#he mentioned that he thought the entire clan was wiped out

[every-sasuke-uchiha]

[byunpum]

Tsa·zìskrrmipaw

Pair: Neytiri x Y/N human baby x Sully family

Warning: Mention of dead, soft moments, mama neytiri <3

Request: (Anon) I love how you describe neytiri being our mother. Can I asked if you could react or make a small oneshot about how neytiri would adopt us.

AVATAR MASTERLIST | Part 2

Neytiri learned of your existence when your mother gave birth 1 year after neteyam's birth. It was big news in the clan. Mo'at attended the entire birth, as norm could not do anything else. Your mother had complications with the delivery, and she was losing a lot of blood. And the baby could not come out. After a labor of more than 5 hours, the woman died leaving mo'at with no choice but to deliver the baby on her own, asking eywa to keep the newborn alive. Norm was at her side, helping her, ready to provide oxygen to the newborn as soon as it came out of the woman's womb. To his surprise, just as mo'at pulled you out and the woman wiped the baby's nose with her hand and tapped the baby's back to make it respond. All this happened very fast, norm hear how the baby takes a breath and starts to cry. As if she could breathe air easily. Mo'at looks curiously at the man, placing the baby on her chest trying to pacify the baby.

After about 5 minutes and norm monitoring the baby, he notices how the lack of air began in the newborn. Putting on a special oxygen mask that your mother had prepared for you, he watched you breathe. Norm wanted to check something in his head, he thought it couldn't be true, but he wasn't wrong. After 10 minutes of letting you breathe human oxygen, he removed the mask and saw how the newborn kept looking to the sides, very calm. This child had the respiratory system of the na'vi. He almost fainted, how could this be possible.

Norm took it upon himself to investigate, and what a surprise he got. Your mother was a doctor, she had been one of those responsible for the creation of the DNA of the avatars. She had been injecting herself with a modified DNA for months, just so her baby could breathe the air of Pandora. Of course, this was very irresponsible of her, and Norm understood why she was hiding this experiment. He would never have allowed a baby to be experimented on like that. But well…it was too late. This was a surprise to everyone, the first human who could breathe in Pandora. Max and Norm discovered that this was only possible for fetuses, and not all of them. Only those that could survive the treatment, for your release your DNA withstood all the changes. And lucky for you…Mo'at wanted to take care of you, not as your mother but as your guardian. She felt a kind of responsibility, your mother was a very good person to her, and she had trusted her with everything. So she would take care of her daughter. And that's when neytiri met you.

She had given birth to lo'ak 5 months ago, and finding out that there was another newborn baby was very interesting to her. Her mother never told her that the baby was a human, neytiri thought it was another na'vi woman who had given birth and could not survive. And about the human who gave birth, well…she lamented the event but didn't think much of it. She could hear Jake lamenting, and everyone else but it wasn't her problem. She was on her way to her mother's hut, Mo'at had called her to ask her for a favor and to meet the new baby. Neytiri entered very excited, seeing how her mother was sitting there cradling something on her chest.

"Mother…did you call me?" speaks Neytiri. Mo'at settles herself more so that she is now seated in front of her daughter. "Yes, I want to ask you a favor" neytiti nods her head, now sitting up. As she settled lo'ak more on her chest.

"I think you already know about the human-woman who gave birth and died, right?" moat asks.

"Yes…it's very sad news" says neytiri, she doesn't want to imagine that scene. Now she was a mother and she can't imagine how hard it must be for a baby to be alone without its mother.

" Now that you know…I need you to take care of this baby" mo'at pulls out a human baby from her chest, of course she wouldn't have seen it, it was very small compared to her baby. Holding the newborn baby with only one hand, so that her daughter could see it. Before neytiri could speak, mo'at begins;

"She…her mother did not stand the birth, she is a very special baby neytiri…she can breathe our air, she can have a good life. Since you and your partner have adopted kiri, and jake is part of the humans. I think it would be the right thing to do, to help this baby grow up. Besides, you are the only woman who has just given birth, this baby needs to be fed with mother's milk," speaks Mo'at.

Leaving neytiri speechless, she more than anyone else knew that she did not like humans that much. And now she was asking him to take care of one of them. She adopted kiri, because the baby was a na'vi. And she accepted jake, because he had his na'vi body. But now that she would take care of a human child? His mother was going crazy. "Mom…I can't do that, get someone else to do it?" speaks neytiri in protest. Mo'at shakes her head, her mother looked calm. Placing the baby now, in a kind of nest she had prepared. This one was in front of her, in front of her feet.

"Daughter I wouldn't be asking you this if it wasn't necessary, this baby can't be raised by humans. She needs to breathe oxygen from these masks from time to time" mo'at held for a moment the mask norm had left for the baby. "But it's not just that…this baby's feeding is also from a na'vi. Norm already tried to feed her food that is used for human babies and she threw it up. She won't accept it, I thought you might be able to help. It's just feeding and basic care. You don't have to take care of her or adopt her." Mo'at speaks.

Neytiri was still looking at the baby with curiosity, she could have a lot of anger with humans. But she was not a monster, she was not a savage. What she was seeing there was a helpless creature, which she could tell was a little weak. Neytiri touches one of the baby's feet a little, seeing if it had any movement. "I'm afraid it will die if it doesn't feed well in the next few hours" says mo'at. Neytiri sighs, and thinks for a moment. Feeding a baby is not a bad thing, indeed it is very common in the clan. Helping and feeding the children in the clan was something that the women of the omaticaya clan helped each other with. So she would do it as a way to support her mother.

"It's okay," neytiri says, moving lo'ak a little to the side of her chest. Taking the human baby in her hands, carrying it carefully on her breast. It was very delicate and small. It weighed almost nothing, she was afraid that if it moved too much it would hurt the newborn. Neytiri moves the ornaments covering her breasts a little, bringing the creature close. Carefully positioning and guiding the baby. Noticing how the baby opens its mouth desperately trying to seek a maternal touch. After a few seconds, Neytiri watched as the baby began to suck with ease.

Neytiri settles in more, and places the baby on her forearm. She watched as the baby sucked the milk with great enthusiasm. She felt sorry, and an anguish filled her heart. She was such a small and helpless baby. Neytiri noticed how now lo'ak had gotten up, but did not begin to fuss or anything. He just started to move his little hands, until he found the human baby's foot that was right next to him. He touched it carefully and curiously, closing his hand. "Hey careful…be gentle" says neytiri in a low voice, trying not to wake the baby and not to upset her son.

After feeding the baby, neytiri continued to hold the baby to her breast. The baby had fallen asleep, and she looked more peaceful. She had finally eaten since she was born.

"Daughter…if you don't want to do it I understand…but I trust you and " mo'at is interrupted by neytiri. "Mother…it's okay, I will take care of her. After all she is a baby and she needs our help" says neytiri, stroking the baby's tiny head.

"Ok…Neteyam come here!!!" shouts jake, watching as his one year old son ran as fast as he could around the edge of the family hut. Kiri was next to him, playing with some toys. Jake watched as his partner entered the hut. Neytiri had her eyes on her chest, cooing at something. Jake thought it was lo'ak, but noticed how Neytiri had another net over her chest, and was holding something else. Jake gets up from the ground, and walks over to her.

"And what do you bring there?" asks jake. Watching as neytiri giggles softly, moving the net a bit revealing the face of a human baby. "That's it… it's newborn" jake quickly approaches taking the baby in his hands. It was instinctive, they already had their own children and seeing another baby was very common for them, they acted on their instincts. Cradling the baby in their arms. "This is that woman's baby, huh?" asks jake. Hearing how neytiri answers him with a "hmm". There was a small silence, until neytiri explained everything to jake. The man was a little surprised by his mate's attitude, she didn't usually act like that. Neytiri wouldn't even go near spider, and now she was taking care of a baby girl. A human baby.

"She needs to be fed and cared for…mom told me she needs this to breathe sometimes" says neytiri, holding up an oxygen box which had a small oxygen mask. "Well…there's nothing we can do" says jake, laughing a little. Neytiri moves closer to jake and gets closer to smell a little bit of the baby's hair. "She's very precious and special" says neytiri.

"yes….is very special" says jake. Until jake feels someone touch his feet. It was kiri and neteyam who wanted to be carried, they wanted to see how much their parents were doing. Jake kneels down, showing the baby to his sons. "She's a baby…just like your brother" jake speaks softly. A little neteyam reaches over and gently touches the baby's nose, to start laughing. He thought the baby was funny, and kiri does the same. The children were amazed at the baby their father was holding in his arms.

Neytiri didn't know what she was getting into, but she knew she was going to do her assignment very well. She herself began to doubt, the more Y/N grew up, because it was more than obvious that this baby was going to stay with them, after taking care of you for 6 months Neytiri told her mother that she would adopt you as her daughter. This news filled mo'at with joy. She knew she had chosen well, and that her daughter would do a great job. But now neytiri was doubting herself.

The mothers could be a little rude if they wanted to, it had been five years since Y/N had come into their family. And the Sully's had raised the girl as one of their children. There was no preference, no special care. You were a na'vi in the eyes of her family, but to some members of the clan you were still a strange human who shouldn't be in the village. It was more than evident that you were a human, but what human wore no mask at all?. Except you, and this bothered neytiri a lot. She was always hearing how some mothers commented on your appearance and made ignorant comments. Making fun of her for thinking she was the mother of this strange creature. This did not stop Neytiri, even though it hurt her, she went ahead with your raising. But it was normal for her to doubt her parenting and whether it was right for her to take care of you.

Neytiri had gone for a walk with all her children, sitting in a nice meadow. Watching her children run and play. Neteyam, kiri were running around. While lo'ak was lying with his head lying in her lap, while taking a nap. And Y/N she was beside her playing with a wooden ikran, making it fly. As she stood calmly by her side. Neytiri She hadn't been so calm in a while, taking out her bow that hung from her back. She used to carry it, in case there was something dangerous. She began to fix some details, like the loose string. Taking her knife to sharpen one of her arrows.

Neytiri was so focused, she didn't notice that Y/N had gotten up from the floor. You were small, so you didn't make much noise. You look for some branches, a rock, and some ropes from the trees that were on the ground. Running now to sit next to your mother. Neytiri notices how you sit down again, and is surprised to see how you have all these things between your legs. Trying to put them together, and imitating Neytiri. Copying how she was sharpening her arrows. "Honey…look it's like this" says neytiri, following your game. Giving you a stone that was next to you, for you to play with.

You were next to her, copying what she was doing. What was she worrying about, she felt a little silly. Here was the child she doubted she was raising right, imitating her. She chuckled to herself, stroking her daughter's face a little, pulling up the oxygen mask around her neck over her daughter's nose so she could breathe a little. Watching as the little girl continued her work of creating a bow. She knew that life at your side was going to be difficult, but it was going to be worth it. She knew that.

[batterygarden]

trapped in a bomb shelter with your big bro naoya

cw: big bro! naoya x fem & afab! reader, dead dove do not eat, misogyny! (and it's my kink so it's not like.. refuted), mild degradation (naoya calls u dumb), but naoya's sweet too, depression and nihilism, masturbation (both of u), sorta dubcon (tagged), fingering, and light mentions of: p in v, somno, cunnilingus, bondage, cowgirl, humiliation kink (on you), naoya being possessive, 1.7 k words

18+, minors don't interact

It’s surprising when the attack is announced how quickly Naoya moves to grab you. The gears in your mind haven’t even processed the news—that doomsday is upon you—by the time your brother has you snatched up in his arms and he’s running. 

Most of the clan’s away at a local festival—a whole kilometer’s walk from the great zenin estate and the bomb shelter your esteemed (and wealthy) clan head installed. You and Naoya are the only ones to make it in time. 

Naoya has never been the warmest big brother. In fact, there have been plenty of times where you thought you hated him. But at the end of the day you know he cares for you—even if it’s in his twisted, roundabout way. Still, enough that you were his first and only priority to shove into the little bunker beneath your estate surprised you a bit. 

You aren’t sure Naoya thought his decision out—you know he didn’t have time to properly. The way he rushed to your room and scooped you in his arms, no pit stops before locking the thick bunker door closed behind him—before anyone else had the chance to join. It ended up being for the best, explosions outside were heard only too shortly after—still, you hope he doesn’t regret it.

You’re nearing day 10 inside your small shelter, and if the shaking ground and dire radio warnings Naoya managed to pick up are any indicator—the world outside isn’t going to be inhabitable again for a while. 

Naoya is handling things better than expected. He’s thrown himself to small tasks—keeping the mind sharp he calls it. He’s less grumpy than he could be—resilient. Honestly the one lacking in mental fortitude is you.

“You can’t just sit there watching me do push ups. You need to move around too, dummy.” 

“Nii-san im starting to lose the point.”

“The point?”

“I don’t understand why anything matters anymore if we’re all that’s left.” 

He wipes sweat from his brow, glaring at you while he drinks some water. 

“You just said it. Things still matter because we are still here. Eventually outside will be safe again and we’ll get out and start over. Don’t get all stupid and weepy in the meantime.” 

You try to stay occupied, you try to do as Naoya says, but still, you struggle. Spending day after monotonous day trapped in here, you can’t help but start to get depressed.

Then one day Naoya says he needs to touch himself. 

And there’s no room for you to avoid him while he does. You’re uncomfortable—-giving him a look that conveys it. But he insists he has to. 

“I’m a man. Don’t be dense.” 

Before you know it his cock is out and he’s fisting it at a leisurely pace, leaning back on the bed with his other hand. You face away from him, trying and failing to focus on rereading your book. But then he says your name, and when you look he’s still exposed and hard, but he beckons for you to come closer. He isn’t satisfied with your closeness till you’re sitting beside him on the bed. 

He’s still stroking himself slowly when he says: “You need this, too. Touch yourself.” 

You freeze for a minute then shake your head. Is this some kind of test? It’s shameful…

“Saving yourself for marriage doesn’t matter anymore if we’re all that’s left. You’re practically mine now anyways, since our entire clan is obliterated. It’s just me ‘n you.”

...You need to collect your thoughts. In the first place… you’re unsure how far you could get away with disobeying your big brother. He’s been somewhat softer in the shelter, better behaved than he was outside, at least. But you haven’t forgotten the way he used to act when he didn’t get his way… conniving and nasty—you’ve witnessed his wrath more times than you can count. Notably, though, It wasn’t ever pointed at you—his attitude towards his little sister has only ever been mischievous at worst. He’d simply mock and pick apart, invade your personal space and mess up your hair—though you’re sure he’d have been much worse if you didn’t go out of your way to be inoffensive. All in all, a hard no from you now would be a first inside the shelter. 

Then there’s the honest truth of the matter: he’s right. Naoya may as well be the last person on earth for all you know, and you have been going crazy with hormones and neediness—but too afraid to touch yourself with no alone time. It’s a week after your period so you’re pretty sure you’re ovulating, and Naoya’s been walking around shirtless, acting just as touchy as always, but kinder than usual—and it’s not like he’s unattractive. 

It’s sick that you’re even considering it. Touching yourself at your brother’s command—you’re a daughter of a distinguished clan! Maybe this little bunker truly is making you crazy…

In the end, the same idea that’s been infecting your mind constantly post doomsday wins out: nothing matters anymore anyways. 

That thought is how you justify laying back on the bed beside your brother, stripped of your robes and spread-legged, two fingers pumping in and out of your pussy while you buck against your palm. 

Naoya’s sharp eyes watch from beside you, never missing a thing while he continues stroking his cock. You’re so relieved to be giving your pussy attention after so long, you don’t even dwell on how messed up it all is. 

After a while of trying to cum but barely reaching that special spot inside you to do so, Naoya can’t take watching anymore. 

“My sweet sister, how old are you, again? You can’t even make yourself cum?” Naoya tucks his hard-on in the waistband of his pants, focusing entirely on you. 

The mattress squeaks as he scoots closer, large hand around your ankle to spread you wider for his gaze. 

You stop pumping your fingers, giving him a slow stare. He frowns. “No, no, keep trying. Let me see what’s the matter.” 

So you do, working yourself up while you and Naoya watch each other, humping your palm when you get close again. You whine, biting your lip while you brush against the part inside you that feels best. Still, it’s not enough. You’re on the edge of tears searching for that release when—

“Okay, stop, sweet thing. You clearly need a man to do this.” 

You pant while you look up at him, remembering what exactly is going on here when you pull your messy fingers away. It only makes you wetter when you think of the nastiness of it all.

“Nii-san?” 

It shouldn’t surprise you when his fingers replace yours, but it does, Naoya’s warm touch with no warning earning a little jump. 

He doesn’t comment, only sets to work with his middle and ring finger sinking deep into your hole, curling right where you need them but couldn’t reach yourself, pressing his thumb to your clit at the same time. 

It feels heavenly. So good you almost close your eyes, but you can’t somehow. You wouldn’t want to lose a glimpse of Naoya—his eyes are transfixing. 

And, like always, Naoya watches you back.

His expression while he does is patient and relaxed in a way that reminds you of when he helped you with homework or something as a kid. Patient and bored if you ever struggled or needed help—like he always had low expectations for you. You suppose that’s why he had so much more patience for you than he did for other family members—your shortcomings were at times endearing while those he thought were supposed to be strong had stricter standards. 

Ultimately, an inability to make yourself cum seems like something Naoya expected of you. 

And he wasn’t lying about his ability to help—his bigger fingers fit inside you just where you need them, and it takes your brother only minutes to earn your release, clamping down on him while you make a mess on the bed, crying out and arching—after edging for so long the orgasm lasts what feels like forever. 

Noaya fucks you after that. He may as well, he tells you—he still needs to get off and it’ll feel good for you this way too. And he’s right, he may as well. It’s the end of the world and your brother may as well fuck you. And of course his cock feels amazing—it manages to feel like a solace in this bunker where nothing matters. 

After that day, miraculously, you start to perk up. Naoya figured out the key to your depression, the key to keeping you occupied—it’s sex. Everyday your big brother fucks you and every day you get better. 

Things stay interesting because when you’re fucking every day—you experiment. Or at least, Naoya does—he’s the creative one between the two of you, you’re just along for the ride. 

You wake up in knots of rope one morning with Naoya’s tongue between your legs—you’re in the middle of an orgasm. He splits you open on his cock afterwards for good measure. He lets you ride him another day, something you’re fairly sure he’s never let a woman do. You cockwarm him while the two of you read a book at the same time—it’s silly. He’s kept you tied up almost an entire day before, doing whatever he wanted, exposed and embarrassed. You’re his little cock sleeve of a sister, he says. 

“You know I’m actually glad that at least this way, stuck in here, no other clan can have you. They wouldn’t deserve you as a wife, not one of them. It’s a silver lining—this way, you’re all mine.” 

[midnightsapphire]

Break My Heart

Masterlist ~ Hoodie (Part One)

𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤 : Betrayal. An ugly feeling.

It was the only thing (Y/N) could feel after she had sworn her heart had belonged to the dreamwalker. All the promises, the shared touches, every whisper burned in the depths of her mind. She couldn’t shake the last words he had spoken to her, refusing to let him break her a second time.

Feedback is appreciated c:

A/N- a special mention to @aonungsmate who practically witnessed my insanity making this

—

I will not forget

All the wonderful things you've done

And I have no regrets

Done everything except for one

(Y/N) forced herself out of the link pod when she had known the avatar was safe, away from the prying eyes of the natives and creatures alike as she took heavy breaths to calm herself. Max had rushed to her side, practically clutching her shaking body as she collapsed into his arms.

He had known better than to make any jokes, knowing how hard she had worked, how much she had wanted this for the sake of her and Jake’s relationship. His hand rubbed languidly at her back as her shaking ceased into breathy gasps, wiping her eyes as she pulled herself away from his grip.

“Wait, we have to make sure you’re okay for the next time!” Max called out for (Y/N) as she slipped on her own coat, the warmth no longer hugging her as she glanced at the man from over her shoulder.

(Y/N) thought back, the happiness draped across Jake’s face, the firmness in his stance as he held his mate’s hand, Neytiri’s hands clasped tightly into his as they stood in front of the Tsahik, the entire Omaticaya clan. It was humiliating, how much she yearned for his affections when he practically had a life without her in it this entire time.

“Trust me. There won’t be a next time.”

It's like a test, it's like a game

To see how much I can take

I'm curious to live and learn

“What happened out there? One second she was so excited to get linked in and now she won’t even speak to us.” Max sighed as he saw Jake disconnect from his own, following the dreamwalker as he had wheeled himself through the maze of desks and equipment littered across the lab.

Jake felt his heart weigh down on his chest knowing the sweater she had cherished was back with his own avatar, clutched tightly in his embrace as he ran the entire duration of eclipse to look for her, to catch any sign that he was simply imagining what he had caused, calling out her name like his life depended on it.

Because to him, it meant that and so much more.

He saw her, faintly out of the corner of his eye dashing wildly to her lab, papers clutched to her chest. She had turned into a blur in his eyes, everything fading around him as his hands moved on their own, mouth parting to call her name as she jumped in her own skin. He had sworn his heart cracked further at the tenseness of her muscles, how she avoided even turning around to give him those large doe-eyes that he had grown to love so much.

The papers fell from her grasp as she bumped her hip against one of the tables, cursing under her breath as she reached for them, every paper haphazardly laying across the floor of the lab.

Warmth. It flooded her senses.

Only now it burned at her skin as Jake’s fingertips grazed her own as they reached for the same document strewn in between them. She had seen his wheelchair first, coming into her view before she dared to look into his eyes.

“Clumsy as ever, huh?” Jake whispered lightheartedly, craning his head to meet her eyes, almost begging for her to look at him. It had only been hours since he had accidentally stumbled upon her presence. But to him, it felt like it had been eternities. She wasn’t there to greet him, to chastise him for being so reckless, to give him water and food to ensure he was at his best.

He was more than taken aback when he saw the coldness of her gaze, how frighteningly empty her irises look when met with his own. Of course, he expected nothing less, but he noticed the spark- the light- no longer reflected in her eyes the longer he held their stare. He blinked to himself when she had ripped the papers from his grasp, his fingertips chasing her touch as he grasped her wrist, nearly falling off his wheelchair as she barely glanced at him over her shoulder.

“What did I do? Talk to me, sweetheart.” Jake nearly begged, forehead scrunched as stress lines grew on his face, his hands nearly sweating in fear as she ripped her hand from his grasp, letting him stumble to catch his balance as Max hurried to grab his shoulder. Jake’s chest caved in as his breath labored, glancing at the floor in disbelief as she pulled several chairs and boxes in his way, preventing from following her without at least some resistance.

“Go back to your mate, Sully. You don’t belong here.”

So light me up and let me burn

“The days are starting to blur together. The language is a pain but you know it’s like field-stripping a weapon. Just repetition, repetition. Neytiri calls me skxawng, it means moron-”

The video log was quickly shut off, (Y/N)’s reflection glaring back at her as she ran her hands through her hair in frustration. It was pathetic, how this was the only time she could face Jake without bursting out into tears at the sight of him. Her hands clenched against her chest, breath heaving into heavy pants as she rewinded the video log, closing her eyes as she listened to his husky voice drone on and on about his experiences.

“Don’t think too much, big guy. I can feel the steam coming off your head.” (Y/N)’s laugh rang throughout the log, her form wrapping her arms around Jake’s shoulders as she affectionately rubbed their cheeks together. The sight brought a crooked smile onto (Y/N)’s actual face, her fingertips ghosting over the holographic screen as it paused momentarily on their own smiles.

If she could have frozen that moment, she would have.

“I use this old thing more than you think, sweetheart.” Jake joked, hands reaching up to cradle her hands that were placed firmly on his chest. (Y/N) scoffed, rolling her eyes as her hands ran themselves through what was left of his buzzed hair, pulling away slightly to look at him, the back of her fingertips brushing against his cheek.

“And what do you use it for? Certainly not for the link.”

“For you.” Jake whispered, pulling her onto his lap with a squeal leaving her lips as her arms found purchase on his shoulders, intertwining with themselves to keep her upright. Their laughter rang around the room, hands covering each other’s mouths as they tried to silence themselves, something that clearly didn’t work in their favor as kisses were placed on the palm of each other’s hands, playful bites were exchanged along the tips of their fingers, foreheads pressed together as they evened out their breaths.

“Kiss me.” Jake whispered, eyes gazing into hers as (Y/N) didn’t hesitate, molding their lips together, shifting onto his lap as she pressed their chests together. Jake’s hand aimlessly felt around, his eyes narrowing at the corner of his eyes as messily pulled away from (Y/N), her lips chasing the skin of his jaw down to his neck as he smirked, fingers hitting the button as the log faded to black.

