a knowing answer.
he doesn't deny it, but the way he stared back into his mothers eyes spoke all the words he could not.
"you are tired neteyam," his father begins, "come, rest, she is in good hands."
shaking his head, "no." taking a step back from them, both of them in clear view of him. "i am staying until i know she is alright- than i will rest."
neytiri turns to look at her mate, a knowing look being shared between them. turning back to look at her heartbroken son, stepping forward towards him. "we will stay with you."
neteyam nods once- not trusting himself to say thank you.
the night deepends around them. torches flickering low. the healers tent glowing faintly within, shadows moving occasionally against woven walls.
and then- more footsteps, lighter, quicker start approaching.
"is it true?"
lo'aks voice breaks through the still air first. neteyam stiffens slightly at the sound of his brother voice, not having to turn to know who it was.
kiri steps into the torchlight beside her parents, her eyes immediately scanning him, assessing, reading the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands hang too rigid at his sides.
tuk slipping in just behind them, smaller but wide-eyed, clutching a woven shawl around her shoulders.
"you're back." lo'ak says, stepping forward. shocked. "i heard you yelling from the ridge- i thought it was you but you sounded-"
he was stopped by a shove from kiri, telling him to be silent.
neteyams jaw slightly tightens. "i needed help." that being all he offers as a response.
tuk moves closer without hesitation, reaching up and taking his hand in hers- surprising him enough that he looks down, her small fingers wrapping around his, warm and steady.
her hopeful eyes beaming up at him. "don't worry neteyam, she will wake up." tuk says with absolute certainty. "grandmother always fixes things."
he hadn't realised how much he had missed his family while he had been gone, "thank you tuk."
lo'ak shifting closer too, standing on his other side now- not touching but close enough that their shoulders almost brush. "we'll stay."
jake exhales slowly, glancing at all of them- no one leaves, no one suggets it.
they just quietly form a line outside the healers tent, a wall, a family.
the eldest son in the center, mud streaked, exhausted, staring at woven fabric like it holds his entire world behind it.
because in some way, it did.
hours pass, the torches burning lower- tuk eventually leans sleepily against neytiri's side, refusuing to leave.
lo'ak crosses his arms, pretending he isn't watching neteyam every few second. kiri closes her eyes briefly, almost as if she is praying.
and neteyam, he does not move, he waits.
the light slowly shimmers off the ground, morning light finally hitting pandora. everyone in his family is alseep around him, but he is still staring at the tent flap, waiting for anything.
the fabric of the tent opens slowly, his grandmother walking out of it quietly.
neteyam stared up at his grandmother, holding his breath waiting for her words. "she is awake," that was all he needed for him to shoot up and walk to the tent, but he was stopped by his grandmother just before he entered. "she is a strong girl."
"i know."
the tent smells of crushes herbs and smoke. you lie on a mat, blankets layered over you- you look smaller like this.
your eyes are open, shifting towards him the moment he steps inside. your eyes glowing at the sight of him, "neteyam," whispering his name.
for a moment, he just looks at you- as if confirming you were real
he kneels beside you carefully, "you scared me," he says, voice rough from disuse.
hands coming up to brush a stray hair from your face, tucking it behind your ear in one gentle motion.
your eyes soften, "i did not mean to."
his jaw tightens, "i though-" stopping to swallow.
for a split second the memory flashes across his face- your body going limp, your head falling back, the weight of you collapsing in his arms.
"i thought i lost you." the admission hanging heavy in the small space
watching him closely now, you see the dark eye bags under his eyes, the scratches covering his body, the way his body slouched as if it was begging for a break.
you shift slightly, wincing faintly.
noticing instantly, his hand slides down to your shoulder, steadying you without thinking. "you are not allowed to do that again," he says softly, "i was right there," continuing, voice lower now. "and i almost lost you."
your fingers move slowly, finding his wrist.
stilling at the touch from you. "i am here." murmuring in a whisper. your hands reaching up to cup his delicate face, "thank you neteyam," his heart swelling at every word. "you have such a strong heart- no fear." your hand tracing down his chest to rest over where his heart layed beneath his rough skin.
neteyams breath falters at your words, an almost broken smile covering his lips. "no fear?" his hand coming to cover yours where it rests. "it was all fear."
your brows knit faintly, "when you stopped breathing at the ridge," he sucks in a deep breath. "i have faced hunters, bullets- stood between warriors twice my size." his thumb pressing gently over your knuckles, "but that-"
"that was the first time i did not know what to do."
the confession settles in heavy between you, your hand shifting from his chest back up to his face, brushing lightly beneath his eye where exhaustion shadows the skin.
"neteyam," you murmur softly, his sleep deprived eyes lifting to yours instantly, as if he never stopped watching. "you need to rest."
he shakes his head automictically, "i am fine."
you give him a look, faint but knowing- he has not moved from your side, has not loosened his grip on your hand, his body still slightly angled toward you like he is bracing for something to happen.
"you haven't slept." you say quietly.
his jaw tightens, "i did not want to."
your fingers sliding from his cheek to his shoulder, "you carried me through a river," you whisper. "you ran through the forest." your hand drifting down, resting yet again over his heart. "it is still racing."
huffing a quiet breath at that, almost embarrassed at the fact his heart is pounding. "it will slow."
"not if you keep standing guard over me." the faintest curve touches your lip. "you are na'vi, you need sleep."
"i am not leaving your side." there was no room to change his mind in his tone, he was set- there was no way he was leaving you in this tent.
huffing, you realise you weren't going to win this. "okay," sighing, "but atleast rest with me."
neteyam wants to, he wants to collapse on the ground next to you- wants to fall asleep to the sound of your slow breaths, but he does not give into the urge- instead still trying to maintain posture. "i need to make sure nothing happens to you while you rest."
your eyes bore into his own, begging, pleading. "i am not going to rest until you do."
he thought for a second, finally caving into the tiredness that was weighing down on every muscle in his body. as soon as his body touched the ground he sunk into it, on his side facing you- he wasn't going to let you out of his sight, even if he was resting.
he felt his bones release from the tight strain he unknowingly had been holding in, for the first time in hours feeling relaxed- laying just a few hairs away from you on the woven mat, not touching, but close enough to feel one anothers warmth.
his eyelids began to feel droopy, this time he let it happen- staring straight at your sleepful figure, taking only seconds for you to be knocked out once again.
in those few seconds before he drifted off, he wished he could have the privilege of holding you in his arms while he did so- even if those thoughts were improper of him to have.
neteyam wakes slowly, the warmth in front of him is gone. eyes shooting open, the space across from him is empty. cold.
for a second, his mind does not connect the dots to what it is he is seeing- then the realisation hits him, sitting up so fast the woven mat beneath him shifts.
the healers tent is quiet, too quiet.
your name almost leaves his mouth, but his throat runs dry- his heart pounding in his chest.
without a second thought he is on his feet, pushing through the entrance with urgency- the morning light is brighter now. the village is fully awake, movement everywhere, voices overlapping, smoke rising from cooking fires.
he scans everywhere, too many faces, too much movement.
"have you seen y/n?" he starts, grabbing the arm of a passing warrior, who shakes their head, confused.
letting go quickly, his chest tightens. moving faster now, eyes sweeping through the clearing, through the pathways between homes. every second passing feeling like the river again.
he rounds the edge of the healers tent, about to call your name out.
but he stops- there you are, sitting cross legged on a mat in the morning sun, tuk sitting beside you, animated and focused, small hands carefully guiding yours through a strand of beads and fiber. you're leaving slightly to avoid pressure on your ankle, brows furrowed in concentration.
tuk is the first to notice him, "neteyam!' she calls cheerfully, making you turn, eyes landing on him- only then do you see it, the panic, the way his chest rises too fast, his eyes scanning you like he is confirming you are real.
he doesn't say anything in return to his sister, just slowly walks toward you- like if he moves too fast, you might just disappear again. "i woke up," saying quietly.
tilting your head slightly you speak, "and?"
"you weren't there." the words are simple, ones that would go unnoticed if not knowing the meaning behind it is deep.
your gaze shifts from confusion to sympathy, realising the cause to his sudden panic. "i asked your grandmother if i could sit in the sun," explaining gently, "she said i could, if i did not walk."
his gaze dropping down to your ankle automatically, properly wrapped and slightly elevated on cloth- already begining to look better thanks to his grandmothers expert healing.
his shoulder lower a fraction, "you should have woken me." he says, not accusingly. just honestly.
a small smile coming to your face, "you were sleeping, you needed rest."
he exhales slowly, realising he truly was just being paranoid.
beaming proudly tuk announces, "we are making something," holding up the half'finished piece. "for when she can walk again."
neteyam looks at it, then back to you- the sunlight catches in your hair, the smile ghosting your face. and the fear finally drains from his body.
crouching down beside you, close enough that his shoulder brushes yours this time. "i like it." he smiles at his sister, turning to you. "mind if i join?"
shrugging you motion towards tuk playfully, "sorry- going to have to ask her if you can." smiling.
he laughs, turning towards his proud younger sister. "would i be able to join in?" looking expectingly at his sister- who looks at him reluctantly, almost like she was going to deny his request.
thinking for a moment, eyeing her older brother sceptically. "fine," huffing out, "but you can't make anything, i only have enough supplies for me and y/n."
he slowly sits down, not crouching anymore, "i can go and get more for you later if you wish?"
a large grin erupting on tuks face from his suggestion. "okay- i think i might have messed it up a little." you grimace, holding up the array of tangled threads in front of you.
"maybe you should leave the crafts to the professionals," neteyam pokes at you, feeling like he can finally let down his guard and joke again.
rolling your eyes at him, "okay- well do not act like you could do any better."
he extends his hound out, motioning for you to give it to him- placing it in his hand he begins to sift his fingers through the soft material. "i did use to be tuks number one craft partner."
"he did!" she nods enthusiastically.
you swear you only looked away for a second, by the time you turned back to him the material was somehow unknotted and now looking perfect. your eyes widen in surprise, "what?- how did you do that?"
the softness only lasted a couple hours, before reality set in again.
mo'at had cleared you to walk lightly, so by afternoon you sat beneath the larger canopy near the center of the village.
jake standing across from you, arms crossed, posture thoughtful rather than defensive. neytiri sitting beside him, attentive, steady.
neteyam remaining by your side, not hovering, but close enough that your shoulder occasionally brushes his.
the conversation calm, strategic. "we will send scouts at first light," jake states, "quiet. to asses damage before we move to supplies."
you nod slowly, "they will need medicine first," you say, "they attacked where everyone was- all my people will need to be cared to." the sentence pulling at your heart.
neytiri inclines her head slightly, "we will send healers with the second group."
neteyam listens in carefully, his eyes flicking up to you every few seconds- watching the way you sit, the way your fingers tighten slightly in your lap when you fathers name is mentioned.
"and your father?" you knew the question would come, but it settles heavier than you thought it would.
swallowing hard, "i do not know." the words feeling thinner now than they did earlier.
"we will find him." neytiri firmly says, eyes focusing on you determined.
jake nodding in agreement, "we help your people rebuild. we strengthen defences. we make sure the humans never dare to come back."
it is practical- strong, reassuring. you nod at everything they say, contributing where you can. suggesting which storehouses would be targeted first, which elders would organize rebuilding.
you speak like the leader you were always meant to be, the tashik your grandmother and father always wanted you to be.
but something in your voices has shifted, neteyam hears it- sees the way your back straightens a little too rigidly, the way your gaze drifts towards the forest line.
the meeting eventually concluding, plans set- everything now in motion for tomorrow.
jake clasps your shoulder gently, before leaving. "you are not alone in this." neytiri gives you a look- strong, maternal, understanding. before following him.
leaving you and neteyam, the noise of the village resuming around you. but you do not move, frozen in deep thought, hand resting in your lap, fingers slowly tightening around nothing.
stepping slightly closer, "you did well. " he says quietly.
you give him no answer, your eyes fixed on the trees that sway without apologies. "i should have been there," murming after a moment, the words are quiet, almost swallowed by the wind. "i should have seen it coming. i should hav-"
before you could even finish your ramble his hands are on yours instantly, firm, grounding. "you were ambushed- there was no way anyone could have known what would happen."
shaking your head faintly. "i was celebrating." the words cracking, "i was dressed in silk while they were planning the attack." your breathing slow. "they were protecting me," continuing softly. "and i ran."
neteyam steps in front of you now, forcing you to look at him. "you survived."
"that is not the same thing." the sadness finally surfacing, not loud nor dramatic, just heavy. settling in your chest like stone.
his expression shifts immediately to something gentler. crouching slightly so he is now level with you. "you did not abandon them," he says quietly, "you were taken out of danger."
biting your tongue you swallow the words, "yeah," knowing no matter what you say, he would counteract them all. your ears falling flat on your skull.
"here," he stands up, "come with me." extending a hand out to you
leading you through the dark forest, hand in yours. you trailed behind him, though you had no idea where he was taking you- you did not question it.
"it's just up ahead."
pulling back a large leaf, he urges you to move forward, keeping it upright for you. turning to look at him with a confused look before stepping forward.
it was not at all what you were expecting- bioluminescent specks scattered across the clearing, a cove of some sorts- the water rippling steady, the vines growing around it in harmony. dangling branches covering the cove above- almost like a ceiling of sorts.
"what is this place?" breathing out, taking in all its secret beauty.
"i found it a few years ago when i was hunting," coming up beside you slowly, "ever since then, whenever things feel like too much i would come here."
your head slowly turns to face him, "you would come here to be alone?" earning a small nod, "then why did you bring me?"
his eyes flicker from you to the ground, in thought, before coming back up to meet yours. "out of everyone, you are the one person who i would want to share this secret of the world with." his voice low and gentle.
the words sending shivers down your spine, the genuine edge to his voice sparking something in you. feeling the heat rising to your face you quickly turn away from him, "you are far too kind." attempting to hide yourself rom him by walking and sitting down near the water.
but his eyes do not falter from you, "i am speaking the truth." he breathes out, taking in the way your hair rests delicately on your shoulder.
staring at your reflection in the water you sigh, neteyams figure coming to sit next to you in the waters mirror. his face content. "what are you thinking about?" asking softly.
running a hand through your hair, "i am just scared." admitting softly.
neteyams fingers come to rest over your own, squeezing them gently.
the dangling vines sway gently above you, casting soft shadows over his face. specks flicker faintly along the edge of the cove, almost like the forest itself is listening.
"when i was younger," he says quietly, "i thought being strong meant never failing anyone." his gaze drifts briefly to the water, "i learned that sometimes strength is surviving long enough to come back and help rebuild."
the words settle into you slowly as you turns back to you. he looks younger somehow- not smaller, just unguarded. "when everything feels loud... i come here and it becomes quiet."
the sincerity making your chest tighten. "you share your refuge very easily." you whisper.
"no," he pauses. "i have never shared it." the air shifting, looking at him fully now. "i do not bring you here because i pity you, and not because i feel responsible."
his thumb brushes lightly across the back of your hand. "i brought you because when you are hurting, it feels loud inside me too." the honesty in it steals your breath.
"and i do not want you to carry this alone."
your throat tightens, "you already carry too much."
he almost smiles at your response. "so do you." gazing into your eyes. "when i first got assigned to you- i took it as just another duty, just another trail for me." you lean onto his every word. "but as i got to know the future tsahik, i realised that there was a reason i was assigned to protect her."
heart fluttering in your chest, your ears flicking gently in excitement. "what do you mean, neteyam?" his name on your lips making him shiver.
"i mean that, i know eywa had lead me to you." he whispers, the vines above you dancing in rhythm to your heart. your lips slightly parting at his confession. "when my time with you was nearly over- i chose to stay."
your brows furrow at that, "you were told you could leave?" more rhetorical than a question, you knew the answer. "why didn't you?"
he smiles gently at your question, tilting his head. "for a smart girl, sometimes you arent very observant." his finger brushing your cheekbone lightly, "i stayed because i knew i could not stand to go back to live a life where i knew of your existence." he pauses slowly, ears flattening to his skull. "even if it is improper of me to think such things."
his eyes fall to the ground, almost shamefully. you swallow, "but what if i want it too?" you whisper. "would it be so improper of me?"
his head snaps to you, eyes widening with hope. "no," mumbling, "nothing you could ever possibly do could be improper." looking at you like the most beautiful thing in pandora- which you were to him.
you had not even realised how close you were to neteyam now, unconsciously both leaning in.
your lips now ghosting over his, feeling his hot breath beneath your own- his forehead kissing yours lightly. "would it be improper of me to say i wish to kiss you?" he whispers against your lips.
"no,"
without even thinking, you leaned in. closing your eyes.
his smooth lips landing on your own, gentle. his hand coming up to cup your face. deepening the kiss into one that is passionate and delicate, your lips moving in sync- how could something so new feel so old? like you had done it a thousands times.
you wished it could have gone on forever, but you slowly came apart. coming up for air, your pupils dilated. "neteyam..." you whisper, fireworks setting off inside you.
his thumb slowly moving to you jaw, caressing your skin reverently. "every time you say my name," he leans in, "i swear i might just fall." kissing you once more, this time more short and sweet- a simple kiss that lead you aching for more.
your eyes were still close when he parted once more, your lips still trying to reach for more not realising he was no longer there. your eyes snapping open in embarrassment, a smirk forming on his lips at the sight.
your face heats up, turning down to face away from him- before you could, his hand meets your chin like yours did earlier, making you look at him once more- his pupils full and blown out, rail swaying behind him dangerously slow. "do not hide from me." he whispers, not commanding, not controlling- but begging.
his hand slowly guides down to your lower back, the hairs on your body standing up. you were speechless, completely in a trance by the boy in front of you.
leaning in, you thought he might just kiss you once more- but instead his head went into the side of your face, his lips ghosting over your ear. "you are beautiful" planting a kiss on the skin below your ear, making you inhale sharply.
his lips slowly trailing lower, going from below your ear to your collarbone. tracing the curve of the bone with his soft lips.
your eyelashes fluttering from the sensation, each touch captivating you more and more. your fingers finding their way to his hair, grounding him to the world.
then, nothing- once again he pulled back, staring up at you, his hands entangled on your waist. the tension between the two of you thick and musky- unbearable.
no words needing to be spoken, the desire behind both of your dilated eyes speaking more than anything ever could.
guiding you down slowly onto your back, one hand cradling your head, the other on your lower back, lowering you down to the bare floor. all while not breaking his gaze from you.
neteyam knelt in the grass over you, his breath uneven, hands trembling- not from fear, but from the weight of years spent watching you, guarding you, saying nothing.
your fingers reach up to brush his jaw, your touch electric against his flushed skin. the sight of you underneath him making him breathless. the way you were staring up at him, made him swear he was about to go into cardiac arrest.
exhaling, raw and ragged, pulling you to him. your mouths crashing together, no hesitation, just hunger held back far too long. his tongue sliding against yours, deep and searching, his rough hands gripping your hips, dragging your clothed flush against his growing hardness.
moaning into his mouth, arching into him, your breasts pressing against his chest. he broke the kiss, only to trail hot, open mouthed bites down your neck, your collarbone once more, until his hand found the ties of your top.
but before he even dared to disturb them, he paused, searching for any hesitance in your eyes. "is it okay-" before he could even finish his sentence you cut him off.
"-yes." your eagerness making him smile. even during this, he is always such a gentleman.
with one simple tug, then another. the fabric fell away, revealing your smooth, azure skin and small breasts. his eyes focused on them intensely, studying every detail. "you are so beautiful." muttering, before taking one of your nipples into his mouth, sucking softly on the sensitive skin.
crying out, your fingers tangling in his hair, pushing him closer. "i-.." you spoke, breathlessly, not able to even form the word- your hips rolling against his own, the thin barrier of your clothing doing nothing to dull the heat between them.
sliding his hand down slowly, over your stomach, then beneath the waistband of your loincloth, fingers slipping down to reach your slick folds.
"neteyam-" you gasped, as his thumb quietly met your clit, circling it slow and deliberate.
"shh," his hand running through your hair, "let me take care of you, yawne." the nickname making your ears flicker.
his fingers dipping lower, parting your folds in deliberate slowness, gathering your slick before sliding one deep inside. making you arch of the sand, a sharp cry tearing from your throat as your inner walls clench around him.
his other hand still stroking your hair gently as he added another finger, stretching you gently, crooking them just right- your breath hitching, your hips jerking forward in rhythm. clenching around him, pulsing, greedily.
"look at me," his voice soft and delicate, when your eyes snapped open, desperate and full with passion- he added a third finger, stretching you just right, knuckles brushing your entrance as he worked deep, rhythmic strokes. his thumb circling your clit in tight, relentless spirals, firm and possessive, while his mouth crashed down on yours, swallowing every gasp, whimper, every broken plea from your mouth.
breaking the kiss, only to worship lower. lips trailing fire down your throat, over your collarbone, then closing hot and wet around your nipple. your fingers clawing at his shoulders, body trembling already from the unfamiliar sensation.
"i have dreamed of this," he confesses, his voice a low thrum that vibrated throughout you. "of you, here. it shames me."
"it honors me," you whisper back, arching your body into his.
dropping to his knees, between your thighs, he dragged your hips up into his lap, ripping his fingers free with a filthy pop- his eyes hungry and begging. "what are you-" you were about to question him, when his tongue was now where his fingers once more.
you gasp, as he devoured you, mouth wide and ravenous, licking deep through your folds, lapping up your slick like he could never get enough. his nose brushing your clit, as he thrust two fingers back inside, curling them while his tongue flicked hard over your bundle of nerves in rapid, maddening circles.
your legs shaking, you sobbed- overwhelmed with the euprhoria spreading through your veins at his every motion. he didnt stop, drinking you through it, sucking your clit into his mouth as your walls pusled around his fingers, milking them, drenching his hand.
only when you collapsed, breathless and trembling, did he slowly rise over you, eyes blazing- thumb reaching to caress her cheek. "you did so good." purring out a praise, that only made you ache more.
you had enough of the slowness, you wanted him- now. "i want you." the words leaving your mouth, like a prayer- one that was to be answered.
his tail quickening up its paste behind him, ears standing tall at your words. "i will give you anything you want."
reaching for behind him, hands gripping onto his braid- bringing it forward. his eyes widening at your silent request- to mate. "make tsaheylu with me." the words just felt all to right falling off your tongue.
the brave warrior did not say any words, simply just guided his queue to your own. in one simple breath, the tendrils connected. both of you gasping at the overwhelming feeling of the bond- staring into eachother with an expression of utter desire for one another. every emotion, every feeling- every memory, being shared between the two of you.
if you thought you were speechless before, you were truly speechless now. his hand coming up to cup your face, you could feel how you felt on his palm, feel how his lungs brought in air.
for the first time in a while, nothing else existed outside the radius of you and neteyam.
suddenly, it did not matter what evil lurked in the depths- all that you could focus on was him.
in that moment, all that existed was the two of you- now one.
reaching for him, dazed, your hands fumbling with his waistband. helping, he teared the fabric away- freeing his thick, heavy member, that was flush at the tip, already leaking.
guiding him to your entrance, wet and quivering- eyes locked on eachother.
pressing forward, the broad head of his cock breaching you with slow, aching pressure. your breath caught. leaning down, delivering a kiss deeply, one hand on your jaw, the other splayed across your hip, holding you steady as he pushed deeper- inch by inch, until he was fully buried, your walls fluttering around him like a vice.
you moaned at how it felt, the fullness of it all- if not for his hand holding you in place you were sure you would crumble. "neteyam.." breathing out.
"are you okay?" his eyes filling with concern and fear.
swallowing, your head nodding. "yes- just move." his eyes widening, not expecting you to be so eager once more.
snapping his hips forward, slow and passionate. you cried out, the sound echoing off the glowing cliffs as he pumped into you deep, claiming strokes, each one driving you further into the ground, into ecstasy, into him.
his face buried in your neck, his breath hot and ragged against your skin. both crying out, shared sounds of shock and longing- each smooth sound being swallowed whole by the dense forest surrounding you
"you are doing so good, yawne." there it was again, that name- you were in a daze, no longer in the physical world, no longer bound to the ties of reality as he filled you up completely.
with each thrust you felt yourself dipping closer and closer towards the edge, your body was on fire. "neteyam," moaning his name, when your voice reached his ears he quickened his paste.
the way you said his name- he knew he was not going to last much longer.
with a final groan, you felt both you and his release. collapsing on top of you, his arms holding him up so he does not put his whole body weight on you- still buried deep inside of you.
your chest rises and falls, stunned by what had just occurred- the feeling of his thumb on your face pulling you back down to reality. "you are so beautiful y/n."
