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fluloa · 2 years

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Jake sully x reader [series, part two]

PART ONE

The sand burns beneath his feet, his skin hot and irritated from Eywa's unforgiving sun. Jake pats his ikran firmly on the chest, breathing steadily. He watches as people crawl out of their pods, emerge from the blue water and judging by their expressions, they aren't happy. He looks back to his family, gaze lingering on his oldest seeming weary and his fingers grazing the bow strapped to his ikran.

"Neteyam," he whispers sharply, and he looks to him, cowering away from the bow with a small huff through his nose. "On me," he commands his children, unable to hide the nervousness peering out of his tone. "Tuk," he mumbled, stretching his hand out for her to take. She runs to grab it, before settling her hands on the back of his leg.

Jake readjusts his slipping loincloth to sit comfortable on his hips before stretching his arms out wide, making sure to walk slowly and steadily. A sign of peace, a sign he could only hope they accept. He isn't able to stop himself from staring at the spears that some of the people hold, noticing the sharp, hard points of them. He does his best to keep his face neutral.

Two young boys and a girl crack through the thick group, slightly circling his sons.

"What is that? That supposed to be a tail?" One cracks, snickering and the other laughs with him. "How are they supposed to swim—"

The girl suddenly hits the cocky boy's arm, voice stern, "Do not, Roxto and Ao'nung."

Suddenly, the hushed talk of the people dies down a few notches.

Jake tilts his head to see a figure pushing— no, melting through the crowd, because they seem to be immediately parting for the said figure. He hears the light sound of shells rattling, smooth feet treading on the sand and before he can even catch his breath, there you are.

Weirdly enough, his mind jumbles. An unusual, unfamiliar bolt jitters through his body, settling at the pit of his stomach. Like a jolt of electricity.

You're of status. That much he can tell. Your black hair lavers down your back and over your shoulders, with a bundle of pearls and crystals twisted through it. You wear a lengthy sarong that lies loose around your hips, the right side cutting only at your calf. There are three crystalloid waist-beads that wrap around your torso, and your threaded top only covers what's necessary, and that too, is sprinkled with colorful spangles. Anklets, armlets, bracelets. A necklace that's crested with precious seashells and looped with glossy pearls. Your body is wet, skin dotted with water drops as if you had just gotten out of the ocean.

You scoop your hair out from your neck, unsticking it from your skin and moving it all to the back of you. He doesn't think he's ever seen a movement be done so gracefully.

A being that's ethereal, nothing he has seen before and it's something about you that reels him in like a fish caught on a hook. Your gaze finally locks with his, eyes ripe with curiosity and poise. His stomach does a flip, suddenly feeling the heat burning from beneath your expression. Your face is unreadable, your chin held high as you examine him and his family, and the sudden big whooshes from above him is the only thing that pulls his attention away from you.

Three big sea animals with long wings ride in, splashing into the water and one rider soaring on them is recognised easily. Tonowari, chief of the Metkayina, the reef people. He emerges from the water with a sense of power flowing behind him, and he strides with strength as his spear digs deep into sand each time he takes a step. They exchange greetings, and Jake's feels a sense of relief at the calm connection, as he knew Tonowari was a fierce leader.

But it wasn't him Jake was worried about.

Ronal emerges through the crowd, hips swaying gently and her face is unreadable, just like yours. She holds a strong aura, and her skirt rattles powerfully against her teal skin as she takes long, wary appearing steps.

"I see you, Ronal, Tsahik of the Metkayinas," Jake rushes, connecting his fingers to his head and releasing them swiftly. She says nothing in return, only flicking her eyes over his kids scattered behind him.

"Jakesully," Tonowari begins. "Why do you come to us?"

Jake licks swiftly at his lips, "We seek Uturu."

"Uturu?" Ronal snaps, like he has just insulted her with three striking words.

"Yes— sanctuary for my family," Jake reaches for Tuk standing meekly behind him, grasping her hand and bringing her gently forward.

"We are reef people," Tonowari lets a soft, unbelievable laugh escape from his chest. Ronal begins to circle Jake and his family. "You are forest people. Your skills will mean nothing here."

