Virago: Chapter 3 part 3
Neteyam x fem na’vi!omaticaya!reader
Characters:
Ka’lik- (like you would pronounce “Malik”) Y/n’s father, deceased, a warrior and hunter of the
omaticaya clan. A teacher to young warriors undergoing iknimaya.
Zensira-deceased, Y/n’s mother, spider's adoptive mother, a strong hunter and the best singer in the omaticaya clan, and a teacher to young hunters.
Kailo-(Y/n’s ikran. Your ikran is a male)
Popiti-(tuk’s best friend according to the visual dictionary)
(Also idk how many of you know this but Jake’s ikran’s name is canonically ‘Bob’.)
(WARNINGS!
Sharing a sleeping hammock with the opposite gender (non-romantically)-
Neytiri hating on spider/ mentions of insecurities, heartbreak, war,/ fluff/ angst/ mentions of hunting, killing animals, mentions of therapy, military, ptsd, romance, pining, use of military terms/codewords/ Let me know if I missed anything.
Chapter desc:
Authors note:
Here we go! Chapter 3!! It feels insane to be posting the actual third chapter of this. But holy moly, building up romance is much harder than I thought. This chapter is a long one so grab your favorite snack, find a comfy spot and buckle up.
I have a small request for my lovely virago readers, please comment on your favorite line, moment, quote, or dynamic from this chapter. This is so I can know what kind of stuff you guys incline towards so I can throw more of it in as the story continues.
IMPORTANT:
hi guys. So I’ve decided to change spiders age from 20 to 19 for plot purposes. Jake and Neytiri are the same age. Tuk is still 7. Kiri is 19, neteyam is 19, Lo’ak and Y/n are 18.
Important!
This is part 3, the final part to chapter 3. Thank you for your patience!
V I R A G O
Chapter 3;
Surrender to his saubade, he has set his soul and sin ablaze (to be yours)
Part 3 (final part to chapter 3)
Y/n’s pov-
☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆
(Still Neteyams POV)
Night hunts were a normality for our clan. Especially the ones led by my father.
I stood in the tent, slipping on my arm guards as I prepared myself to join my group on our ikran for the hunt.
I started Mentally checking off everything I needed.
Water flask, ionar (riders mask.), and-
I just can’t seem to focus.
All I can think about is y/n and how I’m going to speak to her after this hunt.
Kiri is right. I don’t deserve her. And maybe I never will.
I especially don’t deserve to call her mine.
And that’s okay. I can settle for just having her in my life. That’s enough.
But that’s a lie. I know it deep down.
It was never about sex or the physicality of it. I could love her my whole life and never touch her.
Would I go insane? Probably.
But could I do it? Definitely.
Settling for distance is my sacrifice. Distance is safe. Distance will keep her safe. It’ll keep me sane.
Well, that last part was a lie.
It’s a glass half full at this point. I told Kiri I only wanted us to be friends again. Normal, average friends.
That’s not what I want. I can keep trying to compartmentalize this for the rest of my life but I’ll always live with this ache. This void in my heart that only fits her shape.
Sacrifices. Sacrifices. Sacrifice-
“Neteyam?”
I snap out of my daze; turning around to see my mother standing in the entrance way to our hut.
“Are you ready yet, ma’itan?
Lo’ak waits outside for you.”
I shook my head, chuckling awkwardly.
“Ah. Sorry. I got a bit…distracted.
It’s nothing, mother. I’ll be out in just a moment.”
She nods, taking a step closer.
“I wanted to give you something before you leave.”
I turn to face her, my eyebrows raised a bit.
“Oh? Alright.”
She reached behind her back, holding out a small pouch, long and thin tied by a string in a roll.
I open it slowly, knowing whatever was inside was of great value.
Inside laid about 8 newly made arrows. The wood carved for the shaft still fresh in scent and the feathers for the fletching too soft to have been reused.
It’s the color that peaks my eye. The all-too familiar green and yellow shades.
“Your arrows?”
She nods, a look that can only be described as prideful as she gazes at me.
“I want you to use them tonight.”
I shake my head. This was too much of a gesture. I haven’t done anything to deserve.
“Mother, they are beautiful. But I cannot-“
“Ma’itan.”