(Y/N) met her own reflection once again, wiping off the tears that fell down her cheeks as her fingers danced along the keyboard, harshly hitting several buttons as her head fell in her hands, her shoulders shaking as loud sobs wracked her body.

File Deleted.

Tell me you've never loved me

Tell me that it wasn't real

Just say you've found somebody else

I wanna know the way it feels

“Ma’Jake, you seem too distracted.” Neytiri whispered, her hand clutching his five fingered hand tightly as he narrowly hid the IPad behind his back, his eyes softening at the woman before him she looked up at him in worry.

“I’m fine, really.” He started, but felt his shoulders droop lower at the (Y/N)’s frozen face on his lockscreen. “Actually-” Jake sighed, resting his head against Neytiri’s shoulder.

“Are we doing the right thing?” He whispered under his breath as Neytiri brushed a few stray braids away from his face, her features softening as she saw the tears building up at the base of his waterline.

“It is for the people, Ma’Jake.” She whispered, placing a kiss on his forehead before standing up from their spot on the ground before rejoining her place among the clan, greeting them respectfully.

Jake’s eyes never left the screen in his hands, almost foreign against his blue fingers as it dwarfed in size compared to his stature now. He aimlessly played another clip, the volume reverberating along the empty forest around him as he replayed the same clip over and over, his own reflection burning daggers at him as it ended once again, reminding him of how much he was a failure.

How much he failed you.

Tell me you've never loved me

Tell me it was just a lie

I wanna feel the pain

“Don’t you want to go back? It’s been days, (Y/N).” Norm pleaded, peeking his head into the room of the woman’s lab, wincing at the scattered papers, the empty trays and bags of food that littered the floor. It was horrible.

“What’s the point?” (Y/N) scoffed, brushing herself off as she peeled the sheets off from her body, fixing the makeshift bed she had made for herself in the corner of the lab as she glared holes into the fabric. Norm only rolled his eyes, pushing his way through and praying to Ewya- or any higher being, really- that she wouldn’t kill him on his way.

“You’re going. Your avatar is probably out there, starving, dehydrated. That is supposed to be your baby.” Norm scolded with a newfound confidence, dragging her out of the cramped room as she hissed at the new sudden glint of lights burned at her eyes. She followed regardless, knowing he was right.

She neglected her duties, her avatar, her own health at the expense of Jake Sully. Even the name brought distaste on her tongue as she neared the link pods. Norm ensured they stayed far away from Jake’s, now residing in the corner as (Y/N) sighed, laying back onto the gel-like bedding of the pod.

“Empty thoughts, (Y/N).”

–

(Y/N) gasped, sitting up quickly as she looked at her unfamiliar surroundings. She tested her motor skills, rolling her fingers, wrists, ankles, ensuring everything was intact before she had sat up, not yet trusting her wobbly legs. Her eyebrows furrowed together as she looked down at the various folded leaves surrounding her, dipping her fingers in a freshly lain one as she noticed someone had been leaving water for her.

But nobody knew where she had rested herself.

Her eyes glanced over her figure, warmth resting on her lap as she looked down, ripping the hoodie off her own body as she threw it aside, not caring where it had landed. Her skin felt disgusting, searing at the thought of Jake Sully taking care of her body, at least grateful she was hydrated, but not exactly thankful that he was the reason for it.

She shakily stood up, clutching the trunk of the tree nearest to her as she stabilized herself, making sure she was okay to walk before ducking through the several large leaves obscuring her view. Her ears twitched as she listened to the chirps of various animals, inhaling the sweet scent of the air before a twig snapping briefly caught her attention.

(Y/N) reached to her side, bringing out the pocketknife she had tucked into the pocket of her shorts for emergencies as she held it out in front of her, almost screeching when an arrow pierced the bark next to her head.

Her eyes widened as she glanced down the arrow, noting the vibrant feathers as the end as another arrow poked in between her shoulder blades. “Turn around. Demon.” A female voice hissed in her ear as (Y/N) listened, slowly putting her hands behind her head as she turned around, meeting the amber eyes of a female Na’vi she had known too well from Jake’s stories, the very reason she high-tailed and ran from the village.

Neytiri.

(Y/N) wanted to feel resentful towards the woman, wanted to feel anger, wanted to scream in her face. But nothing had come out, for (Y/N) couldn’t hate someone who had done nothing wrong except be guilty for the same thing she had been. The woman was in love, and for that she couldn’t fault her.

Neytiri faltered, recognizing the features on the woman, knowing how much Jake tried to hide his human devices, Neytiri was keen enough to catch glimpses of the woman. Though her features were more familiar on a smaller body than the dreamwalker in front of her.

“You are JakeSully’s person.” Neytiri whispered in disbelief, watching the somber look in the woman’s eyes when their eyes crossed. She watched the woman’s face drop, shaking her head as she spoke in broken Na’vi.

“No, not his. His.. you.” (Y/N) whispered, the woman’s ears perking as she tilted her head, slowly lowering the tip of her bow as Neytiri looked at her in confusion.

“He has not told you?”

I wanna see the light

“(Y/N), (Y/N), can you stop for a fucking second, please.” Jake pleaded, wrapping his arms tightly around (Y/N)’s figure, burying his nose into the crook of her neck as he tried to burn her natural scent into his mind, wishing- no, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time he could experience it. His chest pressed tightly against her back, forehead moving to rest against her shoulder as she thrashed in his arms.

“Fucking let me go, Sully.”

“No. Don’t call me that, please. Call me jar-head, a moron, anything else.” Jake whispered into her skin, leaving gentle kisses as (Y/N) finally stopped resisting his touch, faintly feeling the weight of her head lean against his.

“Neytiri-”

“Neytiri nothing, sweetheart. The sky people- our people.. They’ll kill the entire village. I thought.. giving myself to the Na’vi would make them stop- would keep them away for as long as I could knowing I was still here, until I could actually prepare myself and them. I was wrong, baby I was so wrong.” Jake pleaded, his arms tightening around her as he kissed at the skin trailing up her neck, burying his nose into her cheek as he felt the stickiness of tears, no longer knowing if they were hers or his own.

“That was a stupid reason, even you know that Jake. You lied to me. You-You mated with her.”

“For show, (Y/N). How are the RDA supposed to know the difference? I swear to you.” Jake spoke desperately, circling around the woman as he held her hands tightly against his, angling his amber eyes to meet his own as he held their intertwined hands against his chest.

“My heart, it beats for you and only you. I can’t.. I can’t imagine myself being with anyone but you, sweetheart. You’re the air I breathe, the first and last thought in my mind every waking second. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth, I’m sorry I was such a fucking idiot that I didn’t show you- didn’t treat you like i should have.” He whispered, bringing their hands towards his lips as he laid soft kisses along her fingertips.

“But I see you, sweetheart. I love you.” He confessed, his heart hammering in his chest as (Y/N) craned her head to glance up into his pleading eyes.

“I don’t believe you.”

Break my heart

---

Taglist : @cleverzonkwombatsludge ; @whenercolorfulrainbowlol ; @arminsgfloll ; @ellabellabus07​ ; @jakesullysupporter​ ; @kitkat1690​ ; @fanboyluvr​ ; @an0th3rsss​ ; @sweetllamaparadise​ ; @netherklutz​ ; @bewbz2110​ ; @ohshititsfenharel​ ; @hot15936​ ; @perfectprofessorloverapricot​ ; @bucky12345 ; @ki-h06 ; @perseny​ ; @itssomeonereading ;

Crossed out means it didn’t let me tag :c

[honeybubblebeeeeee]

Siren Song || Toji x fem!reader

Arranged marriage AU, hurt/comfort, fluff, reader is linked w a curse, mild mentions of abuse between readerxfamily

idk if this is even good it was a random thought haha

Toji doesn't want to marry you. It's nothing against you really. It's your family and his of course. You had both known each other growing up. Not really interacting too much but you knew of each other.

Together you were sat in a room while your futures were discussed without your presence. Typical. Toji tapped his finger along the armrest of his chair.

"You don't really want this either do you?" His voice pulled you out of the disassociation you had come to engage in frequently. Slowly you turned your head to him. You only shrugged at him and he scoffed. "Come on seriously? Why not fight back against these pricks huh?" You didn't say a word. Your family had been clear on what would happen to you if you were to argue or object, just as they had your entire life.

"I am doing as I am told. To continue to strengthen the bloodline. Both of our bloodlines." Your voice was soft. Toji was loud and argumentative. You had seen the fights he got into with the head of the clans.

He let out a sarcastic laugh. "Little dove always doing as she's told. Do you not have dreams or ambitions? and don't spout that shit to me about 'strengthening' the bloodline." He scoffed. "I've got no cursed energy and as far as I have seen, you don't have any either." Toji leaned toward you. Eyeing you as if he was trying to see what lurked under your skin.

He would never find out what lurked under there. You kept it quiet. Your family made sure it did not come out but Toji did not have to know. No one had to know.

You could hear people shuffling out of the room next door. They would be coming to the two of you soon with an answer.

Toji sensed the same and looked to you with something close to pleading. "Don't let them do this to us. I don't want this. Neither do you." You felt bad for him. He didn't deserve to be paired with a monster. He didn't know he was and that was maybe the worst part.

Before you could respond to him the door slid open. Your father and the head of your clan looked to you with their stone cold faces. "Come."

Slowly you stood and followed, glancing to Toji over your shoulder as you left the room. You tried to convey the things you couldn't say but you knew he wouldn't understand.

You entered the smaller room, kneeling before the two men as they muttered to each other before finally looking to you. "You know what is expected of you, yes?"

Keeping your head down you nodded. "Do you have any objections?" You almost laughed. Objections in this family? HA. It was a taunt, just for them to smack you down if you spoke but you felt like you had an obligation to get Toji out of it. You knew you weren't to actually be together, to produce heirs. You were a ploy to kill Toji and then due to the transgression you would be executed. The two outsiders, the two stains on the family names would be wiped from the world.

Their problems would be solved.

"I.. um-" The two males snapped to look at you. You took a deep breath, keeping your eyes to the floor. "I don't think it's fair to Toji. He doesn't deserve this, it's not his fault h-" You sentence was cut short by a swift hand flying through the air and striking you. You toppled to the side, you stopped yourself from trying to soothe the pain, it would only bring more if you did. A soft scuffling sounded in the hallway but no one seemed to notice.

"You stupid girl. How dare you speak on matters of which you have no knowledge. You bring shame upon us." The head of your clan tsked at you. Moving slowly back into your previous position.

Finally your father spoke. "You two will wed. The ceremony is tomorrow. It is not up for discussion. You both are sins of nature and our families will not pay the price."

"Yes father." They left the room without another word. Tears brimmed and fell quietly from your eyes. You did not sob. You watched as they fell. If they heard you cry they would only be back to finish what they started.

Taking a moment to collect yourself, wiping the tears away as you slowly moved back to the room Toji still sat in. You avoided his gaze as you sat back down in your previous seat. "What did they say?" He eyed you intently.

You took a breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. "They said we are to wed. Tomorrow." Keeping your gaze on your hands.

He huffed and leaned back in his chair. "So there really is no getting out of it huh. You know what? Fuck them. We can escape them once we are wed. We will get out of this."

You wanted to scream and cry at him. There was no getting out of it. He would not live past tomorrow night. You knew why they were in a hurry. Tomorrow night was that of the blood moon. You would have no control over yourself. Lost to the beast under your skin.

You could feel your body vibrating, from fear or anger you didn't know. Toji sighed and crouched in front of you. Taking your hands in his large rough ones.

"Look doll, I get you might not want to be stuck with me but I'm not going to hurt you." A quiet sob broke free from you. He might not hurt you, but you would have no choice but to hurt him. "Y/N, I'm sorry, really I am but we can leave once this is over alright?"

You took a breath and looked up at him through teary eyes. "Toji, you have to listen to me, you-" His face was sincere. Both of the clans heads entered the room stopping your confession.

"You two are to be separated until the ceremony tomorrow evening."

Toji stood, blocking your fragile form from their view. "I think I'd like to spend time with my future wife."

"We weren't asking boy. Leave." Guards advanced, you could see Toji's body tense, he was going to fight them just to not be separated from you. Did he know already? Or was he only acting out due to the tears that fell?

You couldn't let him suffer more than he was already going to. You stood and gripped his wrist. Toji turned and looked down at you. His features softening. "It's alright Toji." He was trying his best to see through the facade you were putting up. Reluctantly he nodded and moved to the side. Guards ushered you away from him and out of the room. The next time you saw him you would be sealing his fate without him knowing.

~ ~ ~ ~

You were confined to your room for the rest of that evening. Today was the day that you would kill an innocent man after swearing to love and protect him. You had always been fond of Toji. He was attractive of course but it was his strength you admired the most. He never rolled over. He always put up a fight. He didn't sit there an take it. While there were limits to how far he could push, he still pushed. He just needed an out and he thought you were it.

But you were only his damnation, not his salvation.

You were kept in your room for most of the day. Servants entered and left. Bringing your dress, doing your hair, packing your room. It had to look like you truly were going to live past this evening. To keep up the appearance of normality.

It was time for the ceremony. You were dressed and done up. A nightmare in a pretty package.

Both clans were present. Even those who were not part of either were present. This was the wedding of the century. It was a shame for it to end in bloodshed.

Everyone looked to you as you entered the venue. Toji's expression was hard to read. You would almost say he looked happy, hopeful even. It took everything in you to not turn and run away and hope they put you down before you made it past the doors.

Your father handed you off to Toji. Toji pulled you close and whispered in your ear. "It's okay little dove. We are free after this. Trust me."

You trusted him but he could not trust you.

"Do you Zenin Toji take this woman as your lawfully wedded wife? To love and protect above all else? To carry on the bloodline?"

You wished he would say no. "I do."

Your heart broke with every passing second. "Do you Fushiguro Y/N take this man as your lawfully wedded husband? To love and protect above all else? To carry on the bloodline?"

He looked at you with such hopeful eyes. You hesitated but he winked at you. Your father advanced a step. "I do."

"You may now kiss your bride. May the bloodlines prosper."

Toji cupped your face and slowly pulled you in. His lips were soft and tentative. It was welcoming and reassuring. Tears pricked as you kissed him back. You hated how in only a few hours you would ruin all of this. Something that could have been good.

People cheered as the kiss broke apart. He wiped his thumb under your eye. "It's okay doll. I got you."

The two of you walked back down the aisle as the rest of the guests followed for the rest of the entertainment for the evening.

Toji and you were sat at a large table at the front of the room. Your father and the clan head sat next to you while the other clan head sat next to Toji. You thought this would have been a moment to talk to him, to tell him to run as far away from you as quickly as possible.

As the clock ticked you only got more nervous. "I need to excuse myself a moment." Your father eyed you and Toji smiled at you as you got up. This would be it. Maybe you could get out now.

You quickly left the ceremony and escaped into the quiet of the hall. The blood rushing through your veins thumped loudly in your ears.

The doors you had just left squeaked open, the noise flooding the hallway before going quiet again as Toji came towards you. "Are you okay? I know it's overwhelming but it's almost over. I'm here." He cradled your hands, tears started to fall again. "What's wrong? Why are you crying? Look if it's because of m-"

"NO! No it's not because of you, well it is but not for the reason you think, Toji you have to listen to me you have to get far away from me tonight you can't be near me I can't control it please~" You rambled on, tears streaming down your face, sobs wracked your body as you tried to explain as quickly as you could.

Toji shook his head and cupped your face. "Wh-What are you talking about? I won't leave you behind with them. I... I saw how your father treated you. I would never hurt you."

A painful sob broke from you as you gripped his wrists. "Toji please I'm trying to save you, the moon will rise soon I won't-"

The door slammed open as your father and both clan heads emerged. They all held fake smiles. "You are missing your celebration."

Toji's eyebrows furrowed, he pulled you into him. “We were just spending a moment alone. Isn’t that what newly weds do?” You tried to hide under his arms in hopes that if they just couldn’t really see you maybe they would leave.

“You should retire for the evening.” Your father stepped closer, flanked by the clans heads.

Toji nodded. “Yes, I think we’ll go.” He went to turn with you but you were stolen from his grip.

“We need to have a word with her. Not to worry. She will meet you at home.” Toji scanned your face looking for any indication of what to do but you nodded. This was good. This would keep him away from you.

Toji reluctantly took slow steps backwards before you were dragged away.

Hallways became unfamiliar the faster you were pulled through. “We keep her here until the last moment then we unleash her.” You pulled on their grip, tried to dig in your heels to stop their advancement but nothing worked.

You were thrown into a room with a large metal door.

“Please father! I don’t want to hurt anyone!” You cried out as the door locked. You father stood emotionless on the other side of the bars. “You were a curse on this family. A sin. Today will be the end of that. The end of you.” He left without another word.

You paced the expanse of the small room. You could feel the beast lurking under your skin. Clawing at the insides of your mind. It wanted out. With every hour the moon rose you could feel your control slipping.

Guards slid the door open after some time, you cowered away from them, crying out as a needle pierced your skin. A sedative. Your body fell limp.

No.

Your control was slipping faster, you knew you wouldn't be able to fight back. They dragged you quickly through the compound under the red moon. Your eyed lulled, your head rolling. Your home came quickly into view. No, no, no. You hoped Toji had left, had ran.

They slid the door open and threw you to the floor before disappearing into the night. You gripped the floor, nails growing long and violent as your fingers elongated, leaving large scratch marks into the wood. Breath laboring.

"Doll? Is that you?" Toji's voice echoed from somewhere in the house.

You tried to talk but you felt your throat constricting. A voice that was not your own trying to force it's way out.

"Toji, come ~no, run-" The voice luring him. You could feel your limbs elongating, your hair grew longer, a wetness seeping like you had just been dumped in water.

Toji came flying down the stairs, he stopped dead and the sight of you, water pooled around you, you could feel the deadly smile forming on your face, putting rows of sharp teeth on display.

"Shit doll, a siren under your skin isn't what I was expecting to see tonight." He tried to joke but you could feel your mind slipping.

"I'm ssssorry..." The snake tongue having formed, your control over your mind was gone. You mourned the life you could have had and the bloodshed you would cause.

~ ~ ~ ~

Toji POV

Shit. shit. shit. shit.

Your body snapped and popped as bones changed and adjusted. Your teeth grew to razor sharp points, eyes turned into a black abyss.

His pretty girl hidden underneath whatever had been lurking under your skin.

He understood now. Why you had been acting so odd, why you begged for him to leave you behind. Had you been able to get him alone and tell him he would have found a way to help you.

It was all making sense now. The wedding between you two. For the hopes of the clan heads you would kill him, not on purpose of course but they would arrive the next morning to his destroyed body and you would be executed for treason even though they were planning this. He scoffed almost impressed at the plannning.

The body that wasn't your own rose, towering even his height.

"Toji.." The demonic voice hummed, only a hint of your sweet one underneath.

He wasn't familiar with sirens but he knew how they came about. A bastard child born, words whispered of the woman seducing the married man, eventually turned the child into what they cursed the mother for. A siren luring men with sinful thoughts to their demise.

However, Toji never had a thought such as that. Even if he had not wanted to marry you forcefully, it didn't mean he didn't care for you, or that he would abandon you even if he did not love you.

But, he had some feelings for you. Growing up with you he had come to know you, you weren't like all the stuck up assholes in the clans. He had saw you try to defend him to your father, he had seen the beating you had taken. You tried to protect him. Now it was his turn to protect you.

"Doll, I know you're in there. You gotta fight it." Toji backed away slowly. The house was a decent size, a forest in the back. He could lure the monster, maybe trap it until morning. You would change back.

The siren hissed before lunging for him, long talons swiping for his head. Lucky he was quick even without cursed energy.

He ran, the siren slammed into walls and furniture as it tried to keep up.

"Toji..."

He tried his best not to listen. The lack of sin made it easier but there was a small pull regardless, more due to the feelings he harbored for you.

He called for the curse he had a pact with as he broke out the back door. Sirens saw best in the dark which is why you turned at night. A nocturnal predator.

Toji pulled out a small ball and twisted it, clicking sounded in an increasing tone. He stopped short, the siren lunged and he threw the small orb.

"I'm sorry darling, this might hurt."

The ball exploded in a blazing fire.

The siren screamed as it fell to the ground, its snake like tail writhing to put out the fire that had engulfed it.

He took it as an opportunity to take off, there was a place he knew of deep in the forest. With enough time he could trap the siren there until you turned back.

Toji's speed gave him a much needed head start, he knew of a broken down temple deep in the forest with a vault like basement. Most likely used as a experimentation room on curses he was sure.

He threw himself into the dilapidated building and down the broken stairs. Quickly he pulled out more fire bombs, setting a longer timer so they would blow when he was safely away from here. He hated the fact that you might get hurt but there was nothing else he could think of. Toji couldn't lure you anywhere else, considering this was your death sentence and no one would hesitate to kill you.

"My love.." The demonic tone echoed in the area as Toji crouched in the dark corner on the opposite wall of the entrance. He would try to lunge past and slide the large door as quickly as he could. This way hurt you the least, he wasn't sure if the injuries inflicted on the siren also hurt you and he didn't want to hurt you at all. He didn't care if he really had to sacrifice himself if it meant he could save you and let you get away.

The siren flew down the stairs and into the room just as he intended. It closed in on him in the corner, the need to kill overpowering any critical thinking, he lunged past as the siren charged, the talons barely cutting his shoulder. A flesh wound at most.

He slid out the door just as the bombs exploded. The scream of the siren almost exploded his ears, the way your voice broke through made his heart ache.

Quickly Toji shut the heavy vault door, and locked it in place. You screamed and screamed, he wanted nothing more than to open the door but he knew the manipulations of the siren.

Heaving he sat down and leaned against the cool metal. The sounds of fire sizzling just barely audible, the screaming continued as the siren banged around in the room, hitting the door a few times before an eerie silence engulfed the area.

Toji eventually stood before slowly making his way back to the house to retrieve his phone. A call needed to be made. One that would save you. The red moon caressed his skin as he made the trek back. He hoped you would be safe by the time he returned.

~ ~ ~ ~

Your eyes fluttered open, trying to focus on the dimly lit space around you. You couldn't help but curl into the warmth that surrounded you.

"Hi my pretty girl." Toji's deep voice jarred you as you shot upright.

"Toji?!" You looked around at the concrete room you were in. Small lit torches lined the room. Long claw marks dug into the walls and the floor.

You.... you hadn't killed him. You looked down at your body in disbelief. A small jade pendant hung from your neck now.

"You think I'd go down that easy? You have no faith in me doll." Toji smirked down at you where you sat in his lap.

"But... what happened? I'm not dead... you're not dead.." You remembered collapsing at the front door, Toji's shocked face as your body snapped and transformed.

"That little snake under your skin put up quite a fight but clearly didn’t know who she was dealing with.” He tucked your sodden hair behind your ear.

You looked away in embarrassment. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I tried, really I did-" He held up a hand to stop you. "I know, I was quick to figure out what had been going on. None of this is your fault. I'm just glad you're okay." A soft smile crossed his face as you caressed the jade pendant you wore. "Now that, is something I got for you. It's a talisman. It should help keep the siren at bay. We will figure out a way to help you. Whether we get rid of it completely, or you can control it. I'll be there every step of the way regardless."

You hadn't felt such care and concern in all your years of living. In a quick movement you grabbed his face and pulled his lips to yours. He didn't move at first but quickly pulled you even further into him. Teeth clashed as the kiss got more heated. He nipped your lip causing you to gasp. In the opening his tongue slipped past continuing his assault.

You pulled away out of breath, both of your faces red, skin hot.

"It's me and you from now on doll." He kissed your forehead, then pulling you against him as you both cherished the calm before the storm you were about to unleash.

(also send requests! i appreciate them they help smmmm with writers block <3)

[fleurriee]

— stupid voice, stupid heart ; neteyam sully

pairing ; neteyam sully x fem!reader

synopsis ; there was something about neteyam's voice that always seemed to grind your gears - the more you heard it, the more you felt your ears bleed. but then things change unexpectedly, and suddenly, you start to... enjoy it?

word count ; 6.5k

themes ; slight angst, fluff, enemies to lovers

warnings ; really bad enemies to lovers let’s be honest, brief mention of tearing someone apart, scenes of hunting/killing animals/fish.

author’s note ; this is the best i can do with enemies to lovers, if this even counts as one? it is quite fast paced but each cut is a time jump & they have always secretly liked one another so i’m using that as my excuse. this hasn’t been edited either fyi. requested.

main masterlist  request a fic!