"So we will learn your ways, yeah?" Jake pleads.

Ronal grabs at Jake's tail, earning a little jut of his body from the unexpected action. She strokes her hand down Tuk's arm. "Their arms are thin," she states loud. It takes him by the unexpected when he feels another set of hands settling on his tail, and he whips his head around to see you, fingers grazing the length.

"Their tails are thin as well," you say, earning a small nod from Ronal. You drop his tail, now stepping over to his little girl behind him. "Mother," you murmur, jutting your head towards Tuk and she follows the movement, humming lowly. Mother. You were the clan leader's daughter, the next tsahik in line. He now understood the mutual energy you both shared.

"The thinness of your body parts will make you weak," Ronal then pulls on Kiri's tail, earning a whiney ow from her but the tsahik completely ignores it. "You will be slow in the water."

Ronal examines her arms, then moves to settle on her hands, and her eyes widen. She swiftly grabs at her them, swinging them up for everyone to see. "These children... are not even true na'vi." She strides over to the next kid, and of course, she lands on Lo'ak. She pushes his hand up too, revealing the same five blue fingers, "They have demon blood!"

The thick crowd swirls with gasps and terror-filled whispers, even a round of hisses chucked out. But Jake is quick to wave his hand out in front of Ronal's face, a sudden desperation, a sudden need to protect his family rushing in. "Look. Look!" Ronal's gaze snaps to him, eyeing the way his fingers wiggle around. "Look, I was born of the Sky People and now I am Na'vi. Alright? You can adapt." He turns to his worried family, "We can adapt."

"My father was Toruk Makto," Kiri rushes to tell, her eyes hung with slight desperation in them. Jake bites at his tongue, pulling all his inner strength together to not clamp his hand over his teenage daughter's mouth. "He lead the clans to victory against the Sky People. You know the tale."

"This is what you call victory, child? Hiding amongst strangers?" She towers over the teenage girl, her gaze darkening with disgust. She whips her head to Jake, "It seems Eywa has turned her back on you, chosen one."

An immediate, breathy hiss comes from Kiri, which is then met with a hiss from Ronal right back, dangerously leaning over her and that's when Jake places a hand on Kiri's shoulder and gently rocks her back a few steps. "I apologise for my daughter. She has travelled for a long time and is exhausted." He shoots her a look while explaining, tightening his grip on her shoulder slightly.

"Dad..." Kiri is quick to complain, but stops her next coming words when his expression hardens.

"Toruk Makto is a great leader, all Na'vi people know his story." Tonowari suddenly speaks out, extending his arm outwards toward Jake. "But we Metkayina are not at war," Tonowari turns to him. "We cannot let you bring your war here."

As Tuk numbly reaches for Jake, he immediately scoops her up by her torso, laying her head against his shoulder as her body presses sleepily at his chest. "I'm done with war," he plains, tone hugging a tiredness. "I just want to keep my family safe. That's all." He wraps an arm around his daughter's back, feeling the burning warmth of her sun-exposed skin. "Please," he adds.

A long look is exchanged between Ronal and Tonowari, and as restless anticipation boils at Jake's stomach, Tonowari turns around to him once again.

"Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us." Immediate relief floods through Jake's system, and he gives a reassuring pat to Tuk's small back. "Treat them as our brothers and sisters. But they do not know the sea, and they will be like babies taking their first breath. We shall teach them our ways so they do not suffer the shame of being useless."

Jake huffs out a breathless laugh, mixed with soft adrenaline and consolation. "Well— what do we say? Thank you."

A round of thank yous are heard, and a short, quiet one is added on by his attitude-filled daughter, Kiri.

"My eldest daughter will teach you the ways of Metkayina, Jakesully. As for my other daughter and son, they will show your children what to do," Tonowari speaks and a choked scoff is heard from beside him. Your jaw tightens, eyes setting wide as you whip your body towards your parents.