"my beautiful mate."
the word rang in your skull, one simple word that held so much depth- who knew how much one single word could make you feel? "my mate." you repeat, breathlessly, wanting to hear the word once more out in the open.
smiling down at your dazed expression, the love in your eyes as you stared up at him, your legs still quivering from the past actions. "yes," he chuckles, "my mate." his fingers moving hair that stuck to your forehead.
"hm," you smile brightly, your hands reaching for his face- like you were seeing if he was actually real. "my grandmother was right," you never thought the words would leave your mouth, "i did mate with a brave warrior."
"let's get you cleaned up, pretty girl."
his hands washed your back, sitting behind you while you sat in the water. a leaf in his hand, cupping the water to spill onto you. gently bathing you. you swore you could fall asleep right then and there from the way his strong hands worked on your body. you hummed in satisfaction as he spilled water over your head, running a hand down your hair.
chuckling at your reaction, he came down to kiss your head. "we need to get back soon," whispering.
your brows furrowed, turning to face him. shaking your head, "no," you did not want to. "can we stay here for just a little longer." your eyes pleading with him- he could never deny you of anything.
it did not even take him more than 2 seconds to cave in, sighing while smiling at how beautiful you looked. "okay," breathing out, "but only for a little bit- tomorrow is a big day."
you groaned, remembering all that was happening that you had forgotten during your time with neteyam. "i forgot about that.." frowning.
A/N: hiiiii, lol had so much fun writing this hope you guys enjoyed it!! might be making part 2 :)))))
a/n: based on the movie flipped! loved writing this so so much enjoy!
pairing: neteyam sully x fem! omaticaya! reader
warnings: fluff, kissing, slow burn, she fell first he fell harder
masterlist!
the first day you saw neteyam sully, you flipped.
something in those dazzling eyes sucked you in so deep the moment you first saw him. you knew even back then, that you could never return from the hole you had fallen into.
being 8 years old and naturally curious, when you saw a boy while you were playing by the waterfall, spotting him attempting to catch a fish, you just had to get a closer look.
“do you need help?” your young self smiled wide eyed at him, hands innocently behind your back as you swayed back and fourth on your heels in anticipation.
the young boy eyed you, “I’m okay.” he gave you only a short answer, but you didn’t let that make you sway.
“do you like fishing?” the boy did not even realise you were still standing there.
neteyam was confused, he did not know who you were. “uh- yeah…”
“same!”
"neteyam!" a voice called, a woman who you knew to be one of your fathers friends. "come on help your father."
you could see he didn't wanna go. so you chased after him to see if you could play a little before he got trapped inside. the next thing you know, he's holding your hand and looking right into your eyes.
time felt like it slowed down for your 8 year old self- but for neteyam he felt like time needed to go faster, he quickly ripped his hand from yours. running to hide behind his mother.
he was so cute, he was flustered from holding your hand you thought. peeking out from behind his mother who chuckled at the interaction.
what neteyam sully didnt realise back then was that short interaction, was just the beginning of millions of more. you never left him alone after that.
no matter how much he tried to run away from you, you never got the hint. when you were both 12, when he thought that maybe just maybe you might give it up- you proved him wrong.
“neteyam!” he winced, hearing your voice from behind. Neteyam never tried to be rude to you, he was taught to always be a gentlemen- but you really did test his limits. “do you want to have a tea party with me?” you spoke catching up with him, your smile wide.
“Uh…” he racked his mind for any excuse he could find. “Sorry- i have training with my dad.” Good one he thought.
“can I train with you?” but not good enough to keep you away.
“it’s just me and my dad.” hoping you would get the hint.
shrugging you spoke, “it can be me you and your dad.” your 12 year old self was convinced neteyam sully wanted you to train with him, he was just nervous- so you would make it easier for him. “I don’t mind, dont worry.”
by the time his 13th birthday came around almost everyone around him knew how you were with him, and they couldn't seem to have enough fun teasing him.
“Y/n and neteyam sitting in a tree,” lo’ak sung to an annoyed neteyam. “K i s s i n g.”
it was bad enough fhat he had you always following after him, but now when you weren’t around he was constantly reminded of you.
“shut up.” neteyam grumbled at his younger brother, rolling his eyes getting up from his spot on the floor- he needed fresh air desperately. stepping outside of his family’s hut, sucking in a deep breath of air.
that was when he heard it, “neteyam!” His head searched for where your voice came from, was he hearing things now? oh no he was really going crazy. “Up here!” he craned his head back, looking up seeing you perched up in a large tree just opposite your family’s hut- which lucky for him was next to his.
“come up here neteyam!” calling out to the boy who was confused, “it’s so nice up here.” neteyam was not going anywhere near that tree. he didn’t need to make things worse for himself.
When you two were 16 and training together, all he heard was your voice. “I think they should start a plant grove down by the base of the home tree. It would be very sustainable…” he tuned the rest of your ramble out, honestly he did not get why you cared so much about everything.
he did not understand anything about you for that matter, you were someone no one quite knew what to think of. but 16 year old neteyam knew what you were, odd.
“what do you think they should do neteyam?” he was pulled back into reality, you not noticing he didn’t listen.
“i dont know.” he shrugged
“Thats okay.” you gave grace to neteyam, after all your mum told you boys develop slower than girls so they are destined to be a bit more stupid. “Let’s just say you like the idea.”
he didn’t understand why the universe seemed to punish him so much at such a young age, no matter how much he tried you were always right there- every training lesson you were somehow in the same group as him, you called it destiny he called it bad luck.
“dad.” he needed to end this torture. “I cant be in the same group as y/n.” He put his hands down on the table in front of him, his eyes begging his father who raised an eyebrow at his son’s eagerness.
“why?” He wondered why you had him so riled up, “it’s okay son if she makes you nervous, girls at your age are-“
he cut his dad off before he could even say anymore, “no!” he groaned, “it’s not like that.”
Jake did not believe him. “Sure son,” nodding in false belief at his eldest who was red at the ears. “but I can’t change you out of the group, it’s just the schedule.”
neteyam groaned, his head falling onto the table with his arms.
“neteyam, someone is here for you.” his mother called, he peeked up from where his head was hidden- he knew who it was before even having to get told.
“mum-“ he panicked, frantically looking around for a place to hide. “tell her I am not here.”
his mother shook her head. “neteyam,” she warned, giving him a look only a mother could. “she is a nice girl, you should go and hang out with her.” great how even his own mum was conspiring against him!
you waited outside patiently, rocking side to side on your heels as you usually did. humming quietly to yourself. you weren’t originally going to stop by to see neteyam but your gut told you to make a pit stop- and you always listened to your gut feelings.
neytiri emerged once more from the entrance, “i am afraid neteyam isn’t feeling well today,” she began, neteyam begged her to tell you he was sick.
your eyes went wide, this must be why you were pulled to come by! “oh no…” you gasped, “I will retrieve herbs for him to make him feel better!” you started, “dont worry miss sully.”
“Oh no-“ before she could even stop you, you scrambled off in a hurry. Neteyam needed your help and you were set on being the one to save him.
neteyam sighed contently, sinking into his hammock- his shoulders finally relaxing at the peace and quiet, happy that he convinced his mother to make you go away. he was about to daze off when you appeared.
“neteyam.” you whisper yelled, he jumped, nearly falling out of his hammock. was he in a nightmare? “I heard you were sick,” his eyebrows furrowed, forgetting the lie his mum told. “so I got you atuff to make you feel better.” you opened your satchel which held many different plants and herbs that you had collected for him.
“What?-“ he suddenly remembered he was suppose to be sick. he didn’t know why he couldn’t just tell you to go away, he just couldn’t get the courage to- he found it easier to just avoid you rather than face you. “Oh yeah-“ he fake coughed, why was he even going to this extent. “i am feeling very sick.”
you frowned, “it’s okay neteyam,” you felt so bad for him, “you will be fine you just need to rest.” he felt bad for you, you stared at him with so much concern in your eyes- wait no you were annoying and never left him alone, he did not feel bad. "here, eat this." handing him a bowl of a weird concoction.
he winced, staring down at it then back up at you, gulping- why could he not bring himself to tell you that he didn't want it?
you both were 15 now, though you grew you still managed to stay the same in neteyams eyes- you were still that little girl who wouldn't leave him alone. "hi neteyam!" smiling at him as you walk past him and a group of his friends, he nodded back politely.
"neteyam just said hi to his girlfriend!" one of his friends shoved him playfully, the rest of the group erupting into roars of laughter teasing the sully boy about you- his whole face turned red in embarrassment from the jokes.
that was it, neteyam finally had enough of you and everyone teasing him- he was 15 and already had a problem that was weighing down on him like no other. he had to tell you to leave you alone, this was the day.
he puffed out his chest, posture straight and head held high as he made his way over to you. determined to put an end to his torture. before he had even reached you, you somehow knew he was approaching and turned around meeting him catching him off guard. "y/n i need to talk to you." your heart thumped in your chest, was this the moment you had been waiting for? neteyam sully was about to confess his feelings to you.
"yes." your tail swayed excitedly behind you, patiently waiting for your whole year to be made.
he opened his mouth to speak, and all the words that he had been practicing to say got stuck in his mouth. the confidence washing away fast and suddenly. leaving him frazzled and a mess. "i uh-" why couldn't he tell you to leave him alone? why was this so hard for him? "i like the tree outside your house." he mentally facepalmed, he needed to remove himself from the situation as fast as he could before he made an even bigger fool of himself. "okay- bye." he scurried away leaving you confused.
"bye?" you waved at his retreating figure, you shrugged it off- you knew he probably just got cold feet, after all you knew neteyam was shy, he would get around to it eventually.
neteyam slumped in his spot at the dinner table that night, poking at his food on his plate. "whats wrong son?" his father spoke up, neteyam sighed angrily.
"y/n is my problem," he sucked in a deep breath, "she won't leave me alone- she is so annoying."
lo'ak and kiri gave eachother a knowing look, lo'ak snorting to himself earning a death stare from neteyam.
"well, why do you dislike her so much?"
the question made neteyam pause for a second to think about, everyone went quiet waiting for the boy to answer. he should know what he didn't like about you, everything you did annoyed him- the way your hair fell down your shoulders- how loud you were-how.... "she just is annoying." was all he could come up with.
jake gave neytiri a knowing look, "now son," he started, "i think i know what is happening here." neteyam raised an eyebrow, "you like her and don't know how to show your feelings. it is natural at your age with the changes in your bod-" neteyam shot up from his seat, his ears and cheeks flushed with pink.
"i do not like y/n!" was all he said before storming out, the entrance flap swinging angrily as he exited.
how could his dad say that? how could he say that when neteyam so obviously disliked you and everything you did? his angry thoughts were silenced by a sudden branch that fell on him, his neck snapping upward from where it came from.
it was you, the root to all his 15 year old problems. "neteyam- come up here! the view is amazing!" you could see the whole forest top from where you sat on the highest branch.
neteyam groaned, walking away. he thought he was alone finally before he heard footsteps. "what's wrong neteyam?"
he wanted to say, you! youre my problem but instead he said. "nothing, i just want to be alone." his tone flat.
nodding you continued to follow him, "i get that, when i am upset i like to be alone as well." he kept waiting for you to walk away, "my grandma says that if you are upset you should blow on your thumb because it regulates your nervous system- you should try it!"
blow on his thumb? yeah he would pass that. "thanks for the advice." he grumbled, rolling his eyes- he thought you wouldn't notice it, but for one of the first times you realised he didn't want you near.
you weren't stupid, you could hear the sarcasm in his voice after you spoke, it stung more than you would like to admit-
"can i just be alone right now y/n-" turning to where he thought you would be, but you were no longer trailing behind him like you usually were.
and for a reason neteyam could not understand he wished you were still there.
at 17 neteyam started to become a man, his shoulder broad and wide, his chest always puffed out and muscular- in your eyes he was a god. you were still waiting patiently for the day he would ask to court you, you were sure it would happen.
"i brought you some beads neteyam," you had walked up to him after one of his hunts, "i wanted to congratulate you on completing your hunt." you had spent all day searching for the perfect beads for him to wear.
neteyams lips fell into a tight line, "uh, thanks." he cursed himself mentally as he took your gift, why couldn't he just tell you he didn't need them? "they are nice."
all neteyam sully ever wanted was for you to leave him alone.
your smile grew wide, "i knew you would like them!"
the rest of the week you were on cloud nine, you were so excited to see neteyam wearing your beads in his hair- but you stopped dead in your tracks as you saw him, standing with another girl- katarina.
you felt a pit form in your stomach, watching as she smiled, hand in hand with neteyam, handing him beads! katarina, the girl who you had sworn was your mortal enemy ever since she laughed at you at age 6.
there she was, holding hands with neteyam! your neteyam! and he didn't look disgusted or aggravated, he wasn't awkwardly replying like he did with you- he was smiling and laughing with her.
your brows furrowed, forcing yourself to walk away from the horrible scene- no he was just being nice, no way would someone as deep and thoughtful as neteyam fall for someone as shallow as katarina?
weeks followed and you tried to shove the imagine of them together out of your head, but one day you were taking a stroll in the woods- searching for herbs to give to neteyam like you did every month.
when you stopped suddenly, your ears twitching as you heard two voices. you recognised one of them, it was neteyam! you quickly rushed to where his voice came from, you were going to surprise him! but as you grew closer, you heard the other voice- katarinas.
what where they doing in the forest together?- you didn't mean to spy on them, you just were curious by nature. you crouched down in a nearby bush, quietly as you saw them, neteyam and her sitting next to eachother weaving a basket.
your heart sunk, you had always wanted to do that with neteyam. you couldn't watch any longer. you were about to turn to walk away when you heard your name, "why is y/n always following you?"
you sat on the edge of your heels, waiting for his response. "i dont know," his shoulders shrugging, "she kind of just always has done that." your eyebrows furrowed.
katarina laughed gently, "why? does she have a crush on you or something?" speaking in a mocking way.
neteyam didn't know why, but he hated the way she spoke of you- like you were a burden. "i don't know." of course he knew you liked him, you made it obvious.
"hm.." she hummed, her fingers guiding the leaf through. "well my mother says her grandma is a bit," she spun her finger around her head, "coo-coo."
neteyams brows furrowed, "what?" he wanted to yell at her, tell her she was wrong- but nothing came out.
"what i am saying is, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
you were waiting for neteyam to defend you, to tell her that you weren't coo coo, or your grandma. he knew you and your family, they were always so nice to him- and the two of you were such good friends.
but when he replied with a nod and a 'yeah' in agreement you sat there astonished, tears threatening to spill from your eyes. did he really agree with her? did he think you were crazy? he was a coward.
"what is wrong dear one?" your grandma questioned you, grinding herbs as you sulked next to her.
you were about to shrug it off, but your grandma was a wise woman- she saw what others couldn't, but you really did not want to speak about the boy, "its nothing." she hummed in response, you knew she did not believe you- but she was not one to pry.
"it is never nothing my child." your grandmothers words always dipped deeper than the surface, you often wondered how she always knew what to say. "is it that sully boy?" you sat, playing with your own hands. your silence confirmed her theory. "why do you like the boy?"
"i guess it's something about his eyes, or maybe his smile."
"but what about him?" you furrowed your brows, not knowing what she meant. "you have to look at the whole landscape my child."
"what does that mean?"
her eyes softened looking at you, stretching her hand to yours. "a painting is more than the sum of its parts. A cow by itself is just a cow, a meadow by itself is just grass, flowers... and the sun peeking through the trees is just a beam of light, but you put them all together... and it can be magic."
you didn't understand what your grandma meant at the time, you just nodded in agreement. it wasn't until later in the day when you resigned to your favourite spot, at the very top branch of the tall tree. when her words went from your head into your heart.
the gentle breeze kissed your skin, the light slowly falling on the horizon, waving goodbye as it descended past the trees. beautiful oranges and shades of pink painted the sky- it took your breath away. sitting up so high, seeing the view that you couldn't properly see from down on the ground.
there you realised what your grandma had meant, it was the sum of all its parts that made it beautiful- all of its features worked together to create something beautiful as a whole but that in itself made it more than its whole.
people being the same, they were all the sum of their parts. your mind began to wander to neteyam again, this time you thought of what your grandma had said earlier- was neteyams whole more than the sum of his parts? beyond his eyes and his smile and the sheen of his hair, look at what’s really there.
it was then you realised your crush on neteyam was just an assemblage of parts, not a judgment of his character. you weighed neteyam by his actions and courage, and the sum no longer equalled magic.
neteyam set out on his afternoon hunt the next day, he never realised it before then- but he found himself waiting for you to join him, like you always did when he went on his little journeys. but you never came, he pushed the feeling away, he didn't care you weren't here. you were annoying and never stopped talking, it would be good this way.
so why did he care so much that, you, y/n- the pain in his backside wasn't there?
he shortly learned that it was not just that day you had decided not to annoy him, you had stopped all together- when he walked by you, you did not bat an eye at him. you stopped knocking on his familys hut every month giving him herbs. you didn't check up on him when he was down.
you had become apart of his schedule without him even realising it, now he felt as if his days were not complete- like something, or someone, was missing.
you also realised you had almost revolved all your days around neteyam, now that you did not want to be around him you found yourself having more time on your hands than you once thought you did.
so instead of doing nothing all day you decided to tag along with your grandmother for the day, she often spent her days with mo'at in the healing tent- maybe you could learn something useful.
the whole day you spent helping them prepare treatments for the next war party, you could feel mo'ats judging gaze on you- she did not try to hide it either. she studied your body language, each movement under her watch. until she finally spoke up.
"you have a healers touch, my child." mo'at commented you grounding the herbs, that fact surprised you- she was never really the woman who gave out compliments. "very rare that one is born with the gift from eywa."
you felt so honoured to have been praised by the tashik, "thank you tashik." bowing your heard with a large grin on your face.
"your grandmother tells me you spend alot of time in the tree next to your house." mo'at casually said, her eyes sparkling with something unfamiliar as she looked at you.
you turned to your grandma, embarrassed at why she would share the information with the leader of the clan. "uh yeah-" you fumbled, "it is a beautiful tree, you can see the whole forest from it i swear." you loved talking about your special corner of the world. "when you are up there it feels like you are on top of the world."
you didn't really know why but the weeks following after that you spent most your days with mo'at and your grandmother, even on the days your grandma wasn't there you were with mo'at.
she enjoyed your company, she asked alot of questions- that you were more than happy to answer.
one day you were sharing a story of what you had seen that morning up in your tree, mixing soft honey while doing so. "the light rose and it beamed onto my skin, i bet if i could touch light it would feel like soft silk."
it was then it clicked why she enjoyed your company so much, "my husband says the same thing." she spoke of him like he was still there, in ways he always would be. she took a slow pause before speaking once more, "you remind me of him, you have a strong heart, free spirit."
neteyam could not fathom why his grandmother was spending more time with you than she ever had with her own blood. he would always see you dip until her tents flap, not coming out until the day had finished.
"why is y/n always in your tent grandma?" neteyam asked the question he had been waiting to ask for weeks now. mo'at was patching him up from a fall he had suffered after trying to save lo'ak from a nasty attack from a thanator.
his grandma did not blink an eye, "she helps me with healing duties."
that did not fufill neteyams curiosity, "doesn't kiri help with that though." mo'at slowed her motions, stopping to peer into her grandsons eyes. neteyam suddenly felt nervous as she stared as if she was looking into his soul.
after a few silent seconds she began to move again, "you think about the girl alot." she said as more a statement than a question.
neteyams face burned, "no-" he did not care about what you did. "i don't think about her alot." he denied it. "she is weird and annoying."
mo'at hummed, "yet you are still here asking about her doings." he couldn't give a reply to that, he had no answer to it.
his grandmothers voice haunted him throughout that night, twisting and turning in a mental battle in his head. why did he want the answer? why did he care so much that you were spending time with his grandma?
so he did what he did best, he buried his feelings deep within him self- swearing that they would never resurface. he believed that if he ignored it, it would eventually fade away.
he was wrong.
time had gone by without warning anyone, before anyone could stop and focus you and neteyam was about to turn 18 and were about to finish your ikiyama- your right of passage, becoming apart of the people for good.
all of the na'vi coming of age stood in a circle, the clan surrounding them graciously. slowly connecting eachother with touch, feeling hands touching his shoulders he welcomed the feeling of belonging.
his heart was beating out of his chest, he glanced around at all the other young adults that were being welcomed into the clan with him- all of them sharing the same body paint as him. when his eyes stopped on someone, not someone- you.
you wore the body paint proud, your smile wider than ever- he didn't know whether it was the glow of the bioluminescent freckles that dotted your skin, or the glow from the clans spirit, but he felt like you were glowing in that moment.
in that moment neteyam sully felt his world shift on an axis, it felt like his feet had been swiped off from the floor below him.
when had you gotten so beautiful? he was staring at you, but he was in too much of a shamble to even care. neteyam could not think of anything else for the rest of the ceremony, even as he was being welcomed into the clan all he could think about was sneaking another glance at you.
the air filled with laughter and joy at the after party, everyone thrilled at the official new members of the clan. "is this seat taken?" neteyam glanced up at the soft voice, nearly choking on his food realising it was you.
"no!-" he calmed himself down. "no, it's not." you smiled politely at him, sitting down on the log next to him. his heartbeat stopped in his chest, slowly looking at you- you were even prettier up close.
talk to her! was all his inner thoughts were screaming at him to do, he took a deep breath in, turning to speak to you- but before he could open his mouth he closed it right away. you were speaking to a person beside you, the back of your head facing neteyam. he had missed his chance to speak to you, but when he sucked in a deep breath through his nostrils your sweet scent filled his senses- had you always smelled so divine?
that was the start of neteyam sullys world, flipping upside down.
when you were 18 you started changing, neteyam didn't mean to notice the way your features were slowly maturing- or the way your hair sat on your shoulder and swayed in the wind. he noticed that about everyone, at least thats what he told himself.
you were no longer the odd little girl that he met that day by the waterfall, you were a woman. he doesn't even know when it happened, one day he looked at you and realised that you were beautiful.
you walked with a sense of pride wherever you went, your strode into battle with grace and dignity unlike anyone he had ever seen. you used your bow like it was an extension of yourself, striking whatever your target was with exact precision.
you were now a warrior, selfless and kind, one of the clans best. forged in a war you were born in.
due to that you were the lead of one of the groups for the defence line for the war party, meaning neteyam had to see you almost every day.
you never even batted an eye towards his direction, only speaking to him when it was utterly necessary.
"bro," lo'ak puts his hand on his brothers shoulder, "you need to stop staring at y/n during war party meetings."
neteyams eyes widening in panic, "was it that obvious?" wincing, had anyone else noticed him?
lo'ak responded, nodding his head. "yes," breaking the harsh truth. "painfully, you look like a lost yerik staring at her."
neteyam groaned, rubbing his temples. "i don't know what is happening," he had never said this aloud to anyone before, "one day she was just this girl who followed my every move and the next she is this-" he paused, thinking how to word it. "this, woman- who doesn't even look my way."
lo'ak was shocked at his brothers sudden confession, he was not expecting him to say all of that. "dude," he could not believe it, "whats the matter with you- you are all flipped over y/n! the girl who use to bring you bracelets and who you use to whine about wouldn't leave you alone."
neteyam realised lo'ak was right about one thing, he had flipped. completely.
neteyam went to the one person he knew for a fact would have the answers to his millions of thoughts racing through his head, the tashik- also his grandmother
"grandma," he doesn't know how to start this off, but he knows that this is part of it. "how did you know grandpa was the one." mo'at knew instantly why her grandson had come to see her.
"some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss, but every once in a while you find someone who's iridescent, and once you do, nothing will ever compare." .
flat, glossy, iridescent? what the hell did that mean? and y/n had always just seemed plain to him. until now.