You and Neteyam had never gotten along.

No one ever really understood what it was about the two of you - despite being somewhat close when you were both young, hanging out with Neteyam’s siblings as a group, you couldn’t seem to stand one another now. Whenever you were in the boy’s presence, whenever his voice sounded throughout the area, whenever he did pretty much anything, an irritating shiver travelled down your spine until you did just about anything to steer clear from him.

You yourself weren’t entirely sure what tore the two of you apart around two years ago, it was just something that happened naturally. What you do remember, however, was your aching crush on the Na’vi, one that seemed to plague your every thought, keeping you awake at night. You never admitted it to anyone - you barely managed to admit it to yourself - deciding to take that secret with you to the grave, until you were nothing but specks of what was once a soul, back in the loving arms of Ewya.

You’d gotten along, but Neteyam ruined everything. One day, very out of the blue, he’d stop talking to you. You remember not thinking much of it, and when you went to speak to him later that same day, he’d snapped and told you to leave him alone. A lot of emotions filtered through you for days after that instance - heartache, confusion, anger. After that, you decided to listen to him.

Now, you can barely stand the sound of his voice. Every time it reverberates through your ears, filtering in through your entire nervous system, you’re sure you can hear yourself vibrating with resentment, preferring to rather have your ears bleed that hear it for another second. 

When you woke up that morning, bright and early and ready to start the day by helping out one of your closest friends - Kiri - you hadn’t thought of the boy once. Your mind had been cleanly wiped of any memory of him, any thoughts and feelings, almost like you were starting afresh. 

The night before, after bidding goodnight to most of the clan around you, Kiri had asked you to help her and her grandmother, Mo’at, the Tsahik, collect some herbs throughout the forest that would help in healing ailments. Of course you accepted - you were pretty sure you’d do anything for that girl. Plus, you wanted to do your best when it came to helping and providing for the clan. You enjoyed foraging, but it wasn’t your speciality, which was actually weaving. Something you always enjoyed was collecting feathers, beads, flowers and the like to weave clothes, baskets, anything you could possibly think of. That was your particular way of providing for the clan, but when given the opportunity to do more, you weren’t going to pass it up.

However, on your way there, your ears couldn’t help but pick up on something. It scratched at your brain, feeling yourself grit your teeth in disdain before your eyes wandered subconsciously over in that particular direction. Upon disappointment, you only found him, standing both tall and proud in front of a group of hunters, addressing them all with a loud, authoritative voice. “So, now that we’re all here...”

Despite his voice trailing off from your senses, not taking in anymore of his words, you couldn’t tear your gaze away from him - away from his lean figure, from his attentive eyes, from his perked up ears. You hated that he still had this effect on you, and you hated him.

After everything thing you’d been through together - even if you were only young at the time - you’d have thought he had a good reason to rip himself away from you entirely, but for the life of you, no matter how long you thought about it, you simply couldn’t think of a viable explanation. This fact only fuelled the fire in your anger towards him more, which was helpful to you, as it stopped that other side of your head continuing to yearn for him despite the way he treated you so carelessly. You couldn’t let that side of your heart win - you wouldn’t. 

So, you learned to detest his voice, with its sultry tones and perceptive words. Admittedly, it took a while, as every time you heard it your heart would flutter on its own. But, you’d trained it to stop, trained your mind to think the opposite. And, now here the two of you were, hating one another for a reason you were completely oblivious to.

You hadn’t realised you’d been staring in his direction, too busy focused on your own swarming thoughts to notice you were well on your way to bumping into someone. When you did, the both of you gasped in surprise at the sudden contact, not having expected it so early in the morning. It was Na’eng, a forager in the clan who went out collecting fruits for everyone to eat. She’d dropped her basket in shock, the fruits tumbling out and cascading across the floor. 

“Oh, Na’eng, I’m so sorry,” you began to apologise profusely, bending lower and aiding her in collecting them all back up again. 

Once they were all back in their rightful place, the elder woman smiled reassuringly at you. “It’s okay, t’was an accident.” She patted you gently on the shoulder, somehow clearly away of your unfocused mind before she carried on walking in her original direction. 

Your eyes quickly scanned the area around you, a breath of relief falling through your parted lips at the realisation that you hadn’t caused much of a scene, barely another of Na’vi looking over in your direction. Yet, your head had a mind of its own - turning back to look over towards Neteyam, only to find him already looking at you.

The two of you would always keep your distance from one another, barely making eye contact if you could help. So, this sudden form of communication rendered you practically speechless. It’d been too long since he’d really looked at you, and no amount of self training, of self-restraint, could stop your heart from skipping a beat, and from the yearning of more, more, more.

He’s completely expressionless, unbelievably impossible to read anything along his features that you have no idea what he’s thinking. Before you can fall further down the rabbit whole centred solely around him, you shake your head slightly, wishing those thoughts away, not wanting it to become dangerous. You paint a scowl upon your face, pretending you’d been annoyed at him this entire time, narrowing your eyes straight towards him.

The hunters before him begin to notice his distraction, looking back and forth between the two of you and snickering to themselves. This seems to bring Neteyam back to reality, swallowing a thick lump down his throat and continuing on his motivational speech.

He doesn’t look back over to you after that, like he’s repeating a mantra in his mind to not give in. You stay there for a few more seconds, mentally arguing with yourself on such a stupid predicament you had managed to find yourself in. 

Gritting your teeth, grinding your jaw together, you ignore everything about it, about his aura that just screams for your attention. You make sure to keep your gaze concentrated, relentless to not move it away, continuing on your path to the Tsahik’s tent. 

You had assumed this was going to be a good day, spending it with Kiri, foraging in the lush forests. Now, your mind is elsewhere. 

Stupid Neteyam.

You eyes never blinked once.

Hidden within the depths of the bushes, fauna and plants engulfing you whole, you kept your position firm. Your feet stayed planted, not moving a single inch as they gripped against the earth beneath them; your breathing stilled, chest unmoving as you held your breath to become invisible; your figure hunched over, out of sight from the Yerik (Hexapede) just a short distance in front of you.

The creature was completely unaware of your presence, its head bunched low as it chomped down on the lush grass underneath, not a care in the world. You hadn’t been planning on hunting like this today - you’d actually been out collecting more feathers for your collection back at home, and you’d obviously taken a weapon out with you in case you ran into any danger. Stumbling upon the Yerik, you were hesitant to kill it, simply because you weren’t exactly the best at hunting. You had tried - Ewya had you tried - but it wasn’t your speciality, so you’d left that profession to those that were good at it, and stayed in your own skillset.

But, you couldn’t deny the opportunity. It didn’t know you were there, didn’t know you were lurking about the forest in complete peacefulness and euphoria, enjoying a few scraps of time alone. You and the creature were one - stuck in your own worlds, unaware of the dangers just around the corner.

Sucking in a sharp breath, forcing your stomach to become flat, back straight, you pulled the string of your bow back, closing one eye and concentrating the pointed end of your arrow directly on the Yerik’s body. Still, it didn’t move. All was silent, all was waiting, all was expecting.

However, what you weren’t expecting was a voice. 

“Lo’ak!”

You’d jumped in terror, the Yerik’s head turning up sharply in surprise as it assessed the area. It didn’t bother staying long - it wasn’t going to stick around longer than it needed to now that it knew something else was close. Not wanting to give up, you attempted to shoot the area at it anyway, watching as it ran away in desperation. The panic and startle coursing through both your own and the creature’s system caused the arrow to fly straight past it, landing uselessly within the dirt and shaking at the impact.

A growl of frustration bubbles up in the back of your throat, letting it out loud and clear to show off your annoyance and exasperation. The one time that you’d been bold enough to attempt to hunt down an animal, and it gets ripped from your grasp so carelessly. Maybe you should’ve known better than to try it again, already knowing it was a long shot, but giving in to curiosity regardless.

You hissed, baring your fangs in anger as you sharply turned around, wanting to rip whoever ruined your chance at finally being able to prove yourself apart until they were nothing but a bloody mess thrown across the earth. 

Stepping out, finally emerging through the dense foliage and into a small clearing situated in front of you, stood Neteyam. His eyes were narrowed in thought, in suspicion, steps hesitant as he moved closer until he was fully in the sun, stopping not too far away. You noticed how his eyes moved from your figure, down to the bow now laying limply in your hand, to the arrow in the near distance stuck in the ground. 

For a brief moment, you felt embarrassed - embarrassed for having Neteyam seen what you were previously doing, and witnessing your failure. Albeit it was his fault anyway, but still, it was beginning to eat away at you. Then that feeling subsided, and something else came to the front - pure, blind, raging anger.

Of course it was Neteyam. Of course, out of all people that could’ve been the one to stumble upon your little secret, to chase away the chance at feeling proud of yourself, Ewya had willed it to be him. You would never, in all your life, curse out the Great Mother, but you were close, slowly being pushed further and further to the edge with every encounter you had with the Na’vi.

“You skxawng!” You shouted at him, eyes glaring directly at his figure as you watched him flinch just slightly at the rise in your tone of voice. But, you wouldn’t let that stop you - he needed to know how much you resented him. Carelessly, you threw you arm behind you, towards where your arrow lay alone, with no victory on its pointed end. “I completely missed that because of you!”

He doesn’t say anything at first, and for a second, you wondered if maybe you’d gone too harsh on him. Sure, it was his fault, but he didn’t know you were there, did he? That soft part of your heart was close to winning over, but then his eyes followed where your hand had gestured. “Were you practicing?”

The way he’d spoken to you, so gentle and hesitant, almost through you completely off-guard. You hadn’t heard him like this in what felt like so long, you’d forgotten how much you missed it, how much you ached for it. You’d been used to harsh glares and careless words - this was surprising.

But, you couldn’t show that on your face, instead steeling your features to remain composed, to remain angered. With a huff of distress, you shook your head, both out of disdain to him, and to rid your thoughts of him. Ewya, everything was just him, him, him, no matter the context. “I was trying to, until you stupidly called out for Lo’ak.” Running a hand over your face, you turned around, making your way back to your arrow, wrenching it from the ground and gripping it tightly. You didn’t bother looking at Neteyam when you continued speaking, remembering your short encounter you had with Lo’ak earlier. “He’s not even here - he’s down by the water.” 

You expected Neteyam to just leave the conversation there, to walk away without another word and head down to the water in search for his brother. Instead, he didn’t move - his eyes stayed trained on your figure; even though you couldn’t see it, you could feel it. Willing yourself in your mind to stay rooted in your anger, to not let your curiosity win over, you intently inspected your bow, like it might’ve had a mark on it. But, it’d completely missed its target, and the only thing lingering on the wood was more dirt. 

Silence was enveloping the two of you, and you had never felt more award in your life, not until Neteyam voiced his thoughts, ones he was clearly busy thinking over beforehand. “I could help, if you needed me to?”

Neteyam’s words came out more of a question than an offer, rushed as if he was worried he wouldn’t say them if he didn’t force them out. Your head shot up to him, eyes blown wide as you watched his tongue swipe along his lips in worry, in hesitancy. You had to repeat his words over again in your head several times in order to fully comprehend what he’d said, too scared to assume that maybe that hopeful part of your brain had made them up within your mind. But, as your eyes never moved from his own, looking deep into his golden brown hues, you knew you hadn’t imagined it. 

But, why would he do that? Why would he offer himself up to teach you how to hunt a creature properly? Was it some kind of trick? If you accepted his offer, would he just laugh in your face, before walking away from you, telling the whole clan how unbelievably gullible and naïve you were? 

You didn’t want to speak - you wanted the earth to wrap your in its arms, forcing you down into the ground until it was like you were never there in the first place. Neteyam continued to stare right back at you, eager and awaiting an answer. Blinking a few times in utter confusion, you cleared your throat, hoping it sounded steady and not as shaky as you felt. “Why would you help me?”

At your words, the cocky side of Neteyam emerged forwards once more, shrugging his shoulders as he let a sly smirk pull at his lips. “Well, I like to think I’m a pretty good teacher, and you look like you need the practice.”

You had half a mind to snap back at him for his words, so close to just telling him to get lost and leave you alone like he’d ask you to that first time. Yet, once again, that softer side, that side just full of Neteyam, wins over without you wanting it to. You don’t want to agree, and yet you do, both reasons being just because of him. A part of you said to decline, to tell him that you were fine on your own, despite being clearly not. And, the other part of you tried to reason with yourself, reminding you that he’d already seen the outcome to your pathetic attempt, so where was the harm?

The harm was simply him. He’d already broken your heart once - if you let him in again and allowed yourself to spend more time than necessary with him, would you just be running round in circles, chasing your own tail? 

Your heart continued to pound against its restricted cage, each bump an echo of your wants and desires, and in the end, you let them win. It was obvious you were setting yourself up for failure, but you couldn’t stop yourself from mumbling out a begrudging fine, watching as his eyes widen in incredulity at your response. It confuses you - why did he offer if he hadn’t been expecting you to accept? 

This whole interaction was baffling, to both yourself and to Neteyam. And yet, the both of you couldn’t help but lean more towards it, despite the rational sides of you telling you this wasn’t going to turn out how you expected it to. 

Curse Neteyam and his stupid voice.

Your lessons with Neteyam had been going... well.

At the beginning of them all, you were almost completely sure you were going to claw each other’s eyes out with the arrows just based on your past resentment towards each other, sure that it would be a much better option that spending time with Neteyam. Shockingly, however, nothing like that ever seemed to happen.

It seemed that the more time you spent with Neteyam Sully, eldest son of Jake and Neytiri, someone you used to hold so closely to your heart before it teared it all to shreds, the more they seemed to get along. It was awkward at first, neither of you quite knowing what to say to one another in a situation neither of you thought you’d find yourselves in. But, with more practice, came less awkward tension.

Neteyam’s guiding words were understanding of your predicament, sympathising that hunting simply wasn’t one of your strong points, and emphasising that that was okay, not everyone could be good at everything, and you’d made a jibing comment that he was good at everything. He’d heard you loud and clear, but he never said anything about it.

Lessons continued on, the two of you meeting at the edge of Hometree and walking in silence to a small clearing that held an embankment of water, not too deep but enough that homed a few fish. People of the clan would see you walking away together, their shocked facial expressions clearly evident of that, but no one ever said anything. Perhaps they were too scared to say anything, too happy with a normal semblance of a relationship that didn’t constantly involve glaring and hissing and insults. Either way, you were glad for the ignorance.

But, that didn’t happen as often anymore, like it was something of the past. Sure, you had your moments, but a lot of them turned into jokes, teases. It confused you to no end, too, how your relationship could change so suddenly like you were the closest you’d been when you were kids for your entire life. You had some understanding as to why you were so willingly to change with Neteyam - you still cared for him the way you did all that time ago, albeit unwillingly. So, what was Neteyam’s reason?

Your thoughts were previously clouded over, only focusing on that one fish you directed you eyes at. Once again, you were in the same area as all the other times, arm drawn back to pull the string of your bow taut, finger gripping it tightly and awaiting a good moment to let it go. Looking for an opening, you followed the reptilian intensely, watching as it swam this way and that, knowing it was almost reaching its end. 

Since that first time Neteyam had seen you shamelessly attempt at hunting an animal down, you had decorated your weapons. Your bow, so intricately carved by your own knife, patterns weaving together in no particular way, had added a few new feathers onto it, but not too many to obstruct your line of sight when looking down at a target. Your arrows, too, were decorated, beaded strings you had weaved yourself hanging limply, swaying side by side with their random colours as it awaited your next instruction.

Originally, your mind had been solely focused one the task at hand, until your mind decided to tease you by reminding you of the lingering presence just steps away from your own figure. Neteyam was standing close behind, the feel of his eyes aimed directly at you, watching your every move, spotting things you were doing well or things you could do better to improve your skill. He’d always tell you on the walk back what his thoughts had been, watching your stance and your demeanour, making sure you always know that you’re definitely improving.

You appreciated the feedback every time, willing yourself not to blush at his compliments. You would try to remind yourself you were supposed to be resenting him, but it seemed that feeling was beginning to dwindle away, and you couldn’t deny that you didn’t completely hate that idea.

The feel of his eyes are intense, now the only thing you can clearly think of. Shrinking in on yourself, shivers appear as goose bumps along your flesh until you’re sure it’s noticeable. Ewya, you hope not - you don’t want Neteyam to know how much he’s beginning to effect you (or, rather, how much he’s secretly always effected you).

These thoughts and these sensations had dragged your mind willingly away from the task presented so clearly in front of you, the fish finally slowing down in its movements, ready for its inevitable end. You were distracted - shock, horror - so much so, that Neteyam noticed how your eyes were glazed over with whatever was currently plaguing your mind, pointed arrow - once ready and sharp - falling limp and unprepared. Without realising he was even moving behind you, Neteyam stepped closer to you, bringing his hand up and gently prodding his finger against the side of your waist, silently telling you to shoot.

You suck in a sharp breath at the unexpected contact, the brief connection filling you with a warmth that enveloped the coldness you were previously feeling from the shivers. It was only a short moment of contact, but you learnt that you enjoyed it a lot, wondering if it was going to happen any more, and hoping it would. 

Pulling the string taut once more, you hold your breath, eyes trained on the fish, tried from swimming so fast, and let the arrow fly. From your previous times, you hadn’t managed to hit anything direct on - your first couple of lessons had involved just shooting the arrow to a specific spot Neteyam had made, before tying a woven rope against a low hanging branch and telling you to shoot the moving target. That had been quite difficult for you at first, but after several tries and many pep talks from Neteyam (ones you can admit you relish in, despite being used to hating them), you eventually started hitting them.

Today was your first try at hitting an actual creature - Neteyam had made sure you started off small before moving to anything that could be considered too strenuous for you - so, when your arrow directly hit the fish, running its sharp edge straight through its body and ending its life there, you couldn’t quite believe what you were witnessing.

A shocked laugh tumbled past your lips, disbelief coursing through your veins, your arms slowly falling down to your sides as you struggled to tear your eyes away from the scene in front of you. Maybe this whole thing would’ve been considered stupid - pathetic - to anyone else, especially when those much younger than her could probably do this in their sleep, but you didn’t care. This was something you’d been struggling with for your life, spending time here and there in secret to practice on your own but always coming up to no avail. Now, with only several lessons from Neteyam Sully, the one guy you were sure you’d hate for the rest of your life, and you were improving faster than ever. 

Neteyam was changing too many things too quickly in your life - your skills, your feelings - but, you weren’t mad at him for it. 

“She shoots, and she scores!” Neteyam sings loudly, raising his arms in the air with one of the brightest smiles you’ve witnessed upon his features. 

Your laugh subsides into silent chuckles, eyes narrowing in teasing confusion and shaking your head. “What in Ewya’s name was that?” Small laughs were bubbling up in your throat again, despite trying to keep them swallowed down.

Walking from behind you, Neteyam makes his way down the slight embankment, bending down to collect the fish that was now your victory. All the while, the smile never leaves his lips. “What was what?”

“That,” you emphasise, pointing at him to accentuate his previous words, and the way he’d spoken them. “That whole she shoots and she scores?”

He stands back up, plucking your decorated arrow from the lifelessly body of the fish, letting it hang limply in his hands. You notice how since Neteyam spoke up, your focus had only been on him, and no longer on your prideful moment. “What? You didn’t like it?” he questioned, a teasing, smug smirk lifting the corners of his lips. That annoyed you - that cockiness - but it was no longer an angry annoyance, more so an adoring one. You hated how adorable he was.

Finally finding enough willpower to wrench your gaze away from his, feeling too small and vulnerable under his gaze, you shake your head in disbelief at where your conversation was slowly beginning to turn. You chuckled to yourself, biting your lips to stop too much from slipping at and showing too many of your emotions on your sleeve. “Just don’t take up singing professionally.”

Gasping mockingly in shock, he finds his mouth turning up into a cheesy smile when you laugh loudly at his response to your jab at his singing. Your heart had never felt so full, and suddenly you can’t believe you had spent so long ignoring one another when you could’ve been together like this. You felt so happy, so elevated, and yet so stupid that you let Neteyam slip away from you so easily. It was still unknown to yourself why he left the way he did in the first place, but maybe it was something stupid in of itself, if he was being so easily carefree with you now. It would bug you, but if your relationship continued to improve the way it was now, you’d eventually be comfortable enough to ask him in the end.

With the fish still firm in his hands, he jokingly shoves it in the direction of your face, laughing wildly as he watches your reaction. “Say sorry - say you’re sorry!”

You fling your hands around, dropping your bow on the floor with little to no care, desperate to stop the assault happening to you. Not only did the fish stink, but it was dead, and whilst you were happy to prepare and eat it, that didn’t mean you were happy to have it shoved so closely to your face. “Neteyam!” you reprimanded him, pushed against his hands. “Stop it! Stop it!”

Eventually giving in to your pleas, he stops his joking attack on you, but the fish stands within his grasp. You look down at it, awaiting the next onslaught of fighting, but when nothing happens, you look back up, only to find Neteyam staring directly at you already. Your heart flutters and stutters and skips several beats until you’re sure there’s no more air available for you to breathe.

You hate this, and yet you love it at the same time.

Curse you and your stupid heart.

Neither you nor Neteyam had spoken about the change in your relationship, both of your too secretly scared in acknowledging it and possibly making things worse between you. You were finally happy when in a vicinity together, able to hold a conversation, to laugh together, to tease one another, that it always made you worry whenever someone said something bluntly about the whole situation. 

But, that hadn’t happened in a while now, the change in your relationship finally seeming somewhat being considered normal through the clan. Jake and Neytiri were happy to see their eldest son so unbelievably happy - not that he wasn’t happy before, but something about it this time was different. They remembered how the two of you were when you were younger, how much you got along, and couldn’t help but reminisce about all those times in the past. Kiri was over the moon, too, knowing you could now spend even more time with her and her family in their tent without having to worry about whether Neteyam might possibly turn up. Lo’ak was glad to have you ‘back’, too, missing the times when you were younger, spent full of mischievous plots against others in the clan, enjoying the time to cause a ruckus like you used to. And, Tuk... well, Tuk was Tuk, and she never really understood why she struggled to see you and Neteyam at one time considering no one would ever tell her. 

The day before, Kiri had invited you round her family tent’s for tonight's meal, one Neytiri had been preparing earlier in the day with Tuk, taking her out hunting and teaching her the clan’s ways. You had been completely ecstatic, unable to accept the offer quick enough, already excited at the prospect of being with everyone you loved dearly without a worry on your mind.

There was a bit of hesitance on your part, however, one you wouldn’t admit because you knew the entire Sully family would kick you down for thinking such a thing just for a split second. You didn’t want to intrude - you’d be the only non-Sully there for dinner - but Kiri had asked you especially with her big, round, pleading eyes, knowing you were finally back on friendly terms with Neteyam that it was the perfect opportunity to get everyone together again.

A small part of you wondered, too, whether Kiri knew whatever was beginning to happen between you and Neteyam was a little more than friendly. You hoped she didn’t - not only because you were a little scared to admit them to yourself, but because you and Neteyam had only just started to get back to normal again, and you were desperate not to ruin that even a smidge.

At the thought of the male Na’vi, a blush rose against your face, already picturing your flushing face with its darker blue hues, and you hoped no one noticed. You could only imagine how weird it looked when you were walking alone and a blushing mess. But, that was the effect Neteyam Sully had on you.

Turning the corner, the Sully tent was now fully in your view, stopping in front of the opening to give yourself some bearings. Your heart thumped wildly in your chest and you reprimanded yourself for it - you were being stupid for getting so worked up and nervous about this dinner. It was Neteyam’s fault, but the thought made you smile, regardless.

Just moments away from opening the tent and making your way through the entrance, taking a deep breath to steel your emotions, random noises filtered through the gap. You stopped in your actions, pausing to listen more intently to whatever was happening inside. It sounded somewhat similar to a Banshee, but you knew there wasn’t going to be a real one inside the tent. The suspicions were only confirmed when a small giggle reached your ears after the Banshee-like noises - Tuk.

A smile was already firmly on your lips as you walked through the entrance, finding Neteyam sat down on the floor, cross-legged, situated directly in front of a giggling Tuk, his tail high and obviously happy at being able to make his little sister laugh.