"Father," you dash. "You cannot exp—"

"It is decided." He booms, not sparing you even a look and your lips break into a snarl, a tiny and annoyed hiss breaking past your them. You seem to collect yourself just a moment after, breathing in through your chest before you take a large step forward.

"Come, I will show you our village," you invite, letting a small smile spread on your face and placing your hands neatly behind you. "Tsireya," you call, and she quickly follows after.

"Come!" the younger girl behind you cheers, and Jake swears he hears a soft laugh from in front of her.

He's quick to join you.

The ocean waves crash against your feet, splashing at your ankles as you toss food into a young ilu's mouth. You hold a basket at your hip, filled with fresh fish that is ready to be eaten.

Tsireya stays restless beside you, rising up and down on her toes as she helps you. "What do you think of Toruk Makto and his family?" you ask, dipping your hand into the basket again and wrapping your fingers around the thick of a fish's wet body.

Beforehand, you had examined Jakesully and his family from afar as they settled into their new home. You were relieved that they had seemed to like their marui pod, and hoped that they found peace within it. While they attempted to grow comfortable in their new home, you couldn't help but awe at their appearances. Their skin colour was a shade so blue, their eyes a vibrant, startling yellow.

Jakesully is intriguing looking, you figured, and you found yourself letting your eyes linger on him when they had firstly arrived. Even just before, you had to forcibly pull your eyes away from him and the action of the readjustment of his leather clip around his torso.

"I find them interesting. They're so.. blue." Tsireya replies. You throw the fish into another ilu's mouth, a happy chirp flowing from the eager animal as you do so. "You were upset about teaching Toruk Makto the ways of our people. Why?"

You blink, collecting another fish in your hands, "I was not upset about that. I was upset about the fact that father throws tasks at me repeatedly, and just expects me to handle it with the snap of my fingers. I'm aware that this was a completely unexpected event, but... it can get infuriating. Mother is the same."

"I understand," she responds, tucking a bunch of hair behind her ear.

You huff out a breath of air. "Fine, I must admit that I was a bit tempered in the moment. Toruk Makto does not seem like the ideal man to teach."

Tsireya laughs, "I understand that, too."

"Mm," you make a small, giddy humming noise. "Lo'ak seems ideal though, yes?"

"What?" she frowns, and your smirk widens.

"I saw you making big eyes at him," you tease, kicking her ankle softly with your foot.

"I wasn't."

"Oh, I think you were, hi'i ilva." You kick her again, finding amusement in her growing fluster. She groans out your name, pushing you in the shoulder and you gasp out a dramatised grunt, "Ooow!"

"You said you were going to stop calling me that," she embarrassingly wipes at her cheek, stretching out the skin of her eye.

"But you used to love it when you were little," you pout. Her frown deepens playfully. You notice the way her eyes travel over you, and a cheeky grin of her own makes its way to her smooth lips.

"Don't look now, but Toruk Makto is staring at you." Tsireya whispers giddily, ducking her head a little.

Your back straightens instinctively and you immediately turn your head around to look, doing exactly what she said not to do. Tsireya groans because of it.

She's right. Jakesully is looking at you from afar, and when he sees that you've caught him, he pushes out a dopey smile, flicking his still hand up in greeting. You nod your head back, letting a tiny smile split your lips. He begins walking over to you, and that's when you sigh quietly.

"Go help out Toruk Makto's children," you say, handing your basket to a villager ready to finish the task. "Use nice words, and make them feel welcome. And keep Ao'nung in line. Anything goes south, call out for me."

"Alright," she giggles, and you can tell she's excitement. She grazes your arm in goodbye and trots off, filling you with a small warmth at her obvious eagerness.

You wish you too possessed eagerness for teaching Jakesully, but Eywa didn't seem to be on your side today.

When he's near enough, you gently ball your fingers in a small fist on your forehead and then release them, a soft bow of your head. "Oel ngati kameie."

"Oel ngati kameie," he returns, repeating the gesture. There's a sense of awkward tension between the two of you. It's small, but it's there.

"Come," you command, sliding your hands behind your back and he listens, trailing behind you like a lost baby ilu following its mother. He attempts to match your long strides against the sand, even flicking up some and bits of it sprigging you in the legs. "My sister is eager to teach your children. She makes a great teacher. They will learn quick."