"follow your heart my boy," she put her hand firmly on where his heart sat on his chest. "and eywa will guide you."
how was he meant to speak to you now? after all these years he was never the one to approach you, and now he walked towards where you were, his feet feeling heavy beneath him with every step.
"neteyam- there you are." his line of sight of you being blocked by katarina, before he could tell her he was busy she spoke again. "i was wondering if..." the rest of what she said fell on broken ears to neteyam sully, all he was focusing on was the girl behind him- you.
but you were no longer alone, there beside you was nitalk', one of the warriors in the clan- he couldn't focus on what katarina was saying because less than 20 feet away from his was y/n. his y/n- with nitalk! you were laughing! what could you possibly be laughing about? how could you stand there and laugh and look so beautiful?
"sorry-" he interuppted the girl, "i need to go." without even saying another word he left katarina standing there. his feet moved for him, before he knew it he was standing right next to you. "y/n."
your head turned slowly, your radiant eyes wide at the sight of him. "yes?" neteyam felt his palms becoming sweaty, shuffling under his feet.
"can i speak with you," glancing at the na'vi boy who stood patiently waiting for your conversation with neteyam to be finished, "alone."
nodding carefully you dismiss yourself from the boy, curious at what had gotten neteyam sully in such a disarray. he lead you to somewhere secluded, where no one was near. the tension growing thicker and thicker the longer you walked. "is something wrong neteyam?" your voice broke the awkward silence.
he finally slowed his paste down, turning to look at you. "yes." he admitted, feeling the weight lifting of his shoulder. "i'm sorry y/n." was the first thing he said.
your eyebrows furrowed, "what for?" you did not know why he had dragged you out where no one was to simply apologise to you.
"for everything," then it happened, like vomit he couldn't stop the words from falling from his tongue. "for ignoring you and being rude to you all these years- i was just a boy, i could not understand what it was that i felt you."
the breath felt like it got sucked from the air around you, this was not what you were expecting him to say to you- here he was, the boy you were flipped rightside up for ever since you were 8, confessing his feelings for you.
"neteyam...." you didn't know what to even say.
he took a hold of your hand gently, staring into your eyes. "i was blind before- but i can see you now."
your breath fastened its paste, "i use to think you were extraordinary neteyam..." your voice was low, like a forgotten promise. "but then you agreed with her when she said my family was crazy." you removed your hand from neteyams.
neteyams heart sunk at the loss of contact, he did not understand what you were talking about. "what do you mean?"
you bit your lips, "that day out in the forest, i heard you- when she said the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." it was then he suddenly remembered, "i heard you agree."
neteyam couldn't lose you once more. "thats not true- you aren't crazy and i was a fool back then." he tried reaching for you, but you dodged his attempt pain flashing across his face.
"i need to go."
you went to the one place the world made sense in that moment, up in the tall tree that overlooked the forest. its funny, even after all these years the view had not changed. unlike everything around you it was as if it was stuck in time.
you did not know what to do, you should be thrilled- you had wanted that moment for years now- or at least you used to want it.
"what do i do great mother?" you whisper to the world, you did not know what to do. you closed your eyes, feeling the weight of the situation dramatically.
for half a decade you had been trying to get neteyam to come see the view from where you sat in the tree, but everytime you did he declined the offer. what was ironic now was he was going up there by choice now. he knew you would be there.
"do you mind if i take a seat?" you turned to see neteyam crouching down near the branch, you nodded hesitantly as he took a quiet seat next to you. "i can see why you like to come up here so much now." he whispered, the view was breathtaking.
"sometimes when the light reaches over the horizon it casts a beautiful shadow," pointing out in explanation, neteyam listened closely.
it was then you realised you had never truly had a meaningful conversation with the eldest sully boy. you stared at him, trying to figure him out. "are you more than the whole of the sum of your parts?" he did not understand what you meant. though the question was more for you than him.
"what does that mean?" his head tilting.
"my grandmother told me about it," you explained, "she said a painting is more than the sum of its parts. a cow by itself is just a cow, a meadow by itself is just grass, flowers... and the sun peeking through the trees is just a beam of light, but you put them all together... and it can be magic." you turned to look away from him, "it's stupid-"
you were cut off by his hand on top of your own, "i think you are far more than the sum of your parts." you found yourself feeling like your 8 year old self, staring into his dazzling eyes.
"you don't know anything about me."
he frowned, "i know that whenever you are upset you come and sit in this tree," he began, "i know that you hate when people fight, i know that when you are mad your nose scrunches up- or when you are thinking you bite down on the left of your cheek. when you are fighting during a raid you say a silent prayer before you release your bow." your heart fluttered, as he continued on. "i know that you love to fly on your ikran around the halleluiah mountains and you like seasoning on your food, but not too much or it ruins the flavour." you couldn't believe what he was saying, you never knew he even noticed you.
"you notice me?"
his hand cupped your cheek, "i have noticed you since the moment i saw you," his thumb slowly grazing your cheek bone, "i was just too much of a coward to admit it to myself."
the space between the two of you slowly vanished, before you knew it neteyams lips were on yours. the kiss was slow and passionate, like the two of you were savouring the moment. your stomach flipped as it ended, his forehead resting on yours.
"but i have met someone who is iridescent," he brushed a piece of hair behind your ear. "and i know now i cannot let you go."
hiii so happy to see you’re back!! 🙂↕️🫶🏼 I wanted to put in a request for a neteyam x reader fic where they both get into a really heated argument and while they’re mad/giving each other space reader gets into a fight defending neteyam’s reputation but he doesn’t know that so when he finds her he’s giving “who did this to you?” energy 👀
a/n: thought this was such a good request! enjoy !
masterlist!
you were a stubborn person by nature, that was just who you were- everyone who knew you knew that you were not one to sway easily. you were prideful by heart.
your close friend neteyam sully was also a stubborn person- more prideful than stubborn if anything but the two of you clashed more than you would like to admit. his set on following the rules and your recklessness of following your heart made for a dynamic duo.
you would think you would be closer with lo'ak, the two of you were similar- but you just gravitated towards the eldest sully for a reason you weren't too sure about. the two of you balanced eachother out, or rather you pushed neteyam to let his guard down most of the time.
neteyam always kept an eye on you during the war party raids, he knew you acted on impulse- though he knew better than anyone you could protect yourself, he hated how you did not hesitate to jump into a battle.
he just hoped that when the day came that you jumped into a battle that was bigger than yourself he would be there to help you.
the raid party started out like many of them, you were apart of the group that was on asset control- you took down the RDA's defences so the rest of the team would be able to safely raid them without being watched. though you wished you were more in on the action, that did not stop you from going off from your group time to time.
you had just taken down the last of the RDA's defence drones, this was where you and your group were suppose to now head back- you on the other hand had an itch you wanted to scratch desperately, you wanted to fight more, defend your people.
you knew they needed more help on the ground, it was more than obvious. ignoring the yells from your group you charged forward, mounting your ikran with a war cry and flew right into the action.
drawing your bow you realised it, hitting one of the machines that were about to shoot fire at the war party on the ground. you smirked with pride, feeling of belonging coursing through your veins seeing the machine fault due to you.
neteyam who was patrolling the sky with his brother lo'ak eyed the group you were suppose to be in, he groaned realising you and your irkan were not with them.
"y/n!" he spoke in his comms to you, "why are you not with the group?" you heard him through your comms, rolling your eyes muting him. the beep of being muted filled his comms on the other side, lo'ak who was on the same channel laughing at his brother being silenced.
you would deal with the lecture from neteyam later, you learned how to tune his voice out when he was lecturing you- of course it came from a place of care but you really did not care for his in put.
striking down more RDA drones you yipped out, holding your bow in succession. "fall out! fall out! helicopter incoming!" your eyes widening hearing the yell of a nearby na'vi warning you.
powerful blasts shot down to the ground, na'vi getting thrown left and right due to the explosion. you carefully flew through them, zigzagging in the skye to avoid their shots- one merely skimming past you. your heart was racing with thrill from the near escape.
neteyam on the other hand was not thrilled, his eyes searched the area for you and your ikran. lo'ak pointing, yelled out to his brother as he caught sight of you. "i see her!"
there you were, winding through the destruction, gracefully twisting and turning on your spirit sister. his heart dropping seeing how close one of them was to hitting you off, thankfully you turned left switfly dodging the blow- other na'vi not being as lucky as you.
"that was so cool!" you rambled to lo'ak who also was coming down from the high of the thrill, your war paint still covering your body slightly smudged from the raid. "did you see me, i totally swerved that shot!" mimicking your actions from earlier with your hands demonstrating to the boy, breaking the bond from your ikran.
lo'ak laughed at your enthusiasm, dismounting his ikran next to you. "yeah i saw that!" exclaiming brightly, his eyes shifting behind you. the smile from his face dropping quickly seeing his brother striding towards the two of you. his jaw clenched, arms by his side. "uh oh- 12' o clock incoming." he whispered, pointing behind you.
eyebrows furrowing you glanced behind you, meeting neteyams harsh glare approaching. "ugh- here comes party pooper." turning back to lo'ak you grumbled.
"y/n." neteyam spoke shortly, "can i speak with you?" his tone was calm but his body and the way his tail swayed side to side said otherwise.
you grimaced, sharing a look with his brother. "uh- yeah." tucking your bow back into your ikrans saddle, hearing a 'good luck' from lo'ak as you walked away.
you walked behind neteyam, who did not even once turn to glance back if you were still there. each step harsh on the poor ground. soon you were away from where the war party had returned from, in a more secluded part.
sighing you just wanted to get this over and done with. "neteyam-" you were cut off by neteyam stopping in place, turning around to meet you.
"what were you thinking?" his teeth gritting together, his tone harsh.
eyebrows furrowing at the boy in front of you, never hearing him speak to you so angry. "i was thinking i needed to protect the clan."
neteyam sighed frustratedly, "no that is not your job." his hand gesturing dramatically in front of him. "your job is to be on the side-lines and help out the team-"
you were sick of him telling you what to do. "i know what my job is, neteyam." your eyes glaring at him, you weren't stupid. "it's not your job to tell me off everytime." pointing accusingly at him.
rolling his eyes at you in disbelief. "i know that." he shot back, his voice coming out more aggressive than he intended, sighing he tried to calm down. "i am just trying to look out for you."
"well then stop." your voice now raised, "i don't need a babysitter." snapping coldly
neteyam bit his lips in frustration at you, you were so stubborn. "clearly you do because you nearly got shot!"
"exactly, nearly." looking up at him, "i didn't get shot." you shook your head, "stop treating me like i am some kid."
"stop acting like one and i'll stop." snapping back at you.
you chuckled in disbelief at his words, "i'm not one of your siblings you can just boss around." your words cutting deep, "i'm done with this." walking away from neteyam.
a hand grabbing onto your own, making you turn back around annoyedly. "no we are not done." his grip was tight, both of you stared into eachothers eyes- neither of you willing enough to back down.
"yes we are." you spat back at him, "let go of me." slapping away the hand that held onto you, neteyam taking a step back at your action- his face faltering in hurt by you swatting his arm away.
he quickly regained himself, masking his hurt. "can you just listen for once-"
"no!" fed up with him, "can you just listen to me for once?" your voice laced with anger directed at him. "I'm sick of you always telling me what to do every 5 seconds!"
neteyam opened his mouth, closing it before opening it to speak. "i just don't want to see you hurt." his eyes bore into yours, a wish for your understanding.
you were far too stubborn for that. "than stop- no one is asking you to do it."
he huffed out in disappointment, "you are unbelievable." shaking his head, rubbing his temples together. "you are not doing anyone any good if you get yourself killed because you didn't think before you acted."
your were about to speak again when he cut you off, "no- you do not speak right now." rolling your eyes at him, "i am telling dad to remove you from the war party." his voice stern.
your eyes widening, "what?- are you joking neteyam?" hurt reaching your face, your ears twitching- trying to search his face for any sign that he was lying, but he did not waver. "i have worked so hard to be apart of this- you can't just get me removed!"
"we don't need your recklessness in the war party." you stared back at him with hurt, something he had never seen you look at him in- it made him regret speaking, he wished he could take it back.
the anger washed away from your body, the feeling of betrayal sinking deeper than any knife could ever. your eyes tightened, "fine- have it your way." you grabbed your war necklace, the one every member in the team wore- throwing it at him, "now you won't have to worry about me." with that he watched as you stormed off, tears welling in your eyes, trying to fight them back.
"hey how'd it go-" lo'ak trailed off seeing the tears you were holding back. "wow, what happened?"
"nothing-" you shot back the heat from the confrontation still fresh in your system, "your brother is a skxawng." lo'ak glanced around, unsure of what to say.
neteyam was in shock, regret flooding his body as you walked away. picking up your war band from the floor, "wait! y/n!" calling out to you, running to catch up with you. he was too late, without even batting an eyelid at him you flew off with your ikran, leaving neteyam standing there.
"youre so stupid!" he groaned to himself, dragging his palms down his face. "why would you say that." running a hand through his braids.
"i can't believe he would say that!" kicking a rock angrily, "i mean- who does he think he is?- i know he is the future ole'kayton but why is it that i make one mistake and he goes crazy?" turning to your ikran who sat awkwardly, eyes darting away then back to you. looking at her as if you expected her to respond. "ugh!- he is so annoying." your posture shot up, head high. "i am neteyam and you can't be in the war party, you are soooo reckless y/n!" your voice was deep, mocking neteyam.
you bent down, splashing water in your face. trying to cool down, "i hate him!" continuing to speak to yourself. "i hate his.. stupid hair... the stupid way he smiles-" stopping you sat staring at your reflection in the water.
"having trouble in paradise?" you jumped back in surprise from the sudden voice, g'inia perched on a rock, her eyes carefully watching over you.
you didn't mind the girl but you didn't particularly like her, you tried to keep your distance from her- you knew she wasn't the nicest of all na'vi and you also knew that she had tried to court neteyam multiple times.
"no." getting up, not wanting to talk to anyone about your fight with your friend- it was nobodys business.
jumping down from her place on the rock, walking towards you. "really?" her voice fake. "thats not what i heard, apparently people saw you and him yelling at eachother."
you really did not have the energy to deal with someone like her right now, turning to glace at the girl you spoke as nicely as you could. "sorry but i really don't want to talk about it so-"
cutting you off, not caring what you even had to say. "great, so you and neteyam are done?" you were caught off guard by her question.
"what?"
"oh you know..." she spoke, seemingly unamused to talk to you now. "you are always around neteyam- so its okay if i go for him?" she tilted her head. "no hard feelings, right?"
you felt like you could twitch your eye, your jaw tightening. "yup. go for it." obviously you didn't want her to.
"thanks," her smile made you want to drown yourself in the nearby pond. "sorry about your fight- i mean not everyone is compatible."
your toes scrunched against the grass, fists clenching together. "yep." a sarcastic tone in your voice, the girl clearly not understanding- or caring.
she continued. "but its good for me and neteyam- we can get mated quicker now."
"mated?" your eyebrows furrowing at the girl.
"yes, my father has already been arranging the ceromony," her face smug, "you can come if you want." you were taking deep breaths in, taking everything not to punce. "he is a bit dull though, his brother lo'ak is hotter- but neteyam is going to be the leader and he needs a tashik and i am per-"
snapping finally, pouncing on her, a yelp escaping from her mouth at the sudden attack from you. pinning her to the ground, she laid below you. "get off me you bitch!" she hissed at you, punching your left cheek, allowing her to throw you off her. "you're jealous, aren't you?" smirking she wiped the blood that fell from her nose.
you swung at her again, knocking her down once more. "stay away from neteyam." you growled, pointing at her.
"ouch!" wincing at the sting from the ointment kiri applied to the cut on your cheek.
"stop moving." she took a hold of your head, holding you in place dabbing a cloth on your cut. "you need to talk to neteyam, he has been weeping around all day-stop moving."
"no."
rolling her eyes she dabbed the ointment on purpose on your fresh wound, earning a yelp from you. "you are stubborn." you frowned at her, "you punch a girl because she tries to court him but won't speak to him."
as she finished off the sentance the flap to the healers hut flew open, neteyams worried face landing on you. "what happened?" he walked over to you, crouching down in front of you and kiri. you moved your gaze to the floor, kiri rolling her eyes.
"i am going to leave," getting up, passing the ointment to neteyam. "apply one more to the cut." nodding at his sister he silently thanked her for leaving them alone.
you could feel neteyams eyes burning into you, refusing to meet his face. he softly grabbed your chin with his fingers, moving your face to the side to examine what had happened. his eyebrows furrowing, "who did this to you?" your eyes focused on the wall of the hut.
"no one." replying shortly.
he moved your chin again, this time to look at him. your eyes finally lifted to meet his, your ears falling feeling stupid. "who did this to you, you can tell me."
"it doesn't matter neteyam." moving your face so it was no longer in his grasp.
"yes it does." his voice was soft, the neteyam you knew- not the angry one you saw earlier. "i will find out one way or another- even if i have to ask everyone in the village."
"g'inia." mumbling under your breath, neteyam barely able to hear you.
"who?"
"g'inia," speaking again, this time raising your voice so he could hear.
neteyam clenched his jaw, "she did this to you?" his blood boiling, he could not believe someone would dare to lay their hands on you. "i will go and speak to her-"
wincing, you did not want him to find out the reason you punched her. "don't"
"don't?" confused at what you said, "no- i am not going to let some na'vi touch you like that." he knew you were stubborn but he was not going to let this one go, no matter how much you fought him on it.
you sighed, you had to tell him. "i punched her first." your ears flat against your head, ashamed of admitting it.
he raised his eyebrow, "why? did she say something?" he knew the girl, he knew she also wasn't the nicest. "please tell me y/n." he also knew for a fact you would not initiate a fight without a good reason.
swallowing all your pride, "because she-..." you took a deep breath, "because she said she wanted to mate with you because you were going to be the future clan leader." your eyes were closed tightly, not wanting to see his reaction it was not what you expected to hear, you heard a laugh. your eyebrows furrowing, opening your eyes to look at him. "what?" was it something you said?
"she has been trying to court me for months now," he explained, "i have denied her multiple times."
your mouth fell into the shape of an 'o', embarrassment flushing over you. "oh."
his laughter died out, "you punch her because she wanted to mate with me?" he was going to get the answer out of you.
playing with your fingers, you spoke softly. "because she only wanted to mate with you because you were toruk maktos oldest."
his heart melting in his chest, you were truly amazing. "you do not have to do that for me." gently stopping you from playing with your hands, taking yours in his.
"i know," nodding, "i just don't want to see you be hurt." admitting, the vulnerability making you shift under his gaze.
"come here." engulfing you in his warm large arms, you softened as you felt them wrap around you. giving into his loving embrace, sighing as you tightened the hug. your head in the crook of his neck.
it was silent for a bit, just you and him in eachothers arms. "i'm sorry neteyam." you spoke breaking the silence, he rubbed your back slowly, sending shivers down your spine.
"don't be, you defended me."
"no- not about that," shaking your head in his shoulder, "i'm sorry about today- i didn't mean to scare you, i know you just care-"
a kiss on your forehead silenced you, a blush coming towards your cheek as he pulled back staring into your soul. "no, i am sorry y/n," he spoke genuinely. "i had no right to tell you i was removing you from the war party- and for raising my voice at you- i was being a skxwang."
you chuckled, making him smile at the sight of your happiness. "yeah, you were." you pressed back into him, back in his embrace. sinking into his skin. he rolled his eyes playfully, laughing. "i'm still mad at you though."
"oh really?" you could hear the playfulness in his voice, glancing at his tail that began swaying mischievously behind him. before you could ask what he was about to do you felt his warm mouth on your neck, your eyes widening at the sensation- confused at his sudden act of boldness. "neteyam?" you looked around scared, anyone could walk in at any point and see him kissing your neck.
"shhhh." he whispered into your ear, licking the spot behind your neck slowly. your tail giving you away completely, its motion swaying faster by his action. he smirked knowing you liked it.
your breath sped up as he continued to lick your sweet spot, trying to gain control of your body. "neteyam- anyone could walk in-" getting cut off by his hand grazing your inner thigh dangerously, making you suck in a breath.
"do not worry yawne," your eyes widened at the name he called you, "everyone is at the clan feast." whispering into your ear, the hairs on your body sticking up. he made his way to your mouth, leaning in kissing you slow and passionately- you could feel the fireworks going off in your body. breaking away from the kiss, leaving you breathless, starring in awe at neteyam.
he smiled softly, tucking a hair behind your ear. his hand behind you back guiding you down to the floor gently. admiring how beautiful you looked underneath him. "what are you doing neteyam?" your voice barely came out as a whisper.
"showing you how sorry i am," he bent down, kissing your forehead lightly. you didn't even know how to respond, or act- your body was in complete shock.
that night you forgot why you were even mad at him in the first place.
a/n: soz edged you guys ..... lol- maybe i will write part 2 👀👀👀👀
a/n: thought this was really cute had fun writing it!
masterlist!
neteyam stood next to his father during the war group meeting, you being one of their best archers in the clan of course was there- standing across the room from him intently listening to his father speak of all the strategies for their next raid on the RDA.
he always knew when you were intently listening, over the years he learnt that you tend to chew on the side of your cheek, a habit that has stayed with you since you were young.
his father stopped, finishing his section, turning his head towards neteyam, signing that he can now speak. neteyam nodded respectively, stepping up. "our first order must come in from the north," he pointed on the map, "ikran riders come in through the south, they won't be expecting that we hit the same spot twice." everyone in the group nodded in agreement with his statement. "y/n, you will lead the second ikran grouping- you guys will come in once we have done the signal." his eyes did not leave you as he spoke.
nodding at him you smile, he knew you loved being apart of the leading parties- and you were good at it as well, a born leader.
"oh why thank you mighty ole'keyton," sneaking up behind him, making him snap his head to see who had just playfully pounced on him. he shoved you playfully, walking side by side with him now.
"i am not the ole'keyton yet," neteyam reminded you.
you rolled your eyes at him, doing dramatic gestures with your hands that made him chuckle. "oh why thank you mighty future-to-be-ole'keyton." your voice fancy and proper.
"oh, you think you are funny?" he raised an eyebrow at you, earning a shrug from you. "well as the mighty-future-to-be-ole'keyton, i don't think i want you to be leading the second war party now."
"sorry, no take backs."
neteyam raised his eyebrow teasingly, "what?"
"yup," you popped the 'p' , "sorry, not even the mighty future ole'keyton can do take backs."
"you just made that up." you always made him smile, he wasn't even sure where it was he was walking to- he was just hoping to drag it out a little longer to speak to you.
shaking your head, your hair shaking slightly in motion. "nope, i did not." your hand now in a pointing gesture, "it is known that no one can do take backs- you should know this."
"yeah sorry- but i do not study the book of y/ns made up ridiculous rules." his tone dramatic, mimicking yours.
nodding, you pretending to think, "yeah no, i just don't think you should even be the next ole'keyton." your face morphing into one of fake guilt, like you just shared horrible news with him.
his hand shot up to his chest, clutching his heart in fake pain. "no!" gasping, "what have i done to be deserved of this such fate." you couldn't hold your laugh in anymore, breaking character- neteyam following in pursuit.
they both had not realised they had reached neteyams family hut until a small voice appeared, "neteyam!" an angry tuk stood at the entrance, the fabric door swaying down behind her. "you were late to my dinner!" her arms crossed angrily, eyes staring daggers at her older brother who mentally facepalmed forgetting all about his promise to the young girl that he would attend her make believe dinner.
"ooooo" your eyes were wide at neteyam, "that is really low."
"tuk," neteyam said the first thing that came to his head, not wanting to face another one of her tantrums. "i am late because.... because i was trying to find y/n!" he shoved you forward, your face one of confusion. "i thought we should have another guest at the dinner."
tuk raised an eyebrow suspiciously at her brother, turning to look at you. "uh- yup," smiling awkwardly, playing along. "i am here for your dinner tuk!- i hope there is room for me?"
tuk stood in silence, thinking silently to herself for a couple of seconds. you and neteyam sharing a look with eachother. "fine, but you have to sit next to neteyam, y/n. on the boys side." tuk explained, "if you had given me notice you would have a special spot next to me but that spot is already taken."
nodding, "oh that is okay," smiling at the girl, you moved forward a bit pretending to whisper. "he does smell a little though are you sure i can't move?" tuk giggled, neteyam shoving you playfully at your remark.