She cuts me off. Her tone devoid of any hostility or impatience.
“I was thinking about our talk the other night. About your father, and how he is harsh sometimes.
You know well by now what you are. Who and where you come from. You are your fathers son. You have his strength. You carry yourself much like he did in his days of battle. and you must understand that scares him.”
I’m quiet as her words sink in. She places a hand on my shoulder. Her eyes of a golden hue that mirror my own.
“He is not ready to see his son fight his battles or wear his colors. Your father has his own shadows he has yet to face. If you cannot yet wear his colors..I want you to wear mine.”
She places the arrows in my hands, and I’m speechless.
She gently cups my face, her palm sliding down to my shoulder once again.
“You may use his weapons. You may speak his language. And you have grown up with his sky people ways.
But never forget, blood of the real warriors comes from us.”
She places two fingers atop her chest, right over her heart.
It breaks my soul to remember that one of my mother’s greatest fears is that we will forget the ways of a na’vi. That even the minimal amount of tech we use in our family circle, with the exception of my fathers gun, seems to threaten everything she knows.
I’m taller than my mother now. Only by a few inches. So I lean down when I go to hug her.
“Irayo, Sa’nok.”
(‘Thank you, mother.’)
I pull back, smiling at her.
“I hope with these, the winds of our ancestors fly with me tonight.”
She chuckles, taking a step back.
“They are with you. Always. No matter where you go. No matter where you are.”
There’s a comfortable silence before my mother sighs, and I put the arrows in the leather pouch that is attached to my ikran saddle for hunting.
“You should go. Your father is waiting with the others.”
I nod, putting on my ionar and finishing slipping on my arm guards.
I lean down, fastening the straps to my leg guards as well before grabbing the small satchel and making my way off.
“Neteyam- one last thing?”
I turn the moment my mothers voice reached my ears.
“Here.” She spoke softly.
I turn to see my mother holding up my beaded choker. The one worn by so many generations of warriors in our clan. I took it off a few days ago when Tuk wanted to re-braid my hair. last time, she kept getting my hair tangled with the clasp at the back of the necklace.
“Let me.”
Without another word, she turns me around by the shoulders, brushing my braids out of the way as she slips the necklace on me, tying the clasp properly to ensure it doesn’t fall while hunting.
She struggles for a moment, having to crane her neck to see properly.
“Curse you and your height.” She mumbles, and I can’t help but laugh.
Once she finishes, I kiss her on the cheek before speeding off.
I jog across the pathway, slinging my bow over my shoulder. The thick air of high camp resonating and weaving through the sounds of distant conversations and laughter.
I finally spot Lo’ak and Spider. Lo’ak stands with his bow around his torso, the string brushing his chest. Spider carries a basket of the arrows he and lo’ak made for y/n.
I pinch the back of lo’aks neck before slinging my arm around him.
“Ready for the hunt, baby bro?”
He hissed at me, shoving me away.
“This is bullshit. I fluke once. ONCE. And now dad won’t even let me fly my ikran for the hunt!”
Spider shrugs, as the three of us start walking to the large crevice cutting into the mountains of high camp, making a large entrance way and a stable spot to land and saddle up ikrans for coming or going.
“Look on the bright side. At least you get to go. Plus you’ll be with the direhorse squad with Norm.”
He pushes Lo’ak lightly to walk a bit faster.
Lo’ak grumbled something and speed-walked ahead of us.
Spider sets the basket down once we meet the meeting spot. The same place the clans war and hunting parties gather before a raid
Or a hunt.
Some other hunters start to swarm in. Carrying bows and arrows of their own, all talking amgonst one another.
Spider groans.
“Lo’ak. Look.”
He taps Lo’ak’s arm, not-so-subtly gesturing to Makeyo standing across from us, speaking with one of the other hunters.
Lo’ak fake gags, Spider glares and the both of them stare him down for a good 7 seconds.
An odd feeling settles itself in the more unwelcoming corners of my heart.
Like fingers trying to pry their way through a barrier.
Something tenses in me as I find myself staring at him too. Remembering how y/n spoke of him at dinner.
Makeyo a bit shorter than me. Only by a few inches. My hair is longer, his braids reaches his shoulders. Still taller than y/n though.
It’s only when I hear spider whispering I snap back to reality.