“Y/n!” Tuk yelled out in excitement, jumping up and away from Neteyam, running to you until her little arms were wrapped firmly around your leg. 

Your smile only grew wider at the sight of the younger girl’s enthusiasm. Bending down, you wrapped her up tightly in your hold, pressing several loving kisses against her face as she laughed at the ticklish sensation. “Hi, Tuk, Tuk!”

Swaying her back and forth, basking in the warmth of her embrace, you head leant against her own, eyes trailing over to Neteyam. He was standing up now, ears perked up and tail swishing side to side. The blush from before came back in full swing when you took the sight of him, and how happy he seemed just to see you.

You were so entranced within the world of you and Neteyam, eyes starting solely into one another's, you jumped slightly in surprise at the sound of Tuk’s enthusiastic yell. “Neteyam was showing me what a Banshee sounds like!”

With a smirk on your face, you turned back to the Na’vi. “Oh, is that what that was?” You wouldn’t tell him that before you’d entered their tent, you were able to guess the animal noises - there was no point giving him a bigger head than he already had. 

You watched as he opened his mouth, clearly ready to give a quip back, one you were hoping was somewhat appropriate due to Tuk’s presence, when the rest of the Sully family started to trill in behind you. Jake and Neytiri were the first to walk past you, giving you small nods and smiling in your direction. Kiri was next, her hands holding onto a basket full of meats and fruits, Lo’ak trailing behind her, patting you on the shoulder before teasingly patting your cheek. 

Now that everyone had turned up, you placed Tuk gently back on the ground as everyone started to sit around on the floor as a family. You felt awkward, out of place, and whilst you tried to will those sudden emotions away, you couldn’t help but start to feel consumed by them. Looking around, you tried to find an open spot on the floor, wanting to feel calm and at ease as you had before the feeling of being an intruder deciphered within you. Neytiri had placed everything on the wooden board in front of her, starting to dish out the food to her family when your eyes trailed over Neteyam, Tuk on one side of him as she happily swayed from side to side on her back bone, but his eyes were already set on observing you.

With a minute nod of his head, he motioned to the space on the other side of him, a permanent smile pressed against his lips. Your heart picked up in its speed, making your way over and perching yourself down next to him, your legs touching, your breathing faltering until you were sure you were moments away from your last moments on Pandora. There was a little snicker somewhere in front of you, and you look up to find Kiri smirking over at you and her older brother. The blush coating your cheeks was definitely obvious now.

Once everyone was given a portion of the meal, you start to dig in, savouring each and every taste Neytiri had wound into the food with all her love. You were sure you’d never eaten something so beautiful before, instantly realising all this time you had been missing her food from when you were younger. 

Tuk is the first to speak up, already knowing her father is going to start asking each of them about their days, so she takes the initiative. “Neteyam was just showing me what a Banshee sounds like!” she exclaimed happily, everyone turning to the aforementioned boy as he hung his head low, chuckling to himself. “But, I wasn’t sure if it sounded right because y/n didn’t recognise it.”

Each of you snicker at Tuk’s babbling, loving the unknown teasing that the youngest Sully was giving her older brother. Suddenly, Neteyam places his food down, ensuring it doesn’t get in the way, and beginning to make the same noises again, this time a little quieter now the rest of his family were present and tickling Tuk as her laughs pierced through the air. She’s rolling around the floor in a fit of giggles, pleading for Neteyam to stop in his attack. 

With everyone around you laughing along with the young girl, you find your mind wandering away from you, looking down at your food in your hands. How was it that his voice was something that used to irritate and annoy you to know end, wanting to claw your ears apart until you had nothing less, and now all you wanted was to hear it over and over again?

You bite your lip in thought, desperate to hide the growing smile from the all-encompassing thoughts in your head, fangs pointed in anticipation, when you feel something brush against the small of your back. Thankfully, your able to hide your surprise, feeling the loving caresses of something soft and comforting - looking over, you see that it’s Neteyam’s tail.

Your head snaps over to him, watching as he gives you subtle looks from the corner of his eyes, not quite bold enough to face you head-on after such domestic actions. There’s a look of adoration all over his features, a soft smile that only gets brighter the longer you stare at him and the longer your own smile stays rooted on your lips. Somehow, his joyfulness and satisfaction increases tenfold when your tail subconsciously mirrors his own, rubbing smoothly against his back in circles.

The both of you are blushing messes now, trying to anchor your minds back to your foods, remembering his entire family are present. But, your emotions are clearly worn on your sleeves, out in the open for all to see, the love you both ignored when you were younger and have now allowed to grow when you were older adamant to push through your stubbornness. 

This was all Neteyam’s fault.

Stupid Neteyam - with his stupid voice, and your stupid hearts.

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@bakugouswaif @andraga12

[strawberrymochin]

Springtime Fushiguros♪

Context-: exploring the memories of childhood of fushiguros, marking the spring time of you and satoru gojo.

Basically im traumatized by all the stuff going on in jjk universe, so imma create my own happiness.

The pink cherry petals covered the grounds, sweet smell lingering in the air, distant laughs of some family echoed from the field you were wandering in, thinking about the reason, he might have called you here.

Satoru gojo, the strongest jujutsu sorcerer to be alive suddenly called you last night, after having months of no conversation. He said he needed a favour from you, what on the earth could it be?

It couldn't be related to any sorcery since you weren't in this field, atleast now you weren't. Moreover, he has the potential to wipe out an entire country with his limitless. He is the first member in his clan to inherit six eyes, his birth distorted the balance of the world. What favour would he need from someone like you?

Or maybe it's the higher ups!

Your eyes widened, chest tightened, almost struggling to take a proper breath at this thought. There's no way this would happen. You had been carefull. Carefull not to let it out.

'Sup!' your thoughts were cut short by the voice of the white haired guy, as you turned to face him. He was in his regular student uniform. Eyes as deep as the mysterious blue sea peeked from the sunglasses. He had a playful face as always, though you sensed something off in it and you knew what it was. Others might not notice but you do. You always have.

'I might not be much of help yk right?' you smiled a bit at him nervous at what demand he might make.

'Ahh, it's not something like that. I'm not forcing you, but—' his voice trails, maybe finding right words, 'I would like you to take care of someone.' He hesitated a bit, rubbing his hand on his neck, his eyes directed to a bench on the field.

Your heart skipped a beat.

Two kids. A glum faced boy, probably 5 or 6 years old, and a cute girl who seemed a bit older than the boy. They are probably siblings.

You should have known he was never yours.

'Zeni'ns.' he said fixing his sunglasses. The girl smiled a bit at you which you gladly reciprocated, while the guy refused to glance you a look. 'Umm, what did you say?' you asked again, not paying much attention before, busy observing the kids. (Not to mention your heart which was breaking in pieces)

'They are zeni'ns.'

'Zeni'ns?? They are not your kids?'

Gojo be like-: ಠಿ⁠ヮ⁠ಠ

'I'm 18. How could you expect me to have my own kids?' he said being sceptical.

A brief wave of relief washed your nerves. 'Oh' you couldn't help but let out a chuckle at your overthinking.

'They are Fushiguros—' gojo started to explain when, 'you just said that they were zeni'ns.'

'Would you lemme finish? They are basically toji's kids. He took in his late wife's last name.' a shudder ran through your spine at the mention of his name. How can he be so calm while talking about it?

He continued, 'Before his death, he mentioned about his kid, Megumi. Megumi fushiguro. The kid is about to be sold to the zenin clan.'

'But he's just a kid!'

'yeah, I don't think none of us would want that. So, i would take care of that and the financial support of both Megumi and his step sister Tsumiki fushiguro. But the problem is I won't be there all the time to look at them, as I'm continuously assigned with new missions.'

'So, you want me to supervise? I can do that, but I can't be much to prote—' he cuts off your words.

'Nah! Don't worry about that. I will protect the three of you. I want us to raise them together. While we date.'

You could believe your ears, when he said the last part. You had always liked satoru gojo, and once even drunk confessed him, embarrassing yourself to death. He never answered that though. Everything after that took a form of such stormy blunder. Satoru had to go through all those horrible situations, losing someone very close to him. A memory you hate and desperately want to trade. Everything fell apart and you all drifted away. And when you decided to leave, for everyone's safety including yours, satoru wasn't there.

'kk. I will help you raise them.' you gladly accepted, shooting a kind look at the kids. This was a dream come true to you. A family. You desired it desperately, wanting to have a family, ever since you lost yours.

'Thanks. Move in with me then.'

'Sure.' you smiled to yourself.

And that was the first time you saw Megumi and Tsumiki fushiguro, taking them in, staring your new life with Satoru gojo.

A new trail of memories are yet to be traced in the springtime of your life.

[taizi]

i’ve got my eye on you

tmnt 2k12 pairing: don & mikey word count: 2k title borrowed from say yes to heaven by lana del ray

read on ao3

x

“Mikey?” Donnie says, hovering in the doorway uncertainly. “Can I talk to you?”

Mikey looks up from the dough he’s kneading with round eyes, more bewildered than anything. No one ever asks if they can talk to Mikey. His presence in his family’s lives is like sunlight falling on the planet, warm and touching everything and taken for granted. They can always talk to Mikey.

So Don’s question is a weird one, but Mikey doesn’t mention it.

“Pull up some counter, Dee,” he offers instead, patting at the one square foot of the surface that isn’t covered in flour. His fingers leave little clouds behind. “I’m almost done.”

Donnie props his hip against the island and leans there to watch his little brother work. Mikey’s ADHD is textbook in a lot of ways, unpredictable in many others; it’s definitely been a fun learning curve for his family. Don did a lot of research. He’s read that generally people with Mikey’s disorder tend to struggle with tasks like cooking, that it can be an outright Herculean task remembering to eat or even just mustering the energy to feed themselves.

But Mikey loves his kitchen. He gravitates towards it in all his different moods. It gives his pinballing thoughts and restless hands something constructive to focus on with a clear and present reward at the end.

Right now he seems pleased with the dough and gathers it up in a neat little ball before transferring it to a greased mixing bowl and covering it tightly with plastic wrap. When the bowl has been safely stored in the fridge to proof, Donnie joins Mikey in wiping down the counter, mostly for something to do with his hands.

Something’s baking in the oven. Music is playing on Mikey’s phone across the room, acoustic and downbeat and soothing. This room is where everyone in their entire extended family comes to feel safe, even if they don’t know or won’t admit it.

“So listen,” Don finally says. “About earlier. During the race?”

A grin splits Mikey’s face, likely remembering all the fun he had. They’d been looking forward to the ninja race for weeks, ever since Leo first floated the idea.

Leo has come a long way as sensei. It was hard at first, finding his feet, acclimating to this additional burden piled on top of all the ones he already had to carry, but maybe not as hard as it should have been. Leo has always been more of a second parent than a sibling to the rest of them. He’s always been the one they ran to first, even when Splinter was alive; the boy who had to grow up too fast, the one who tried his dad’s oversized jacket on over and over through the years until one day he was surprised to find he had outgrown it.

All this to say—Leo can always tell when his little siblings and pseudo-siblings are due for a break. He poured hours into planning this event, all for his tiny clan of six, and it really showed. The race was part relay, part scavenger hunt, stretching for miles back and forth across Manhattan.

They drew cards out of a bucket to decide pairs, divvying up into three teams of two. When Casey drew the card that matched Mikey’s, he lit up with a manic grin and whipped his head around, a reaction Donnie wasn’t expecting.

“Oh hell yeah!” the human whooped, lifting both hands over his head for a double high-five. “We’re gonna make this night our bitch!”

“Language!” Leo barked, scandalized, like they each hadn’t already heard—and said—a lot worse.

Mikey, for his part, slapped his palms against Casey’s, giggling madly. Donnie looked between the two of them with a frown forming on his face. He had the distinct feeling that he missed something. They all tended to live out of each other’s pockets anymore, trauma-bonding at its worst. Its best? Whatever. If Mikey and Casey were buddies, Donnie would know.

They were both adrenaline junkies, sure. They both liked going fast, living on the edge. As a ninja clan, that was sort of the norm anyway.

But Mikey in particular could outrun anyone in his family any day of the week. Nothing moved fast enough for him. They tried to keep up with him, but sometimes he got too far ahead. He wanted to walk on his hands to feel the grit of asphalt on his palms and the blood rush to his head, or spin in circles in front of the stove while the water boiled, or cartwheel during katas because morning meditation ran too long and his full quota of focus was all used up.

Understimulated, touch-starved, eager for attention, desperate for—something.

Donnie just didn’t realize how desperate until he and Leo crossed paths with Casey and Mikey halfway through the race. From the rooftop, Donnie could see that the token the other boys were gunning for was on the opposite side of the BQE—across five lanes, up on the massive signage structure towering above the expressway. They were on the wrong side when they spotted it.

Smugly, Donnie thought, Tough luck—they’ll have to find a way around. That’s gonna cost them some time.

And then Mikey flew over the guardrail, sprinting straight out into traffic.

Donnie’s heart jumped up into his throat and stayed there.

He was rooted to the spot, like someone watching a train barrel down the tracks toward an inevitable collision. His body forgot how to breathe.

It took his little brother all of fifty seconds to dodge box trucks and SUVs like it was a children’s game, to a chorus of blaring horns from drivers that did not slow down. An eighteen-wheeler missed him by a foot.

Mikey scaled the structure, retrieved the token, and shoved it into the pocket of his over-sized hoodie. Then he waved both arms back at Casey, and pointed down at the guardrail immediately behind him, clearly indicating that they should regroup underneath the overpass. They both disappeared from view on their respective sides of the freeway, off to the next leg of the scavenger hunt.

Don just stood there numbly watching cars go by until Leo doubled back for him.

Raphael and April won the race by all of four minutes—and with it bragging rights to last the next two months, unfortunately for everyone else—but Mikey was in high spirits the whole way home anyway, bouncing with every step. Their brothers must have assumed it was those endorphins from a full night of high-speed play doing their job.

Leo rubbed the top of Mikey’s head with his knuckles fondly, and Raph said something like, “God, you just don’t slow down, do ya?” because they had no idea. They didn’t see it.

Donnie trailed silently at the back of the group, heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat, his eyes, his hands. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Mikey, afraid of what might happen if he let his guard down for even a second, replaying that scene on the expressway over and over and over. It took him hours to muster the courage to finally approach his baby brother in the kitchen.

And now they’re standing here together, and Mikey is humming under his breath, hands beginning to tap restlessly on the countertop. Donnie’s going to lose him in a matter of minutes. Trying to think of a delicate way to say it is getting him nowhere. He takes a page out of Raph’s book and just barrels in.

“I saw you run across the BQE for a token,” he blurts.

Mike tilts his head the way Icky does when she hears something she doesn’t understand. On one hand, he doesn’t deny he did it. On the other, more alarming hand, he also looks blatantly confused about why Donnie thinks it’s worth a discussion.

“We had to get the tokens to win,” Mikey points out, like Don isn’t the one who helped Leo with the rules and regulations.

Clenching his fists, and then folding his arms so Mikey can’t see his fists are clenched, Donnie says, “You wanted to win that bad, Mike?”

He can’t stop seeing the speeding cars; the smear of headlights in the dark; Mikey weaving his way across the lanes, his figure tiny and almost indistinguishable from the rooftop where Don was watching.

Donnie’s remarkable imagination provided the additional details: the way displaced air would have sucked at Mikey’s clothes at each near miss. The sting of the hot asphalt under his feet. The passing lights lighting up his face in fits and bursts, for seconds at a time, and maybe something distracted him—maybe there was a piece of glass or metal on the road and it cut him or he tripped—maybe a reckless driver merged lanes without warning—maybe, maybe, maybe one of a hundred things happened and Mikey was captured or crippled or killed, ripped away from his family because of a stupid, needless risk he took during a game.  

They’ve been dragged through war, outer space, time travel. They’ve all been hurt before, in big ways and small ones. It's just. It’s different this time, because it was a game.

Maybe Donnie should be angry at Casey for enabling this behavior. Casey may not be their brother by blood but he’s their brother by every other known metric science has to offer and he should have dragged Mikey off the expressway by the hood of his stupid pink sweatshirt and lit into him for being so reckless the way Leo, April, Raph and Donnie all would have.

But Casey has his own reasons for doing what he does—a dead mom, an alcoholic father, a little sister CPS took away—and if he were a regular, neurotypical, well-adjusted teenager, he never would have put on his painted mask in the first place. He never would have fallen into Donnie’s family.

Casey would have been the one to run into traffic if Mikey hadn't beaten him to it.

Like recognizes like. That’s why they were thrilled to be on each other’s team. They’re both chasing something. They both have too much going on inside their heads to ever just be still.

And Mikey is always all smiles, always the first to offer his siblings a hug or a shoulder to lean on or a safe place to hide from the rest of the world and something sweet to eat in the meantime. Mikey, who hasn’t cried in front of his brothers once since the night their father died, who hasn’t come into Donnie’s lab after a nightmare in even longer than that. He smiles and plays and supports everyone and gives them reasons to run and shout and vent frustrations and groan in exasperation and laugh until they get sick.

No one has to ask the sun to shine, it just does that. And it will until it runs out of fuel, some five billion years from now. The star death was always going to be inevitable. Constant output, finite resources. Nuclear fusion that will hopefully last for as long as it needs to, but not forever.

The sun will get tired one day, and then it’s not going to shine anymore.

“Dee?” Mikey says loudly, in a tone that makes it sound like he’s been saying it over and over. Donnie blinks and he’s back in the kitchen, and Mikey is in front of him, more than a bit confused, more than a bit worried, but here and safe and whole.

Not even a scratch. If Don hadn’t seen it, he never would have known it happened.

He unfolds his arms and opens them. He doesn’t need to say anything for his little twin to spring forward, their plastrons colliding with a solid knock that would have winded a human person. The counters are clean but Mikey is still covered in flour and so Don is covered in flour now, too, and it’s wafting to the floor in tiny cloudbursts every time they move.

It’s the kind of mess Splinter would have made them stop and clean up. But it’s not hurting anything to let the kitchen be a little messy. And it’s Mikey’s kitchen. It’s the one place in the world where what he says goes.

He winds his smaller arms around Donnie’s shell and squeezes as tight as he can. Smushes his cheek against Don’s shoulder because he isn’t tall enough to hook his chin over it the way he’d probably like to. He’s warm and he smells like butter and baked bread and summer and boy. He’s survived every single thing he’s ever done.

Donnie closes his eyes and tries to replace the lights he can still see on the freeway with the ones here at home.  

“Can I be on your team next time?” he says.

“Hell yeah, let’s do it,” Mikey agrees instantly. His voice is shaped so much like a toothy grin that Don can see it without looking. Mike doesn’t even know why he’s promising it, just that Donnie needs him to. “We’ll do a clean sweep, nobody’ll know what hit ‘em. B Team’s the Best Team, baby!”

He’s everything warm and light and safe about Donnie’s whole world, and he doesn’t seem to understand how dark every day would be without him. He doesn’t know what he would be taking from his family if he took himself away.

Donatello’s other siblings are self-destructive in obvious ways. Michelangelo, who is loud and obnoxious and has never known a secret he could keep for longer than a day, is somehow more subtle about it.

But now Donnie sees it. He knows what to look for.

[mama-qwerty]

The Knuckles Series - Review

Okay. So.

Finished the series.

I have thoughts.

First of all, it was fun. I view it as kinda filler episode material, that if someone watched just the movies they wouldn’t miss much. I watched it with my family and there were times we were all laughing and cheering and just enjoying the ride. It was silly and fun and Knuckles was adorable in every scene he was in.

That said, was it perfect?

No. No, it was not.

Here’s my take on some problems.

~ Setup felt rushed

We had the barest glimpse into Knux’s difficulty adjusting to a life on Earth, which, honestly, just made it look like he wasn’t being challenged enough. He can’t go from being on the run and fighting for his life at every turn to just sitting around playing VR and goofing off. That’s just not who he is.

Not to mention, his interpersonal skills are practically non-existent. He fought his whole childhood away. Presumably, anyone who came near him either wanted to exploit him, use him, or fight him. So he’s used to just doing things on his own, with no one to answer to, or take into consideration. That’s what I saw at the beginning—and honestly, it may have been easily handled had Maddie sat down with him and actually tried to get to know and understand him a little better.

~ Maddie

I felt for her, I really did. And I get that she was frustrated. Tom’s off who-knows-where, and she’s left at home trying to get the damage to the house fixed, while keeping tabs on three super powered alien kids, one of whom is actively attacking handymen, dragging a ton of dirt and sharpened sticks into the living room to make a warrior fighting pit, and dismantling the car to build himself an Iron Throne in the dining room.

She’s frustrated, and doing everything she can to keep herself from snapping. She didn’t sign up for this, but now has to learn on the fly how to deal with three very different, and very special needs kiddos.

But her referring to Knuckles as “our little red barbarian friend” kinda rubbed me the wrong way. He’s not a barbarian. He’s a warrior. He’s a traumatized kid who feels like the honor of his entire tribe rests on his shoulders. He’s struggling with this change and instead of trying to sit down and talk to the kid to explain how things are done on Earth, and see if there was some kind of agreement they could reach to keep them both happy, she just kinda gives up and walks away. Not very understanding, and doesn’t make her come off looking very good.

~ Pachacamac

Okay, this is just weird. Pachacamac, for those who don’t know, in the games is the warmongering echidna tribe chief who led the warriors in an assault to take the Master Emerald’s power for themselves. In the process, they enraged Chaos, the God of Destruction, who all but wiped out the Knuckles clan.

I know, I know, game and movie universes are different. The movie team has taken liberties before with certain aspects of Sonic lore, so this shouldn’t be any different.

Except it is. Canonically, Pachacamac is not a good guy. He’s not even a morally gray character. He is not an honored chief, who trained Knuckles and is now his wise spirit guide. He was the cause of the fall of Knuckles’ entire tribe, thanks to his greed and lust for power.

Making Pachacamac essentially Yoda is like changing Robotnik into a kindly grandfather figure. I mean, what??

The only thing I can think this harkens back to is Longclaw’s little hologram message from the second movie, in which she gives Sonic a quest to find the Master Emerald before Knuckles does. Which, okay, it’s a lost loved one giving a final message to help direct the character on a new path.

Except, Pachacamac isn’t a lost loved one for Knuckles. We did not see any interaction between Knux and Pach. We did see interaction between Knuckles and his father, who would have been a much better choice to send his son on a new path.

(I did, however, see this post that makes SOOOOO much sense in why Pachy appears to Knux, and instructs him to train Wade, specifically.)

~ The Master Emerald

Speaking of, WHERE IS IT? It was referenced numerous times, but never shown once. The absolute least the show could have done was show it well secured, with a Tails’ created security system in place. Show Knux meditating near it, or praying to his ancestors that they can rest easy knowing that the Emerald is safely back in the hands of the echidna once more.

The absolute lack of a presence of it is strange, considering the pursuit of it was what caused the near extinction of both the echidna and the owls. It was Knuckles’ focus for his entire life. Yet he simply leaves it behind without a second thought?

~ Wanda

OMG I hated Wade’s sister. Just, hated her. She was immature, abrasive, abusive, unnecessarily antagonistic with Wade (which seemed to be a life-long thing if the flashbacks are anything to go by) and just struck me as someone who was overcompensating for something. She’s a bully and it’s no wonder Wade is the way he is if he had to grow up with someone like her.

~ No Closure

We didn’t see them arrive back home, where Maddie would hand them their asses for just disappearing like that and not telling her. She was likely worried out of her mind the whole time. And I would have liked to have seen Sonic and Tails try to cover for Knux’s absence, in funny little brotherly shenanigans.

As I said above, I still found it fun. I loved Mother Whipple. I loved Knux’s interactions with her. I loved how Wade grew over their little trip. It was an enjoyable ride, and my whole family really had fun.

How would I have done it differently?

Well, that’s a different post.

[rosethornewrites]

Fic: illuminate the world

Relationship: Jiāng Yànlí/Jīn Zǐxuān

Characters: Jīn Zǐxuān, Jiang Yanli, Lan Yuan | Lan Sizhui, Wēn Níng | Wēn Qiónglín, Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin, Wēn Qíng, Lan Huan | Lan Xichen, Nie Huaisang, Nie Mingjue

Additional Tags: Introspection, Jīn Zǐxuān Tries, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn Protection Squad, Ethics, Mentioned Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī, Mentioned Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Life Debt, Repaying Debt, Mentioned Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo, Cultivation Sect Politics, Honor, POV Jīn Zǐxuān, POV Third Person, Podfic Welcome

Summary: After the events of chapter 24, Jin Zixuan must consider the request to swear siblinghood and the entire situation, including the actions of his own clan.