"neteyam!" tuk yelled, "do not be mean to our special guest!"
you sat on a big round make shift basket that acted as a table, you were almost sure you had seen neytriri use the exact same basket for carrying her material's but you did not question it.
neteyam sat next to you on the floor, a teddy both either side of you sitting up on a bunch of cushions so they could be seen from the table. tuk cleared her thoat, "everyone this is our special guest," tuk annouced to the stuff teddies, one flopping off its seat on the cushion. you grimaced as it fell to the floor, making a soft thud. tuk paid no mind to it, continuing on. "neteyam brought her as a date."
"what?" neteyams eyebrows raised in confusion at his baby sister.
turning to neteyam, "thanks neteyam." you joked, smiling.
neteyam sat confused at what the dinner had turned into, somehow you and tuk had developed funky accents that tuk had called the accent of royalty. each word being said with a funk to it. also he did not know when the two of you had decided to go by different names or where tuk had gotten the wooden tiara from that she wore with pride.
"sir squeekaslot, may i do the pleasure of speaking at the table," each world rolling off your lounge as you made dramatic gestures with your hands.
"yes you may," tuk nodded, waving her hand like a wand.
"i do wonder how did you make that beautiful tiara," neteyam was staring at you in awe as you laughed and joked with his sister, all he could think about was how perfect you were with little kids. how perfect you were with his family.
"neteyam!" his thoughts were interrupted by tuk shouting. "stop staring at y/n its weird!" neteyam mentally facepalmed, why was he being called out by his 4 foot tall sister.
"i wasn't-" again getting cut off rudely.
tuk groaned, hands dragging down her face dramatically. "neteyam- i am going to ban you from the dinner! stop being such a boy!"
you bit back your laugh, a small snort spilling out of your lips. covering it up by a cough.
neteyams mouth was opened in shock, he was not about to get banned. he coughed, changing his voice to match yours and tuks. "i madam veron declare i am staying at this table." his hands waving around him.
tuk smiled satisfied, "madam veron, your voice sounds a little deep." she poured tea into an imaginary teapot, sticking out her thumb as she drank it. "are you feeling well."
"oh- i am just a little sick is all."
the fabric of the entrance wooshed as it opened quickly, spider and lo'ak appearing. "wow..." lo'ak stood, eyes scanning over the weird scene in front of him. his eyes falling on neteyam who was posed weirdly, hands out in front of him.
spider snorted, "nice tiara tuk."
"thanks." tuk gushed, "i made it today."
"hi y/n," lo'ak waved at you, you waved back while holding pretend tea. "didn't know you were invited today to tuks dinner."
before you or neteyam could speak tuk beat you both to it, "she wasn't," speaking matter-of-factly, "but neteyam brought her as his date."
lo'ak and spider both raised their eyebrows, looking between you and neteyam who both had gone stiff at her statement. "woah!" lo'ak crouched down over neteyam, grabbing a hold of his shoulders playfully. "the mighty warrior finally concurring the biggest task of them all, talking to a female." he joked, neteyam swatting his hands away while spider laughed in the background.
"miss madam veron is quite the ladies man," you spoke, your voice still in the accent. "i just couldn't help but be entranced by his charm." neteyams cheeks went red, lo'ak sharing a confused look with spider.
neteyam forgot about the accent, "why thank you kind sir," neteyam pretended to raise a toast to you, your eyes meeting- sharing a soft look with one another.
"thats it!" tuk got up, slamming her hands into the pretend table. "neteyam you are banned! you ruined the dinner!" she thumped away, her tiara still sitting on her head. you, lo'ak, spider and neteyam all watching as she exited the room dramtically.
neteyam walked you back to your family hut, which was only two huts down- but he insisted he walk with you, not that you minded of course. "we are here." you annouce, reaching the entrance of your families home.
"thank you for coming to dinner today." neteyam shuffled on his feet.
smiling you replied, tucking a loose strand behind your ear. "thank you for making me your date."
neteyam knew he was probably smiling like an idiot, "would you like to be my date next time?"
you chuckled, "i don't think you will get an invitation back there big guy," your tone changed to one more serious, "but uh..." your eyes stared at your feet before slowly meeting neteyams. "i would like to be your date for a dinner- that is maybe not with tuk."
the boy standing in front of you felt like he was about to collapse on his knees, he stared at you forgetting you cannot read his mind. "yes- yes..." he was embarrassing himself, "i uh-... would really like that."
"good." getting on your tippy toes you leaned in, pressing a small kiss to neteyams cheek. leaving him dumbfounded, "see you before eclipse tomorrow?"
"y-yes." he stumbled on his words, his body the temperature of an active volcano. "i will be here."
HEYYY I HAVE A REQUEST! I love your page bc it was actually one of the first avatar fics I had ever read- you never fail to satisfy and bring joy to ur readers!
But anyways, here’s my req!!
(This is lowkey inspired by my own fic)
Okay so neteyam and na’vi!reader have been childhood friends. They have grown up together. Readers parents are dead and she lives with the sully’s. She travels with them to the metkayina. Neteyam lowkey becomes jealous bc Ao’nung (who is a professional pot stirrer.) constantly flirts with y/n. (Bonus points if we get some Lo’ak action bc I love Lo’ak.)
Do not touch her | neteyam sully
pairing: neteyam sully x fem! omaticaya! reader
warnings: violence, jealous neteyam, fluff
a/n: loved this request! hope you enjoy it x
masterlist!
neteyam sully was usually very calm, ever since he was a young child he had learned how to control his emotions. how to redirect his anger, how to not wallow in sadness- but when it came to the ones he loved getting in harms way, all his control for his emotions flew out the window.
you were taking a stroll along the beach, when you caught sight of a figure laying down in the shallow bit of the water. you stepped closer, realising it was kiri. standing over her you tried to figure out what it was that had her so entranced.
feeling the presense of someone kiri lifted her head out of the water, smiling as she caught sight of you. "y/n!" she breathed out, "come look at how beautiful this is." ducking her head back into the sea.
smiling you followed her, laying down on your stomach in front of hair, following where he eyes were set on- the ocean floor, how the light that hit the water reflected onto the sand below, making intricate patterns. it truly was breathtaking, know understanding why she was laying here for so long.
"what are they doing?" one of aun'ongs friends pointed the the two of you. all 4 of them walking over to see what you had gotten up to.
one of them furrowed their brows, "they are just looking at the sand bro," they all laughed teasingly.
you felt a tap on your shoulder, gasping out of the water. your smile quickly fading when you realised who it was. "what?" couple seconds after you emerged kiri did, like yours her happy expression drained from her face as she rolled her eyes at them.
"are you some kind of...." aun'ong trailed off, "freak?" you knew it was directed at kiri, you had overheard them many times before making fun of your friend. you turned to face kiri, she did not take these things to heart- of course she never had to deal with this stuff back in the forest but she knew no matter what she was still na'vi.
one of his minions spoke up, "he asked if you were a freak." as if the two of you didn't hear him the first time.
"no," kiri huffed, the two of you making your way to the hsore in attempt to get away from the boys.
"shut up." you hissed at them all, as they continued to follow you and kiri.
"are you sure?" you really wished aun'ong would just mind his own business, "i mean you are not even real na'vi."
"y/n, why do you hang out with these 5 finger freaks anyway?" aun'ong starts once again, you ignored him "look at these hands." attempting to grab a hold of kiris hands. "i mean look at them." he grabbed them, turning them so the rest of his friends could laugh.
you stopped in your tracks, swatting away aun'ongs hands from kiris. "go away aun'ong,"
"oooo" his friends teased at your sudden outburst. "forest girl is getting angry." one of them chuckled, finding your anger entertaining.
"you know i am right y/n," he took a hold of your 4 fingered hand, "don't you want to be around real na'vi, like me." he smirked, you pulled your hand out of your grasp. you thought he was disgusting.
"if real na'vi are like you than no." you spat at him, eyes glaring at him.
aun'ong turned to his friends, "she is feisty, i like it." all his friends snorting at his remark. you shook your head, you had really had enough of him and his stupid goons. "why don't you come back to my marui after this, i can show you how real na'vi really are." one of his eyebrows raised suggestively.
face scrunching in disgust you shook your head, "i will have to pass, thanks." muttering sarcastically.
before aun'ong even had the time to answer a shout interrupted. "hey!" lo'aks voice rang through the air, pulling everyones attention to him strutting angrily towards the group. "back of, fishlips." lo'ak hissed glaring at aun'ong.
you shared a look with kiri, you knew this was not going to end well. "oh- another five fingered freak!" aun'ong was enjoying this greatly.
one of his friends came up behind lo'ak, "look at his little baby tail!" he tugged on lo'aks tail.
lo'ak swatting the na'vis hand away from him, "don't touch me." shoving him.
the metkayina boy that was behind you grabbing a hold of your tail, "baby tails!" yelping you moved away from him, hissing at him.
"don't touch her!" lo'ak pointed at the curly haired boy who had taken a hold of your own tail, the boy smirking at his aggresion.
"leave us alone!" kiri spoke up, all the boys ignoring her.
all the boys suddenly getting close you lo'ak kiri, tugging on your tails, taking a hold of all your hands mockingly. "this is not normal." aun'ong laughed at lo'ak. "seriously y/n if you hang out with these freaks any longer you might turn into one of them."
he was testing your patience more and more, your fist clenching in anger- all you wanted to do was wipe his cocky smirk of his face. kiri took a hold of your shoulder. "it's not worth it y/n." she whispered, you knew she was right, sighing you took a deep breath.
their laughter was cut out by another person joining the circle, pushing aun'ong. you sighed in releif realising who it was. "you heard what she said," all the boys went quiet, "leave them alone." neteyam pointed his finger at aun'ongs chest, voice deep and threatening.
neteyam looked intimidating, his shoulders broad, his posture straight and confident-you knew they would listen to him.
"ah, big brother coming-" one of the boys started, but was cut of by aun'ong putting a hand out for him to stop.
neteyams jaw clenched, "back off," jabbing his finger at his chest. "now."
aun'ong glanced around at his group with a mocking smirk, his lips in a tight smile as he raised his hands in defence. his friends scoffing from behind. "smart choice," neteyam turned to speak to the rest of the group. "and from now on, you respect my sister." the boy behind aun'ong hissed at neteyam, aun'ong again hushing him with his hand. "and you leave y/n alone."
kiri poked her tounge out at the boys, "let's go." he pushed lo'ak gently away from them, knowing his brother and his short fuse. "lo'ak come on." you all made your way up the beach, aun'ong and his friends laughing mockingly as you all retreated.
lo'ak turned around, jaw clenched about to run back to them- before he could neteyams arm grabbed a hold of him. "lo'ak stop."
lo'ak turning towards his brother, "no." shaking his head, "aun'ong was saying disgusting things to y/n- and teasing kiri." neteyam glanced towards you, your ears turning downwards slightly.
neteyam glanced over towards the group of boys, debating whether or not he should go back. even though it made neteyams blood boil knowing the boys were touching you he knew better, "this is not how we deal with it." lo'ak gritted his teeth, shaking his head.
neteyam turning to you, extended his hand to your shoulder, thumb rubbing gently in comfort. "are you okay y/n?" nodding he squeezed your shoulder softly. he knew how much you hated aun'ong.
nodding, "let's just go." all you wanted was to get out of there, you could still hear aun'ong and his friends.
"i call dibs on y/n." you heard one of them announce to the group, the others roaring in laughter, "she's hot." they were speaking loudly to get a rise out of you and the group.
neteyam bit down on his jaw, his fist tightening hearing the boys remarks about you. everything in him was telling him to go over there and teach them how to respect a woman like you. he knew it would be hypocritical of him. he tried to ignore it.
"hey y/n!" one of them called out, your head stayed forward not wanting to pay them any mind. "come to the hidden grove with me at nightfall, i'll show you a real fun time."
that was it. neteyam swung on his heels, your eyes widening watching him angrily strut towards the group of boys. "neteyam!" you called, but he continued walking. you kiri and lo'ak stood there, hearts racing wondering what was about to happen.
neteyam sully was not an angry person, no it was simply just not in his writings. he had the patience of a saint, in all the years you had grown up with him you had never seen the anger that he held in his glare as he approached the group once more.
"come back to say hi?" aun'ong laughed, neteyam paid him no mind pushing him aside waking straight towards the boy who made the remark about you.
neteyams nostrils flared, eyes staring daggers at the boy. "do not speak about y/n." the boy opened his mouth to speak, being cut off by neteyam once more. "or we will have a problem."
the boy did not back down, squaring up to neteyam. "why? scared that she will like a real na'vi more?"
neteyam acted on the first thought that came to mind, which involved his fist colliding aggressively with the teenagers face, knocking the boy to the ground.
you gasped from afar, watching neteyam throw a punch. you winced at the sound that was made when his fist collided with skin- you knew it hurt. "what happened to we don't do it that way huh?" lo'ak mumbled to himself, earning a smack in the head from kiri.
"do not ever go near her again!" neteyam huffed, pointing at the boy on the floor who groaned, blood gushing from his left nostril. adrenaline and anger running through each bone in neteyams body.
one thing lead to another and all the boys started to gang up on neteyam, neteyam held up a good fight on his own- you would be lying if you said watching him wasn't attractive.
you, kiri and lo'ak ran towards the group of boys who were shouting and punching each other. "stop!" kiri yelled, her voice again being lost in the crowd of punches.
you glanced over to lo'ak, who was squirming in his spot a smirk coming to his face. you knew him too well, he was about to join in. "lo'ak do not-" he did not even let you finish his sentence before he jumped into the chaos.
you could not believe the sight in front of you, lo'ak and neteyam and aun'ong and his friends all hitting, pulling on eachothers tails and screaming at one another- they looked like a bunch of feral animals.
"you all are stupid! stop!"
"what was the one thing i said!" jake was furious at his two boys, who both were full of scratches head to toe and adorned with bruises.
"stay out of trouble..." neteyam and lo'ak mumbled.
"stay out of trouble!" jake repeated, "and what did you do?- picking a fight with the cheifs son? what were you two knuckle heads thinking?" he could not believe it, he turned to neteyam. "and throwing the first punch? i raised you better than this!"
lo'aks eyes turned downwards, "dad it's my fault-" jake cut him off.
"its both of your faults."
neteyam felt guilt, but he did not regret anything he did. "i am sorry sir."
lo'ak rolled his eyes, of course neteyam would not tell their father why they did it. "they were making fun of kiri- and you should of heard what they were saying about y/n." lo'ak spoke up, defending their actions.
jake suddenly understood why his level headed son started the fight, because of you. "over a girl?" he sighed, rubbing his temples. jake knew that neteyam had feelings for you, he noticed from the start. how distracted he would get during training when you were near, how he stared at you like you were the centre of the universe itself.
neteyam shook his head gently, his eyes finally meeting his fathers "it's not just any girl," he breathed out, "it's y/n, she is family." He was never one to speak back to his father, he took the punishment that was given to him gracefully- but all he knew was turned when it came to you.
Jake knew he was right, he also knew that if it were him in his sons position he would have done the same in a heartbeat. “Just dont do it again, okay?” Sighing, “and if they say anything else you come to me, got that?”
Lo’ak nodded. “Yes sir.”
Neteyams eyes shifted hearing small footsteps at the entrance, the weight of the world crumbling down as soon as he was met with your concerned gaze.
Jake followed his son’s eye sight, confused at what had gotten him so distracted all of a sudden- you smiled sheepishly meeting Jake’s eyes, he sighed turning back to his eldest son. “you can go.”
Neteyams eyes perked up a little, a smile creeping to his face as he thanked his dad softly- immediately stepping away to be with you.
Lo’aks jaw dropped, “what?” He was in utter disbelief, “he gets to go when he started the fight?- that is so unfair!”
The air was filled with an unbearable silence, wrapping the bandages gently over Neteyams arms. The occasional hiss escaping from his lips.
Every time he thought you were going to speak up, nothing came out. You did not know what to think, you felt guilty- knowing the reason why neteyam went against every moral he had was because of you.
Finally you broke the silence, tightening the bandage on his arm. “You dont have to protect me neteyam.”
Neteyams eyebrows furrowed in confusion, turning to look at you. You ddint meet his gaze, your eyes staying focused on his injured arm. “What do you mean?”
Sighing you rose to your feet, grabbing a cloth to clean the blood of his body. Neteyam waited patiently for an answer, returning back instead in front of him bringing the cloth to his nose, rubbing the dried blood off if. “You don’t need to protect me from people neteyam.”
he did not know what you meant, “I know you can protect yourself,” he winced as you dabbed over a scratch. “I just don’t like it when people talk about my family like that.”
your eyes met his, your heart warming hearing him refer to you as family. “You think i am family?” Repeating what he said back to him.
nodding, “of course,” his voice nothing but serious as he spoke, "you will be family one day."
processing what he had just said you hand faulted with the cloth, stopping applying pressure to his skin. "what do you mean?"
his hand took yours, holding it steady on his chest. "you will be apart of my family," his voice soft, scared that if he said the wrong words you would crumble beneath him. "when we are mated."
A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)
neteyam is not scared to show you affection no matter where you are. he is extremely affectionate, with growing up with a loving family that always showed affection to one another. he loves feeling close to you, touching you, sensing you.
always has to be touching you-will hold your hand, kiss your cheek, hold your waist in public- he loves to make sure people know your his.
he also always gives you compliments, will whisper in your ear about how beautiful you look-and would definitely whisper something cheeky in your ear in public then act all innocent.
praises you consistently, even if you didn't do a good job at something he definitely would tell you that you did amazing- because he genuinely thinks you can do no wrong.
B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)
neteyam would be a great best friend, he would go everywhere with you- exploring every inch of pandora with you- and would listen to all your worries and problems. he would always be flirting with you though and dropping hints to you, would tell you how beautiful you look all the time and is definitely still protective of you, would totally send silent glares to other na’vi who flirted with you.
the friendship would start when the two of you were young when both of your parents and other parents had put their children by the river to play amongst each other whilst they had a meeting. you were making a little ikran of out of sticks and leaves by a rock and neteyam accidentally stepped on it while playing tag making you cry- he felt really bad so he stopped playing with the other children and helped you re build it. since then the two of you have been inseparable.
C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)
neteyam absolutely loves cuddling you! when he is out hunting or training all he will think about is how he can't wait for it to be over so he can cuddle with you.
he is usually the big spoon, he loves to have you wrapped in his arms with your legs entwined and tail wrapped around you- as he wants to protect you, even in your sleep. but he doesn't mind being the little spoon- he actually likes it alot, when he has had a rough day he loves when you wrap your arms around him and play with his hair while humming a quiet song.
D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)
neteyam would love to settle down with you, he thinks about it a lot and how great it would be- just the two of you, and your children. oh, that is his dream. he is great at cooking and will make you your favourite meal often.
cleaning he is a pretty good, he’ll clean up anything if you ask him- because he’s literally whipped for you- but would generally clean up any mess.
E = Experience (How much experience do they have with dating? do they know what they’re doing?)
neteyam has had no experience before you as he has never had eyes on anyone else but you. but you often question if that is true due to him being perfect at being with you and seems to know how to do everything. the truth is he doesn’t know what he’s doing, he just follows his instincts with you.
he has gone to his father for advice on what to do and jake was a bit shocked that he had asked him at first but eventually got over it and told him to just be himself and not overthink anything too much. then jake teased him about you.
F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)
commitment may scare some people but it surly doesn’t scare neteyam. when the two of you were best friends he would dream about you being his mate and what it would be like- and when the two of you get together it is perfect. neteyam is so committed to you as you are to him- and always loves to remind you that he’s yours and only yours.
growing up listening to his mother and father who are so in love he always knew what love was- seeing how his father would do anything for his mother and how his mother would do anything for his father. neytriti told him that one day he would find a mate that was perfect for him, and he thought that was crazy. but when he started to realise his feelings for you he knew eywa had made you for him. so he loves commitment and has committed his whole being to you.
as to officially making you his mate (which is basically marriage for na’vi) he would make sure to do it when the time is right- would not want to rush you at all, and makes sure you are ready. but when you are ready he doesn’t hesitate- he has been waiting to make you his mate since he was a little boy.
G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)
neteyam is extremely gentle, he acts like you're a fragile doll at times and is always gentle when doing anything with you as he would never want to hurt you. when you are out exploring the hallelujah mountains, the forest, ect. he will jump down onto stuff before you then help you down to it gently. "easy there," - will help you even if you don't need help.
emotionally he is extremely gentle as well- will never make you tell him something if you're not ready, and when you're telling him about how you're feeling he will listen contently and tell you that what you are feeling is okay and you are allowed to feel that way. will do anything to make you feel better
H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)
yes! neteyam loves hugs, especially if they’re from you. he will hug you at any chance he gets, he lifts you off the ground and wraps his strong arms around you playfully sometimes. or if you’re not feeling well he will comfort you in a light hug, and tell you everything is going to be okay.
his hugs are the best, they are warm and feel like home to you- even before the two of you got together you would hug each other and you always loves the way he hugged you- he is always so gentle with you.
I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)
neteyam would say i love you as soon as the two of you confess your feelings to one another- he has been too in love with you for the past years of being your best friend to not tell you.
J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)
neteyam does indeed get jealous, not often but when he does get jealous it is obvious. he gets quite jealous when he sees one of the men from the clan talking to you with the same glint in their eyes that he holds when looking at you- only he can look at you like that. he will go up to the two of you and snake a hand around your waist and glare at the na’vi who was flirting with you. upon neteyam’s presence the other man quickly excused himself, not wanting to get onto the bad side of toruk mokto’s son.
K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)
neteyam’s kisses are perfect, you often wonder who taught him how to kiss like he does. his kisses are soft yet passionate and filled with desire making you want more as soon as they separate from your own.
he loves to kiss your neck- he loves how it always seems to make you flustered. he always comes up behind you and kisses your neck- you draw back your bow focusing on your target about to make a clean kill you feel two hands slide around your waist, and then his whole body against your back as your bow is still drawn. trying to keep focus, that is until he puts his lips on your neck, kissing it lightly. oh- he knows how to mess with you. it made you let go of the arrow, missing your target. when you get mad that he made you loose a kill he puts his arms up in surrender.
he loves to be kissed on the forehead by you, he loves how intimate it always is and how it always manages to make his knees weak. whenever you kiss him on the forehead to say goodbye to him he always whines and begs you to stay longer- and how could you ever say no to him?
L = Little ones (How are they around children?)
neteyam is great with children, as he is the oldest sibling of his family he knows how to take care of younger kids. children absolutely love him- as he does them- because of how much he knows how to handle them and play with them.
he wants to make sure that he knows what to do with children so that he is a perfect father for when you two have children- isn't shy to tell you about how he wants to start a family one day with you.
M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)
mornings with neteyam are usually spent curled up in bed- as usually he is extremely tired from working his body past it’s limit the day prior- when you wake up and try to slip out of neteyam’s strong arms careful not to wake him he pulls you back into his hold immediately digging his face into your neck. “nete, i need to go. i’m suppose to go hunting with spider and kiri today.” you try to get out of his hold again making him hold you tighter- neteyam was very strong, anyone knew from just looking at his muscly arms. and you were definitely not getting out of his arms any time soon. “they don’t need you- i do”
N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)
nights with neteyam are spent sitting down laying in his lap by the fire place talking about random things. the conversation usually leads to the two of yours futures and what will come of it.
O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)
it wouldn’t take him that long to open up to you, i feel like you’d already know a lot of stuff as you were his best friend before and the two of you would open up to each other about stuff- all except your feelings to one another- but when the two of you get together he would tell you anything that is on his mind and what is bothering him. sometimes you may have to pry it out of him because he doesn’t want to bother you, but he always caves in and tells you.
neteyam loves to tell you all about where his father has come from, often will explain to you things jake has told him about earth- you are always so fascinated by it.
P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)
neteyam is not easily angered, he is well managed and knows how to keep himself grounded. but just like everyone he too has his breaking point. when he is he absolutely would never take his anger out on you, because even though he may be full of rage his love for you is stronger than any other emotion and he would never say anything negative towards you- when he did he would apologise profusely, over and over again. even when you told him it was fine (because he hadn’t even said anything harmful to you- only raised his voice at you once) but he still felt bad and got you a present to apologise.
Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)
does neteyam remember everything about you? is that even a question? he remembers every single thing about you, when you fall asleep at night, how your nose crunches up when you laugh, how you fidget with your hands when you’re nervous, how you have a special bracelet on your right wrist that you never take off. he has memorised the pattern of your freckles, making constellations out of them. has carved your markings into his mind permanently, along with every feature of your beautiful body.
he also remembers everything you mention to him, he takes in everything you say and remembers it forever. once you were talking about something you had mentioned to him ages ago and he said he remembers and finishes off your sentence- as you had already talked to him about it. this left you dumb founded, even you had forgot you had told him- and you didn’t expect him to remember it nonetheless. “how do you remember me telling you that?” “i remember everything you tell me.”
R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)
neteyam’s favourite moment in your relationship is when you two both went flying on your Ikran’s together and were laughing while trying to beat each other to the top of a mountain-he loves that moment so much as it was the moment he realised how in love he was with you- not that he didn’t know before, he just realised that he was even more in love with you than you thought.
S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)
neteyam is extremely protective of you, he would go to the ends of pandora and back if it meant to keep you safe. you are his mate and the woman who is going to bear his children in the future, he will protect you at all costs- sometimes he may even be a little bit too protective of you.
he protects you by hissing at anyone who dares to speak down to you- he will also not hesitate to get his hands dirty if someone lays their hands on you- it was only the first week of you and neteyam being together, the news spread like wildfire throughout the whole clan- but some did not know of this just yet. while you were down by the river with a group of the clan-which included of neteyam- when another male na’vi had approached you and asked if you would like to go with him some time on his ikran you denied him of course but he kept asking and asking until he grabbed a hold of your shoulder- before you could do anything neteyam came right in between the two of you and forcefully shoved him to the ground and hissed baring his fangs. “don’t touch her!” this was the most angry you had ever seen neteyam- as he wasn’t much of an angry person. “do you understand?!” he yelled again after no answer. “y-yes!” the man looked like he was about to be killed- which he might’ve.
neteyam likes to be protected by the safety and comfort of your arms, when they’re wrapped around him tightly.
T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)
neteyam puts so much effort into dates, anniversaries, gifts and everyday tasks. it’s neteyam? of course he is going to put 100% effort into making a date for you perfect- he will spend an entire day planning a date for the two of you, flying around searching the forest on a place to take you to.
with gifts it is exactly the same. he will often find little things when he is out that remind him of you and takes them back for you. “this reminded me of you.” he also made a necklace for you with the arrow head of his first hunt- men in the clan often do this for their mate. he was nervous to give it to you for sure- definitely asked neytriti for help on it, she loves you so much and is so happy her son is with someone that makes him happy and has a strong heart.
U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)
one of neteyams bad habits is that he is extremely hard on himself- and doesn’t even realise he’s doing it half the time. it’s like second nature to him, always putting pressure on himself. you often call him out on it when he’s doing it and comfort him by telling him he’s doing enough and that he’s doing a perfect job. after you tell him that he’ll relax his tight shoulders and hug you tightly- questioning himself how he got so lucky with you.
V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)
neteyam isn't someone who really cares about his looks, but that all changes whenever you're near him. he finds himself fixing his braids to look more presentable for you or tries to get any food stuck in between his teeth- jake once caught him trying to get a piece of food from his teeth when someone said you were coming and got really confused until he saw neteyam suddenly stop as soon as he saw you, jake chuckled slightly to himself as he realised just how much his son liked you.
W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)
neteyam would definitely feel incomplete without you, it goes as simple as when he’s out hunting alone or flying on his ikran alone he feels like something is wrong- that something being that you aren’t there with him.
X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)
neteyam is the biggest simp ever! he would get on his hands and knees for you with no hesitation whatsoever if you asked him to- if you wanted something he would stop what he’s doing to do it for you- or get it for you. he would worship the ground you walk on. in his eyes you were truly crafted by eywa with delicacy, you were the thing his father had told him about when he was young- an angel.
jake and neytriti would share knowing looks when their son would drop everything he’s doing to go help you- neteyam thought it wasn’t obvious that he had feelings for you, it was very obvious-
neteyam had once just gotten his hair braided but then you asked him if he wanted you to braid it- you had your back turned to him so you didn’t notice it was already braided- he immediately excused himself and rushed to another room to quickly undo his braids. then he came back out and said yes.
Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)
one thing neteyam doesn’t like are people who are cruel and mean to others who have done no wrong to them. when jake had told neteyam he would have to start searching for a mate soon- little did he know neteyam had always chosen one- and told him that one of the women in the clan had their eyes on him and she may be a good mate for him. he almost gagged when his father suggested he get with another women besides you- let alone a women who was cruel and mean to other na’vi who she didn’t like, one of those na’vi being you. now he knew the reason behind why she didn’t like you because you were so close with him. but yes she was beautiful- she didn’t hold a candle up to you in neteyam’s eyes though- but she didn’t have a strong heart, his woman must be strong of heart and loving and kind towards others and that was just you- so he immediately shut down the idea of getting with her.
neteyam also wouldn’t like having a partner who isn’t good with children- as he would love to start a family one day.
Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)
a sleeping habit that neteyam has formed is reaching out in his sleep for you, since you are usually with him at night his body automatically thinks you’re still there even when you’re not with him at night. he found out about this habit of his when he slept next to tuk one night because she was having nightmares and you were with your family and she woke up complaining that he was squeezing her to death all night.
he also has a habit of sleep talking, lo’ak and kiri found out about this one when they stood over him trying their best not to laugh to not wake him while he slept and was mumbling your name “y/n…….no…….please don’t…….. why…..y/n”
warnings: fluff, fighting, neteyam being whipped for you, slight angst, heated making out
A/N: reposting all of my old work from my deleted acc enjoy !!!
masterlist!
neteyam sully was drawn to you the second he had met you when you were young, he knew as soon as he saw you playing by the river trying to catch a fish and failing miserably at doing so that you and him would become friends- he just didn't realise that as your friendship grew along with the two of you that his feelings towards you would turn into anything but what one would hold for their simple friend. neteyam sully knew he was a goner when he felt his heart start beating uncontrollably that he was sure that you and any na'vi from miles away could hear it's fast rhythm when your arm had grazed his accidently out hunting with one another. he knew it was only so soon when you too would realise his feelings for you had developed into more than he would ever want to lead on.
he couldn't concentrate when you were around him, he couldn't help but sneak glances at you when you were near- you were his best friend since young how could he have these feelings? but no matter how hard he tried to push down the emotions he felt for you they always managed to rise back up larger than before.
what neteyam failed to realise was your whole being yearned for his as well. you felt heat rush through to your face whenever he would brush your hair away from your face- what once was a simple gesture had turned into something that would make you want to melt into the ground.
everyone around you knew of what you felt for one another, but somehow the two of you were so blind for the love you held for the other that you couldn't see what was so painfully obvious.
but as the two to of you grew so did neteyam's responsibilities, he was the next olo'eyktan after all- the next leader of the omataticya clan. you and him started seeing less of each other as the days passed by, at first it didn't bother you. you knew he had a lot of pressure on him, so you didn't question it when he started telling you he couldn't join you for a ride through the hallelujah mountains or was needed by his father so he couldn't come along for a hunt with you. but it started to bother you when you noticed even when he wasn't being bothered by his duties he would still decline your offers- even go off by himself instead of going with you. you would be lying if you said you weren't hurt by his choices of distancing himself from you.
neteyam's reasoning behind it was quite stupid he had to even admit himself, he was so distracted by everything you did- simple or large- no matter what you did you made him distracted. he couldn't be distracted, no he just couldn't. so he decided to try and avoid you, in hopes it would make it better- it didn't, it only made him miss you and made him grow upset when he saw you with others. even though it was him who was the reason of the two of you drifting. if neteyam wanted to distance himself from you that bad then you would not stop him in doing so, even it it hurt you to do- you cannot be chasing another who is not willing to chase you.
eclipse had fell over pandora, you decided to go out hunting, you usually did so- neteyam use to join you in these nights but stopped. the darkness falling over the forest making everything glow a brilliant fluorescent.
drawing back your bow you took a deep breath pointing the arrow at your intended target, attempting to be as quiet as you could in order to not make the animal you wished to make your kill to become aware of your presence. you were about to realise the string to send the arrow flying when your ears perked up, hearing something shuffling on the large branch you were perched on. turning around quickly to the noise you pointed your arrow at the thing, about to attack it. "wow!" you slowly put your bow down only to see someone, neteyam. eyes wide and hands up from your sudden attempt at shooting him.
"neteyam!" you hissed at him, "do not sneak up on me! i nearly shot you!" you looked back down to the ground where the animal you were about to kill was suppose to be, but it had rushed away quickly at the sound of neteyam and you. "you made me lose a kill!"
he winced, rubbing the back of his neck in shame. "sorry."
you then turned back to him and grew confused, starting to regasture what was happening. what was neteyam doing here? neteyam?- wait neteyam! "why are you here?" you asked, it coming out harsher then you had intended it to.
"i need an excuse to see my best friend?" he teased grinning, stepping closer to you- the ground beneath him glowing as he stepped on it.
"i suppose not." you grinned back, still a little confused- he had not talked to you in a week and had been declining all your attempts to hang out for weeks now and randomly decides to come join you?
"how have you been?" he asked, the sight of you made his knees weak- he had missed you so much, he felt so stupid- so stupid for thinking everything would be better if you and him stopped seeing each other as much.
"i've been good," you weren't telling the complete truth, you hadn't been that good. you had been missing neteyam greatly, and had been hurting. "how have you been future olo'eyktan?" you joked making him chuckle at your choice of name for him.
"i have been okay, father has been pushing me a lot more lately." you felt bad for him, you knew how hard his father could be on him at times.
"he's only doing it because he loves you nete," you put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly- oh eywa, how he missed you calling him that. "he knows you are trying your best."
you always managed to know what to say to make him feel better. "i know." he looked up and met your gaze, silence fell over the two of you as you stared into each other's eyes. neteyam then reached his hand up to your face, brushing a loose strand of hair out of your face tucking it behind your ear softly. "you're so beautiful." he breathed out, it just slipped out of his mouth.
you felt a familiar feeling rising in your stomach, heat coming to meet your face. "neteyam, stop." you whispered, your tone was serious and filled with hurt as you pulled away from his touch leaving him confused.
"what? what's wrong?" he asked concerned, did he say something wrong? did he hurt you? but you didn't reply. "y/n, speak to me." he sounded desperate- because he was.
his hand reaching out to your face again, cupping your cheek gently. "don't touch me like that neteyam." you whispered again turned your head pulling away from his touch once more.
"y/n, what's wrong? can i fix it? please, love what is it?" he begged trying to figure out what was going on.
"don't call me that." you tried to push him away but he was too strong. you finally met his eyes, they were filled with worry and love as they looked at you. "stop looking at me like that neteyam."
"like what?"
"like- like you love me!" you put your hands on his chest and tried to push him, but he grabbed them with his own hands pulling them down gently- you couldn't protest as he was much stronger than you.
his face softened his voice becoming genuine, "that's because i do," he whispered pleading with you to meet his eyes. "y/n-"
"no, no you can't just do that- you can't it's not fair." you felt tears start to prick in your eyes, threatening to spill. how dare he?- how can he avoid you for weeks and ignore you then decide one day that he wants you? after he left you wondering what you might have done to make him want to not be around you. "you can't do that! you can't ignore me for weeks and shut down every attempt that i made to try and hang out with you then just get to say you love me like nothing happened!"
neteyam knew he had hurt you by doing all those things, if only you knew how much it hurt for him to do so. "i'm sorry, i'm so so sorry that i hurt you- i know it's no excuse but- " was all he manged to get out, "but i-i realised that i love you y/n." his voice was strained.
"no you don't neteyam- don't say that." you shook your head still trying to keep in the tears, neteyam had every woman in the clan begging for him- at his beck and call. why would he want you?
"i'm going to say it, because it's true- i'll say it a million times, i'll tell the whole pandora if that what it will take for you to believe me." neteyam brought your hands that were held in his and kissed them gently. "you might as well take my heart y/n, it's already full of you." he raised his hand to cup your cheek once more, this time you didn't pull him away. "while i've heard beautiful music i've thought, she'd like that. i've looked at flowers, knowing that one day i'd give them to you."
"y/n." he moved his hand down from your cheek to your chin gently turning your head to meet his, your eyes locked with his- neither of you breaking eye contact. "i see you."
you eyes searched his for falter- for any lies. but there were none, nothing but love for you. your mouth parted slightly- all the anger and sadness washing away, being replaced with excitement and happiness, neteyam loved you. "i see you neteyam." you whispered, neteyam grazed his thumb over your cheeks rubbing the tears away. leaning down to your face, placing a kiss on your forehead then your left cheek, then your right, and finally he placed his lips on your own gently. the kiss filled with passion as he deepened the kiss holding your jaw with one hand the other behind your back, holding you up- holding you delicately.
your hands slid around his neck, your warm hands sending shivers throughout neteyam's body- longing for you to touch every each of him with your sacred touch.
as your lips parted, both of you trying to gain your breath. neteyam examined your face, you were perfect. "so so beautiful." he breathed out, placing another kiss on your lips. "my beautiful girl." he whispered against your lips, resting your foreheads together, your breaths synchronized "i'm so so sorry for hurting you, i'll never do it again."
"promise?"
"i promise." he whispered into your ear, moving your hair that covered your neck gently, placing a tender kiss to your bare neck taking in your sweet scent, that always comforted him. "how can i make it up to you, yawne?" he whispered against your neck, making your breath hitch slightly.
"just kiss me." you whispered bringing his lips down to yours again, neteyam had no protests against your request. your mouths chasing each other, neteyam withdrawing his lips from yours to place his lips on your neck once more. earning light groans out of you, which drove him crazy.
"be my tsahìk." he said whilst peppering kisses from your collar bone upwards, he stopped when you pulled your hands back from his neck- missing the contact. you were staring at him with wide eyes. he suddenly started to grow nervous, "i'm sorry, did i do something?-"
"you want me to be your tsahìk?" you cut him off, staring at him as if you didn't believe what he said, he had just confessed his undying love for you and you were shocked he wanted you to be his tsahìk?
neteyam smiled softly, "so much." he ran his fingers through your hair, "do you want to be my tsahìk?"
a wide grin met your face, showing off your sharp fangs. "so much." you grinned against his lips, smiling into the kiss- him also doing so.
warnings: swearing, jealousy, protective neteyam, mentions of mating, neteyam fighting over you, kissing, fluff
masterlist!
A/N: reposting all my old work from my deleted acc enjoy! x
neteyam was often jealous when it came to other boys around you, he hated it when other na'vi men would flirt with you or make you smile like he does. no, you and neteyam hadn't expressed your feelings to one another but it was quite obvious with the frequent touching, flirting and always being around each other. most of the clan was waiting upon the day neteyam would announce you were mated- and so were the two of you.
neteyam had been walking through the village when he heard a group of na'vi talking, he was going to just walk past but he stopped when he heard your name being spoken. neteyam thought the group were talking bad about you, and was going to step in and tell them all off for doing so. but as he listened closely to what they were saying, they were in fact not talking bad about you but you being mated with someone, his ears perked up with curiousity as he listened in. "did you hear, y/n and karait have mated." "i know, it's sorta weird. i thought her and neteyam were a thing, obviously not." "y/n and karait are adorable though, i saw him picking flowers for her this morning."
neteyam scrunched up his face, you and karait? mated? there was no way that you and him were mated, you would've told him. neteyam knew better than to believe the words of other people, he walked away from the group in search for you to tell you about the crazy rumours until he was stopped by lo'ak who ran up to him. "bro, have you heard?"
“what?”
“y/n and karait are apparently mated.” lo’ak said, he couldn’t believe it either.
neteyam rolled his eyes, not believing him. “it’s just rumours, y/n would’ve told me.”
“i thought the same thing, right? and then i saw them together and he was like all over her.” lo’ak told him, neteyam felt a pit form in his stomach at his brothers words. “you missed your chance bro.”
neteyam stood there taking it in,“shut up.” he stormed away, he really had missed his chance with you. he waited too long.
the rest of the day neteyam had been in a bad mood, he kept on hearing people in the clan talking about you and your new ‘mate’. to say he was jealous would be an understatement. and he couldn’t help but feel hurt as well, he was almost sure you had reciprocated his feelings. that’s what he got for letting his feelings get in the way. the feeling he got was sickening when he imagined you mating with another, them getting to please you and make you feel loved- it was all suppose to be him.
neteyam was drawing back his bow, ready to take a kill- but all he could think about was you, he wasn’t his usual focused self like he was all the time. he let go of the string letting the arrow fly towards his target, missing. he barely ever misses kills. his father noticed his son’s odd behaviour, taking notice of how his mind seemed to be in another place. “what’s wrong?” jake asked making neteyam turn to him.
“nothing.” he grumbled setting down his bow, his answer so obviously not being the truth.
“sit down.” jake instructed patting the spot next to him on the log.
neteyam did as he was told and sat down next to his father, “now, are you going to tell me what’s going on in that mind of yours, son?”
neteyam’s angry expression turning into one of hurt as his father repeated his question. “i-i don’t even know.” he sighed looking down at his hands, “it’s just…” he paused wondering if he should tell his dad why he was actually upset. “it’s y/n.” he confessed.
jake hummed, knowing the two had feelings did one another. “what about her.”
“she’s been mated with someone else.” it hurt neteyam to even say the words out loud, his heart feeling like it had been clenched. speaking it out loud he felt incredibly stupid, you could mate with whoever you wanted to. he always had a lingering thought in the back of his mind that you may not choose him to be your mate- he just never really considered that it may become true.
jake furrowed his eyebrows, he had not been aware of a new mated pair in the clan. and he- like everyone else- was sure that you and neteyam would become mates. his face softened for his son, feeling bad for the situation at hand. “have you spoken to her about it?”
“no, i don’t know if i can. i’ll look stupid.” he fiddled with his 4 fingers. “and what will it do if i do speak to her about it? it’s not like she’s going to stop being mates with karait.”
jake sighed putting a hand on neteyam’s back comfortly. “there are many other women in the clan to be your mate.”
he gagged internally at the thought, being mates with anyone but you?- no. neteyam ran his hands down his face frustratingly ”there is no other like her though.”
“well, maybe not. but there are many others that would be a great tsahìk and if you have them a chance maybe you could come to like them.” jake was trying to make him feel better, but was doing the opposite.
“no- you don’t get it. i don’t want any other woman in the clan- i want y/n! she’s perfect an-and everything i have ever wanted, she was suppose to be my tsahìk. i-if my mate is not her, then i do not want a one. i’m so stupid, i messed everything up! i waited too long and now she is with a stupid skxawng.” his father was taken aback by neteyam’s sudden out burst, but he got it. neteyam too was surprised by his own burst of emotion. “sorry.” before jake could say something more neteyam got up from the log, grabbing his bow. “i’m going to head back, sorry for wasting your time.”
the trip back was horrible, he was left with only himself and his thoughts- they were mostly about how stupid he was. he was passing through some trees when he heard a laugh that was all to familiar, it always made his heart flutter- it was your laugh. he followed the direct in which it had came from. you were sitting on the grass weaving something, whilst humming a beautiful tune.
neteyam started to move back quietly but stepped on a twig that made a loud snap making your ears perk up- smiling at his presence. “i know you’re there, nete.”
“hi….” he came out of the bushes, revealing himself. you expected him to sit down but he just stood there. looking at you even made his heart hurt, the fact you would never be his.
you looked up at him, “do you want to sit with me?” neteyam nodded slowly sitting down next to to, watching as your hands worked on a basket. you noticed something was off with him the second he sat down, he usually sits close to you- but currently he left a huge gap between the two of you.
a silence fell over the two of you- which you couldn’t decide if it was a comfortable or awkward silence- until neteyam chose to break it by clearly his throat. “so, karait?”
“what about him?” you asked not taking your eyes off the basket, you were curious as to why he was asking about him- you were completely unaware of all the rumours going around about the two of you.
neteyam was getting a bit angry, what did you mean- what about him? he was your mate. you couldn't even tell your best friend. "you know what i mean."
you drew your eyes from the basket to meet his own, "am i suppose to?.." karait was your friend, and if you were being honest you found him kind of annoying. he was always following you around, clinging to you.
neteyam scoffed, shaking his head. "i don't get it- why wouldn't you tell me?" you grew confused, what was he talking about- and why was he getting mad at you? he noticed your confused expression. "don't act like you don't know."
"i don't know what you're talking about, nete" you put the basket down on the ground, removing your hands from it- your full attention now on neteyam.
"what does he do?" he asked, what did karait have that he didn't. "does he treat you good?- does he pick you flowers? is he a good hunter- does he spend lots of time with you- is that it?"
"karait?" oh eywa, did neteyam hate the sound of another's on your tongue.
"yes, him!" it came out harsher then he had intended it to, "what does he have, tell me."
"uh.." you started to grow slightly uncomfortable under neteyam's harsh gaze, you had never seen neteyam raise his voice before- besides when he was shouting at lo'ak. "he's nice, i guess?"
"he's quite good with a bow?" why was he asking so much about karait, you were so confused. "i don't know what you want me to say." you laughed.
"i just want to hear it from you, just tell me the truth. i already know." he was hurt, you were laughing. how were you so unbothered by this, he had everything karait had if not more. why did you choose him, why did you string him along all this time just to go off with another?
"nete, i-"
"what does he have that i don't?" his eyes were filled with hurt and betrayal, and they were directed right at you. "were all those things you told me lies? all the promises you made to me?"
"everything i've told you is the truth. what is going on with you neteyam?" why couldn't he just tell you what he was talking about? had you missed something?
"what's going on with me?- what's going with you?" he took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. "were you trying to spare my feelings, is that why you didn't tell me?"
before you could answer another voice appeared. "y/n!- i knew i would find you here...." karait appeared coming from the same direct neteyam had minutes ago, trailing off as he saw neteyam sitting down with you. he looked between the two of you, he could sense the thick tension between you and neteyam. "uh- sorry, am i interrupting something?.."
"karait-" you were about to tell him to go away, he really couldn't have came at a worse time- could he? he always managed to pop up randomly- it was weird how he knew were you were everyday. before you could tell him to go away though, someone beat you to it.
neteyam's hands formed into a tight fist, jaw clenching tighter at karait's arrival. he stood up angrily, narrowing his eyes dangerously at karait. "yes, you are. you've interrupted a lot actually."
karait looked around confused at neteyam's harsh tone. neteyam looked down to what the na'vi was holding in his hand, flowers- your favourite ones. the ones he always got for you. "look man, i'll just come back later- it's fine." he began to turn around to head back.
"no you're not."
karait stopped, turning back around and met neteyam's gaze. "excuse me?"
your eyes widened, "neteyam." you whispered harshly, to tell him to stop but he ignored you.
neteyam took a step forward, standing tall trying to intimidate karait as he stood taller than him by a couple of inches. "you heard me, you're not going to come back later."
kariat chuckled, "i don't think that's really your decision." he then turned to looked at you. you were still sitting down on the grass, you looked like you were so lost- because you were. "do you want me to come back later, y/n?"
"uh-" for the third time today neteyam cut you off- which you were getting extremely annoyed at- moving to stand in front of you. blocking kariat's view of you, standing protectively. you sighed rolling your eyes- but you would be lying if you said you didn't find him being protective extremely attractive.
"don't talk to her."
kariat smirked as he suddenly realised why neteyam was being like this- he liked you, just like he did. kariat narrowed his eyes not breaking eye contact with neteyam. taking a step forward, as he stood up straight mimicking neteyam's body language. "yeah? what are you gonna do about it- she's not your mate."
neteyam hissed, baring his sharp fangs dangerously at kariat challenging him. kariat hissed back standing his ground. you thought kariat was extremely dumb, challenging turuk maktos son. you stood up quickly off the ground, putting your hand on neteyam's shoulder from behind him trying to pull him back but he didn't budge. "neteyam- what are you doing!" you thought he was just being ridiculous at this point.
"i've got this, y/n." he replied turning to look at you then turned back to kariat, speaking so he could hear him. "gonna show this skxqwng what a real man is." kariat hissed in reply.