“Oh fuck. He’s coming over here. Don't make eye contact. Don’t make eye contact.”
Spider stares up, whistling as he shoves his hands behind him, leaning on a rock. Lo’ak fidgets with one of the arrows, both of them over exaggeratedly feigning to ignore Makeyo’s approaching figure.
He smiles at me, greeting us with an unhesitatingly proper formality.
“Neteyam. Lo’ak,”
He pauses for a moment, having to avert his eyes downward to notice spider.
“Ah, and..”
He struggles for a moment to recall spider’s name. Spider can only glare at the taller na’vi that somehow appeared even more intolerably annoying when he was being kind.
“Spider.” Spider mumbles, crossing his arms.
“Y/n’s brother.” I add, stepping in front of spider to try and distract Makeyo from the smaller human that looked like he was plotting a murder.
Makeyo nodded in recognition, smiling softly.
“Right. I assume y/n will be leading us tonight? As usual. She’s your fathers right hand man.”
“Woman.” I correct, with an unintentional edge delineating my tone. An almost crude enunciation of the word finds itself leaving my lips, making Makeyo still for a moment before chuckling.
“Of course. And what a woman she is..”
When did his face become so punchable?
Makeyo is someone that makes himself very difficult to hate.
Helpful, kind, smart, good with kids, the whole ordeal.
But I am no foreigner to a mask. Why? Because I wear one every single day of my life. Sometimes I wonder what Makeyo’s mask looks like. Or if he even wears a mask at all. Forever yearning to grasp such a thing that always seemed to evade you.
I bite my lip, my jaw tensing as my eyes graze over the expanse of his figure. Up then down.
Makeyo falters for a moment, but proceeds with an unhesitatingly sweetened glean in his eye.
“What I mean is, she is just amazing. Well, I don’t need to tell you that, of course. You’ve practically grown up with her.”
Something about the way he so shamelessly displays his simpering delusions of innocence in the form of this crush he has on y/n-
For lack of a better word, is really starting to piss me off. His bold assumptions of platonic love between me and y/n makes my tail flick.
And no, I’m not jealous. I’m not. Really. Yes, I am capable of violent impulses and of course, I do fantasize about punching his face every now and then, but that’s not jealousy. Is it? No. Of course it’s not.
Yeah, maybe I slightly envy the fact that he can love her so freely.
The way he could stand where he couldn’t see and hold her hand, unbothered by the absence of sunlight to compulsively provide promises of safety and sanctuary. Maybe I hate that he is unburdened by the weighted whispers of the elders and third eyes peskily pruning gazes at holding her hand. Maybe I hate that he spends almost all day with her. Watching her laugh, and interact so perfectly with the children of the clan.
Maybe I hated the way he had no history with her that resonates with soured feelings and broken promises. I envied his clean conscience.
But that’s not jealousy…of course not.
He’s called away to assist with some other task, and when I turn around Lo’ak and spider are quickly jogging in the opposite direction, towards the edge where an familiar red, purple, and blue ikran perches, with an even more familiar rider on his back.
Y/n smirks as she hops off of Kailo, the creature releasing an almost purr-like shrill as it rubs its chin against y/n’s cheek.
She chuckles, small luminous sparks leaking through the tops of the rocky stronghold flirting with her pulchritudinous smile.
She hums, gently petting the banshee’s neck.
“Mawey, pretty boy.”
I don’t really know why, but ‘pretty boy’ had an odd way of making my chest flutter. Even if I knew she was talking to her ikran.
She flips her braids over her shoulders. Y/n as always had a bit of a more effete-feel to her wardrobe. That of a warrior, of course. The strongly woven arm guards and her beaded cuff to tie her hair back when she flew, or hunted, always easily annoyed with her braids falling in her face.
The waist beads she wore, which were usually made by Kiri or my mother, were always a signature habit to herself.
She had quite a few scars, blemishes, and bruises that canvassed her skin. I find them beautiful. Like the patterns of the universe printed onto her skin.
Spider and Lo’ak fake saluted as y/n made her way towards them.
“Y/n, ma’am.”
Spider tipped his head ever so slightly, Lo’ak dramatically bowing, making her roll her eyes and laugh.
“At ease, boys.”