Notes: See end

First fic: the thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break

Second fic: Honor Good People

AO3 link

———————

Jin Zixuan wasn’t unaware that he was kept in the dark about certain things; too many conversations had stuttered to a halt when he entered rooms for him to be ignorant of that reality. He’d always told himself he didn’t want to know what his father was up to, having learned unpleasantly at a young age about his father’s more salacious inclinations.

But standing in the Burial Mounds between his wife and the sentient fierce corpse of a man who had died by his clan’s hands, watching a toddler melt down in abject terror at the sight of his zhushazhi, screaming for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji—calling them Diedie and Baba, with implications he wasn’t able to immediately comprehend—he couldn’t ignore the signs he’d been seeing in the months since the war.

He could only let A-Li wipe the mark of his clan away, hoping in vain that it would calm the child, and then let himself be ushered away by his xiao jiuzi as the man who was his jiuzi tried to comfort the boy, only to be greeted by the sight of civilians and the elderly in a clearing with some ramshackle huts.

Koi Tower had always been a place where one had to watch their step, and he’d spent a lot of his childhood learning not to show his emotions or trust anyone through bad experiences, but he hadn’t thought it could sink to the level of throwing children, civilians, and the elderly into labor camps for no crime but their family name.

He wished the corruption of his clan stopped there, but he met a woman who showed him a peony branded on her body as Mianmian would have had a sun burned into her face if not for Wei Wuxian, and heard tales that turn his stomach about the callous treatment and deaths of all children but the little boy who was rightly terrified of him—a little boy who was apparently his zhizi through A-Li, the adopted son of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji who as it turned out were married.

If that were all, it would have been easier to handle, but then Jiang Wanyin told him exactly how far Wei Wuxian would go for family, that he’d found a way to give him his own jindan after his was melted by Wen Zhuliu… and had not intended to tell him, instead resigned to suffering silently and becoming the enemy of the jianghu repaying Wen—Wei, rather, now Wei—Qing and Wei Ning for sheltering them and performing the surgery by saving their family. Or he would have, had Lan Wangji not discovered the truth and decided he would not stand for it, instead confessing they’d somehow been married since they were fifteen, which confusingly he hadn’t told Wei Wuxian until he determined it could be used to protect him and…

“They’re disgustingly in love,” Jiang Wanyin muttered, shaking his head, “and I guess it didn’t even occur to my idiot brother that was why he was obsessed with Lan Wangji.”

“They are also not quiet about it at all, so now there are silencing talismans engraved on the cave wall that get activated every evening,” Wei Qing added.

She had rejoined them in time to explain the core transfer after finishing a session of musical healing cultivation on Wei Wuxian, something she and Lan Wangji had invented.

And that was significantly more than Jin Zixuan wanted to know, ever, about his jiuzi—thinking about his surgically-removed jindan was hard enough, and Wei Qing had blessedly not gone into much detail but his imagination was enough—but he didn’t dare protest under the circumstances.

“I would prefer not to know certain things about my brother,” Lan Xichen said, blessedly, and the discussion moved on.

So Wei Wuxian’s act of liberating the labor camp and all that had followed was due to a life debt for rescuing Jiang Wanyin—Jin Zixuan had to reconsider his view of Wei Ning as timid given that he’d drugged Wen Chao and his men to do so—sheltering them following the razing of Lotus Pier, and performing the transplant surgery. Which, according to Jiang Wanyin, was at least in part because he felt he owed a debt to the Jiangs, which turned his stomach because he could see A-Yao feeling he had to do whatever their father wanted out of a perception of owing the Jin for finally recognizing him. Wei Wuxian had felt he owed his very jindan, though Jin Zixuan was certain from seeing him defend his siblings it was also a measure of the depth of his love for them.

Wei Ning’s actions, arguably treason, had been prompted by Wei Wuxian simply being kind to him, which was amazing in and of itself and made clear his values.

Jiang Wanyin and A-Li, upon learning of this debt, had decided to also shoulder the burden with him, as had Lan Wangji in marrying him.

Nie Huaisang believed he should also shoulder some of the burden because of his own life debt—Wei Ning had helped him escape from the Wen indoctrination after the rest of them had been left for dead at Muxi Mountain. Otherwise he would have been a valuable prisoner to keep Chifeng-Zun out of the war effort.

The argument, which was somewhat tenuous if only because it required he agree, was that he too owed a life debt through A-Li because she had been sheltered along with her brothers, and thus the eight of them should swear siblinghood. Jin Zixuan saw no need to disagree, as without them his wife may not have survived, and that was enough for him.

“A-Li’s debt is my debt,” he said as soon as Jiang Wanyin paused to take a breath.

Given that this likely went against his father’s wishes, his decision could be unfilial, but life debts transcended that in his eyes.

The bright hope that his words sparked in those gathered around him, A-Li’s like the sun, only confirmed he’d made the right decision. Even Zewu-Jun and Chifeng-Zun.

Jin Zixuan abruptly realized why—Fuqin couldn’t move openly against Wei Wuxian if he was his heir’s sworn brother, and so he and these refugees would gain more protection.

He didn’t regret the decision. Perhaps it was the fact that he had grown up seeing and trying to ignore the rot at Jinlin Tai and couldn’t deny that he could absolutely believe that it had sunk so low as to do the things that had been done at that labor camp, could believe his own cousin Jin Zixun would sell women from the camp to brothels, and could still see little Wei Yuan wailing in abject terror at the sight of his zhushazhi every time he closed his eyes that made it easier to dismiss any doubts he might have.

Wei Wuxian was a war hero whose ill treatment since the war was distasteful, and it disgusted him that his clan was violating its own motto through vilifying him—darkening rather than illuminating the world. Jin Zixuan had stood in battle with him during the Sunshot Campaign and now knew more of the price he had paid to help them win it. Further, he had done his utmost to protect A-Li from him when he was an absolute boor.

Becoming his sworn brother would be an honor and the right thing to do.

More importantly A-Li loved her brother and wanted to protect him, wanted him home so he could heal.

That was enough for him.

———————

Nie Huaisang’s already started on the propaganda, as you can see, pushing his tale of Wen Ning letting him escape. I’m not sure Nie Mingjue completely believes him, but under the circumstances he’s not going to question it. But are there hints of the Headshaker in his rewriting the narrative to suit his needs?

The Jin clan motto is “opening the doors toward wisdom and aspiration; illuminating the world with the vermilion light,” which is referred to in the title.

Glossary:

baba = dad (informal)

diedie = dad (informal)

fuqin = father (formal)

jindan = golden core

jiuzi - wife’s younger brother

xiao jiuzi - wife’s youngest brother

zhizi - younger brother’s son, can apparently also refer to wife’s younger brother’s son?

zhushazhi - zhusha is cinnabar, and with zhi it becomes cinnabar mole

[philomenie]

MOON HILL

4 Beings from a different time, a different world than today. Rivals, friends, allies from the beginning of time. 4 magical beings, long separated, now reunited to save what means the most to them.

Moon Hill

Nicholas: Peuchen, vampire-like winged serpent, demon

Joakim: Fenris, Fenrir, wolf-like demigod

Nick: Kerberus, hellhound

Noah: Yokai, demon, Chi o nomu hito, blood-drinker, also Kyuketsuki, vampire

CN Fantasy, Mystery, Mention of Blood, Torture, Killing, Betrayal

ONE

NOAH

It is rainy, nothing else he expected from this cold part of the world, people scurrying crouched through the gathering darkness.

Bored, the strikingly tall man watches them for a while with his dark, almond-shaped eyes,

Humans... necessary for the sole purpose of feeding him! To make them subservient to him, to manipulate them into thinking that they have come of their own free will, that they are masters of their own senses, goals and thoughts.

A sneer forms around his mouth.

The rain has soaked his chin-length hair and drops are falling onto his black trench coat with the collar turned up.

He is also dressed in black in other respects, his black suit trousers, black leather belt, elegant black ankle-high boots, his tight-fitting turtleneck sweater that hugs his muscular upper body and whose collar he can pull over his lower face if necessary.

His hands are hidden in black leather gloves.

His most sacred possession, the katana of his ancestors, is hidden from view on his back under his coat.

In public, he hardly shows himself in any other way, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to himself, to his body, his skin covered with tattoos, sigils and incantations, signs of his power and strength.

He is a yokai, a demon, older than mankind.

Chi o nomu hito, they called him in his old homeland, Japan, blood-drinker. Or kyuketsuki, vampire!

And that's what he is, a vampire, a blood-drinker who has wiped out entire families and clans, sometimes in a single night.

He was feared even among the other yokai, the only one who never feared him was Yuki Onna.

As always, his heart sinks at the thought of her. Now is not the time for feelings, he gruffly frees himself from them, concentrates, watches and waits.

"You're late! What kept you?" his voice dark and quiet.

"The weather, I don't like wet!"

Noah looks mockingly at the smaller man next to him, "You're getting old Nicholas, in the past even a hailstorm wouldn't have stopped you!"

"Times are changing! And don't tell me you're still as impetuous and reckless as you were in the beginning!"

Noah growls in reply.

Nicholas strokes his arms several times.

"What are you doing?" Noah wants to know.

"Trying to dry my feathers, I want to be able to use them and not have to crawl!"

"You think it's necessary to change?"

Nicholas laughs coldly, "What did you think? That we'd just march in there in human form and the guards would just leave him to us? After all this time?"

"I thought we could deal with them like that, yes. After all, we're older than them and stronger!" Noah's gaze remains fixed on the road.

Nicholas looks at him skeptically out of his blue-gray piercing eyes, then shakes his head with his shoulder-length, raven-black hair. The weather is really getting to him.

Like Noah, he is also dressed completely in black, but in tight black jeans, a black sweater, a wool short coat and a scarf. He also wears black leather gloves.

He is a Peuchen, a demon like Noah, fire his element. In its original form, it is a powerful winged serpent that drinks the blood of its victims and tears their bodies apart.

His human form is also covered in tattoos, sigils and incantations. Like Noah, he is feared by his kind.

"Where is Folio?" he wants to know from his old friend, "late too?"

"No, Folio is watching the entrance for us!"

"I hope not in his original form!"

"I strongly assume he is, if not human, then at least a simple representative of his species!"

"I wouldn't put anything past our hellhound!" growls Nicholas. "That's why Joakim is in this position in the first place!"

Noah sighs, "I know, but today is finally the day we're going to change that. And then they will pay, for every single day!" His eyes blaze with anger and vengeance.

"It's going to be a celebration, just like before!" Nicholas' face lights up with anticipation.

"Just like before, my friend! And then we'll be united again, no one will be able to stop us. We will regain our sanctuary and protect it for eternity!"

"So it shall be, so it shall be!"

"Once we have freed him, we have to find the Völva, the Kami Izanagi has made it clear. We won't succeed without the Völva!"

Nicholas snorts, "And has your kami made it any clearer where we should find these Völva?"

"We will cross her path, those were his words!"

"Well then, nothing can go wrong!" Nicholas barks sarcastically.

Noah's eyes narrow, "You dare to doubt the words of a kami, a god?"

"Since when do you listen to gods?" Nicholas laughs with amusement.

"Since everything went wrong, I at least give their words a hearing and a chance!"

"Yuki...." is as far as Nicholas gets.

"Leave it!" hisses Noah, "she's unreachable, and that's a good thing!"

Nicholas looks at his friend skeptically.

"When Folio comes back, which should be soon, it's on!" Noah's eyes glow black; through his open mouth, Nicholas can see his friend's fangs grow longer. Noah's thirst for blood has awakened.

Now he can't resist it, at the thought of the blood of their enemies, his fangs also flare out and his skin begins to shimmer like iridescent snakeskin.

FOLIO

To avoid attracting attention, he has turned himself into a dog. It's beneath him, but he owes Joakim, and he knows that his old friend will make him pay when they free him.

It's his fault that they found Joakim, that they kept him bound for so long.

It's not as if they hadn't tried to firee him before, but the Norns threw a spanner in the works. Let it be his fate....

Folio shakes his head in disgust, having to submit to those three old, blind women back then was the hardest thing ever. He would have loved to crush them all with his powerful jaws. But before he could even reach them, they would have cut Joakim's fateful thread and his friend would have been lost beyond repair.

Noah then called him and Nicholas back, complied, he had never seen Noah angrier.

Joakim's desperate roar back then, when he realized that even his friends couldn't do anything, still rings in his ears today.

Scowling, he turns his attention back to the tall, elegant building in front of him.

It is well protected, invisible to the human eye, but he is not human, he is Kerberus, the hound of hell.

The magical sigils and runes are cleverly embedded in the façade. The billowing energy fields generated by them can be broken by normal mortals. Impenetrable for magical beings, demons, gods and demigods.

But Noah is certain that it is possible today, as his kami Izanagi has assured him. Let's hope he's right. Folio remembers all too well the painful, unsuccessful attempts to penetrate the field.

There, the roller shutters on the doors and windows of the building close. The time has come.

Folio sets off, quickly running along the streets on all fours.

But before he arrives at the agreed meeting point, he wants to change. He will certainly not appear before his friends as a simple street dog - that would be beneath him.

Nicholas would let him feel that for a long time. He can clearly imagine Noah's appraising looks. He stops behind the wall of a house where he has changed beforehand, looks around and makes sure that no one can see him. Then he begins his transformation.

His limbs become longer and stronger, the mangy fur gradually disappears and human skin becomes visible. His jaws recede, his ears become human. He straightens up, he is strong, the smallest of the friends, covered in tattoos, sigils and incantations just like them.

He quickly grabs his bag, which he has left there, and gets dressed, also in black. Jeans, sweatshirt, boots, leather jacket, he puts a baseball cap on his short brown hair and pulls the shield low over his face.

He starts to move, he has to hurry now, he doesn't want to be responsible for them missing the time slot.

When he arrives at the meeting point, he sees that Nicholas has now joined Noah.

It's good to see everyone together again and hopefully they'll all be back together tonight.

"Folio, good to see you, man!" Nicholas slaps him amicably on the shoulder!

"Likewise, good to be reunited!"

"We're not reunited yet!" Folio winces slightly at Noah's sharp objection.

Damn this cold blood-drinker always manages to make him look like a failure. Folio angrily meets his gaze.

"Not yet, but we're going to change that today!" Folio sticks his chin out at Noah, belligerently.

Noah ignores the objection, asking instead, "What's the situation there, everything quiet?"

"Yes, the mortals have left the building, all the rolling gates are closed. The sigils and runes still activated when I left. Are you really sure about the date, Noah?"

"I'm sure today is the day, the night, when the Bound One will be freed!"

"Your word is in the ears of the gods!" sighs Nicholas.

"The gods now?" Noah suddenly grins at Nicholas.

"This lot must be good for something!" he snaps.

"What do we do now?" Folio wants to know.

"We'll go to the building and wait until the power of the seals breaks!" Noah replies calmly.

"THAT'S the plan?" Folio is stunned, Nicholas also looks worried.

"That's the plan!" confirms Noah.

"And then what? Do we just march in, greet the guards, and traipse underground to free Joakim from his damn shackles?! And we'll stop by the Norns in between? Or what?!" Folio gets louder and louder.

"Something like that!" Noah's voice still calm.

"Nicholas, you say something! This is madness!"

"Well, that's probably how his kami Izanagi saw it!" Nicholas' voice also full of doubt.

"His kami? Noah you and a god?" Folio couldn't be more stunned.

"Desperate times, force one to desperate acts and unusual alliances. And you know exactly what's at stake! You know very well why it came to this in the first place!" Noah's voice is as cold as ice.

Folio winces "I know it's my fault, I didn't think they'd find him....."

"Yes Folio, that's the problem, you THOUGHT!" Noah's voice and look disparaging.

Folio would like to hit him, to transform and tear the arrogant blood-drinker's neck apart with one of his powerful jaws while the others tear his body apart. But he knows that before he could even change into his demon form, Noah would have cut him in two with his katana.

Nicholas couldn't have stopped him. Noah is faster than the wind, even in human form he is superior to most demons, magical beings and demigods. Even gods would have a problem with him, as he has proven several times.

Transformed, he is the bringer of death to all. That is why he is the leader of the small group.

Even Joakim, as a demigod, has subordinated himself to him. Not from the beginning, there were fierce battles between the two. But he was no match for Noah.

NICHOLAS

Nicholas is skeptical, if THIS is supposed to be the plan, then he doesn't know either. He had expected something more when Noah contacted him.

He had sensed all along that something was changing.

The sanctuary had always been guarded by one of them, but the complete absence of the fourth guardian, Joakim, had slowly but steadily changed the balance of power.

He felt the dark, all-consuming nothingness growing ever more powerful, stretching its claws out at them, at everyone else.

Not that he or any of his friends were among the light figures of the known world, no, certainly not, but this nothingness that suddenly appeared changed everything.

Light and dark were now forced to make a pact against a common enemy.

Hence Noah's collaboration with the kami Izanagi. He could never have imagined this in his wildest dreams.

He is also not sure how Joakim will react to this news. He's probably fed up with gods for the time being.

Joakim's father Loki tried to intervene at the time, but to no avail, Odin was too angry with the Fenris wolf, had him bound, broke his power.

Nicholas sighs, none of this would have happened if Folio hadn't been in love with Skadi and accidentally revealed Joakim's whereabouts to her. Moon Hill, the sanctuary of them all.

The gods invaded it, captured him and bound him in Asgard with the thread Gleipnir.

Even Joakim could not break it, as it was made by the dwarves.

Gods are a sneaky lot, Nicholas is sure.

If anything goes wrong today, he fears that the divine wrath will descend on them all. These arrogant, ignorant Asen still don't understand what's at stake and Odin would probably rather kill the Fenris wolf than set him free. Out of sheer fear that Joakim is ultimately more powerful than the Aesir.

Nicholas is glad at this moment that he is a demon, not that other demons wouldn't have wanted to kill him too, not that, but being betrayed by his own blood has a different quality of infamy!

His own blood would never have dared to lay a hand on him.

He notices Noah next to him.

"Ready?" he asks him.

"Always, I'm just waiting for your signal!"

"The seals should break at any moment!"

"What if Odin has ordered the guards to kill Joakim if anyone tries to break free again?"

"Then they'll be in for a shock! You can't kill the Fenris wolf that easily! Joakim wouldn't let anyone get that close to him!" Noah is certain.

Nicholas nods silently, not fully convinced.

"What will he do with Folio when he's free?"

"Knowing Joakim, he'll be tempted to kill him. I really can't blame him. However, it will remain an attempt. Joakim isn't stupid, he knows what's at stake. He's always known!"

"Ragnarök?"

"Call it what you will, but yes, world conflagration, end of the world, all that. If we can't protect Moon Hill, it will happen soon!"

"And what is this Völva supposed to do? Who is it supposed to be anyway?"

"She is the link between everything. Her work is supposed to make the void disappear again!"

"Then let's hope we find her!"

"We definitely should!" growls Noah darkly.

[overthewordlimit]

Little Idiot

warnings: brief mention of blood and some bone. Maybe OOC? I haven’t written fanfic in a hot minute. First ATWOW fic. 

Everyone is aged up! You are 18, Aonung and Neteyam are 19. Lo’ak and Tsireya are 17.

summary: you are the middle sister between Aonung and Tsireya. With your brother being cocky and reckless, and your sister being sweet. You have taken on the wild sibling role, similar to Lo’ak. When you find out that your spirit sister has returned, you cannot wait to mess around with her. Some of your actions cause one of the Sully boys to worry.

4.4k words (not proofread)

Out of all the Sully kids, your favorite had to be Lo’ak. The two of you loved to play the rebellious child role, complete numbskulls, and you were great at it. Both of you were hanging out in the Sully’s marui. Lo’ak had his eyebrows furrowed as he tried not to laugh at one of your terrible jokes.

“Lo’ak!” You grinned, “you didn’t answer the question! Now, why did the ilu cross the reef?”

Jake had taught you some of the sky people humor. Although it was hard to explain with the lack of chickens and roads on Pandora, you got the jist. Lo’ak, however, did not seem to understand. The boy rolled his eyes.

“Y/n, I do not know.” You saw a small smile peek out from behind the two braids he had in front of his face. 

You let out a groan, throwing your arms up in mock frustration “no no no, Lo’ak! You have to repeat the ques-“

Your ears twitched, as did Lo’ak’s. You both heard whooping and yells in the distance. Splash after splash was heard. You stood up from the floor, walking over to the side of the marui overlooking the water. Your sister appeared, waving her arms and smiling atop her ilu.

“Everyone! Our brothers and sisters have returned!” She cried joyfully. 

Without a second thought, you dove into the water. It was sort of a sloppy dive, there was a reason Tsireya taught the Sullys how to swim. You called for your ilu as you heard the Sullys begin to follow the crowd. Your ilu came quickly, and you formed the bond. The ilu sped towards the sea, feeling your excitement. Your pupils were blown, and you cried out happily as your ilu broke the surface. 

You looked around, noticing that your entire clan seemed to be out on the ocean. There were Metkayina of every age reuniting with their spirit brothers and sisters. Letting out a whoop, you scanned the water for the familiar call of your sister. Where was she? Your ilu whined, sensing your nerves. A few braids escaped your ponytail, and you pushed them behind your twitching ears. You broke the bond with your ilu, sliding into the water. Suddenly, you heard a familiar cry from below you.

“Sister!” You cried, diving down to the tulkun below you. Ounä, your spirit sister, chittered happily as you floated down to her.

“How have you been? Caused much trouble?” She asked, knowing the answer. 

You signed back to her “I never stopped!”. Ounä laughed at your response. 

Your eyes wandered just behind Ounä’s head, noticing your sister talking with her own tulkun counterpart. Your eyes widened as you noticed her sign “I met a boy”. You made a mental note to ask her about that later. Turning back to Ounä, you noticed her eyes had wandered as well. You turned around to see what she was looking out.

Neteyam? You asked yourself, watching the young boy float not too far away from you. What is he doing?

“Who is that?!” Ounä teased. You rolled your eyes, waving her off. You signaled that you needed to surface for air, and she lent you a fin as you both rose.

Once your head breached the water, you let sweet sweet oxygen fill your lungs. You laid down with your back to Ounä’s fin. She shook it gently, causing you to sputter as you were unexpectedly dipped into the water. You sat up.

“Ounä!” You smiled as you wiped the sea water from your face. “What was that for?!”

“Tell me who the boy is!” She used her eyes to motion to Neteyam.

You rolled your eyes, “Later!” Your voice lowered to a hushed whisper. “He is right there!” You spoke through gritted teeth.

You and Ounä spent hours catching us. Some of the 

Metkayina remained, but most had retreated back to the village. Ounä had been telling you about her most recent pranks when she was interrupted by your brother.

“Y/n! Father wants you back for dinner!” Aonung yelled from his ilu. You turned, noticing it was almost Eclipse. 

“But-“ you protested, you hadn’t seen Ounä in so long! You wanted to talk!

“No buts!” Aonung interrupted. “Don’t get me in trouble with Father! C’mon!” He narrowed his eyes at you, silently challenging you.

You let out a groan and turned to say goodbye to Ounä “Wanna hang out tomorrow? I want to introduce you to my friends!” She nodded, and you both separated. You knew she would only be in the area for a few days at most, and you wanted as much time with your spirit sister as possible.

You called your ilu, who swam over quickly. You rushed over to an irritated, impatient Aonung. 

“About time!” He groaned, motioning for you to follow him. You grinned wickedly, a face which meant you were about to cause trouble. Aonung knew it too. “Y/n don’t you da-“

“Race you home!” You screamed, splashing your brother in order to get a head start. 

Aonung followed quickly behind you, not about to accept defeat from his little sister. The ilu’s dove under water, sensing the urgency you two had through the bond. They wove through coral and debris, neck and neck. You took note of the rock barrier coming up ahead. It felt as if Aonung’s eyes were staring daggers at the back of your head. You glanced back, taking note of his angry look telling you not to do it. You grinned again, telling your ilu to jump over the rocks.

Was it dangerous? Yes. But it meant that you would beat Aonung, who wouldn’t risk the embarrassment of his short ilu not reaching the other side. Your ilu gained momentum, as well as your own confidence through the bond. The two of you broke the surface as you jumped over the sharp rocks. 

“Take that skxawng (idiot)!” You cheered as you landed on top of the water with a splash.