"now is not the time to compare dick sizes, nete!" you whisper yelled over his shoulder at him gritting your teeth frustratedly, still trying to pull him back. you came into the forest to peacefully weave a basket for hunting, not to watch two na'vi fight.
"oh yeah? now is the perfect time to." you sighed frustratedly, you knew he wouldn't back down. neteyam was usually not the one to get into fights-but if it involved someone he loved, he wouldn't hesitate to knock some sense into a na'vi.
"don't try and protect him, y/n. this skxqwng is asking for it." kariat spat, you weren't trying to protect neteyam from him. he was one to the best warriors in the clan- if not the best. you were trying to protect him from neteyam, but kariat was the one asking for it now.
"i told you before, don't talk to her!" neteyam growled venom laced through his words, he turned his head slightly to you, his tone completely changing to a soft loving whisper. "go sit down y/n and finish off that beautiful basket, i don't want you getting hurt." you removed your hand hesitantly from his shoulder and slowly moved away picking up your half woven basket and went to go sit down on a log not far away from them.
neteyam watched a you sat down and turned back to kariat, "i know what this is all about, you heard everyone talking didn't you?" kariat smirked at him. "thought i would tell everyone, so i didn't have to when it actually happened."
neteyam's blood boiled, the two of you weren't even mates. he had gotten worked up over nothing and had gotten mad at you, and told everyone you were his. oh, he was gonna get it. with one final hiss neteyam charged at him, throwing a hard punch to kariat's nose making him fall back- neteyam wasn't going to hold back, he had been holding in his anger all day and kariat was going to be the one to get it all.
kariat stumbled back, regaining himself throwing a punch at neteyam, landing on his jaw. neteyam stumbled back and reached up towards his lips swiping one finger across it, looking back down to his finger seeing blood on it. he smirked as he looked back up to kariat who had a bruise forming on his nose already. all of kariats confidence washed away quickly, being replaced with fear as neteyam threw multiple punches at him- landing a hit every single time.
you winced looking at kariat's bloodied face from neteyam's hits, kariat did not look too good. neteyam kneed him in the stomach then threw kariat onto the grass harshly, they were only a few seconds into the fight and kariat already wanted to withdraw from it. neteyam bent down and got right in the na’vis face, “if you even so as go near y/n again, i’ll do worse than this. and you better go back and tell everyone that you and y/n are not mated, understand?” he didn’t responded. “i said, do you understand.”
“ye-yes.”
neteyam was about to hit him again when he felt a hand pulling him back, “okay, that’s enough neteyam. i think you’ve proved your point.” you looked down at kariat who sent you a thankful look. neteyam sighed as he got up sending one last glare at kariat- who pounced up quickly and limped away, scared that neteyam would do more. as soon as he left you turned to neteyam, “okay, now. care to explain to me what just happened?”
“oh uh..” neteyam trailed off, he didn’t really know what to say. “i didn’t like him?”
you gave him a blank look, obviously not believing him. “right.” you shook your head, rolling your eyes. “i’m leaving.” you went to turn around but by a firm grip on your hand.
“he told the whole clan that you two had mated.” your eyes widened in shock, everyone in the clan thought you and kariat were mates? oh eywa. “and- and i was mad and hurt because i…” he trailed off.
“because you?..” you asked softly wanting him to finish off his sentence.
neteyam met your eyes and gulped. “because.. i wanted you to be my mate.” your mouth fell agape, you could feel a smile starting to form on your lips. “i’m sorry for believing everyone and not asking you before and getting mad at you earlier, i should’ve never raised my voice at you. i was just really hurt and jealous that you chose someone else, i know it’s no excuse though and- you can choose whoever you want to be your mate, because you can obviously choose anyone-” he rambled on until you stopped him by crashing your lips on his, he was taken back a bit but quickly returned the kiss. his whole soul had been longing to meet your lips, to kiss every inch of you.
the two of you broke the kiss, neteyam cursed himself for needing to breath- he didn’t want to ever stop kissing you. “for being the smartest person i know you really are dumb aren’t you?” you chuckled, neteyam still speechless from the kiss. “do you really ever think i’d choose anyone over you, nete? it’s always been you.”
he grinned widely like a child who had just had his first clean kill, “can i please kiss you again?”
a/n: reposting all my old work from my deleted acc x
masterlist!
it was the day you had been preparing for since you were young, the moment a na’vi truly becomes one of the people. the right of passage. you had finally completed and it was now your turn to be apart of the people. you were nervous to say the least, your best friend neteyam had just had his ceremony a couple weeks ago and was overly joyed for yours.
“can i come in y/n?” he knocked against the wooden door to the hut you were in- or hiding in- with his knuckles gently.
“no! don’t come in!” you shouted back, still trying to get ready.
neteyam sighed still leaning up against the door, “your ceremony is starting soon, are you ready yet?” soon? oh eywa you were panicking now- you still hadn’t put the traditional face paint on yet. you didn’t reply, “okay y/n, i’m coming in.” he opened the door and was met with your back, you sighed turning around to meet him. as soon as you did his breath get stuck in his throat, he felt as if he had just got the air knocked right out of him.
you looked beautiful- you had a beaded top, that went around your neck, filled with little stones throughout it making it slightly shimmer. a cuff that matched your top around your upper arm and a simple purple cloth that also had beads around your lower waist. your hair done in braids by your mother, along with a feather in your hair. neteyam had never felt so at a loss for words. you truly were a gift from the great mother herself.
“do i look okay?” your voice snapped him back to reality, getting nervous that he wasn’t saying anything.
“beautiful,” he breathed out stepping closer to you, reaching his hand to fix a loose braid that fell in-front of your face. “you look so beautiful.” you smiled, butterflies forming in your stomach from his words- overlapping the nerves that filled your body. neteyam then noticed you had yet to put on the white face paint, “would you like me to help with the face paint?”
“yes please.” you nodded, guiding him to where the thick white paint sat its bowl.
neteyam picked it off the floor, “here, sit.” he motioned to sit in front of him, you quickly did so as he dipped his fingers in the paint- as it met your face it felt cold and wet, his fingers adding warmth to it as he so delicately placed the face paint upon your face .
"nete," he hummed in response, dragging his fingers along your face. "i'm nervous." you voice came out small.
he slowly smiled looking at your face, your eyes focused directly on him. "do not be nervous yawne, you have nothing to worry about." he finished off the paint, his fingers finishing off on your lips. "i will be there the whole time."
"thank you." you whispered softly smiling up at him, he nodded back leaning in stealing a kiss from your lips lovingly. as the two of you pulled away you looked down to his lip and giggled, some of the white paste from your lips had smeared onto his own, "you have paint of your lips, nete." you reached your hand up to his mouth, your thumb passing over his soft lips whipping away the paint.
"i do not mind, then people will know that i am yours and you are mine." you blushed grinning widely at his words, "when your ceremony is done i am going to make it official." he had patiently been waiting to make you his for too long, and it will all be worth it when the two of you will mate before eywa. becoming one with one another.
your ears perked up happily, tail swaying from beneath you. "i cannot wait nete," you smiled.
he stood up slowly reaching his hand to help you up, "let's get you there then, my y/n." you took his hand getting up from off your place on the floor hand intertwined with neteyam's as he pulled you up gently to him.
"do i look okay?" you asked neteyam again, he smooth out your top a bit tucking your hair behind your ear then looked back to you.
warnings: series! tooth rotting fluff, swearing, childhood bestfriends to lovers
summary: you and neteyam grew up together, attached at the hip since young and that never changed as the two of you grew older. what did change was the fact the two of you began to develop feelings for one another that simple best friends don't hold- two lost souls longing to feel the touch of the other. as everything around you changes when you travel with the sully family to seek refuge in the metkayina clan, you and neteyam's feelings for each other don't- they grow to be unbearable, until everything comes to the surface.
masterlist!
you were born as eclipse had fallen over pandora, a couple weeks after the birth of the first born child of toruk makto, neteyam sully. you were told you had been a gift from eywa herself. your mother, yotxve had fallen ill during her pregnancy with you. unfortunately, the illness took her. but the clan was determined to save you and they did just that, laying your mothers pregnant body underneath the true of souls and prayed to the great mother- and she answered, baring the great birth of you.
when one life ends, another begins.
your father oza, a fierce warrior who had battled alongside toruk makto during the battle against the sky people. he was one of the lucky na'vi who had managed to survive the great fight- but not without a few scars no doubt. he was the person you looked up to, he was the best father you could have asked for- he cherished you, you were his miracle.
when you were 4 you were by a river along with many other young na'vi in the clan, all playing amongst themselves. you were trying to catch one of the many fish that called the river their home, your eyes trained on one that fell astray from the other fish. watching it carefully about to pounce on it until a boy came splashing in the water were it was making it quickly swim away- you looked up to the boy, he had long braided hair and a large grin on his face. "you scared away the fish!" you yelled at him angrily.
the boy turned to look at the water around him then back up to you. "i don't see any fish." he replied confused as you huffed, your shoulders sagging from dissapointment "that's because you scared it away."
the boy felt bad that he had accidently scared the fish away, you were about to get up and go try and find some other creatures in the river until the boy spoke up, "my name is neteyam, what's yours?"
you looked at the boy who was named neteyam, smiling slightly. "i'm y/n." neteyam grinned widely at the smile on you face.
"i know a good spot to catch some fish, my dad brings me there all the time. here come with me." he grabbed your hand and the two of you rushed down the river to catch some more fish.
that was how your friendship with neteyam sully had began, all because he had scared away the fish you wanted- ever since then you and him were inseparable, bound to the hip. everyone in the clan grew to know of the friendship you two shared, if you were near chances were neteyam sully was somewhere not far behind.
as the two of you grew, so did the feelings you felt for one another. only few picked up on the fact that the two of you didn't look at each other like simple best friends should- neteyam looked at you as if you painted the stars in dark sky itself, as if you were the only na'vi on pandora- and each time you saw him you looked at him like he had just came back from a long trip, like he was the only na'vi on pandora.
yet the two of you were unaware that you both shared the same feelings for each other- not realising both of you felt the exact same thing the other felt. both waiting for the day that comes to confess.
you sat on the wooden floor of the tsahìks hut, preparing to heal the injured from the war party with kiri- awaiting patiently for the raid party to come back. kiri glanced next to her-which that was where you were- and rolled her eyes. "do not worry, y/n. neteyam is fine, i'm sure."
your head snapped up to kiri, narrowing your eyes- becoming a little flustered."i am not just worrying about neteyam, i'm worried about the whole raid party." that wasn't the complete truth, you were mostly worrying about neteyam.
"right," kiri raised her eyebrows, not believing you. "cause you and neteyam aren't completely in love with each other." she said teasingly, knowing that that will make you more flustered.
"i am not in love with neteyam, kiri." it felt so wrong as the words rolled off your tongue.
you and kiri were very close, she was the person you went to when you needed to talk and couldn't go to neteyam. she enjoyed your company as much as you enjoyed hers, often going exploring around pandora admiring it's beauty. she knew you were lying right off your tongue.
you smirked, a thought appearing in your mind. "if you want to talk about being in love," you dragged out the 'e', "let's talk about you and monkey boy."
she snapped her head to you, eyes wide- before narrowing her eyes at you, knowing what you were doing. "ew, i would rather let an ikran eat me whole." before you could say another word to kiri tuk came running in shouting happily.
"they're back! the raid party is back!" you and kiri shot up abou to run to where they have arrived, but a voice interrupted you making you stop.
"y/n, i need you to stay here." mo'at spoke, the tsahík- you were not one to speak back to elders. you nodded, feeling a bit disappointed that you couldn't go see everyone. turning to kiri you spoke.
"you go, i'll stay here." you told her before she rushed off with tuk to see her family arrive back. you turned back to mo'at, who was observing you- you would be lying if you said you didn't feel nervous under her intense gaze. it was as if she was looking into your soul, judging it for itself.
it was only the two of you in her hut- which was filled with herbs and fruits. you had never been alone with the tsahík of the clan before. only talked with her whilst others where also there, you thought she was incedberily wise- she is the tsahík after all. "come help me." mo'at motioned for you to come help her grind some herbs. you nodded, sitting down next to her grabbing a bowl of herbs. except she was not grinding down the herbs, her eyes were still set on you. "my grandson has told me much about you."
you looked up to her, surprised. "which one?" you asked, although you already knew the answer- mo'at also knew that you knew exactly which grandson she was talking about.
she picked up a bowl of herbs, beginning to grind them down- tearing her gaze from you. "you and i know which one." she replied shortly. "you are to be tsahík?" you felt heat rush to your face and ears at mo'ats' question.
you didn't know what to say, "no, i do not think so." she gazed back up at you, narrowing her eyes- but not in a threatening manner, yet again you felt like she was trying to see your soul.
"you like neteyam, no?" mo'at questioned you again. you felt weird, talking to your best friends grandma about him- the best friend in which you had developed feelings for.
"uh- yes, but not like that." she chuckled lightly at your response- which was so obviously far from the truth, she saw how her eldest grandchild talked about you- the glint in his eyes when he did or when someone mentioned your name. she had been observing the two of you for quite some while now, noticing the extra glances the both of you spare to one another when you think no one is watching- when you think the other doesn't notice.
"it is not very wise to not tell the truth to the tsahík, hm?" she grabbed a fruit from beside her, her voice gentle as she spoke. "do not worry child, only eywa will know of what you tell me."
you no longer felt nervous talking to her, your shoulders relaxing as you took a deep breath out. "yes, you are correct." this was the first time you had ever voiced out your feelings for the boy you had grown up with.
she smirked slightly, chopping up the fruit in her hand. "i am always correct, child." she handed you the lush fruit she had cut up, you putting it in the wooden bowl beginning to crush it until it turned into a thick paste. "you will be a good tsahík."
your heart warmed at her compliment, it was one thing for someone to say that- but it was a whole other thing for the tsahík to tell you that. "thank you, that means a lot." you smiled warmly bowing your head slightly to her, which she returned.
you were deep in thought, trying to process everything. mo'at noticed this, "you doubt my words?" she asked.
"no, it is not that." you replied quickly as she gazed at you, telling you to continue. "i do not think neteyam returns my feelings." you gazed down to the wooden floor sadly until you heard a laugh from the woman in front of you making you look back up to her.
mo'at shook her head slightly. "i know my grandson, child." her chuckle died down slowly, "he comes to me, speaking of a woman that has a strong heart and that has taken his own." you listened intently to her words. "he spoke of a mighty warrior, one who holds much love for those around her and will not spare a second thought to help. i doubted my grandsons words, i will not lie." she grinded down the leaves in her bowl. "that is why i chose you to assist me along with kiri."
you had always thought kiri had chosen you to help along with her, but it was all so she could meet the na'vi in which her grandson told her about.
she looked up to you, looking into your eyes. "but, i do not doubt his words anymore." you smiled at her words. she continued to speak, she reached out for your hands taking them in hers as she gazed into your eyes. before another word could be exchanged kiri came bursting through the door, you snapped your neck to her.
"y/n, neteyam has been injured." your eyes went wide in worry, turning back to mo'at who nodded telling you to go.
you stood up quickly about to rush out with kiri before quickly turning back to the tsahík. "thank you." you whispered to her, than ran out of her hut to go to neteyam.
mo'at watched you intently as you left, watching you retreating figure exit the door. "great mother, may you help the two lost souls find one another." she whispered, speaking to the great mother that watched over every being that walked upon her beautiful creation.
you ran alongside kiri to where neteyam was. opening the door to see him sitting down holding his side which was bloodied, grunting in pain from his injury whilst tuk sat next to him- her gaze turning to the door to see who had walked in, eyes widening when she saw you. "y/n!" she grinned ear to ear.
the sound of your name running in neteyam's ears, turning to look at you- smiling slightly at your presence before wincing at his injury once more, almost forgetting he had one in the first place upon your arrival.
"y/n can you heal him, i need to go help grandmother with the other injured." kiri asked you, you nodded- not minding one bit. "thank you, come on tuk."
tuk whined getting up, "i want to stay with neteyam and y/n." she protested as you smiled gently, bending down to her.
"go with kiri, tuk. i will come and find you after and you can tell me all about your little adventure you had today, alright?" you patted her head as she grinned widely once more at your words, nodding excitedly in agreement.
neteyam stared at you talking to tuk, he always knew you were good with children but whenever he saw you talking to his little sister he felt his heart swell- he couldn't help but let his mind drift to wonder what you would be like with his children, he knew you would without a doubt be a wonderful mother.
tuk and kiri excited the hut, leaving the two of you in the small hut. standing up you made your way over to neteyam, meeting his eyes and smiling at him- which he returned immediately, trying to swat away his thoughts before he grew flustered. you sat down in front of him, removing his hand from his wound to observe it.
"you're a skxqwng." you told him as you reached out for a wet cloth, "hello to you too." neteyam replied before sucking in a harsh breath when you applied the wet cloth to the bloodied area.
you dabbed his wound, trying to be as gentle as possible- that is why he always wanted you to patch him up instead of his grandmother or kiri, they were harsh but you were gentle with him. "you cannot always take the blame for lo'ak," you spoke, your eyes trained on his wound- kiri told you about him taking the blame for lo'ak, yet again. "one of these days he will need to take responsibility for his own actions."
neteyam sighed, trying not to hiss from the sting of the cold cloth on his skin. "i know, he is just so reckless sometimes."
"i know that, i grew up with him too." you chuckled slightly, recalling all the times when you were younger that lo'ak had dragged you into one of his crazy ideas- which always ended up with you and him getting scolded by both of your fathers.
"where were you when we arrived back?" he asked curiously, you usually were the first to greet him when he came back- but you were not today and he missed you.
you suddenly remembered the talk you had with mo'at and felt your face burn, thanking eywa he couldn't see your face. "your grandmother wanted me to help her."
neteyam nodded, understanding why you couldn't greet him. you removed the damp cloth from his side, picking a bowl of thick paste that kiri had made. "this might sting a bit." you warned him as you dipped your fingers in the paste, spreading it onto his wound- making him hiss. "sorry." you winced at his own pain.
"it's okay- do not apologise, you did nothing." neteyam said whilst trying to ignore the pain in his side- but he didn't regret following after lo'ak, he didn't regret getting injured because it meant you would heal him- he would do anything to feel your warm touch against his skin, even if it does slightly hurt. "the sky people are getting stronger, our arrows and knives are defenceless against their machinery." you felt a pit form in your stomach at his information, it scared you. you were told of the great battle that your dad had fought in alongside toruk makto, how the sky people had destroyed hometree within mere seconds.
you sighed rubbing the paste into his side, it seeping into his wound. "everything will be okay, nete." oh eywa, neteyam felt as if he could melt to the ground in the ways in which you spoke his name- wondering what it would be like to have you whisper his name in the dark, just the two of your souls together. he hadn't realised how long he had been admiring you until your voice snapped him out of the trance you had unknowingly put him under. "done." you said as you placed a bandage on his side, "go easy for the rest of today, it should be all better when you wake up tomorrow.
"thank you," neteyam looked down to the bandage you had placed, "you are a great healer." he praised you as you looked up and met his eyes.
"that is because i am being trained by the tsahìk." you laughed slightly which made neteyam chuckle as well. you started packing up the supplies you had used on neteyam, his eyes not leaving you as you did so. watching you carefully he thought of how you would be a perfect tsahìk.
he cursed himself mentally, how could he be having thoughts like that of his best friend? the girl who he had been friends with since he was 4- the answer was he shouldn't, but he couldn't help it.
you felt neteyam's gaze on you and turned to him, he coughed slightly realising he had been caught staring at you. "you know you can go now, nete?" you put a lid back onto a bowl, making sure it was sealed tightly.
"yes, but i want to stay." you smiled at his response, "can i not spend time with my best friend?" he teased grinning.
you rolled your eyes playfully, placing the jar on a shelf- finishing packing away everything, turning back to neteyam who was still seated. your eyes gazed up towards his hair which was in long messy braids, that were begging to be rebraided. his hand subconciously flew to his hair when he saw your gaze being held on it. "is there something in my hair?" he asked confused, making you chuckle as you approached him.
you sat down behind him, making him more confused but as your hand made its way to his hair his shoulders relaxed at your gentle touch in his hair- sighing in content as you started to untangle his braids, one by one. "when was the last time you have done your hair?" you asked, unbraiding a braid removing the beads at the ends.
"i don't know, a while?" he replied, melting into your touch.
"i can tell." you chuckled, looking at how he was sitting- it looked uncomfortable. "lay down."
"what?"
you placed your hands either side of his head, pulling his head down into your lap- his eyes widened slightly, not expecting the sudden gesture. but he quickly relaxed, his eyes slowly closing- he felt like he was in heaven, his head in your warm lap, your fingers running through his hair- which sent shivers down his spine. he felt like he could fall asleep right then and there. he had completely forgot about the pain in his side. neteyam usually didn't let his guard down, but as he felt your fingers on his scalp he felt all his worries seep through his finger, dissolving into nothingness. if only you knew that he would do anything for you, you had him wrapped around your finger and you didn't even know it.
you finally had finished undoing all the messy old braids in his hair, sighing happily you admired neteyam's relaxed face. he was so beautiful, you felt like a young na'vi who had just gotten their first clean kill whenever he looked at you with those eyes that were now closed shut. neteyam opened one eye slightly, seeing you were staring down at him he opened his eyes fully, locking your gazes together- he wanted to pull your head down to kiss you. after a couple seconds you felt your face heat up, growing flustered from the intense eye contact- snapping your gaze from his. he smirked, loving how he made you flustered from just staring into your eyes.
you reached down into your bag attached to your hip, pulling out your hand crafted beads you had just made a couple days ago. "you are lucky, i just made these." you handed the small jar of beads that you were going to put in his hair for him to hold as you began working on the first braid. he felt so special whenever he wore beads you had crafted in his hair, he loved walking around na'vi with your beads in his hair- showing off you had done his hair, he didn't need to say one word for others to know you did his hair. every na'vi knew of what your beads looked like and neteyam wore them with pride- rubbing it into all the men in the clan that sought after you that you had chosen to do his hair.
you held your hand out, signaling for him to get out beads so you could secure the braid. he reached into the jar, picking out two for you and placed it into your palm- fingers brushing against it. starting to work on more braids.
you placed out your hand again, waiting to feel the beads drop into it- but it never came, you ripped your gaze from the braid you had just did and onto neteyam's sleeping face, the jar of beads on his chest- rising up and down with his chest as he slept soundly. you chuckled quietly, not wanting to wake him. reaching into the jar that laid on his bare chest, picking up beads for his braided hair. it felt all so right, just him and you with the only sound being the quiet gush of the wind outside of the hut and the occasional voice of a na'vi passing by. you wished to have an entire lifetime of this.
neteyam had lost track of time, his eyes fluttered open slowly- he didn't know when he had drifted off to sleep but he wasn't surprised that he managed to do so. you felt his head shift slightly in your lap, telling you he was finally awake. "he's finally awake!" you joked laughing. neteyam smiled softly, reaching his hand to his hair to see how much you had done but you smacked his hand away before he could. "i'm nearly done."
any other person would have been thankful that one was nearly done with doing their hair, but not neteyam. he wished for you to never be done, he wanted to stay like this until time came to an end.
"done!" you declared, pulling your hands away from his newly done braids- he suddenly missed the contact of your fingers tangled into his hair. he sat up slowly, removing his head from your lap. you missed the warmth of his head on your lap as he sat up- feeling the bare air touch your skin suddenly.
he ran his fingers through his braided hair, looking at his hair that fell in front of him- smiling as he saw your beads scattered across the ends of his braids. he didn't say anything, just continued to stare at the beautiful handcrafted beads.
"do you like it?" you asked, growing worried from his lack of words- not being able to read the expression on his face.
he tore his eyes from his hair to you and smiled, "i love it." you grinned at his words, happy that he liked it. "it's official, you are now my hair braider." you chuckled at his words, not knowing he was being dead serious.
"if that is the case, i will need to start getting things from you for my service." you joked playfully, flicking his forehead with your fingers teasingly.