"That's good," Jakesully grumbles. You can feel his eyes stare into your face.

"I hope I make a great teacher to you, Toruk Makto." You add, flicking your fingers in your conjoined hands.

"Jake," he says, now grabbing your attention and you spin your head towards his. "Call me Jake."

"Jake?" you ask, the foreign word springing off your tongue loosely.

"Jake." He confirms, a smirk twitching on his lips. "And what shall I call you?" he prods, letting his eyes flick a mischievous glint.

"Karyu," you reply. Teacher. You aren't looking at him, but you hope he doesn't see the ghost of a grin playing on your mouth. You do catch the little flick of his tail though from the corner of your eye.

You begin to sink into your feet into the water, ushering him with the flick of your wrist and as you dive deeper into the sea, you glide a hand along an incoming ilu. "You will make bond with many ilu. They are kind, soft creatures. Treat them as your brother, your close one," you explain, rubbing a hand over the ilu's head before you.

Jake's next to you, placing a hand on its back. You take his hand, guiding it to the base of her long neck and angling his fingers to rest at the side of it. "Feel the strong huff of her breath, the scales of her skin."

He does as told, smoothing his palm flat onto her neck. Then his ears perk up, and his eyes run over to a spot behind you. "What's that?"

You attempt to look where his gaze was set, and you sigh once seeing where it was. "That is a skimwing. Only the most skilled Metkayina hunters may mount them."

You can see the way his eyes dart open, looking to you from the side and before he can even open his mouth, you're scolding him, "It isn't wise to start with a skimwing. An ilu would be much better."

He grins for the hundredth time today, but this time you're able to catch a glimpse of his pearly teeth. "Toruk Makto can handle a skimwing, ma karyu."

The skimwing is puffing out ragged and intimidating breaths as Jake flops belly first onto his back, swinging his leg over recklessly as a few men around them struggle to keep the beast down. Its back end thrashes, splashing water wildly and hitting you a couple of times. You're at the eager man's side, keeping your own and holding down the skimwing with an arm on its side.

"You hold here, yes— tight grip, Jake. Do not let go," you declare with your voice raised, trying to boom over the loud smack of the thrashing animal beside you. Jake grabs the leather band out from his mouth, using it to wrap it around his hand and the thick handle. "Remember, when you dive back into the water, keep a good position. Strong hold."

"Mhm," Jake mumbles, half-paying attention as he yanks the band a few times, stabilising the hold. Then he looks at you, and with a quirked lean of his head, he states, "I got this."

You breathe in deeply through your chest, taking a step back as you eye him steadily.

"Heeyah!" he shouts, the skimwing pouncing into action. It swivels and bolts through the water, and you watch as it jolts up and out of it, orange bold wings flapping out powerfully. You're impressed by it, with the way Jake hops up on one foot and rides the skimwing not flawlessly, but bravely. You even begin to tilt your head to get a clearer view of the scene. But then you notice the mishap, the leak of his performance when diving back down.

The skimwing escapes him, and he's left on his side before he's jumping up from the water, locks of black hair swishing back and forth. He swings up his arm, the hand that was once twisted into the skimwing's handle, now waved up in the air as he shakes it with anger. You can hear him groaning out in frustration, and a short laugh snorkels out from your mouth. You call for an ilu, hopping on it with a chortle and gliding to his aid.

"Toruk Makto cannot handle a skimwing as it seems," you tease, earning a chopped, slightly sheepish laugh from Jake. Your grin weakens when you see his arm, now reddened with whipped marks that seemed less severe from two hundred metres away. "Would you like something to aid that?"

"This? This ain't nothing." He brushes off, shoving the arm into the water.

"Hm," you murmur, raising a brow gently. "I will aid it for you if it does not fade within a few days."

"It's fine. Really—" he sees the expression on your face, and it's an expression that tells him that you will not give up on persistence. He sighs lowly. "'right, sweetheart."