Lo’ak stands up straight again, slinging an arm around her shoulder and gesturing to spider.
“We made you something.”
Spider proudly holds up their basket of arrows.
There’s something indescribably tantalizing about the way she smiled at those two.
“Aw guys, you shouldn’t have..”
Spider scoffed, placing his hands on his waist.
“Please. It was our pleasure to assist the mighty archer.”
It’s a moment later when spider and Lo’ak run off to help norm, and I stand quietly behind y/n as she places the new arrows in her side saddle along with her bow.
“I’m assuming you were on babysitting duty? Supervising those two with the fire pit and sharp edges?”
She teased, nudging my shoulder. I chuckle back, shrugging.
“Of course. Someone has to prevent the children from running with their hunting knives.”
She shakes her head, another giggle tumbling past her lips.
“Tuk? Or Lo’ak and spider?”
I hum before leaning over a bit to stand a bit closer.
“Why not all of them?”
She laughs once again, and my palms feel warm for a moment.
I clear my throat, straightening my back a bit.
“Y/n. Can We talk abou-”
“Alright people let's get moving! Fall in and line up!”
I’m cut off by the sudden cannonade of my father’s voice. Y/n’s eyes widen a bit as it flickers to where he stood. Talking with uncle norm. She glances back at me, patting my back. “Later. Okay?”
I can’t even respond before she jogs over to my father, only stopping her dauntless strides when she pauses to fist-bump norm.
I follow suit with the other hunters in an almost feverish manner. Slinging my bow around my torso and finding a spot in the forming two long lines of other hunters and warriors beside Lo’ak.
“Let's move it people! We’re wasting the sunset! Oscar-Mike (move out), people, lets get it done!”
When the last few of the younger hunters scurry into line, my father stands tall in front of all of us, his arms crossed over his chest. Don’t be fooled by the brute build. He’s still the same man who stumbled into hometree all those years ago with a ‘good evening everyone’ and a ‘please don’t get up’.
He clears his throat bef0re he starts to speak.
“Good to see everyone turn up for tonight's hunt. This will be no different from training you’ve all had in the past, or currently undergoing.”
Some nod, others shift nervously on their feet.
Y/n approaches from behind my father. Her strides not faltering for even a second. Her chin titled high, looking us over with a gaze of a storm flooded a seafloor beneath a tideline. Y/n doesn’t get in line with us, no. Her place is beside my father. A leader.
spider perched behind her on one of the high ledges in the unevenly rocky stone walls of highcamp. One of his hands placed on her shoulder to keep himself from leaning forward too far.
My father continues.
“For those of you still training for your iknimiya, you will be on the ground team with Norm, and Awkey and the Olangi hunters will join us tonight. Stay in line with them. You will ride the pa’li on the perimeter of that narrow clearing in the middle of the grove. Understood?”
A few yips and grunts were heard from the younger na’vi, a few raising their bows and nodding their heads.
Father nods, turning back to face us again.
“Warriors. Those of you who have passed iknimiya and have ikrans will be in the sky. Bows on the ready, death from above.”
He takes a step back, gesturing to Y/n, who still stood in her place behind him.
“Y/n, my most trusted Archer, will be in command of the sky team. You are to stay within her flight patterns, and not go beyond what she sees as a fit perimeter. Follow her orders, and you might just learn something.”
Father finishes giving us our positions, and I stray from my assigned group, only for a moment. I walk towards the opening to the crevice, leaning down and making the bird call my mother taught me, pressing my lips together and releasing a high-pitched note of a sound.
The familiar flap of wings resonates in the air below me, and before I can blink, my ikran perches herself infront of me, making a soft shrill noise of her own. In all her glory, the green, brown, and yellow skin worn like a Hyde of the forest.
I pet her neck, adjusting the side saddle for my bow and tightening the neck reigns.
Rey’sa is what I named her.
Broken fragments of my mothers language stitched together. The meaning is a remembrance of Seze. My mothers first ikran. I had a toy ikran that was painted green, brown and blue, when I was around Tuk’s age. Y/n’s mother had gifted it to me when I was 7. Modeled after Seze even in color, my mother happily shed tears at the sight of the small wooden toy.
It’s been passed down. Me and Kiri played with it, then Lo’ak, then Tuk.