Seconds later, Aonung appeared from the other side of the rock barrier. You two raced to the shore, your head start granting you the win. You cheered again, breaking the bond with your ilu and waiting for your brother at the shore.

“Y/n!” Aonung groaned. “That was cheating!”

You let out a laugh and tried to wring the water from your hair. “You are just mad that you lost!”

“Y/n! What was that?!” A soft voice came from behind you. Tsireya.

Aonung began to whine about you cheating and how your actions were stupid to your younger sister. You shot him a look, “You would have won if you were not such a fnawe’tu (coward).” 

Aonung glared at you, huffing. Tsireya sighed at the tension. “Come on guys, Mother and Father want us back for dinner.” 

You and your brother followed behind Tsireya, exchanging glares and muttering insults.

“My children!” Your father, Tonowari, greeted you as you entered the marui.

You gave him a small grin, joining your parents at the small table on the floor of the pod. Food was served, and the family began swapping tales about their tulkun counterparts.

“Roa had her calf?! Oh mother, that's amazing!” You and Tsireya grinned. You knew how long Roa had been trying, and your mother knew it too. You watched as your mom subconsciously rubbed her stomach. 

Eventually, the family’s stories about the tulkun quieted. Your father, trying to make conversation, asked how Aonung’s day was.

“Well!” Aonung started, puffing his chest out.

“Here we go…” you muttered, resting your chin on the palm of your hand.

Aonung began ranting about the Sullys and how “incompetent” they were. Tonowari quickly shot down Aonung’s words, telling him to move on and stop whining. 

You watched as Aonung’s ears flattened with discontentment. He changed the subject, “Father, you know how you sent me to fetch my dear younger sister…” Aonung battered his eyelashes, trying to appear innocent. 

“Ao!” You scowled, elbowing his chest.

Tonowari’s eyes squinted, and he motioned for your brother to continue.

“And you know that rock barrier just outside the sandbar? And how you told us never to jump ilus over it after what happened to Roxto?” You winced at the mention of Roxto’s name.

Years ago, when you and Aonung had just learned to ride an ilu. Roxto joined the two of you for a lap around the reef. Each of you were pulling dumb stunts, and Aonung mentioned jumping over the rock barrier. You rushed forward to attempt it, but Roxto beat you to it. In a wild attempt to show off, he rode his ilu over the rock barrier. Somehow, Roxto flew off of the animal and landed harshly on the rocks. He tore is arm open almost to the bone. It was a gruesome sight, and he couldn’t swim for months afterwards. 

You felt your father’s eyes drilling into your head, he hummed to show he was listening. Aonung sat up, crossing his arms. “Y/n here was being stupid again and jumped over it!” 

“Aonung you tattletale!” You hissed, pushing your brother slightly. Tsireya nodded to confirm what Aonung had said, and you glared at her. 

Ronal and Tonowari turned towards you, their ears flat against their heads. Your mother hissed “Y/n! Have I taught you nothing!” You sighed, eyes turned downward as your mother scolded you.

“Why must you be so reckless, child.” Tonowari massaged his forehead as if it would make the frustration he felt at his daughter go away. 

Your parents made eye contact, a common thing in your household. You had never seen mates so in tune with the other’s emotions. They spoke with their eyes, silently trying to figure out what to do. Ronal nodded at Tonowari, and your father turned back to you. 

“No riding your ilu for a month.” You groaned, letting your head fall into your hands. 

“Yes Father…” you muttered in annoyance, sparing Aonung a glare. 

INSERT LINE BC TIME PASSED

You felt the small hands of Tsireya shake you from your sleep. “Tsmuke! (Sister) Get up!” She shook you again, laughing. 

You sat up with a groan, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. “What? Can I not sleep for a while longer?” Your sister giggled.

“No! We must meet with the Sullys!” You were now wide awake, grinning at the chaos you and Lo’ak were about to cause. You pushed Tsireya playfully away from you. Making your way to your closet, you called over your shoulder, “Tsireya! Have you seen my top? The one with the orange shells and the-“ you turned around to notice Tsireya was wearing your top.

“Pleaaaase can I borrow it! Just for today!” She batted her big blue eyes at you, “You’ll be my favorite sister ever!” 

“Yeah well if you keep making goo goo eyes at Lo’ak I won’t be your only sister.” You snickered, grabbing a different top from the shelf. 

“I do not make goo goo eyes!” Tsireya huffed.

After you had changed you gave her a pointed look. “I saw you talking to your spirit sister…someone has a crush!” You poked her side as you walked past her, earning a small ‘hey!’ from your younger sister. 

The two of you ran over to the Sully’s marui, bouncing on the webbed path with every step. After a few minutes you laid eyes upon the pod you had become so familiar with in the past few days. You knocked on the entrance. 

“Who is there!” The tense voice of Neytiri was heard.

“It’s Y/n and Tsireya, ma’am!” Your sister called sweetly. The two of you knew better than to piss the woman off.

Neytiri appeared at the doorway, looking down at the two of you with a small smile. “Hello, what do you two need?” Always to the point.

Tsireya smiled, “May we borrow your children for today? We would love to hang out!” 

Neytiri nodded, calling for Neteyam, and Lo’ak over her shoulder. She turned back to you. “Tuk is not feeling very well, she will stay behind.”

“Should I fetch my mother?” You asked Neytiri. Tuk was such a sweet girl, and it hurt you to know she was sick. As Tsahìk, you knew your mother may be able to help poor Tuk. 

The older Sully children arrived as Neytiri shook her head, “No, she will be fine. She is tired. Kiri is attending to her.” You pursed your lips, nodding. You were glad that Tuk wasn’t feeling too terrible. Kiri’s spirit alone was healing, you knew that Tuk was in excellent hands. 

Suddenly, you felt a slap hit the back of your head “Y/n you skxawng (idiot)!” Your hand covered the spot Lo’ak had just smacked you, “I heard about that stunt with the ilu yesterday! So cool!”

Neytiri dismissed you, and the four of you raced down to the shore. The webbed path made a slight ‘thwang’ noise with every step. In your distracted state, you didn’t notice Neteyam glancing at you with concern. 

An arm grabbed yours, you stopped in your tracks. Turning around, you saw Neteyam, “My brother didn’t hit you too hard, right?” He asked in a soft voice.

You scoffed mockingly, “Lo’ak? Hurt me? Never!” You made sure that Lo’ak heard that, the satisfaction of bruising his ego was pleasing. 

Neteyam nodded and let go of your arm. The two of you walked together. “That ilu stunt was kinda stupid.” He tsked.

You let out a groan, “Not you too! You’re supposed to be the cool brother!” You playfully knocked him with your shoulder. “It wasn’t that serious, I’m always careful.”

Lo’ak had reached the beach first, and you groaned when you realized you lost the race. You took off, not realizing that Neteyam was about to speak to you again.

Tsireya waved you over as you and Neteyam reached the beach. “Father grounded you from riding ilus! How are you going to get out there?” She whispered in the harshest voice possible for her.

Lo’ak burst into laughter, “Oooo! Y/n is grounded!” He continued to laugh his tail off while you scowled at him. 

You knew someone would tell on you, whether it was Tsireya being pressured or Lo’ak taunting you. You thought for a second, before turning to the one person who may not tell your father.

“Neteyam….” You called in a singsong voice. 

Neteyam looked down at you, pursing his lips. “I dunno Y/n. Your father is doing this for a reason. You acted recklessly..” 

“No no no! He said I can’t ride my ilu, right?” You shot Tsireya a look. “He never said I ride someone else’s!”

Out of your peripheral vision you watched Tsireya purse her lips. She knew you were technically right. Your sister spoke with her eyes, and you know she wouldn’t tell on you as long as you were a passenger. Tsireya nodded at Neteyam.

“Fine.” Neteyam sighed, calling his ilu as the others did the same. You smiled at the success.

As Neteyam broke the surface of the water you let out a small whine. “You go so slow!!” 

Neteyam scoffed and looked at you over his shoulder, “Some of us care about safety!”

Lo’ak and Tsireya surfaced nearby. The four of you left the ilus and swam over to a nearby sandbar. The bar dropped down into a deeper part of the sea, perfect to meet Ounä.

“Tsireya!” You smiled at your sister beside you. “Should I call Ounä so that the group can meet her?”

You knew that Neteyam and Lo’ak would likely ever get the chance to bond with a tulkun like the Metkayina could. And it had been forever since Tsireya had seen your other sister. She nodded, and you grinned. You let out a long whoop, a way that you called to Ounä. 

After a few seconds, you heard a familiar cry. The group turned to watch Ounä come swimming over. 

“Ounä!” You cried joyously, swimming out to greet you sister again.

The others swam over and you all floated while you hung onto Ounä’s fin. She gave you a look, and you knew she saw Neteyam. 

“Oh hush.” You giggled. You turned to the group, gesturing towards Ounä. “Guys, this is my spirit sister, Ounä. Ounä, this is Neteyam and Lo’ak. You remember Tsireya.”

Neteyam and Lo’ak dipped their heads at the tulkun, symbolizing peace. Tsireya smiled at Ounä. You found it almost humorous. To have your sister speaking to your other sister. 

Ounä chittered a greeting, remembering Tsireya with soft eyes. You watched as her gaze lingered on Neteyam. “Ounä!” You hissed playfully, nudging the side of her fin. 

Watching Lo’ak and Neteyam interact with Ounä was truly a sight to behold. Their sign language was rusty, but Ounä carried on like it was nothing. The group talked for hours, the sun still high in the sky. Conversation dwindled down, and you became struck with an idea.

“Ounä!” You gasped, sitting straight up. “Want to show them that trick we know?” You signed quickly, excited. 

Ounä responded with a sly side eye “Yes! But be careful.” Your spirit sister was just as mischievous as you.

You turned to the group, smiling wickedly, “Guys go back to the sandbar, Ounä and I are gonna show you this trick!” 

“Y/n!” Tsireya gasped, “That one from…?” She trailed off, asking the rest of the question with her eyes.

You nodded, pushing the others off of Ounä’s fin. Neteyam treaded water beside you, “Y/n what is she talking about?”

“Nothing, nothing!”

“If it’s nothing, why did your sister give you that look?” Neteyam quizzed, you responded with a huff. 

Lo’ak grabbed Neteyam, following Tsireya to the sandbar. “Y/n if this isn’t epic I’m telling on you!” Lo’ak yelled.

You laughed loudly, regaining that wicked grin of yours. “It will be Lo’ak, trust me!”

Ounä chittered happily as she watched the others swim back. The tulkun was truly your spirit sister, mischievous in every way. The two of you met when you played a prank on Roa and your mother as a young Na’vi. It was a match formed by Eywa in the most beautiful way. 

You swam out to a deeper part of the ocean, making sure that the group could still see you. Ounä surfaced just beside you. You looked at your friends and sister, before diving down into the water. Ounä mimicked you, diving just a bit deeper than you were. Once you were far enough into the water, you gave Ounä a nod, singing “Let’s do this!!”. The tulkun made an excited noise in response, before diving down just below you. She quickly swam up towards you, her tail thrashing wildly in order to build up speed. After a few seconds of you floating beneath the waves, Ounä’s head comes into contact with your feet. The strength of her tail causes the two of you to breach the surface with a loud splash. 

You stand proudly on top of Ounä’s snout, stretching your arms out (imagine this). The air was cold, and your skin prickled with goosebumps. Once Ounä breaches as far as she can, you dive off of her. Was it dangerous? Yes, you were at least a hundred feet in the air. But nothing could beat the sheer force of breaking the surface, the feeling of being in the air, and the exhilaration of diving back down. You laugh loudly as you fall, completely blocking out the frightened screams of Tsireya. You hit the water hard, but nothing you couldn’t handle. The sea water was refreshing, and you relished the slight sting on your skin from the impact. 

Because of the height you dove from, your teal body slipped deeper and deeper beneath the surface. As your momentum slowed, you looked around the seafloor with a grin. Ounä appeared, a happy noise emitting from the tulkun. Your lungs begin to tighten from the lack of air, and you watched as Ounä swam away before looking upwards to the surface. Three pairs of blue legs were kicking around, the group had left the sandbar to look for you. You shook your head, if you were not in the water you would have been laughing like crazy.

Breaking the surface with a gasp, you turned to your friends and sister. You made eye contact with Lo’ak, “See? I told you it would be totall-” You were interrupted as two hands made harsh contact with your shoulders. You blinked, confused. In front of you was Neteyam, his amber eyes wide with….worry?

His eyes wandered all over you, taking in your state. His breathing was just as ragged as yours, despite him not diving off a tulkun. You let out a hum, wordlessly asking him what was going on. Neteyam sighed, letting his head hang slightly. You eyed Neteyam before looking to Lo’ak and Tsireya for help. They looked just as confused as you. You turned your eyes back to the Omatikayan boy in front of you. You laughed a little, trying to relieve the tension, “Neteyam? You oka-”

Neteyam interrupted you for the second time. An annoyed grunt left his lips, and he raised his head. His eyes met yours, but you still couldn’t read them, “What is wrong with you?” His voice was just as harsh as his grip on your shoulders. 

You were speechless. What was this boy- this Omatikayan boy- thinking when he spoke to you like this? You scoffed, “Excuse me?”. 

Neteyam’s grip moved from your shoulder to your elbow, and he began trying to lead you back to the sandbar. His jaw was tense, you could see the veins begin to pop out. Out of your peripheral vision, you watched Tsireya and Lo’ak follow behind. Lo’ak broke the silence, “Y/n, that was- I don’t even know how to describe it!” He was obviously excited, amazed at the trick you had performed. Tsireya pursed her lips.

“Stupid. That is how you would describe it, Lo’ak.” Neteyam’s voice held a bitterness you had not heard before. Your head whipped to the boy who was dragging you to the sandbar. Your face furrowed, and you let out a mock confused hum.

“Say that again, Neteyam.”

“You are so beyond a skxawng (idiot), Y/n. I don’t even know what to call you.”

The group had reached the sandbar. You wretched your arm from Neteyam’s grip. It stung, but it was so worth it to see his frustration at your action. You stood tall, even though you were still a bit shorter than Neteyam. Putting on a brave face, you spoke in a strong voice, “I would call myself the Olo'eyktan’s daughter, Neteyam.” You watched as he pursed his lips, taking in your words, “Watch how you speak to me.”

You were never one to throw around titles. In fact, your father’s title was something you resented in your youth. As your sister, Tsireya knew this. She knew you almost never used Tonowari as an excuse, or a reason to push buttons. Even though it was tempting to use it to get out of trouble, you still never used his title. Tsireya came up beside you, reaching a hand out to separate you and Neteyam, “Y/n…” her voice was soft. She hated seeing her sister get angry.

Sure, you got in trouble often. You acted upon every impulse, and you were not afraid to head into danger. But that is what the Na’vi of Awa'atlu admired about you. You were bold, and fun. Tsireya had seen you perform the trick in the past, and she knew it could end badly. But she had to admit, that stunt with Ounä was impressive. That was not the most important thing right now, Tsireya knew that this may end badly if you began running your mouth. She looked over to Lo’ak, gesturing towards Neteyam. Lo’ak nodded, walking behind Neteyam.

“Bro, just let it go.” Neteyam broke eye contact first. He turned towards his brother, nose scrunched. He was obviously upset, and Lo’ak couldn’t help but poke fun at him, “Who tied your tail in a knot, hm?”

You and Lo’ak were so similar, and you flashed a smile at him. “Whatever, Neteyam doesn’t know how to have fun.” You moved to stand next to Lo’ak, shoving him slightly with your shoulder. “Wanna go race ilus?”

For the second time today, your arm made its way into Neteyam’s grip. In an effort to protest, or maybe throw hands, you raised your eyes to meet his. Instead of contained frustration, Neteyam’s face held visible anger. His ears were flat against his head, and he let out a small hiss, “Kehe! (No)” His voice shook, “Go home, hì'i skxawng. (little idiot)” He released your arm with a condescending hiss, pushing away you from him. 

The two younger siblings watched as their older brother and sister glared at each other. Lo’ak and Tsireya backed away slowly, unsure of what to do. You let out a boisterous laugh laced with irritation.

“I am so sorry, Mr. Rule Follower, but I can’t.” You crossed your arms. “I rode here on your ilu, remember?”

“Oh yeah, I remember! You whined the entire time!”

“OH? I was whining? I wouldn’t be the one whining if-”

“If what?” Neteyam’s voice came out as a whisper.

You were honestly speechless, you had never heard Neteyam speak to anyone like this. Sure, he scolded Lo’ak from time to time, but this version of Neteyam was just straight up rude. You scoffed, pushing Neteyam away from you, “I am not dealing with,” You gestured at him, “all of this.” 

Without giving Neteyam a chance to retaliate, you began to walk backwards to the edge of the sandbar. Your eyes met your sister’s, “Tsireya, it’s almost eclipse. Don’t stay out too long.” Tsireya nodded, confused. 

You turned around again, whistling for an ilu. One approached quickly, and you dove into the water to meet it. Ignoring the protests of the Sully boys, you rode the ilu back to the village. The water hit your face like pellets. It stung your eyes, causing tears to form. Or did they form on their own? You were grateful the water hid the few tears that managed to escape. 

You had been insulted in the past, with names way worse than ‘idiot’. So why did Neteyam’s words hurt so bad?

“Be careful, for me?”

warnings: brief mention of blood and some bone. Maybe OOC? I haven’t written fanfic in a hot minute. First ATWOW fic. 

Everyone is aged up! You are 18, Aonung and Neteyam are 19. Lo’ak and Tsireya are 17.

summary: you are the middle sister between Aonung and Tsireya. With your brother being cocky and reckless, and your sister being sweet. You have taken on the wild sibling role, similar to Lo’ak. When you find out that your spirit sister has returned, you cannot wait to mess around with her. Some of your actions cause one of the Sully boys to worry.

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Out of all the Sully kids, your favorite had to be Lo’ak. The two of you loved to play the rebellious child role, complete numbskulls, and you were great at it. Both of you were hanging out in the Sully’s marui. Lo’ak had his eyebrows furrowed as he tried not to laugh at one of your terrible jokes.

“Lo’ak!” You grinned, “you didn’t answer the question! Now, why did the ilu cross the reef?”

Jake had taught you some of the sky people humor. Although it was hard to explain with the lack of chickens and roads on Pandora, you got the jist. Lo’ak, however, did not seem to understand. The boy rolled his eyes.

“Y/n, I do not know.” You saw a small smile peek out from behind the two braids he had in front of his face. 

You let out a groan, throwing your arms up in mock frustration “no no no, Lo’ak! You have to repeat the ques-“

Your ears twitched, as did Lo’ak’s. You both heard whooping and yells in the distance. Splash after splash was heard. You stood up from the floor, walking over to the side of the marui overlooking the water. Your sister appeared, waving her arms and smiling atop her ilu.

“Everyone! Our brothers and sisters have returned!” She cried joyfully. 

Without a second thought, you dove into the water. It was sort of a sloppy dive, there was a reason Tsireya taught the Sullys how to swim. You called for your ilu as you heard the Sullys begin to follow the crowd. Your ilu came quickly, and you formed the bond. The ilu sped towards the sea, feeling your excitement. Your pupils were blown, and you cried out happily as your ilu broke the surface. 

You looked around, noticing that your entire clan seemed to be out on the ocean. There were Metkayina of every age reuniting with their spirit brothers and sisters. Letting out a whoop, you scanned the water for the familiar call of your sister. Where was she? Your ilu whined, sensing your nerves. A few braids escaped your ponytail, and you pushed them behind your twitching ears. You broke the bond with your ilu, sliding into the water. Suddenly, you heard a familiar cry from below you.

“Sister!” You cried, diving down to the tulkun below you. Ounä, your spirit sister, chittered happily as you floated down to her.

“How have you been? Caused much trouble?” She asked, knowing the answer. 

You signed back to her “I never stopped!”. Ounä laughed at your response. 

Your eyes wandered just behind Ounä’s head, noticing your sister talking with her own tulkun counterpart. Your eyes widened as you noticed her sign “I met a boy”. You made a mental note to ask her about that later. Turning back to Ounä, you noticed her eyes had wandered as well. You turned around to see what she was looking out.

Neteyam? You asked yourself, watching the young boy float not too far away from you. What is he doing?

“Who is that?!” Ounä teased. You rolled your eyes, waving her off. You signaled that you needed to surface for air, and she lent you a fin as you both rose.

Once your head breached the water, you let sweet sweet oxygen fill your lungs. You laid down with your back to Ounä’s fin. She shook it gently, causing you to sputter as you were unexpectedly dipped into the water. You sat up.

“Ounä!” You smiled as you wiped the sea water from your face. “What was that for?!”

“Tell me who the boy is!” She used her eyes to motion to Neteyam.

You rolled your eyes, “Later!” Your voice lowered to a hushed whisper. “He is right there!” You spoke through gritted teeth.

You and Ounä spent hours catching us. Some of the 

Metkayina remained, but most had retreated back to the village. Ounä had been telling you about her most recent pranks when she was interrupted by your brother.

“Y/n! Father wants you back for dinner!” Aonung yelled from his ilu. You turned, noticing it was almost Eclipse. 

“But-“ you protested, you hadn’t seen Ounä in so long! You wanted to talk!

“No buts!” Aonung interrupted. “Don’t get me in trouble with Father! C’mon!” He narrowed his eyes at you, silently challenging you.

You let out a groan and turned to say goodbye to Ounä “Wanna hang out tomorrow? I want to introduce you to my friends!” She nodded, and you both separated. You knew she would only be in the area for a few days at most, and you wanted as much time with your spirit sister as possible.

You called your ilu, who swam over quickly. You rushed over to an irritated, impatient Aonung. 

“About time!” He groaned, motioning for you to follow him. You grinned wickedly, a face which meant you were about to cause trouble. Aonung knew it too. “Y/n don’t you da-“

“Race you home!” You screamed, splashing your brother in order to get a head start. 

Aonung followed quickly behind you, not about to accept defeat from his little sister. The ilu’s dove under water, sensing the urgency you two had through the bond. They wove through coral and debris, neck and neck. You took note of the rock barrier coming up ahead. It felt as if Aonung’s eyes were staring daggers at the back of your head. You glanced back, taking note of his angry look telling you not to do it. You grinned again, telling your ilu to jump over the rocks.

Was it dangerous? Yes. But it meant that you would beat Aonung, who wouldn’t risk the embarrassment of his short ilu not reaching the other side. Your ilu gained momentum, as well as your own confidence through the bond. The two of you broke the surface as you jumped over the sharp rocks. 

“Take that skxawng (idiot)!” You cheered as you landed on top of the water with a splash.

Seconds later, Aonung appeared from the other side of the rock barrier. You two raced to the shore, your head start granting you the win. You cheered again, breaking the bond with your ilu and waiting for your brother at the shore.

“Y/n!” Aonung groaned. “That was cheating!”

You let out a laugh and tried to wring the water from your hair. “You are just mad that you lost!”

“Y/n! What was that?!” A soft voice came from behind you. Tsireya.

Aonung began to whine about you cheating and how your actions were stupid to your younger sister. You shot him a look, “You would have won if you were not such a fnawe’tu (coward).” 

Aonung glared at you, huffing. Tsireya sighed at the tension. “Come on guys, Mother and Father want us back for dinner.” 

You and your brother followed behind Tsireya, exchanging glares and muttering insults.

“My children!” Your father, Tonowari, greeted you as you entered the marui.

You gave him a small grin, joining your parents at the small table on the floor of the pod. Food was served, and the family began swapping tales about their tulkun counterparts.

“Roa had her calf?! Oh mother, that's amazing!” You and Tsireya grinned. You knew how long Roa had been trying, and your mother knew it too. You watched as your mom subconsciously rubbed her stomach. 

Eventually, the family’s stories about the tulkun quieted. Your father, trying to make conversation, asked how Aonung’s day was.

“Well!” Aonung started, puffing his chest out.

“Here we go…” you muttered, resting your chin on the palm of your hand.

Aonung began ranting about the Sullys and how “incompetent” they were. Tonowari quickly shot down Aonung’s words, telling him to move on and stop whining. 

You watched as Aonung’s ears flattened with discontentment. He changed the subject, “Father, you know how you sent me to fetch my dear younger sister…” Aonung battered his eyelashes, trying to appear innocent. 

“Ao!” You scowled, elbowing his chest.

Tonowari’s eyes squinted, and he motioned for your brother to continue.