Sweet heart? A heart that is sweet, you gathered. You've heard of many stories that your mother has told of the humans, and their foul and odd language. But this, you had not heard of. It should not have made the inner of your belly swirl with a sudden warmth like it had.

You raise your head, "Let's return to the ilu."

It's at the dark of night, and Jake is sat down with his family. Just like the Omoticaya, the Metkayina gather around for supper, a large bonfire in the middle of the peaceful people. The fish he chews is warm and smokey with flavor, his body tired from the day's work. Tuk is leant against his shoulder, a yawn leaving her. Neteyam sharpens an arrow of his bow, and Kiri is playing with one of her beads mangled in her hair as Lo'ak recklessly gobbles down his dinner.

He feels a sudden glow spread through his chest, because what he feels is the similar sensation of peace. Peace, at last. It partially convinces him to believe that what he did was right. It was right to rip himself and his family away from their home, to protect them from Quaritch and the vicious forces of the RDA.

He looks out in front of him and past the bright fire, his line of eyesight landing on both you and your family. You're scratching your knee as the bonfire toasts around you, its orange light illuminating on your face and giving the shade of your big eyes a warm glow. Ronal then looks to you, and the trace of her eyebrows pinch together. "Eat, child. You have barely touched any food," she snaps.

Obviously embarrassed, you heave out a long, exhausted sigh. "Mama," you whine out, a flush erupting on your cheeks and Jake has to suppress a chuckle from breaking out his chest.

Ronal picks up your wooden bowl, jutting it toward you. "Eat," she sterns. You take it from her, side-eyeing her as you begin to stuff your mouth little by little. When Jake realises he's been looking too long, he snaps his head down, mentally slapping himself.

When the lights are out and the only noise that goes through Jake's ears is the cold wind, Jake sits. He sits in his marui, as his children sleep soundly. It wasn't out of the ordinary. It had been like this for a while, ever since Neytiri had left him and gone into the hands of Eywa. He'd just wait and wait, until his eyes finally became wary, and sometimes even that didn't happen. Sometimes he would not find the comfort of sleep at all.

But then he hears the bend of the floor nets near him, the same clatter of shells he heard earlier that day and his ears flicker against his hair. He slowly gets up, careful not to awake the sleeping youngsters beneath him as he creeps his way to the closed opening of the pod.

When he opens the cloth flap, there you are, head flicked up and looking up at him with those big eyes of yours. "Hello," you say, and it's the quietest he has heard you.

"Hey," he mutters, gaze turning to his kids for a split second.

You lean your head over too, "Are they asleep?"

"Yes." He states, looking back at you. It's quiet for a second, and he takes the moment to do a once-over of you. Your hair is completely out, wild and breezing gently through the ocean's breeze. A shawl is wrapped loosely around your form, beaded with tiny shells that dangle each time your arm shifts.

"Tsireya has told me they are kind. That they are eager to learn." You continue, adjusting your shawl to cover your shoulder a bit more.

"That's good," he says. He gets a jolt of déjà vu from the conversation you shared earlier today. His eyes drift to the way a large piece of your hair sways in front of your shoulder and pools at the centre of your chest.

You then say a word, and he doesn't quite catch it.

"Hm?" he whispers, eyes connecting with yours once again.

"That is my name," you repeat it again, the word rolling off your tongue like a run of honey. His eyes twitch wide, blinking as his mind registers it. A pretty name for a pretty girl. He doesn't say that, though.

Instead, "S' pretty."

"Thank you," you mumble, already turning to leave when he calls out your name. You tilt your head, gazing up at him through the thick of your eyelashes.

"Just wanted to say it," he admits, and fuck, shit, he's already regretting it. He expects you to do anything but crack a gentle smile, a muffled and soft laugh from you as you turn back and walk away. He watched your form disappear into the night, the clattering of seashells fading from his ears.

When he climbs back into the pod, for the first time in a while, he finds the comfort of sleep easily.

- guys im so sorry i could not do a taglist for this shit there was about TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE ASKING. i think i’ll gradually add everyone onto a taglist but for now, there is not one. sorry bbies <333

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