The toy is old and cracking now, the paint peeling away. I think love is holding it together. Tuk sleeps with the thing every night. I can’t imagine it’s very comfortable, though.
My iknimaya dodged the fateful curse of a chaotic, violence-craving ikran.
I’ve watched my brother and y/n almost die during their right of passage. Meanwhile, Rey’sa bucked me off maybe twice and it was over. Made the bond, had our first flight, the whole works.
I pet her neck, smoothing my palms over the leather skin one last time before I mount. My leg swinging over as I adjust the inner part of my thighs against the saddle.
I wait for my fathers signal.
☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆
Y/n’s pov:
Neytiri hated when Norm and Max joined the hunt. Or any hunt for that matter. Hunting was a sacred practice to na’vi. To take a life in such a delicate way it’s almost painless. She didn’t want the sky people’s ways to taint such a delicate tradition.
You walk over to where Norm and Max were packing some extra radios in the Samson seat packs, Norm checking all the controls as he whistled a tune to himself.
When you approach, his ears perk up, and he smiles. His usual tan colored vest and shorts fashioned securely to his avatar body.
“Hey kiddo.”
He gives you a hug, ruffling a few of your braids. Mex sits behind him, sitting on the benched ledge of the side entrance to the aircraft, giving you a thumbs up and a soft smile.
Norm sighs, taking a step back, his hands on his hips as he looks you over.
“Look at you. Growing into a brave warrior. Seems like only yesterday and you and spider were running around the lab.”
Norm and Max had been like family to you. Especially with your parents always accounting for Spider, they didn’t completely understand how to raise a human boy, so Norm and Max were always there with extra breathing packs and masks. Plus, being a package deal with spider meant you hung out in the lab just as much as he did when you were little. Poking around at all the link beds and making norm play your stupid little games of tag, even pestering max. Sometimes, Max would let you use his glasses to look at different plants and leaves, because you loved the way things looked under the glass.
And sure, some na’vi mothers and fathers couldn’t possibly comprehend why such intelligent, well respected clan members like your parents would leave their daughter under the watch of two sky people. But it didn’t matter. Max and Norm fared well as babysitters.
You smiled at Norm, a small laugh leaving you.
“Well. Seems like your joining us on another hunt?”
Norm nods, adjusting the radio on his hip.
“Yup. I keep telling Jake the misses’ ain’t gonna be happy with us tagging along, but he says it’s for Safety. If anything goes wrong, if RDA wants to show up for another playdate.”
You nod, thinking about the attack awhile ago.
Your attention rechannels itself towards the smaller pale creature that emerges from behind a much taller Norm in his avatar body.
Spider blinks up at you through the sheet of glass that has acted as a blockade between you both ever since you were 2. Protecting him from the unwelcoming atmosphere of Pandora.
“Y/n.”
He huffs.
“Please inform Norm here that I’m old enough to drive the Samson.”
Max scoffed.
“It’s not about age, Junior. It’s about training.”
Spider rolls his eyes, gesturing to you with over dramatic movements.
“I’m 19. I’m too old to be hitching rides on my little sister's Ikran.”
Norm shrugged.
“Fine. You can start riding with me and Maya.”
Maya was Norm’s ikran. He told you it was named after someone from the past. Back in the first war.
Her name is Trudy. Jake told you that you reminded him of her sometimes. Same attitude and rebellious spirit. She piloted a Samson 16, and always called it ‘Maya.’ You admired that he named his own set of wings after someone’s dream of flying.
Spider shook his head.
“Or, let me at least have my own avatar. So I can pass Iknimaya, and get my own ikran!”
Norm nods, a sudden wave of enthusiasm. “Sure junior. Just put 40 million on the table and i’ll have your order ready in the next..hm..12 years?”
Spider groans, rolling his eyes.
You laugh at Norm’s sarcasm. Though, a part of you really did feel bad for Spider.
Norm and Max were called over to talk with Jake one last time before the group descended, leaving you and spider alone.
You sat next to Spider on the step up to the cockpit, rubbing his back.
“You know I love you no matter what size you are, right?”
Spider scoffs, his head tilting the opposite way.
“Gee. thanks.”
You chuckled, and he spared you a small smile.