“And you know that rock barrier just outside the sandbar? And how you told us never to jump ilus over it after what happened to Roxto?” You winced at the mention of Roxto’s name.

Years ago, when you and Aonung had just learned to ride an ilu. Roxto joined the two of you for a lap around the reef. Each of you were pulling dumb stunts, and Aonung mentioned jumping over the rock barrier. You rushed forward to attempt it, but Roxto beat you to it. In a wild attempt to show off, he rode his ilu over the rock barrier. Somehow, Roxto flew off of the animal and landed harshly on the rocks. He tore is arm open almost to the bone. It was a gruesome sight, and he couldn’t swim for months afterwards. 

You felt your father’s eyes drilling into your head, he hummed to show he was listening. Aonung sat up, crossing his arms. “Y/n here was being stupid again and jumped over it!” 

“Aonung you tattletale!” You hissed, pushing your brother slightly. Tsireya nodded to confirm what Aonung had said, and you glared at her. 

Ronal and Tonowari turned towards you, their ears flat against their heads. Your mother hissed “Y/n! Have I taught you nothing!” You sighed, eyes turned downward as your mother scolded you.

“Why must you be so reckless, child.” Tonowari massaged his forehead as if it would make the frustration he felt at his daughter go away. 

Your parents made eye contact, a common thing in your household. You had never seen mates so in tune with the other’s emotions. They spoke with their eyes, silently trying to figure out what to do. Ronal nodded at Tonowari, and your father turned back to you. 

“No riding your ilu for a month.” You groaned, letting your head fall into your hands. 

“Yes Father…” you muttered in annoyance, sparing Aonung a glare. 

INSERT LINE BC TIME PASSED

You felt the small hands of Tsireya shake you from your sleep. “Tsmuke! (Sister) Get up!” She shook you again, laughing. 

You sat up with a groan, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. “What? Can I not sleep for a while longer?” Your sister giggled.

“No! We must meet with the Sullys!” You were now wide awake, grinning at the chaos you and Lo’ak were about to cause. You pushed Tsireya playfully away from you. Making your way to your closet, you called over your shoulder, “Tsireya! Have you seen my top? The one with the orange shells and the-“ you turned around to notice Tsireya was wearing your top.

“Pleaaaase can I borrow it! Just for today!” She batted her big blue eyes at you, “You’ll be my favorite sister ever!” 

“Yeah well if you keep making goo goo eyes at Lo’ak I won’t be your only sister.” You snickered, grabbing a different top from the shelf. 

“I do not make goo goo eyes!” Tsireya huffed.

After you had changed you gave her a pointed look. “I saw you talking to your spirit sister…someone has a crush!” You poked her side as you walked past her, earning a small ‘hey!’ from your younger sister. 

The two of you ran over to the Sully’s marui, bouncing on the webbed path with every step. After a few minutes you laid eyes upon the pod you had become so familiar with in the past few days. You knocked on the entrance. 

“Who is there!” The tense voice of Neytiri was heard.

“It’s Y/n and Tsireya, ma’am!” Your sister called sweetly. The two of you knew better than to piss the woman off.

Neytiri appeared at the doorway, looking down at the two of you with a small smile. “Hello, what do you two need?” Always to the point.

Tsireya smiled, “May we borrow your children for today? We would love to hang out!” 

Neytiri nodded, calling for Neteyam, and Lo’ak over her shoulder. She turned back to you. “Tuk is not feeling very well, she will stay behind.”

“Should I fetch my mother?” You asked Neytiri. Tuk was such a sweet girl, and it hurt you to know she was sick. As Tsahìk, you knew your mother may be able to help poor Tuk. 

The older Sully children arrived as Neytiri shook her head, “No, she will be fine. She is tired. Kiri is attending to her.” You pursed your lips, nodding. You were glad that Tuk wasn’t feeling too terrible. Kiri’s spirit alone was healing, you knew that Tuk was in excellent hands. 

Suddenly, you felt a slap hit the back of your head “Y/n you skxawng (idiot)!” Your hand covered the spot Lo’ak had just smacked you, “I heard about that stunt with the ilu yesterday! So cool!”

Neytiri dismissed you, and the four of you raced down to the shore. The webbed path made a slight ‘thwang’ noise with every step. In your distracted state, you didn’t notice Neteyam glancing at you with concern. 

An arm grabbed yours, you stopped in your tracks. Turning around, you saw Neteyam, “My brother didn’t hit you too hard, right?” He asked in a soft voice.

You scoffed mockingly, “Lo’ak? Hurt me? Never!” You made sure that Lo’ak heard that, the satisfaction of bruising his ego was pleasing. 

Neteyam nodded and let go of your arm. The two of you walked together. “That ilu stunt was kinda stupid.” He tsked.

You let out a groan, “Not you too! You’re supposed to be the cool brother!” You playfully knocked him with your shoulder. “It wasn’t that serious, I’m always careful.”

Lo’ak had reached the beach first, and you groaned when you realized you lost the race. You took off, not realizing that Neteyam was about to speak to you again.

Tsireya waved you over as you and Neteyam reached the beach. “Father grounded you from riding ilus! How are you going to get out there?” She whispered in the harshest voice possible for her.

Lo’ak burst into laughter, “Oooo! Y/n is grounded!” He continued to laugh his tail off while you scowled at him. 

You knew someone would tell on you, whether it was Tsireya being pressured or Lo’ak taunting you. You thought for a second, before turning to the one person who may not tell your father.

“Neteyam….” You called in a singsong voice. 

Neteyam looked down at you, pursing his lips. “I dunno Y/n. Your father is doing this for a reason. You acted recklessly..” 

“No no no! He said I can’t ride my ilu, right?” You shot Tsireya a look. “He never said I ride someone else’s!”

Out of your peripheral vision you watched Tsireya purse her lips. She knew you were technically right. Your sister spoke with her eyes, and you know she wouldn’t tell on you as long as you were a passenger. Tsireya nodded at Neteyam.

“Fine.” Neteyam sighed, calling his ilu as the others did the same. You smiled at the success.

As Neteyam broke the surface of the water you let out a small whine. “You go so slow!!” 

Neteyam scoffed and looked at you over his shoulder, “Some of us care about safety!”

Lo’ak and Tsireya surfaced nearby. The four of you left the ilus and swam over to a nearby sandbar. The bar dropped down into a deeper part of the sea, perfect to meet Ounä.

“Tsireya!” You smiled at your sister beside you. “Should I call Ounä so that the group can meet her?”

You knew that Neteyam and Lo’ak would likely ever get the chance to bond with a tulkun like the Metkayina could. And it had been forever since Tsireya had seen your other sister. She nodded, and you grinned. You let out a long whoop, a way that you called to Ounä. 

After a few seconds, you heard a familiar cry. The group turned to watch Ounä come swimming over. 

“Ounä!” You cried joyously, swimming out to greet you sister again.

The others swam over and you all floated while you hung onto Ounä’s fin. She gave you a look, and you knew she saw Neteyam. 

“Oh hush.” You giggled. You turned to the group, gesturing towards Ounä. “Guys, this is my spirit sister, Ounä. Ounä, this is Neteyam and Lo’ak. You remember Tsireya.”

Neteyam and Lo’ak dipped their heads at the tulkun, symbolizing peace. Tsireya smiled at Ounä. You found it almost humorous. To have your sister speaking to your other sister. 

Ounä chittered a greeting, remembering Tsireya with soft eyes. You watched as her gaze lingered on Neteyam. “Ounä!” You hissed playfully, nudging the side of her fin. 

Watching Lo’ak and Neteyam interact with Ounä was truly a sight to behold. Their sign language was rusty, but Ounä carried on like it was nothing. The group talked for hours, the sun still high in the sky. Conversation dwindled down, and you became struck with an idea.

“Ounä!” You gasped, sitting straight up. “Want to show them that trick we know?” You signed quickly, excited. 

Ounä responded with a sly side eye “Yes! But be careful.” Your spirit sister was just as mischievous as you.

You turned to the group, smiling wickedly, “Guys go back to the sandbar, Ounä and I are gonna show you this trick!” 

“Y/n!” Tsireya gasped, “That one from…?” She trailed off, asking the rest of the question with her eyes.

You nodded, pushing the others off of Ounä’s fin. Neteyam treaded water beside you, “Y/n what is she talking about?”

“Nothing, nothing!”

“If it’s nothing, why did your sister give you that look?” Neteyam quizzed, you responded with a huff. 

Lo’ak grabbed Neteyam, following Tsireya to the sandbar. “Y/n if this isn’t epic I’m telling on you!” Lo’ak yelled.

You laughed loudly, regaining that wicked grin of yours. “It will be Lo’ak, trust me!”

Ounä chittered happily as she watched the others swim back. The tulkun was truly your spirit sister, mischievous in every way. The two of you met when you played a prank on Roa and your mother as a young Na’vi. It was a match formed by Eywa in the most beautiful way. 

You swam out to a deeper part of the ocean, making sure that the group could still see you. Ounä surfaced just beside you. You looked at your friends and sister, before diving down into the water. Ounä mimicked you, diving just a bit deeper than you were. Once you were far enough into the water, you gave Ounä a nod, singing “Let’s do this!!”. The tulkun made an excited noise in response, before diving down just below you. She quickly swam up towards you, her tail thrashing wildly in order to build up speed. After a few seconds of you floating beneath the waves, Ounä’s head comes into contact with your feet. The strength of her tail causes the two of you to breach the surface with a loud splash. 

You stand proudly on top of Ounä’s snout, stretching your arms out (imagine this). The air was cold, and your skin prickled with goosebumps. Once Ounä breaches as far as she can, you dive off of her. Was it dangerous? Yes, you were at least a hundred feet in the air. But nothing could beat the sheer force of breaking the surface, the feeling of being in the air, and the exhilaration of diving back down. You laugh loudly as you fall, completely blocking out the frightened screams of Tsireya. You hit the water hard, but nothing you couldn’t handle. The sea water was refreshing, and you relished the slight sting on your skin from the impact. 

Because of the height you dove from, your teal body slipped deeper and deeper beneath the surface. As your momentum slowed, you looked around the seafloor with a grin. Ounä appeared, a happy noise emitting from the tulkun. Your lungs begin to tighten from the lack of air, and you watched as Ounä swam away before looking upwards to the surface. Three pairs of blue legs were kicking around, the group had left the sandbar to look for you. You shook your head, if you were not in the water you would have been laughing like crazy.

Breaking the surface with a gasp, you turned to your friends and sister. You made eye contact with Lo’ak, “See? I told you it would be totall-” You were interrupted as two hands made harsh contact with your shoulders. You blinked, confused. In front of you was Neteyam, his amber eyes wide with….worry?

His eyes wandered all over you, taking in your state. His breathing was just as ragged as yours, despite him not diving off a tulkun. You let out a hum, wordlessly asking him what was going on. Neteyam sighed, letting his head hang slightly. You eyed Neteyam before looking to Lo’ak and Tsireya for help. They looked just as confused as you. You turned your eyes back to the Omatikayan boy in front of you. You laughed a little, trying to relieve the tension, “Neteyam? You oka-”

Neteyam interrupted you for the second time. An annoyed grunt left his lips, and he raised his head. His eyes met yours, but you still couldn’t read them, “What is wrong with you?” His voice was just as harsh as his grip on your shoulders. 

You were speechless. What was this boy- this Omatikayan boy- thinking when he spoke to you like this? You scoffed, “Excuse me?”. 

Neteyam’s grip moved from your shoulder to your elbow, and he began trying to lead you back to the sandbar. His jaw was tense, you could see the veins begin to pop out. Out of your peripheral vision, you watched Tsireya and Lo’ak follow behind. Lo’ak broke the silence, “Y/n, that was- I don’t even know how to describe it!” He was obviously excited, amazed at the trick you had performed. Tsireya pursed her lips.

“Stupid. That is how you would describe it, Lo’ak.” Neteyam’s voice held a bitterness you had not heard before. Your head whipped to the boy who was dragging you to the sandbar. Your face furrowed, and you let out a mock confused hum.

“Say that again, Neteyam.”

“You are so beyond a skxawng (idiot), Y/n. I don’t even know what to call you.”

The group had reached the sandbar. You wretched your arm from Neteyam’s grip. It stung, but it was so worth it to see his frustration at your action. You stood tall, even though you were still a bit shorter than Neteyam. Putting on a brave face, you spoke in a strong voice, “I would call myself the Olo'eyktan’s daughter, Neteyam.” You watched as he pursed his lips, taking in your words, “Watch how you speak to me.”

You were never one to throw around titles. In fact, your father’s title was something you resented in your youth. As your sister, Tsireya knew this. She knew you almost never used Tonowari as an excuse, or a reason to push buttons. Even though it was tempting to use it to get out of trouble, you still never used his title. Tsireya came up beside you, reaching a hand out to separate you and Neteyam, “Y/n…” her voice was soft. She hated seeing her sister get angry.

Sure, you got in trouble often. You acted upon every impulse, and you were not afraid to head into danger. But that is what the Na’vi of Awa'atlu admired about you. You were bold, and fun. Tsireya had seen you perform the trick in the past, and she knew it could end badly. But she had to admit, that stunt with Ounä was impressive. That was not the most important thing right now, Tsireya knew that this may end badly if you began running your mouth. She looked over to Lo’ak, gesturing towards Neteyam. Lo’ak nodded, walking behind Neteyam.

“Bro, just let it go.” Neteyam broke eye contact first. He turned towards his brother, nose scrunched. He was obviously upset, and Lo’ak couldn’t help but poke fun at him, “Who tied your tail in a knot, hm?”

You and Lo’ak were so similar, and you flashed a smile at him. “Whatever, Neteyam doesn’t know how to have fun.” You moved to stand next to Lo’ak, shoving him slightly with your shoulder. “Wanna go race ilus?”

For the second time today, your arm made its way into Neteyam’s grip. In an effort to protest, or maybe throw hands, you raised your eyes to meet his. Instead of contained frustration, Neteyam’s face held visible anger. His ears were flat against his head, and he let out a small hiss, “Kehe! (No)” His voice shook, “Go home, hì'i skxawng. (little idiot)” He released your arm with a condescending hiss, pushing away you from him. 

The two younger siblings watched as their older brother and sister glared at each other. Lo’ak and Tsireya backed away slowly, unsure of what to do. You let out a boisterous laugh laced with irritation.

“I am so sorry, Mr. Rule Follower, but I can’t.” You crossed your arms. “I rode here on your ilu, remember?”

“Oh yeah, I remember! You whined the entire time!”

“OH? I was whining? I wouldn’t be the one whining if-”

“If what?” Neteyam’s voice came out as a whisper.

You were honestly speechless, you had never heard Neteyam speak to anyone like this. Sure, he scolded Lo’ak from time to time, but this version of Neteyam was just straight up rude. You scoffed, pushing Neteyam away from you, “I am not dealing with,” You gestured at him, “all of this.” 

Without giving Neteyam a chance to retaliate, you began to walk backwards to the edge of the sandbar. Your eyes met your sister’s, “Tsireya, it’s almost eclipse. Don’t stay out too long.” Tsireya nodded, confused. 

You turned around again, whistling for an ilu. One approached quickly, and you dove into the water to meet it. Ignoring the protests of the Sully boys, you rode the ilu back to the village. The water hit your face like pellets. It stung your eyes, causing tears to form. Or did they form on their own? You were grateful the water hid the few tears that managed to escape. 

You had been insulted in the past, with names way worse than ‘idiot’. So why did Neteyam’s words hurt so bad?

author's note: ahhh! first fic done!! I know it's sorta slow-burn, but there will be a part two!! I hope you guys enjoyed, and please leave feedback!!

[lorirwritesfanfic]

What Loss Feels Like

Book: Bloodbound Characters: Lily Spencer, Jax Matsuo, Kamillah Sayeed, Adrian Raines, MC - Samantha (mentioned) Rating: E Word count: 867 Reading time: ~3min Summary: After Samantha's passing, Lily pays a visit to her friend. Based on the prompts: @lilyspencerappreciationweek day 5 - Lily's Friendships/Relationships/Family / @choicesnovchallenge: Dia de Los Muertos

Author’s notes:

Samantha is a creation of this author. The other characters are owned by Pixelberry Studios;

This piece is set between the end of book two and beginning of book three;

I apologize in advance if Lily's characterization seems off. It's been a while since I played Bloodbound.

Warning: This piece contains descriptions of blood and death. Reader discretion is advised.

"No! No! No!" Jax cries out. Hot tears stream down his face torn between anger and pain as he holds Samantha in his arms. 

He isn't alone though. The same pain begins to spread from her chest to her entire body. And it's also on Kamillah's and Adrian's faces as Samantha's blood pools down the floor. A pain so intense, worse than any physical pain she ever had.

"It can't be..." Lily tells herself as she sinks on the floor next to her best friend's body. But reality hits her hard as her pants get soaked by Samantha's blood. The pain somehow grows stronger. 

Her hand touches Samantha's. "She's still warm," she murmurs. But for how long? Who knows... Does it even matter at this point?

While Adrian goes feral trying to punch Gaius's tree and Kamillah holds him back, Lily hears something strange. Using his sword, Jax cuts his arm and holds Samantha’s head towards the gash on his wrist

"Dude, what the hell?!" Lily says as she slaps Jax’s arm.

"She needs my blood. It’s the only way…" Jax mumbles.

"Stop it right now!" Kamillah shouts.

"Jax, stop it! You can't do that!" 

Lily tries to shake him away to no avail.  

Jax ignores everyone else and presses his wounded wrist against Samantha’s parted lips. 

"You don't know if that's what she wants," Kamillah tried to reason.

"I'm not gonna lose her! I can't lose her!" Jax croaks. 

"Let him do it," Adrian says.

Kamillah and Lily look back at Adrian, who somehow seems as calm as usual, despite the bloodshot eyes. One can't even imagine he was furiously kicking a tree a minute ago.

"But we don't know if—"

"She asked me to turn Lily. Maybe she thought about being Turned at some point," Adrian affirms.

Lily looks at Samantha's body as Jax attempts to feed her with his blood. Samantha wanted her to live so badly she got Adrian into a messy fight with the Council. Sam fought tooth and nail for her to be part of a clan. Maybe she would've considered. She just didn't have time to talk about it.

"Keep feeding it," Lily says.

"Not you too..." Kamillah grumbles.

"Maybe she wanted this! She wanted it for me. Why wouldn't she want it for herself?"

"She asked Adrian out of desperation!" Kamillah snaps.

"And so are we!" Lily wails.

Kamillah turns away as she discreetly wipes a tear from her cheek with one finger then says. "Fine."

Two days later

A crescent moon lights up the graveyard as Lily walks calmly towards Samantha's grave carrying a vase of flowers and a large bag. She doesn't know anything about how Samantha wanted to be buried. It never crossed their minds to talk about such things, but Samantha certainly would appreciate having her favorite flowers on her grave.

"Hey, bestie..." Lily smiles ruefully as she puts down the vase and sits. "I brought you some violets."

Taking a trowel out of the bag, she starts digging a small hole on the floor and takes the flowers off the vase.

"I know what you're thinking, but I did my research on gardening. I know what I'm doing." 

Taking a small box of fertilizer from the bag, she opens the box, mixes it with the sand then places the flower roots on the small hole.

"I don't know if this is what you wanted, but you like violets. It's gonna look nice, right?" She says, covering the flower roots with her hands and using a small watering can to water the soil.

"We never talked about this stuff. We barely had time to talk about normal stuff lately..." Lily looks down as she washes her hands. "But we should have, you know? We should have talked about death, bucket lists, final wishes, memorials... We should have!"

Her eyes well up as she looks at Samantha's picture. "Maybe then I would know if you wanted to be Turned."

A gentle breeze brushes her skin as she collects herself. "Jax tried, but we don't know if it worked. That's killing him. He's a mess, by the way. Adrian and him are emptying Raines Corp drink supply. You'd hate it to see them like this." 

"Kamillah said Turning takes time, that we have to wait a while... But the waiting is just..." Lily shakes her head as she cries once again.

"It shouldn't have been you... I don't know how much it'd hurt to lose anyone else, but... Would it be this painful?" Lily croaks. "It hurts so much, bestie..."

As she cries out, the wind blows stronger, rustling the leaves. A sweet yet spicy smell seeps through the hair, as though it rustled some flowers nearby or somebody sprayed perfume in the air. The scent kind of reminds her of Samantha.

A few minutes pass by until she finally calms down, finding some comfort in the silence of the night and in the smell. 

"Well... That's pretty much it. We're all a mess. Everything is a mess. I don't know what's going to happen next. But I'll keep fighting with the gang. We'll fix this. For you."

Lily then stands up, cleans up the dirt from her pants and gathers everything, placing it back in the plastic bag. 

"I hope you do wake up eventually. Luckily, not as a feral." She crosses her fingers. "Whenever you're ready, I'll be waiting." She then smiles at Samantha's picture on the grave. "Good night, bestie."

With that, Lily takes the plastic bag and walks away.

[starlitheaven]

BACK TO FRIENDS — MEGUMI FUSHIGURO

note. for @thesunxwentblack for the 1k follower event. based on back to friends by lauren spencer smith. 

tags. canon setting, sorcerer!reader, zenin heir megumi, angst, arranged marriage, right person wrong time.

“you headed to a wedding?”

wedding. the word itself makes your palms sweat with anticipation and dread. you try not to react to the question, knowing that the driver is only trying to make casual conversation. 

he continues, pointing at the screen where your destination is listed. “must be some important people. that venue ain’t cheap.”

you wipe your hands over your dress and will your voice to sound normal. “mhm, an old classmate got married today. he’s from a big family.”

the driver nodded absently, turning on his blinker before changing lanes. “kinda late though, aren’t you?”

okay now he’s being a little intrusive, but he’s right. you glance at the clock on the dashboard, knowing just how late in the night it is. the reception must be halfway done by now. anyone who expected you must’ve now assumed you wouldn’t show. 

besides, it was only an hour ago that you finally decided to even show up. after weeks of pouring over that elegant invitation. two weeks. not even a full month, unlike all of your old classmates who talked about receiving theirs three months ago. 

are you gonna go, y/n?, yuji had asked when the three of you had gone out for your weekly dinner. him and nobara had been talking about the wedding that entire night, how surprised they still were about the whole thing. how excited. how fancy it’ll probably be. unaware of the fact that...

i never got an invitation in the mail, so no, you responded with a tight smile. you watched as your friend’s mouths slightly parted in surprise. 

just like that the lively mood of the night was squashed. then again, it was lively for your friends only, considering the wedding was all that was talked about. soon, the atmosphere became strained. awkward. you still remember yuji nervously trying to laugh it off and saying that the invitation must’ve gotten lost in the mail or something. nobara nodded along eagerly, almost desperate, saying they lose her stuff all the time. but their discomfort was almost palpable. it wasn’t mentioned again and you forced it out of your mind.

not until the envelope showed up at your place three weeks ago. though you were invited to the reception only, not the ceremony itself. still, the invitation was signed in his name. not the clan’s name as you had seen on the others. that signature...it’s what made you falter and question yourself. if it wasn’t in his name, you were prepared to throw it away and fully turn your back on it all. 

your thumb had gone over the dried ink as you sat silently on your couch that day. 禪院 恵. so neat and proper, nobara had always complained how unfair it was that his writing was pretty. as “punishment” she’d always make him be the one to write out the mission reports, no matter how long they happened to be. he’d frown and sulk but did it anyway. 

it’s actually how you two became closer. you felt guilty he did all that tedious paperwork even though he must be exhausted from the mission, so you stayed behind with him in that empty classroom. you don’t have to, it’s alright, he’d say. but whenever he’d doze off in the middle of writing, you took over and finished the rest of the report. he never shied from showing his gratitude and always walked you to your dorm afterward. those late nights were slowly filled with less silence and you two began to talk more. 

you had previously thought him a little aloof, but he was actually a little shy. his tell was always the way he’d rub at his shoulders and look away. first it was things like hobbies that you talked about. how he likes to read, what kind of books they are, what he listens to, favorite foods. soon you weren’t just spending time together while writing reports but even outside of the school grounds. getting lunch and going to a park to hang out. cat cafes, shopping centers, even the zoo a few times. 

over the past few years there’s been times where you longed for those times. sitting beside him on the train after a long day out, the way his green eyes would light up in recognition when you’d meet at the vending machines, his low soft voice bidding you goodnight, the lingering hugs when he finally allowed it, and the feel of his lips against your temple...

you should have seen the signs. looking back, they were clear as day. 

he had always seemed hesitant when it came to you. you had chalked it up to his overall introverted demeanor. his eyes would linger on your lips or he’d walk just a bit slower on the way back to your dorm. subtle. he held you in his arms like he was sure you’d break and kiss your temple or cheek like a spell would break at any moment. so, you naturally became more forward. 

the phantom feeling of his larger hand in yours has never gone away. or the way his voice would soften when he’d open up about his past. two years later since you graduated from jujutsu tech and you can still remember exactly where in the zenin compound tsumiki is resting. his determination, his resolve, his regret over her...you wonder if your friends know the details about it. how close he keeps his sister to his heart. 

you wonder if she knows. 

she must. as of a few hours ago, she is now his wife. if anyone is privy to the zenin heir’s secrets, it’s her. as if sensing your desolate mood, the driver turns up the music. 

you by kumi koda. right on the spot. 

just as you remember all these little details about your first love, you remember the first time her name came from his lips. it had been like any other day you two spent together on a day off. but he had been more serious than usual, which was quite serious. 

i’m engaged, he had said. i have been for years now and we’ll get married once we’re both twenty. i’m sorry.

you recall being frozen on the spot and unable to answer or even comprehend. your first instinct was to accuse him of being a cheater, but he told you that he’s only met her a few times. it’s an arranged marriage to tie the two clans together. he sees her once a year and that’s it. he likes her well enough but he fell in love with you even when he shouldn’t have. 

in short, you two broke up without having even been in a relationship. 

he was regretful in leading you on but hoped he could find a way out of the marriage. in the end he couldn’t, not if he wants to do what he must. not only is her clan capable of possibly breaking tsumiki’s curse, but he needs their alliance if he wants to help gojo-sensei change jujutsu society. 

it was a noble cause in the end and you, maybe foolishly, couldn’t blame him. you understood. you also believed in your teacher’s ideals and wanted tsumiki to wake up. you graduated soon after and haven’t seen him since. he assumed his duties as the zenin heir soon afterward. 