"i will get you anything." he breathlessly said, admiring your feature that he was sure were crafted by the great mother herself with the utter most delicacy and precision. neteyam was not lying one bit when he told you he would get you anything, he would get you the stars in the night sky if you asked.
you smiled softly, a blush slowly forming on your cheeks. "well, i do need some more materials for more beads- since i used the ones i made on you." you said playfully, earning a light shove from neteyam in response.
"i will get them for you, what do you need?"
your ears perked up slightly at his response, "really?"
he nodded, "what do you need for those beautiful beads of yours." oh this boy was going to be the death of you.
a/n: more chapters coming soon! sorry this one wasn't very good, the next chapters will be more exciting, hope you all enjoyed this. love you all! and my girlie mo'at knows whats up.
warnings: so much fluff, swearing, heated kissing, bonding, mating, intimate
a/n: both neteyam and you are about 17 in this, as to my knowledge that is when na'vi are declared as adults and are allowed to find a mate. please correct me if i am wrong!
masterlist!
neteyam sully was a boy of many things, he was a mighty warrior, loved by most- desired by more. he was easily one of the most sought out na'vi in the clan, many women in the clan had their eyes on him. they would do anything neteyam asked of them in a heartbeat- all waiting in anticipation for the day he would pick a mate to help him lead the clan.
but neteyam paid no attention to any of them, he had interest in not one other woman in the clan, except for you. his heart belonged to you and you didn't even know it. to him no na'vi even held so much as a finger to you and your beauty, your strong heart and mind- he honestly couldn't pinpoint any flaw you had even if he was held at gunpoint because in his eyes you truly had none. you were completely and utterly perfect.
but the one woman he wanted was the one that wasn't chasing after him- what he didn't know if that you had been pinning after him just as he did for you, but you were sure he did not return the feelings you had for him. he had all these women wanting him, why would he want you?
"neteyam!" he snapped his head at the sound of your voice calling his name, watching as you approached him with a small smile on your face. he was sitting on the forest floor carving a piece of wood. "do you know where kiri is?"
neteyam would be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed when you asked him where his sister was, "sorry, i do not know." you sighed, plopping yourself down on the ground next to him- only now taking notice of what he was doing, carving something.
neteyam saw you were staring at what he was making out of wood with curiosity. "this is for tuk, lo'ak broke her other ikran toy." he tried to show you a bit better, removing his thumb a bit to make it more visible.
you chuckled- which brought butterflies to neteyam's chest. "poor tuk."
"i would say poor ikran, it got his neck snapped off." he joked, recalling how lo'ak accidently stepped on the wooden toy and tuk crying over the decapitated toy.
you laughed at his joke, "ah yes, poor ikran." he was not nearly done with carving the wooden toy, "do you mind if i stay?"
does neteyam mind if you stay? what kind of question was that? he did not mind, not one bit. with every fiber of his body he wanted you to stay- he wanted you to always be with him. "not one bit." he was excited that you wished to stay with him instead of finding the others which were probably doing something more fun than what he was.
you watched as his hands worked delicately, sure of every little move he made with his small knife when it met with the deep oak wood- your eyes slowly traveled up to his arms which were filled with muscle. it was no surprise, he was incredibly strong- his muscles just proved the point of it.
you admired his arms- as weird as it sounded, watching how the muscles tensed as he carved.
neteyam noticed how quiet you were being, turning to look at you slowly. realising you had your eyes trained on his toned arms, he felt a smirk coming to his lips- suddenly feeling confident. "my arm must be nice to look at, hm?"
you snapped your eyes away from his arm, heat spreading to your face- embarrassed you had just been caught staring at his arms. oh eywa, you have never wished to disappear more than you wanted to now. "uh, no?" it came out as more of a question than anything- you were a flustered mess.
he chuckled, shaking his head as he continued to work on carving tuk's toy. he felt proud that he could make you flustered- and was never more grateful for his toned arms. "right, that is why you were staring at them for so long." he teased you more.
"i was staring at them because of how dirty they are," you tried to regain yourself, rolling your eyes playfully- his arms did in fact have dirt on them from when he was out hunting that morning. "you need to go for a wash."
neteyam glared at you playfully, swiping his finger on his arm collecting some dirt and smeared it on your cheek. you slapped his finger away, groaning. "neteyam!- you skxqwng!" you rubbed your cheek in attempt to get the dirt that he had put on your face off. "i just cleaned myself!"
he grinned as he looked at your cheek- which was smeared with dirt, in your attempt to clean it you had made it worse- spreading it. "my finger slipped, sorry." he innocently said.
you raised your hand, slapping the side of his head harshly- making him shoot his hand up to his head that stung from your hit. "sorry, my hand slipped." you repeated his words, smirking.
but your smirk soon vanished as a smug look came to his face- you knew he was about to do something. and you were proved right as he stood up quickly, urapiductly picking you up, flinging your body over his shoulders with ease. you had not time to react with how fast he was at doing so and before you knew it he began to walk- your face being smushed into his back as one of his hands was holding you in place, the other holding your legs so you don't kick him.
"neteyam!-" you hit his back with your fist, trying to make him let go of you. "let go of me!- ugh, bitch!" he chuckled at the name you had decided to call him.
you continued to hit his back- your punches had no effect on him, his hold becoming tighter on you as you tried to squirm off his shoulders- having no success. you stopped fighting him as he suddenly came to a stop, hoping he was about to let you down. he let you down, just not in the way you had planned for.
he moved you from his shoulders, now holding you bridal style- he held a smirk on his face as he looked down at you. you were confused, looking around you. your eyes widened as you saw a large pond in front of you- knowing what he was about to do. you looked back to him, narrowing your eyes dangerously at him. telling him not to do it. "neteyam, let go of m-!" before you could finish your sentence you felt yourself get flung from his arms.
the cold water hitting your body as you landed in the water, as you resurfaced breathing heavily from not preparing yourself you looked up to neteyam who was standing on the dry grass in front of the pond, watching you in amusement.
before you could open your mouth to speak, neteyam once again interrupted you this time by jumping into the water right next to you- causing a large splash, the water getting in your mouth. you were truly done with this boy.
neteyam pulled his head out of the water, flinging his now wet braids away from his face so he could see you clearly- you had a sour look on your face as you glared at him. he was grinning widely, showing off his fangs. "what? you said to let you go."
"not like that!" you yelled at him, keeping yourself afloat. "i am going to kill you."
he raised one eyebrow teasingly, amused. "oh yeah?"
without a reply you swam forward at him, hitting him repeatedly as he laughed trying to swat your hands away- he quickly pulled himself underwater and before you could react you felt yourself being pulled under as well.
you opened your eyes under the water that you had just been dragged under, seeing neteyam in front of you grinning. you lunged forward at him in the water as he quickly dodged you- not fast enough though as you got a hold of his tail, pulling him back. you felt a smile make its way to your face as you saw neteyam's angry expression under the vision of the slightly murky water.
he swam forward to you, wrapping both his arms around your body, trapping you- pushing you both deeper under the water- as the two of you stopped fighting one another he admired how you looked. your hair floating above you, which looked almost magical- your white spots that couted your face glowing in the darkness of the water. ewya, if neteyam didn't run out of breath from being in water for too long, he was sure you would. your blushed as the two of you held eye contact- it felt so intimate, his hands wrapped around you gently as he floated just aboved you looking down at your face.
you seemed to have forgotten you couldn't breath underwater for a second, it finally registered to you that you were out of breath as neteyam pulled you and him back to the surface to breathe.
as you reached it the two of you gasped for air, regaining your breath. when you did the two of you bursted out laughing- you were suddenly glad he had thrown you in the water. oh how much fun you had with him, he never failed to put a smile on your face no matter what circumstances it was under.
as your laughter died down, you realised how cold you were- shivering slightly from the water. neteyam too realising the coldness, looking at you, “come on.” he softly said, pulling you to the edge were the dry grass was.
neteyam reached his hand out to help you up, you took it gratefully- you too now on the dry land. as you emerged small droplets from the water coated your body, dripping slowly into the soul beneath you. neteyam felt his heart pick up its rhythm, you looked like a goddess, you always did.
“i can’t believe you chucked us both in the water with nothing to dry ourselves off with.” you groaned, glaring at neteyam playfully who shrugged innocently- more time with you that meant.
you sat down on a nearby rock that was by the large pond, neteyam following sitting right in front of you. waiting for yourselves to dry off. neteyam looked at you, you were still shivering- hugging your legs for warmth. he slid forward on the rock a bit, sliding an arm around your should bringing you closer to him- he rubbed your arm in comfort.
you melted into his touch, how was he so warm after getting out of the cold pond?- whilst you were still freezing. “you’re warm.”
he chuckled looking down at you, “you’re cold.”
you glared up at him, rolling your eyes. “maybe because you threw me into a cold pond?” he sighed, playfully pulling away from you- you missed the warmth of his body as soon as he did so, “okay, okay i’m sorry- please come back.” he laughed sliding back over, engulfing you in his arms once more.
it all felt so right, you in his arms. you silently wished to stay like this for the rest of your life, in his arms. neteyam too wished the same thing.
he stroked your hair gently, running his fingers through its dampness- you closed your eyes slowly, enjoying the head massage. neteyam smiled as he saw your peaceful expression, all he ever wanted to do was make you happy- and he wanted to do that for the rest of his life.
he continued to run his fingers through your hair, a comforting silence falling over the two of you. the only noise coming from the flowing water from the small waterfall that lead into the pond.
“thank you.” neteyam suddenly said, breaking the silence- which you were quite confused at what he was thanking you about.
opening your eyes, looking at neteyam with a confused expression. “for what?”
for what? for everything you did, for being alive, for being you- there were so many things he could thank you about. “for being there for me like today. it’s good to have some fun, training has made me have less free time lately- it may be selfish but, i miss it.”
your face softened as you sat up, removing your head from his shoulder. you knew he his father had been going harder on him than usual as he was coming quicker to the age of where he would become olo'eyktan- you suddenly felt like he needed a hug, or maybe you just wanted to be close to him. you didn’t really know. you leaned forward and wrapped your arms around him, holding his head with one hand the other around his neck.
neteyam hadn't realised how much he needed a hug until now, breathing in your scent that he knows by heart now. wrapping his own arms around your waist, pulling you closer to him.
"i miss having you around too," you whispered into his neck, it sent shivers down his spine. you pulled away slightly so you could see neteyam's face, you pushed away a loose braid that always fell in front of his face. "and it is not selfish to want something, nete."
neteyam stared into your eyes, he swore he could drown in them and he would be completely content with going down like that. your words echoed in his mind, it is not selfish to want something- he wanted you to be his and him to be yours until the end of time itself- he yearned for you so much it hurt whenever he saw you speak to another male in the clan, he knew it was selfish of him but he only wanted you to speak to him. he wanted to be the one to show you the wonders of the world, he wanted to be the one who got to kiss your lips at night, he wanted to be the one whose name you whispered in the dark. neteyam sully wanted you and only you.
"is it selfish of me to want you?" his voice was quiet, in a whisper as the two of you held each others eyes. your mouth parted slightly, not sure if you had heard him right. had neteyam sully, the boy you had been in love with since young just speak those words? "is it selfish to want to be the only one that can look at you?"
"no." your voice was in a whisper, matching his. his eyes trailed down to your lips then back to your eyes- you had not missed it.
he reached out his hand placing it on your chin, gently pulling your face closer to his. you didn't fight it at all, you leaned in closer. your lips grazing each others. "good." he whispered against your lips, breaking the small gap between the two of you.
as your lips met his a spark appeared within you, whispering that this was meant to be. the kiss was short but was passionate, the two of your first kisses. neteyam loved that he was the one to be your first kiss and yours his.
the two of you broke away slowly, staring into each others eyes which were filled with desire and love. "you're so beautiful." he said as he pressed his lips to yours once again- this kiss was not like the first one, it was more messy, your lips chasing one another. he continued to kiss you, deepening the kiss as his hand slipped around your waist, pulling you onto his lap- now straddling him with your legs. "is this okay?" he asked softly, searching your face for any slight bit of uncomfortableness- but there was none.
you smiled, cupping his jaw in your hand, leaning into him. "more than okay, nete." was this what heaven felt like?- that is what neteyam was asking himself, because this was heaven.
his name against your tongue as you kissed him- eywa, it was enough to make him fall limp. his hand was on your lower back, supporting you so you didn't fall as he slid his tongue into your mouth. the other hand on your jaw softly. your hands found it way to his braids, tanginling your fingers in them- trying to pull him closer to you.
his lips began to trail down your neck, earning slight whimpers from you. it was the most beautiful sound neteyam had ever heard in his life. "keep making those noises." it came out without thinking as he continued to suck on your neck- you were embarrassed by the whimpers that escaped your mouth, but when neteyam said that you felt all the embarrassment slip away.
he pulled away from your neck, smirking as he saw the marks he left scattered across it. "neteyam," you hissed, "people are going to see those, you skxqwng." though, you weren't sure if you actually cared.
he grinned at your annoyed expression, "then they will see you are mine." you couldn't help but smile at what he said.
that was when you decided to make it official, it was the biggest decision of your life- you had been told that it would be a hard one to make as you would be with the one you bonded with for life. but, this was the easiest decision you had made in your life.
you slowly grabbed your braid that fell behind your back, bringing it forward to neteyam. his mouth fell slightly agape, looking up to you. "are you sure?" he asked, worried you may regret it later- he knew he would in fact never regret it, he didn't want you to though.
"neteyam, i have never been so sure of anything before." you smiled softly at him, that was all neteyam needed- he grabbed his queue and brought it forward with his hand your queues mere inches away from one another.
the two of you looked at one other, as you brought your queues to the other. the tsaheylu was formed.
both you and neteyam's breath hitched and pupils dilated as you looked from the bond to one another- you had never felt anything like this before, you could feel him, everything. his breath, heart beat, his feelings to you.
"i see you, y/n." neteyam breathed out, you swore you had never been happier- and neteyam could feel how happy you were when he spoke the words through the bond which made him smile.
"i see you, neteyam."
eywa had heard the two of your wishes and answered them. you and neteyam sully were now one, mated for life.
can't help falling in love with you | neteyam sully
paring: neteyam sully x fem! omaticaya! reader
¡based of the song ‘can’t help falling in love’ by elvis presley!
a/n: hi this is one of my old works from my acc that got deleted enjoy ! x
masterlist!
wise men say, only fools rush in. neteyam was always told growing up to never rush the process of finding the right one to mate with- but he knew he had already found the one he wished to mate with when he met you, it all clicked for neteyam like a switch was flicked in his mind.
neteyam tried to push the feelings he had for you to the back of his mind, tried to store them away never to be seen. but he can't help falling in love with you, as he watched you lay on the green grass admiring the stars above the two of you, pointing to the constellations in the dark sky. "nete, are you paying attention?" you snapped him out of the trance he was in that you unknowingly put him in. "yeah," it came out as more of a question than an answer.
neteyam sully followed the rules, it was just who he was- he was an organised person who had his whole life planned out. but as he stared at you with the soft glow of the forest illuminating your soft features that he swore were crafted by eywa herself, he found himself questioning his purpose in life. he always thought it was to be a mighty warrior and lead the clan, but know he wasn't soo sure because as he wrapped his strong arms around your figure- putting his face into the crook of your neck, obcorbing your scent with you softly tracing the patterns on his back- he felt as if this was his purpose, you. shall he stay? would it be a sin, if he can't help falling in love with you? neteyam slowly moved his head out of the crook of your neck, coming face to face with you. "you're so beautiful." he breathed out, pushing a bit of loose hair that fell in front of your face back behind your ears gently. "so, so beautiful." he leaned down slowly, placing a soft kiss upon your lips that lit a fire in you, that was sure to burn you at any given moment- but you did not mind if you got burnt by the fire that neteyam lit.
neteyam was with his mother, helping her prepare the food for the clan celebration- but he was barely helping, his focus was completely on you who was playing with tuk some ways away from where he and his mother sat. neytiri glanced up at her eldest son, who had a knife in hand about to cut the meat- but wasn't even looking at it- she studied his face, his gaze was filled with love as he stared at you. her face softened as she realised that he had found the one, she always knew of what he felt for you but she never thought it would grow to be so real. "you are a lovesick man, my boy." she spoke, grabbing a fruit- neteyam tore his gaze from you at his mothers words, "i can not help it, mother." he said earning a small chuckle from neytiri, you and neteyam reminded her of herself and jake when they were younger
“neteyam, hurry!- we are going to miss it!” you yelled behind you rushing to the top of the hallelujah motions to catch the beauty sight of eclipse falling over pandora. neteyam chuckled, following right behind you- keeping an eye on you to make sure you didn’t hurt yourself. you reached the top of the floating mountain, pulling neteyam up by his hand quickly- dragging him along. you stopped suddenly, your eyes widening as a small smile crept on on your face at the beautiful radiant sky in front of you- breath swept away from you at the sight of the light slowly fading over pandora, disappearing slowly from the forest. “beautiful.” you breathed out, reaching out a hand to touch it- though you knew you would never be able to. neteyam glanced at the sky, while yes it was beautiful- but how could he ever focus on it when something far more beautiful was right beside him, you. “very.” he replied, admiring your blissful face. butterflies creeping up in his stomach as he stared at you. neteyam had never felt so entranced by another before he met you, and boy, was he glad he did- neteyam had become a lovesick fool, he had become what he never thought he ever would be. but how could he be a fool if he knew what he felt for you was pure and more real than any folks tail ever told.
as the light began to disappear and the stars began to shine in the sky you were still admiring it with the same light in your eyes. “my father came from that star,” he pointed up at the dark sky, towards a star that shone a bit brighter than the rest. you had heard of where jake sully had came from, your eye trying to follow where his finger pointed- not seeming to catch onto which one it was. he grabbed your hand gently that was by your side, bringing it up and pointed it to where he was- the touch igniting a million flames throughout yours and his body. “there,” he whispered into your ear, his body pressed up against your back. “it is so crazy to think we are not alone in the universe.” you thought out loud, neteyam humming in response as his hand guided yours back down- but his grasp on it never leaving- slowly wrapping his arm around your waist, hugging you from behind. his chin resting on your shoulder- slightly bending down a little to meet your healthy as he stood taller than you- and most na’vi too.
he guided you by your hand softly to the tree of voices, they say it is where prayers are heard and sometimes answered- he begged the great mother that his prayer would be heard and answered. the prayer to make you his and him yours. "nete, why are we here?" you whispered, admiring the gorgeous glow of the fallen vines of the tree- you turned to him slowly, meeting his gaze that was set on you and only you. he reached out his hands, grabbing yours softly intertwining it with his own. "y/n," your name left his lips like a prophecy, as if they were the only words he could ever speak. "take my hand, take my whole life too." your heartbeat began to fasten up at his words as he came closer to you, hands still entwined. "i wish to grow old with you, i want to spend all of eternity and all of what is after it with you. i want you to be the mother of my children, you have my whole heart y/n. you have turned me into a love sick fool, for i cannot help, falling in love with you." he placed a kiss on your snout lightly, "i wish for you to be my mate." he breathed out, your eyes locked with his. you had longed for him to speak those words ever since you met him, and now under the eye of eywa, upon all the ancestors that rested beneath the grove of trees, neteyam sully bore his heart out on his palms right in front of you for you to take and be yours until time itself ended. one of your hands left his, reaching up to cup his cheek- he leaned into your touch, putting his now free hand over your own that cupped his face gently. "i can't help falling in love with you, nete." neteyams pupils dilated at the confession leaving your lips, but it did not mere in comparison to what you were about to say. "i see you." he felt his knees go weak, neteyam swore he could've collapsed right then and there. "i see you, y/n." he brought the hand that was on his cheek down to his lips, placing a soft kiss on your palm. he reached behind his back, fingers grazing his queue that was protected with a thick braid- slowly bringing it in front of him, offering it to you. you didn't think twice about it, as he did your hand grabbed your braid bringing it next to his. the two of you slowly came down to the ground, knees resting on the soft ground. you met his eyes and softly nodded, bringing your queue that was swiftly swirling around as if it was being pulled to his own- then slowly tsaheylu, neteyams pupils dilated- he could feel every fiber in your being, your soul and heart. every emotion you were feeling, every short breath and he loved it. he loved it so much, nothing could have ever prepared him for this day where your souls became one- neteyam had been told of the feeling, but nothing matched to what he imagined it to be to what it actually was. his soul yearned for yours, it ached at night in the absence of your own- and now he could feel you, every inch of you- as you could him. he leaned in to you, kissing you passionately as you returned it. rubbing your noses against one another, breathing shortly at the euphoric feeling being shared between the two of you. his hand slid behind your lower back, pulling you closer to him. that night your two souls danced with one another, becoming one.
neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan knew that no matter what he did or said nothing would be able to stop him falling for you, he could not help falling in love with you- and he was did not mind doing so one bit. he was born to be with one with you.
warnings: angst, lots of fluff!! friends to lovers
summary: with the hard move from the forest to the sea y/n struggles with the transition, keeping it all in until she eventually cracks from all the pressure and neteyam is there to comfort her
masterlist!
moving away from home was never going to be easy, you knew that. everyone knew it. moving away from all you ever knew of was something no one could ever truly prepare for, no matter how much they think they can.
moving to the metkiyena clan was challenging, for all of you. you tried to not complain and stay in line. you did as you were told, trained and tried to not suffer the pain of being useless. even bit your tounge when aun'ong and his posy made snarky comments towards you, no matter how much you wanted to punch him in the face.
as time passed it got harder and harder to act like all was fine. you were sick of your fingers getting prawny from the water, sick of your hair smelly like salt- sick of the food. sick of everything. you wanted to go home.
you knew it was a foolish wish, your dad and jake sully fought along side together in the war- your dad wished for them to take you with them, when quaritch and his avatars caught the sully kids you unfortunatly had decided to join them on an adventure that day. since he had seen you, you had to leave with them. no one wanted to risk it.
one day you finally had enough.
at the begining of the day you were with tsireya and a couple of other girls from the tribe, they had been trying to teach you their tribal dances so you could join them in the next fire.
"copy my moves, y/n." tsireya swayed her arms, her hips moving in unison with them, every movement flowing perfectly together like the soft waves of the ocean.
"alright.." you mumbled, attempting to follow her- though it looked easy enough when she did it, you quickly learnt that it was indeed not easy. "i don't think i am doing it right." the other girls with you giggled at your uncordination, making your eyes fall flat against your head.
tsireya gave them a stern look before turning to you with a soft expression, "you are doing great y/n," slowly moving towards you, guiding your hands in motion. "we were all like this when we first started." you knew she was just saying that to be kind to you.
she continued to guide your moves, "see," smiling, she complimented you. "you are already doing better."
"that is because you are doing it all for me." you smile at her, she is too kind. you missed how you would dance back home, you were good at it there. you had grown up doing the dances, it made you feel free- but when you began learning the metkayina dances it felt like you had never danced in your whole life, the entire style was differant.
shaking her head, "you are too hard on yourself." smiling she guided your wrist higher, replicating the same move she did earlier. "here, do it yourself now." letting go she stepped back to observe you.
just when you thought you might have gotten it, you messed it all up. instead of swaying like the tidal waves you swayed like the leaves on the trees. your hands just weren't co-operating. "argh!" your hands fall to your hips angrily, "i give up!" you stomp your feet. "this is too hard." you felt like a baby. "i move like a baby."
"you are not a baby." tsireya comforted you, but you looked over at the younger na'vi group dancing and your face dropped- they were all much better than you. looking back at her with a skeptical look on your face, "they have been dancing like this since they were born." again trying to make you feel better- but you did not need to be pittied.
"how about we take a break for today," tsireya saw how the whole dancing thing had really let you down, "how about we join the others in weaving baskets?"
that was what lead to your second part in the day that lead to your breakdown. sitting down in a circle with, kiri, roxto, aun'ong, tsireya, neteyam, tuk and lo'ak weaving baskets for hunting with leaves and twigs.
easy enough, right?
"you weave it through," roxto demonstrated for you, pulling the leafe through another one. "then out." nodding you began to do it yourself. glancing to your left at tuk, who was holding a half way done basket. that was perfect.
breathing deeply you sigh. "okay.." if tuk could do it, you surely could. "through there," you were speaking quietly to yourself, biting your lip, you began crafting the weaved basket. "then there- wait no." undoing and redoing it about 5 times before you finally had something that resembled something of a basket. you smiled at your success, looking up at the group about to show your accomplishement when you quickly realised yours did not look how it was suppose to.
lo'ak snorted catching a glimspe at your work, "y/n, we are suppose to be making hunting baskets," he teased, poking fun at you. "you know they are meant to be able to hold fish, right?" pointing at your horrible excuse for a basket. you knew he was just joking, but it didn't stop your ears lowering to your head.