“—llo....hello there?” the driver waved in your face. “we’re here.”

snapping out of your thoughts, you silently thanked him before stepping out. the venue was as opulent as once could expect from one of the big three sorcerer families. you flattened out your dress, hoping you wouldn’t stand out. since this was so last minute, you wore a simple dress that was obviously not for a wedding. better than nothing. 

as you made your way into the room, people were thankfully filtering in and out no one paid you any mind after flashing the guard your invitation. 

unbeknownst to you, sharp green eyes had been flicking over towards the entrance the entire night. be a little more discreet, husband, kiyo had said not only an hour ago through gritted teeth. her smile was picture perfect to any bystander. beautiful just like everything else about her. 

megumi had said nothing and did his best to avoid looking to the door. there was no point in watching because he knew the second you walked in. his breath hitched at the sight of you after two years. 

beside him, his wife spoke up with a pointed glare. “i’ll excuse myself. this will be the only time.”

with a murmured thanks, megumi got up and headed your way. you had been looking around and didn’t seem to have expected him to come greet you. you were dressed as if you were going to a picnic or brunch yet the sight of you still made his heart race. you’ve only become more beautiful. 

you bowed and paid your respects with a brief apology over your tardiness. it was so formal. too formal and he hates it. hates that he can’t take you into his arms and wake up to you every single day. megumi does the next best thing. he asks you for a dance. 

“oh um,” you hesitated, eyes scanning the room. it was filled with the elites of jujutsu society. “i don’t know if i should...”

boldly, megumi took your wrist into his hand and gently pulled you towards him. “it’s fine,” he reassured, looking so handsome in his tailored tuxedo and slicked back hair. “naoya’s been pouring all the drinks tonight, so everyone’s hammered if you haven’t noticed. look, satoru is passed out over there.”

satoru now, not gojo-sensei. you turned towards one of the tables and sure enough, your old teacher was there. he was knocked out in his chair with flushed cheeks and if it wasn’t for the music you’re sure you’d hear him snoring. laughing at the sight, you allowed megumi to lead you towards the dance floor. 

which surprised you because he was not someone who danced. and it was true, megumi didn’t dance. he wrapped his arms around you and guided you to rest the side of your face against his collarbone as you two merely swayed. 

despite everything that’s happened, it was surprisingly easy to talk even now. it was as if you were back in that classroom helping him write mission reports. 

it made your heart ache terribly to know that your connection hadn’t faded. it probably never would. 

[secret-engima]

Hi ! So glad I find your master worldbuilding mind!

Quick question, how do you think we went from a clan-based village to actual Konoha where several clans (Senju, Sarutobi?, Uchiha, Danzo clan? , Hatake if it's a clan) have disapear? Did the village care ou try to protect them? Did other clans are treathen by the possibilities to be let down?

Because you said that Tobirama trust Uchiha with police force but Sarutobi was obsessed by clan balance and all. I know Sarutobi is old, so a lot could have happening.

Any thought?

Hi! Okay so this ask is actually based on a slightly flawed premise (not your fault it's Kishi's worldbuilding again) in that we do not actually see a lot of "wiped out" clans. What we see is Kishi not bothering to flesh out the clans he has because what is attention span. For example; the Sarutobi are not wiped out! There is exactly one shot of the Sarutobi clan in the 4th war arc that is in both the manga and the anime (in the anime the shot is actually narrower so you can't see as many as in the manga shot) where a bunch of their jounin and chuunin members (like easily double digits, I forget the exact number but I wanna say around 20ish? With more implied to be off screen) breathe fire at the juubi in sync. And it is confirmed they are all Sarutobi. There's like one guy who's essentially like: COME ON GUYS LET'S SHOW THEM THE SARUTOBI CLAN KICKS ASS.

So the Sarutobi clan is actually a decent enough/healthy enough size, we just literally never hear or see it until that one single shot. So it's reasonable to assume most clans are healthy and protected by Konoha. This is kind of implicitly supported by the narrative too, because things like the Uchiha and Hatake and Senju being nearly extinct are things that people comment on and find noteworthy, which means it's *not* the norm.

As for how the three clans we know of being wiped out *got* wiped out, I think that is less the fault of Konoha itself (tho Hiruzen is directly at fault for allowing the Uchiha massacre thanks) and more a side effect of that transition from clan based society to village based society. Namely the multiple shinobi wars. As I mentioned in my economics rant, the shinobi wars were something entirely out of the league of clan wars back in the day in terms of scale and destruction, so clans that got hammered likely were ones either already on the small size (like the Hatake probably were) or ones that would have been intentionally targeted by the enemy out of fear (Senju and Uchiha). The sheer scale of the conflict and clashing powers would have decimated targeted clans, and the villages would have been unprepared for that kind of issue until it was too late. After that, the surviving members could have easily died out without having kids post war, or if they were female members in the case of, say, the Senju, they didn't die out but the *name* died out, because it's still traditional in Naruto world cultures for the woman to join the family of the man and not the other way around (with the exception of the Uchiha and other regularly manifesting kekkei genkai clans I imagine).

We don't see anything about the Shimura clan either way beyond Danzo, which is again a flaw in the kishi worldbuilding, so we don't know if he actually has a clan still running around, or if they were just a small clan that got hammered in the multiple shinobi wars. On that note you can apply this same worldbuilding problem to almost every other village in the show. Kumo, Iwa, and Suna all have characters who are implied to be from a clan or have kekkei genkai that appear to be hereditary but no clan is mentioned. So we just do not know if there IS a clan of say- people with hand mouths like Deidara, or if they are one-off manifestations of a kekkei genkai, or if they are survivors of other villages' clans that got hammered casualty-wise by the wars like the Senju and Hatake presumably were.

Logistically speaking it would be beneficial for the villages as a whole to do everything they could to keep their clans alive, since their clans are where their powerhouses tend to come from while civilian-born shinobi fill out the ranks with more mid-level shinobi. There would probably be incentives and benefits offered by the village for clan shinobi to marry and have kids that bear the clan name, etc etc. And clans that are still a healthy size work hard to keep it that way.

I hope that answered your question?

[roscgcld]

RYOMEN SUKUNA || waiting a little more

note: I had actually have this sitting in my drafts for like, a full year now AHAHAHAHA. I’ve always been interested in the idea of Sukuna having a sibling, and it was interesting to think about how he’d meet his sibling once more - since mans is a huge simp, he will always find a way to look for the people he loves. 

pronouns: she/her 

source of information

original headcanon  |  ryomen sukuna masterlist 

“My Lady, I come bearing news of your search.”

You were currently laid out on your throne, having been reading some new book that Uraume had acquired while venturing in the human world. Your current home, the same one that have been preserved in the same Prefecture as it did thousands of years ago, is located in the Gifu Prefecture. Back then it was known as the Hida Prefecture, and you and your older brother had grown up and developed the towns together. Till this day people come far and wide to provide generous donations and ask for blessings from the both of you; so really, you saw no reason to move your hideout. 

Besides, with how strongly the people of the Gifu Prefecture feel for you and your brother till this day, none of the current day sorcerers can come into your domain without a high risk of angering both normal people and coming face to face with yourself. 

Although you are not as strong and powerful as your brother, you have now lived long enough to make quite a name for yourself. You made connections, ended arrogant clans, and build a sizable following of your own. On top of that you had expanded your reach, to the point where they were people from outside of the prefecture - outside of the country, even - who comes to pay their respects and leave their biggest hopes with you. You’d say that’d show just how influential you are.

Lazily you titled one of your ears towards Uraume, a sign to them that you’ve given them permission to speak. The white-haired monk bowed gratefully before they looked up once more. “There are signs that the Lord has been awaken, and his vessel is currently in the hands of Tokyo Jujutsu Tech.”

Your fingers froze on top of the page you were flipping, entire body pausing as you proceeded their words. Somewhere inside your chest you felt a slight squeeze from where your heart once was, a feeling you haven’t had in a really long time. Quietly you placed your bookmark into your book as Uraume continued. “Kenjaku had personally confirmed it with me, and he intends to use the fingers that My Lady had provided to aid him to strengthen My Lord slowly.”

“Who is this vessel of his?,” Was the first thing you mentioned, not at all worried for what will happen to the fingers you had so painstakingly retrieved. After his death, Sukuna’s fingers were preserved due to his strong Curse Energy; and many of his enemies somehow turned them into talismans to ward off evil. Some lower lives would try to harness the power of them for themselves; and those were the ones you had so gladly killed off to retrieve them. It took you many decades to collect them, all in hopes of one day finding a host strong enough to host your beloved brother. 

And today seems to be that very day. “A young teenager by the name Itadori Yuji. He is currently in Tokyo as we speak...shall I personally go and see him to confirm, My Lady?”

“...No need,” You replied back after a moment of thought, focus returned to the book in your lap once more as you quietly flipped it open. Eyes returning back to the words on the page; looking far too calm for someone who had been told life altering news. “If he had truly returned, he will come and find me.”

If there was one weakness that the others can point out, it would be just how must trust you place on your brother and his abilities. Other may call it blind devotion, but you like to call it sibling love. 

Your older brother, Sukuna, had always been arrogant. Even to the day he was sealed, the stories that came from that battle whispered of his super strength and powers. How he had wiped out so many sorcerers that day before they managed to one up him to hold him down long enough to seal him away. When you had found out, you had lost it; going on your own rampage that had the then emperor of Japan sending more sorcerers to their death to try to hold you back. 

The only reason was why you had stopped was because the anger you felt slowly drained out of you; leaving only a sense of despair. Uraume’s reminding to your brother’s most treasured promise - that no matter how far away he is, and no matter what situation he gets himself into, he will always find a way back to you. 

And he had always done that - from the times where he had left the front lines when you needed him the most, to the times where he had came to your aid; even if he was fighting his own enemies off. As long as you are there, he will always find his way back to you. 

So, when you felt a strong presence of Cursed Energy appearing on your temple grounds, you weren’t shocked at all. Instead you continue to lounge on your throne, eyes scanning over the words dancing on the page before you; a candle quietly flickering behind you in a glass lamp. Your entire person was relaxed even as the presence grew closer, your eyes only glancing up when you heard a pair of footsteps stopping at the entrance to the grand main hall.

“I never thought I’d see you back here so soon, Gojo Satoru.”

“Likewise,” The white haired man replies back with a casual smile, nodding at the wooden threshold of your temple doors; to which you just let out a tired sigh and let the man in. You and the Gojo clan go back a long time ago; you had killed a few of his ancestors, but had spared the entire family’s estate unlike the other families. Their family had made an alliance with you many years after your brother’s death; in exchange of pointing you towards a few of the clans that had Sukuna’s fingers (many of them who were conveniently their enemies), you did not wipe them out. 

A few times they sent scholars to you as well, and even some valuable scrolls that had peaked your interest. It was an give and exchange relationship with one another; and it does continue to this day. It was one of the reasons why, after giving him an annoyed glare, you allowed him to enter your personal space quietly. “How have you been? The elders haven’t spoken about you in a long while.”

“I feel glad that you humans kept my name out of your filthy mouths,” You hummed as you quietly pushed yourself up, placing your book away as you gave the smiling Gojo an unamused look. “Well, where is he?,” You asked, not really in the mood to play the tug of war that Gojo Satoru enjoys the most. You two have interacted one too many times for your liking, to the point where you can anticipate his words and actions quite accurately. “I don’t know if I should be flattered that you just assumed that I am the only sorcerer who can keep your brother’s vessel alive, or if I should be concerned that you are catching onto my actions.”

You just gave the grinning white haired man an innocent smile, one of those smiles that reminded the white-haired man that you were known as a temptress in your own right. (this turned out into a gojo x reader real quick)

Yet a ball of pink appear at the corner of your eyes, to which you looked away from the blindfolded-man to cast the new person a look. In a blink of an eye you shifted and appeared before the nervous teen, who had just taken his first step into the wooden threshold of your temple doorway before you appeared before him. The teen, having never expected for someone to appear in front of him, lets out a shout of shock as he stumbled a few steps back. Yet he managed to catch himself as he catch himself, giving you a wide eyed stare of fear whilst you carefully took him in; starting to walk in circles around him after a few moments. “How interesting...”

“Don’t you dare start getting interested in my host now, you spoilt brat.”

A pair of lips immediately appeared on the young boy’s cheek, the familiar voice of your older brother causing you to flick your eyes up from the teen’s chest; only to meet a single red eye that was glaring down at you. Immediately you gave him an innocent smile, not at all fearing the glare he was tossing your way as you gently tossed your hair away from your face. 

“What’re you gonna do? Bite me?”

Whilst you had moved fast, your brother moved faster; even in his host’s body, it didn’t take him long to overwrite his control and take over. In a blink of an eye a pair of firm hands gripped at your shoulders before you were shoved backwards into a wall. Yet even then the person made sure to be careful not to slam you against the wall to hurt your person; instead opting to push and crowd you against the wall. A soft yelp left your lips as you snapped your eyes up at the face above you with a glare, only to be met with four set of red eyes glaring down at you as well. “I’d watch that mouth of yours if I were you.”

“And why should I listen to you?,” You sneered back, barely biting back your anger as you glared up at the taller male. “If I recall correctly, someone refused to listen to me. And look at where it got you!,” You snapped before you gestured to the person before you, whatever interest you had on the boy before disappearing in an instant. “Trapped in a body that is a far cry from what you once were. Don’t you feel an ounce of embarrassment?”

Anyone from the outside looking in would be worried that you two are moments away from going at each other’s necks. Which was why Gojo, who was a few steps away, felt his entire body tense up the longer you and your brother stare each other down. However, the anger you felt in your body started to slowly ebb out of your person; and soon you felt tears you’ve holding back for centuries cloud your vision. 

Sukuna felt his entire body soften at the sight of your wobbling lips, letting out a tired groan as he loosens his grip on your shoulders. “Why start out so feisty when you can’t keep it together?,” He grunts before a pair of arms wrapped around you properly, pulling you into his embrace whilst he pats the back of your head with a tired sigh. Instead of responding you just sniffled and nuzzle closer into his neck, making a noise that you hoped translated you were still very angry at him. 

But...this is just a lapse of weakness. You will kill him once you’re done throwing your tantrum.

And even though Sukuna was grumbling earlier, just holding you close to his person has his once chaotic mind calming. He was just relieved - no matter how long he has been asleep, his mind had always wondered back to you. You two grew up together, learning and building names for yourselves in the jujutsu world; you had been by his side through it all. You two were stuck to the hip, and would have continued to be so if he hadn’t been sealed. And although he had never regretted any of his actions, he’d say that the day he had been sealed was definitely a day he regrets; even if it’s a smidge. “You need to stop throwing tantrums.”

“I am not!,” You grumbled with a scowl as you shoved him away with a light scowl, his words sending a sharp sense of annoyance through you turned to move away with a huff. Wordlessly you made your way towards your throne, glancing at the white-haired man who had moved to stand beside it with a smile. “So, what is it that you want from me?,” You called out with a tired sigh, knowing how Gojo conducts business. For bringing Yuji straight to you, he definitely has an alternate reason for it. And judging from the casual smile he tossed your way, you knew you were in for something. “The Curse Fingers that you had taken. I want to know their location.”

You paused for a few moments before casting a glance his way, wanting to know what brought about his sudden question. He just grinned before he tilted his head ever so slightly, and if he didn’t have his blindfold on he’d definitely be staring at you head on. “Well, Yuji here as an innate ability to eat fingers and control your brother. So I am planning on making him consume all the fingers at once,” He reasoned, to which you frowned at him as you tilted your head ever so slightly. 

“Are you telling me that you plan on making him consume all 20 fingers and turn him into a modern day Curse Vessel?”

A hand was placed on your shoulder, to which you just leaned back into him, yet you kept your eyes on Gojo the entire time. “Maybe I am,” He stated before he leans forward a little, as if he wanted to share a secret with you. “Popular to contrary belief, I am not that big of an asshole. I want to do what is best for the general public, but I am unwilling to allow for Yuji to be the scapegoat to all this madness. He’s just a kid, he has a lot to look forward to in life.”

You actually made a face at his words; it wasn’t because you didn’t believe he can be nice. It was more so you just didn’t expect to hear such sweet words in general coming from anyone. Even more grossed out that it was Gojo Satoru who were saying these words. “I think I am going to vomit,” You admitted quietly to your brother, who made a face back as he took a step back; wordlessly telling you that he is more than ready to abandon you if you do so. “You’re an asshole, and I hope you know that.”

“’course I do,” Sukuna stated simply, giving you a shit eating grin that made you want to punch his face in; but you held back for the sake of ensuring that the vessel did not have a broken nose when he takes control once more. You like to think that the young boy was a good kid who was just at the wrong place at the wrong time; because whilst you are grateful that he had brought your brother back, you still had a soft spot for humans. And knowing all the fear and confusion that Yuji had to go through, and the challenging journey that will come after that - it does make you feel a twinge of sadness traveling through you.

Sometimes you do feel bad that humans tend to be the collateral damage for a bigger picture.

While you and Sukuna were making faces at one another, Gojo was just watching for a few minutes; examining how close you two seem to one another. It was interesting to Gojo, seeing you two seem to act in such a human manner without seeming any care in the world gave Gojo new insight into how things really are when it comes to Curses and their connection to their human side. It was almost like a science experiment in Gojo’s eyes, with even thinking of ways he can even get you two to meet one another once more. 

As if knowing where his mind was heading you caused Gojo a look, tilting your head in thought as he gave you what he hopes was an innocent smile. “I am surprised you haven’t left yet,” You started off, to which he just gave you a smile as he shakes his head. “As touched as I am by this reunion, I need to bring Yuji home back to the college in one piece,” He states, looking over at Sukuna who made a face at the idea of returning to the inner prison that is Yuji’s mind. “So, if you don’t mind, Sukuna.”

Sukuna made a noise back in response, but he understood his place - although strong, at his current weaken stage, there is no way he can take on Gojo Satoru. And even if he was in your shrine, he refuses to let you lift a finger. This was his battle to fight, and he was not going to let you get involved with it. Wordlessly he turned to face you once more, and even though he had an unreadable expression on his face, you can tell what he was thinking.

Wordlessly you reached to rest your hands against the side of his jaw, causing his to snap his red eyes down at you as you offered him a warm smile. Instead of using words you leaned up to press your forehead against Sukuna’s in a small act of comfort, feeling your bodies connect in a way you haven’t felt in a long time. Both of you stayed like that for a few moments, your eyes shut as you soaked in the fact that you two were together once more. But soon you pulled away, giving Sukuna a knowing look when he lazily peeled his eyes open. 

“Go on now.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” He grumbles gently with a glare, yet all you did was wave him away as you took a few steps back. In a blink of an eye the tattoos that were once inked across Yuji’s body were gone, and the small eyes underneath the normal ones slid shut; revealing the young teenage boy who watches you in confusion as you walked away from him with another care. “Is that it?”

“Why? Want me to reward you for being a good boy?,” You teased as you glanced at Yuji over your shoulder, giving him a flirtatious smile that actually had his cheeks flushing up in embarrassment; shuttering as he tries to explain himself to you. “I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but your sensei is standing right there. I am not an exhibitionist,” You continued as you made your way to your throne, gently smoothing out your skirt before settling back in your seat. “And I don’t have a reward for you either.”

“Ouch,” Gojo chuckles quietly from where he was standing, having watched the entire scene before him unfold as he gestures for the embarrassed Yuji to make his way towards him. “Brought your brother’s host to you the first moment I could, and I don’t even get a smile in return? You’re ice cold,” He teases as he wraps an arm around Yuji, his mood shifting as he addresses you once more. “You know, the last I heard, you were going around hunting for relics as well.”

You made a noise in response as one of your maids quietly entered the room, serving you a cup of tea like she does every evening. Accepting the ceramic cup with a soft nod in thanks, you took a sip from the steaming tea as Gojo continues. “It would be an absolute treat if you can hand them over. The more fingers that Yuji consume, after all, the closer you are to your end goal.”

“An end goal that has the world’s most biggest headache attached to it,” You stated with a breathless laugh as you turned your gaze to the duo once more, eyes narrowed when your focus landed on Gojo’s smirking face. “But for your information, I am not going to be handing them off to you just because you now have my brother’s vessel. You and I both know that,” You stated simple as you took another sip from your cup, eyes downcast as you thought for a few moments. “You haven’t forgotten who I am, have you?”

“Worth asking,” Gojo said with a casual shrug, watching you for a few more moments; and in response you just stared back. Not wavering even for even a moment as the both of you stared one another down. However, a soft noise from Yuji had Gojo giving in first; giving the younger male a smile as he looks down at him. “Well, I guess we should get out of your hair now - I have a feeling we are going to see each other more often?”

You just gave the tall male an innocent smile in response, not giving him an answer as you got comfortable in your throne once more. “Maybe. We’ll see how things go.”

Your answer had Gojo pausing as he glances back at you, seeming to be gaging your expressions and emotions from beneath his blindfold. Yet all you did was give him an innocent smile as you gesture for him to leave, winking at Yuji when he looked between the both of you curiously; wanting to know what was it that you two were trying to communicate without words. “Don’t worry your little head, Yuji - your sensei is ready to leave now.”

Getting the message that you wanted him out, Gojo decided not to comment further as he gave you another smile and nod. He soon left without another comment, putting an end to the silent standoff that the both of you had. You were sure he will return soon though; Gojo Satoru was arrogant, but strong. So a little bit of danger had never steered him away for long. 

It was after Gojo left that Uraume returned, looking a little rattled having seen their master after so many years. Yet they made no comment as they quietly returned to your side, head bowed in respect as they waited for your whatever that is you wanted to say. “I cannot believe that he has returned..,” You started in silence as you leaned your head to the side in thought, eyes staring out the temple doors as you focused on the city below you. “It’s almost like a dream.”

“His Lordship will always return. He did make a promise to you, My Lady,” Uraume commented with a polite smile as they lifted their head to give you a meaningful glance, to which you glanced away from the outside to give them a soft smile as well. “All we need to do now is make sure to play the game, so that sorcerer cannot get his hands on the fingers.”

“Even if he got the fingers, it will benefit us more than it would him,” You hummed as you run your fingers along the armrest on your throne, a small smile on your face as you turned your gaze away from Uraume once more. “All we need to do is sit back and watch everything unfold,” You stated simply before you grabbed your tea cup once more, taking another sip from it as you let out a warm sigh.

You’ll wait - you’ve been waiting all this time after all. A little more waiting can’t do you anymore harm.

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