"shut up." you rolled your eyes at him.
neteyam elbowed him in the side, "ow!" lo'ak yelped out in pain, "what was that for?" he narrowed his eyes at his brother beside him who shook his head in disaproval. lo'ak tried to meet eyes with kiri so she could back him up, he was met with the same look from her that he earned from his brother.
"i think your basket is pretty y/n." tuk gushed at you, her crooked teeth on display. "thank you tuk." you gave a half smile back at the girl, your head hung low.
after a couple more tries at the basket, you grew irriated. why would it not work for you? everyone could see your frustration with the small thing in front of you. neteyams eyes softened at the way you were biting your lip and focusing so hard in the task in front of you. you always chewed on your lip when you were having diffucilty with a task. he learnt that from observing you over the years, a thing he grew to love about you.
"you did so good kiri!" tsireya praised the girl who had finished weaving three baskets already, each one perfectly constructed. looking up your eyes widened, how had she done it so fast? you were still trying to finish your first one- that you have had to restart multiple times.
a couple hours had passed and all the others had left to join the tribe in the communal fire- leaving you and neteyam sitting by the shore still weaving baskets.
neteyam stayed behind for you, he was fine with crafting the seaweed baskets. but he wanted to stay with you. you had not spoken a word to him since the others had left, he was unsure if you were even aware that the sun was now setting on pandora.
you groan, "skxawng," cursing under your breath at the basket. rubbing your temple.
neteyam put his hand over yours, stopping you from your task, making you look up at him. "it's okay y/n," he squeezed your hand, "you are getting irritated."
sighing you speak, "why is it so hard?" your voice came out small, which pulled on neteyams heart strings.
"you will learn in time," he gently squeezed your hand, neteyam always had a way for making you feel better. suddenly you forgot about the stupid basket in front of you- if you could even call it that.
"thank you neteyam." giving him a tight smile, he knew you were having a hard time adjusting, they all were.
your eyes fell on the sand beneath you, "hey," neteyam pulled you out of your trance, "look at me," your eyes locked with his, eyes that looked tired. "if you need to talk about anything, i am always here. you know that, right?"
neteyam had always been a kind soul, bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. you knew he meant it, but you also knew that he was also struggling with the adjustment. you did not want to add yourself onto the load that was crushing him already.
smiling you squeeze his hand back, "yes i know," it was moments like this that made you dream of what life would be like if you spent the rest of it with him. "i am always here for you too."
neteyam knew you were too stubborn to say what you were feeling to him, you were too prideful to admit that you were having trouble, he knew he would have to wait for you to come to him about it.
"y/n!, neteyam!" lo'aks voice rang through the cool air. "come on! they are about to begin the ceremony!"
"come on," neteyam stands up, offering you his hand to help you up. you graciously take it.
you could feel everyones joy through the air, times like this made you forgot all the hatred and war going on in the world- all that mattered was the love that you could feel emmitiing from every na'vi in the tribe as everyone gathered to celebrate the ending of another moon cycle. it reminded you of the ceronomys you had back at home, making you feel just a little less home sick.
you were smiling as roxto and aun'ong showed off their dancing, you weren't even upset that they were far better than you would ever be at the art as they were so brilliant at it. the way their arms moved in unison with each other, like they were one- it was fasinating.
neteyam was sitting a log away from you, looking at the smile that adourned your face. he proabbly looked like a creep with the way he was watching you have fun but he did not care, all that mattered was you were happy.
"dude, stop staring at y/n," neteyam head snapped to his brother who sat down beside him. "it's creepy." he teased.
neteyam rolled his eyes. "i am not staring." he knew he was.
"right," lo'ak nudged him, "just admit it, you are in love with her- we all know it." he stuffed his mouth with food. neteyams ears perked in embarrasment and shock as his brother continued to ramble while food spat out of his mouth. "you know,- you should just tell her already- its getting annoying seeing you two eyeing eachother."
neteyam signed, rubbing his temple. "i just don't know how to tell her."
lo'aks eyebrows furrowed, shocked at the fact that his mighty perfect all knowing brother was confused on how to do something. "you are joking right?" but he quickly caught on by the look in his brothers eyes that he was indeed stuck. "no way!" he couldn't beleive it, "so the mighty warrior does have a flaw."
neteyam rolled his eyes, he knew better than to talk to lo'ak of all people- he knew he would just make it into a joke, but it was anything but that to neteyam. "forget it."
"no-no," lo'ak scrambled on his words, "look, i have grown up with the two of you, right?" neteyam nodded his head, confused at where he was going with this. "and i have seen how you two are with eachother- how y/n is with you."
"and?" not catching onto what exactly it was he was hinting at.
"and she is happy when she is around you, she does these weird googly eye things when she looks at you- it's weird." lo'ak explained, face cringing in memory of all the times he would catch you staring at neteyam when he was training. "oh- and she is always staring at you-"
neteyam felt his heart thump against his rin cage, his eyes lit up. "she is?"
lo'ak was seriously confused. "oh bro," he smirked, "i knew you were stupid but i didn't know you were blind."
as the night continued on, neteyam could not think of anything else other than the conversation he had with his brother. his mind filled with the possibilities that you felt the same way. you felt the pull that he felt all these years. was he really as blind as lo'ak said? was it ovbious?
"so-" neteyam was walking back to his family ularu after the fire was over- which you also stayed in aswell- he had stayed back behind everyone to practice what he would say to you. "you look beautiful tonight y/n, wanna go on a-uh walk." he scrunched his face after the words came out of his mouth. "argh," he groaned while walking- this was not easy. "hey, can i speak to you outside y/n?" no sounded too serious. "so the weather looks nice doesn't it y/n-"
though he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings as he didn't take into notice that he was approaching his family ilaru. "neteyam?" he jumped back, eyes wide from the unexpected entrance.
he quickly fixed his posture, almost tripping over his own tail.
"y/n!" he nervously said, "y/n.... uh- how are you?- i haven't seen you in uh- while." like vomit the words spilled out of his mouth, all in one big clumpy mess. he mentally cursed himself for tripping over the simpliest of words.
you raised your left eyebrow in confusion at neteyams weird behaviour. "uh-" you were unsure if you had caught him at a bad time or not. "i'm good and you saw me like 10 minutes ago neteyam..." you were unsure wether to laugh or to be concerned for the boy in front of you. you rarely saw neteyam stumble over his words, let alone whole sentences.
"right.." mentally facepalming once again. it was never awkward between the two of you, but as of right now you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. the two of you fell into an awkward silence, until neteyam coughed trying to save himself- if he even could.
his eyes fell onto what you were holding, seashells, "are you uh- making something?"
forgetting what you were originally going to do before the awkward encounter you glance down at your hand. you were going to go off an attempt to make some of the metkayina traditional jewellery, something you knew you could definitely do. you had collected shells for it. "oh yeah-," you laugh, slightly embarrassed. "i uh- was going to make some jewellery."
"after eclipse?" he questions.
smiling sheepishly you nod, "yeah i mean, it's soothing," you start to walk forward, "i use to do it back at home so, why not?" passing neteyam who was still standing in the same spot, thinking he had just weirded you out- before you spoke again. "are you coming?" he snaps his head to you, wide smile.
the beach was quiet, the air being filled with the soft crashes of the waves, the sand course on your skin. the moonlight kissing everything it reached. you and neteyam sat across from eachother, shells sprawled out in front of you, along with string to craft the bracelets with.
you immediantly began working on the delicate peices, "are you enjoying it here?" neteyam breaks the silence, speaking like his normal self again.
shrugging you speak, "i mean yeah, it's nice." neteyam could see right through you, he heard the unsecierity in your voice when you spoke- the way you hesitated before speaking. he raised an eyebrow, not beleiving you. "no i do like it." you attempt to save yourself, you really did not want to dump all your problems on neteyams already exhausted shoulders. "it's really cool here, the uh- water and the swimming and the ilus are- nice." poor attempt at lying he thought.
he knew you well enough that he knew not to pry, you would come around when you wanted to and he respected that. so he nodded, you and him both knew you were not telling the truth but that was a topic left for another day. "i heard tysireya is teaching you how to dance." trying to lift the mood, "how is that going?"
ovbiously he did not know how much you were struggling with it earlier today, you had almost forgetten about how much you sucked at it until the boy had brought it up. still trying to make the shell bracelet you spoke up, "yeah it's okay." you struggled to fit the shell hole into the thin peice of string. "it is just hard- and i move like a ilu out of water- argh!" you are interuppted mid rant by your skin getting nicked on the sharp surface of the shell. you dropped the unadone bracelet harshly onto the sand with a loud groan.
"hey- hey," neteyam took your arms in his, tears welding up in your eyes. "whats wrong?"
you tried to shove all your feelings done that had been pent up from these last few weeks but as soon as your eyes met neteyams you cracked.
tears fell from your face, neteyams thumb catching them before they landed whiping them off. "i just want to go home.." your voice cracked as did neteyams entire soul when the words left your mouth. "i-i suck at everything here." you gesture to the failed jewellery in front of you. "i cant even make a stupid bracelet."
neteyam couldnt help but feel guilty for your suffering, after all it was his family that brought you here- if it weren't for lo'ak bringing you along that day in the forest you would have still been there and not had to endure this pain.
"you don't suck at anything y/n." the boy took your hands in his, "hey look at me." your sad eyes met his, the eyes that he grew to love so much. "i know everything is hard here, i am having trouble too," that was the first time he had admitted it out loud to anyone. "i have seen you though, in the water- you are amazing at swimming, you have done better at that than anyone of us so far."
neteyam always somehow knew exactly what to say to lift your spirits, his compliments making a smile slowly make its way to your face. "there she is.." he smiled at your own smile, wiping away some stray tears on your smooth face.
"i miss home too." sighing he admitted, "but whenever i miss it i just find you or my family and then i realise that home is with all of you." your heart fluttered at him including you in his home in his heart.
you rubbed your eyes, "i'm sorry- i was just overreacting."
"don't apoligise for being upset, please," tucking a peice of hair behind your ears. "you never have to apoligise to me y/n." the way the moonlight made your face glow under neteyams gaze made his heart flutter.
lost in the trance of your beauty he forgot that he was still staring at you, you spoke snapping him out of his gaze. "do i have something on my face?" suddenly insecure under his intense stare, moving your head out of his veiw.
before you could duck your face neteyam took a hold of your chin, gently turning you back to look at him. "you just look beautiful." he breathed out, sounding like a love sick fool.
the past emotions of sadness were nothing more than a fever dream now, new emotions flooded your stomach- ones that made you want to fall to your knees.
warnings: angst, death, stabbing, blood, sad neteyam
Masterlist!
growing up a child of war, death surrounded you. it was something raw, something ingraved into your bones since the moment you entered the world.
yet, death was never something you ever feared, you grew up with your mother telling you it was nothing but the inevitable. that when eywa weilds it right, everyones time will come to an end. it is in everyones birth right, from the minute they take their first breath they are guarenteed that death will eventually greet them one way or another.
after all, all energy is just borrowed. eventually you have to give back.
"lo'ak," you latched onto his right hand stopping him before he could go any further, your eyes pleading with him. "now is not the time to play hero." the ship was sinking, you needed to get out of there with him.
lo'ak clenched his jaw with anger, "they need all the help they can get," he signed towards the other end of the ship- which held the people in which you loved. "y/n, we need to help them." his eyes bore into your own. "neteyam needs us." lo'ak knew how to get to you, he knew you would risk it all for neteyam.
in that moment you were torn between your head and your heart, your head knew you and him needed to get off the ship right then and there- but your heart wished to follow into the darkness to save him. lo'ak could see the storm brewing behind your eyes, "y/n." his head tilted, his face conveyed more to you then words could ever.
sucking in a deep breath, you glanced at the exit. which would lead you and him to safety- the right option, the option you knew you should choose, but you always tended to follow your heart.
head snapping back towards the boy, nodding. "let's go and help them." walking away from the exit, the choice of saftey going out the window the minute you took the first step away from it. lo'ak followed next to you closely, grabbing a loose gun on the floor.
"stay close to me, okay." venturing deeper into the ship that was in flames, the atmosphere became darker, the air slowly suffocating your lungs. you could feel your heart pumping against your rib cage, awaiting for someone to jump out and attack at any second
"argh!" your ears perked up in response to the groans echoing from the compartment next to you and lo'ak. the sound of clanking following it. before you could even form your next thought the boy who was next to you was now running forward towards the sound. "lo'ak!-" you called out, before quickly chasing after him into the room.
neteyams head snapped at the sound of footsteps entering the room, his heart dropping to his feet when he realised it was lo'ak and you. he would have rather it been two more soldiers.
you were relieved to see neteyam, suddenly you felt like you could breath properly again. that feeling didn't last long as you obsorbed the situation that the boy was in.
the avatar dressed in camo took advantage of the moment of weakness from neteyam, sweeping him off his feet, bringing him crumbling to the metal floor. lo'ak was already next to his brother, smashing the gun into the false na'vis skull. giving them a moment to recover as the man got knocked out. "i gotchu big bro," lo'ak smirked proudly.
racing over your arms scooped neteyams body up helping him come to his feet, his skin adorned with cuts and bruises. "neteyam." you whispered, studying his person for any sign of fatal injury.
"you need to go." neteyam breathed out, chest puffing up and down in attempt to catch his breath. "now- lo'ak leave with y/n." voice laced with urgancy, you had never seen neteyams eyes hold so much fear.
"what- no." lo'ak shook his head, his eyebrows furrowing at his elder brother.
"we will leave with you, neteyam." you snapped back, your voice stern. eyes locking with neteyams own. his tight expression softened, if not in the circumstances he would hold you right now.
the moment was ruined by the ground shaking beneath you, your eyes widened as you realised the boat was sinking faster than before. "we need to go."
adrenaline coursed through your blood stream running through the haunting ship that was coming to meet its demise. praying to eywa that she would guide you to the exit. the air was now thicker than before, every breath poisening your lungs. "where is the exit?" neteyam questioned the two of you.
you and lo'ak shared a look, hoping the other had remembered the path you had taken to reach neteyam. lo'ak bit onto his lip, head tilting in shame. you had no time to be dwelling on the fact you had both forgotten. "come on!-" you ushered the two rounding a corner, unlucky for you someone was waiting for you.
rough hands clasped around you, snatching you from under your feet catching you off guard. "ah!" you gasped, watching as neteyam and lo'ak got grabbed by two other avatars. "and where do you think you're going?" a raspy female voice spoke from behind you, the one whos finger nails were breaking into your skin dangerously.
lo'ak struggled against his captator, thrashing in attempt to get loose. "let go!" he hissed. neteyam tried to tell his brother to stop resisting. "lo'ak!- calm down." thought he himself was just as afraid as lo'ak, he knew it would only make it worse.
kicking your legs into her, gritting through your teeth you groaned "get off me you bitch!" your teeth sank into her thick blue skin, earning a gasp from her but she only tightened her hold on you.
"why you little!" neteyam watched as she drew her knife from her pocket and pressed it up against your neck. making you instantly freeze in spot, the cold metal of the blade kissing your skin. she smirked, tugging at your hair making you hiss in pain. "not so feisty now are you?" you glared up at her, biting your tounge careful not to make a move. her smirk was sickening, she was enjoying your fear. soaking up every last drop of it.
for the first time in his life neteyam sully felt helpless, there he was merely 4 feet away from you and he could not help you. his blood boiled with anger at the avatar that held you- how dare she touch you. his stare was dangerous, if looks could kill she would be 6 feet under.
the ground of the ship began shaking, as if the world beneath you was angry. it was silent for a second, the second seemed to last an enternity, you could feel the sweat dripping from your forehead- you all knew the ship was going down.
the ground began shaking once more, harsher this time. then it started to tilt, objects began flying across the floor rapidly. your eyes widened catching sight of a cargo box heading straight towards you.
you were thrown to the ground harshly, the avatar who previously was holding you began retreating as the boat tilted more and more, "let's move out!" the man holding lo'ak seemed ruluctant to let go. "leave them! they will be dead anyway!" the two other avatars following her in persuit.
you groaned from the impact, "y/n! look out!" neteyam yelled, diving towards you pulling you out of the way swiftly from the flying cargo box. slamming again onto the harsh ground, neteyam breaking the fall for you. your heart dropped as you watched the wooden box plumit to the edge of the platform getting stopped by the railing that overlooked the rest of the inside of the ship. "i got you." neteyam breathed out, more to himself - scared that if he didn't you would disapear.
you tried to catch your breath as neteyam gripped onto you, your mind was spinning in all differant directions. objects were flying and sliding on the floor, you could hear water gushing from somewhere inside the ship, ashes sprinkled the air.
"neteyam!" lo'ak called out, pushing a door open. "come on!" he gripped onto its handle, trying to stabilize himself from the tilting floor. you and neteyam peered up at the boy.
you couldn't walk towards him, you and neteyam were slowly slipping with the axis of the floor and the door was too far there was no way you and neteyam were going to make it to lo'ak. you glanced back over to neteyam, who had already calculated you wouldn't be able to make it in time. his features weathered with with defeat. eyes meeting your own, "we're not going to make it." you uttered, staring at the boy beside you.
"lo'ak," neteyam called out to his brother, "you need to go!"
lo'ak shook his head. "no- i'm not leaving you two-"
"i said go!" neteyam roared, ordering his brother. lo'ak looked at you, his eyes glazing over before he pulled himself out.
the ship was now almost fully on its side, "neteyam," you warned, feeling yourself begining to slide down to the other end of the ship. "neteyam!" you clawed onto the metal ground, sliding down it. neteyam latched onto the handle of a cargo box that was secured to the ground, grabbing you with the other hand.
"hold on." he grunted, you watched as tables passed by you flying down to the other end of the ship, falling into the darkness which swallowed it hole.
neteyams body screamed in pain, his arms weak from fighting with the avatar. every bone in his body stung, screaming for him to rest. he wasn't going to let go of you. "i got you." he breathed out, trying to pull you up so you could hold onto the large container.
something took a hold of your ankle, you felt yourself being dragged down by sudden weight being towed down by it. claws digging into the sides of your foot. you glance down, only to be met by the smirk of the same avatar who had held the knife to you earlier.
you looked back up to neteyam who was struggling to keep all of you up, the extra weight of the new body added pushing his limits.
"get off me you bitch!" trying to kick her off you, which you regretted doing as soon as you felt the jolt of pain that urapted in your calf. "ah!" you screamed out, watching as she drove the knife into your skin, twisting it slowly in angony. tears trickled down your face from the pain.
she ripped out the knife, about to stab it in once more- a loose pipe flew down, smacking her in the face, making her loose grip of your foot and plumet with it. her scream echoed throughout the ship as she fell.
"neteyam," you whispered, one hand slipping from neteyams hold. now only holding on with one hand.
"i'm not letting you fall y/n," neteyam said, looking down at you. "i promise." his eyes prickling with tears as he struggled to hold on, arms shaking in pain.
your bones felt weak and fragile, "i- i can't hold on neteyam." you cried, your palm was begining to slip was his grasp. you knew you wouldn't be able to hold on much longer, the pain was scourching through your body like rabid fire.
"no- don't say that." he spoke, he could no longer feel his hand. he couldn't let go of you, he couldn't ever let you fall. "hold on, i've got you."
he glanced up at his hand that was firmly gripping the box that was keeping them from falling into the dark, his face scrunching from the pain yelling through his body"argh!" he groaned, trying to keep his grip just a little longer.
you felt yourself loose the grip on his hand, fingers grazing down his calloused palm to his own burdened finger tips. until there was no more contact, "y/n!" neteyam did not have to second guess himself as he fell down after you, following you into the darkness.
you were met with the cold water, your body being caved in by the sea, everything was muffled under the water. you were under for a couple seconds, peering up at the surface- everything seemed so calm below the water, as if the world wasn't collapsing in on itself.
gasping for air you emerged from the rushing water, the current was going fast, waves of water spilling over you each second threatening to pull you under once more.
neteyam ignored the pain shooting through his entire being, his mind being filled with you and only you. he splashed into the water, hitting it harshly. "y/n!" calling out while panicly searching around, while the water fought against him pulling him with the current.
"neteyam!" you weakly called out, water splashing in your face. every time you took a breath water flooded in your body.
he swam towards you, the current pushing both you and him deeper into the broken ship. metal scrapping against you through the water, adding onto the already existing pain.
traveling fastly through the water your eyes widened as you saw the end, where the water spat out. neteyam had never pushed himself this much, he fought against the water begging to reach your sinking figure.
bracing for impact your eyes shut, approaching the waterfall that had been made by the gushing impact of the water. neteyam watched as you went out of his line of vision, falling from the end "no!"
ringing filled your ears, eyes opening weakly, all you could see was the bright fire that surrounded you. all you could feel was the pain in your body. you tried moving but your body didn't listen to your mind.
a muffled cry escaped your mouth, the cold wet metal of the floor being the harsh reminder of where you were everytime you close your eyes hoping it was all just one bad dream- that you would wake up and be in the forest with neteyam once again.
fire crackling became comforting, watching the flames move. you never realised how beautiful fire was until now, the way it swayed gently apoligsing to no one for its destruction. was neteyam stuck like you? had he made it out? "please, protect him great mother."
a voice filled your ears, "y/n!" neteyam. "y/n!" he shouted once more, his voice breaking with each scream. you wanted to run to him, fall into his arms- but you couldn't all you could do was stare into the distance.
neteyam limped through the fire, coughing- "y/n!" his voice was weak, barely a scream. his eyes searching all over for you. then he saw a body, you body, surrounded by flames laying down. "no,'no..." he murmered before rushing towards your limp figure.
"y/n..." he pulled you into his lap, examining your body. his heart sinking when he saw the amount of blood leaking from your calf. your face had nearly lost all its colour. "y/n! can you hear me." he held your face in his hands, begging for you to answer.
your eyes were half open. "neteyam.." barely even a whisper.
neteyam sighed, "i got you," he held you close, brushing the wet hair out of your bloodied face. "i got you,"
tears rolled down your face, "neteyam, it-it hurts."
"i know-" he croaked out, stroking your face softly. "i know yawne." tears rolling down his face. "it's gonna be okay, you'll be okay." he whispered.
staring up at the boy you loved, you smiled weakly admiring his features that were being illuminated by the light from the flames- the features you had grown to fall so deeply in love with. "you are so beautiful." your eyes threatining to close
his eyes softened, his heart belonged to you. "yawne, keep your eyes open." panicking, "please, keep them open."
"i'm so tired, neteyam." your voice was calm, you had already accepted your fate, you knew your time had come, you could feel your body retreating in on itself. "i- i want to go to sleep."
his hold on you grew tighter, "no-no don't say that please," he could not recognise his own voice in his ears, it was broken. "help!" he called out, "someone- please help!" all he was responded with was the echo of his own voice.
you grimaced at the yelling, "neteyam-" cutting him off from his screams, pulling his attention abck towrds your drying figure. "stop yelling, please."
"someone is coming to help-" he knew no one was coming, no one could hear him. his thumb rubbed the tears that trailed down your beautiful face. "please, hold on y/n." he begged, pleading with the universe to spare your life.
"i see you, neteyam," you had been waiting to say that since the moment you realised you had fallen for the boy all those years ago in the forest. you wished you had said it sooner but the past was now far behind you.
neteyams lips were cracked and bloodied, "i- i see you, y/n." his smile sepeed through the sadness.
"i-i.." struggling to finish your sentence, "i would dream about us, neteyam- about us being mated before eywa."
the girl who he loved was dying in his arms and neteyam felt like the world was slipping through his fingers like sand. "we will get back, and we will be mated before eywa-" he croaked out, like a promise that got lost in the wind. "we will be okay."
"i would like that.." you whispered, neteyam felt your body go limp in his arms.
"y/n?" his heart broke, "y/n?" he shook you gently, "no,no-" he sobbed, pulling you into him as you sobbed into your hair. "please, no."
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