He sighed, staring out at the na’vi hunters and warriors that mounted their ikrans, preparing to descend.
You could never imagine what it was like for Spider. Being born a human on a planet he couldn’t even breathe freely on.
Ideals formed under disillusion. The little, messy-loc’d pale boy you’d help paint blue as a child is no longer shielded from the pesky whispers and glares of your clan.
You don’t think its fair. You never did. And you even found it a bit hypocritical. Considering your clan’s never ending preachings for the value of nature, balance, and adaptation.
Spider has adapted to be just like your people. And he’s done a pretty fucking good job.
Your moment is interrupted by Norm, who jogs back with Max trailing behind him.
“We’re moving out! Y/n, you’re needed in the front. Spider, lets get moving!”
You nod, grabbing your bow and giving one last small glance to spider.
He smiles.
“Be safe. Please.”
You scoff.
“I’m always safe.”
With that, you mounted Kailo, and took to the skies.
☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆
Y/n’s pov
The wind whipped and wailed. The familiar sting of raw current against your cheeks was oddly soothing. Your team flew behind you. Neteyam, Makeyo, a few others. Jake next to you, and Awkey below. The smaller group of Pa’li hunters maintain obedience in formation as the maddening rhythms of horse hooves assault the ground beneath you. The half-finished notes demand attention through the heavy thrumming melody.
“X, do you read me?”
Jake’s voice comes through your throat comm with a static quality. Struggling to maintain volume against the violent symphonies that crowded the night air.
You place two fingers on your comm, allowing your voice to cut through the mic.
“I read you.”
“Norm’s radars are picking up some heavy movement to the east. Take your squad and dive on down. I’ll catch up.”
“Roger that.”
You lift your bow, turning your head over your shoulder. Sending a call to your team, you start to dive further down beneath the canopy. They don’t hesitate to follow you, some even going as far to mimic your dive move.
You don’t have any words for what you see below on the muddied path.
You’ve been sturmbeest hunting before. Many times. But this..This was something you only imagined.
Sturmbeest in the most intense stampede imaginable, some even tripping and folding over one another. There doesn't seem to be even the smallest amount of space between them as they charge.
You made a signal for your team to disperse, some falling behind you or to the left side of the perimeter, keeping a close trail with the pa’li hunters. You saw lo’ak behind Awkey as he led them further down the sidelines. He looks just as shocked as you are.
Jake arrived on the scene not soon after.
His voice broke through your comm again, this time connecting Neteyam.
“X. stay front and center. Makeyo and Pathfinder are gonna spot you from the right. Try and find some targets. The rest of your team are far out behind.”
Minutes had passed, and you had watched the pa’li hunters desperately try to squeeze their way into the flow of traffic.
You watched a good portion of the hunters attempt at shooting one of the sturmbeest on horseback using their bow, only for the arrow to bounce off the rough exterior of the skin.
You watched a few of them collapse in a pile of chaos. 5 of them using spears only to get rammed down by a new group of the mud-covered giants, thrown with their pa’li into the dirt. The sight made you wince. Every fiber of your being just screaming for you to dive down there and help.
“Fuck it.”
You mumbled under your breath, preparing kailo to dive.
“Don’t even think about it.” Jake calls out to you.
You turn to see him, weaving through the trees on bob.
You shake your head, your long braids wildly whipping in the wind.
“Sir, we have too many hunters riding pa'li down. If we just sent support to the ground level we’d make a kill!”
Jake shook his head. “Forget it, X. Your job right now is to keep your squad in line. If you dive, you run the risk of all of them diving down after you. You say up, they say how high. You gotta keep yourself steady, kiddo.”
You hiss to yourself, your ikran feeling mutual frustration as a shrill escapes your companion.
Neteyam flies ahead with you, his bow at the ready on his side.
“Any openings?” he calls to you, and you only shake your head.
“None that don’t look risky.”
Neteyam nods, his eyes scanning the path.
“Let's get a bit closer. We can scout better angles from below.” he offers.
It wasn’t a terrible idea. You looked to your side, your eyes locking with Neteyam’s. Flames that weren’t quite worthy of being threatening engulfed a jaded voice under your chest. Promises of sunlight and safety that were agonizingly familiar shade of olive green and bright yellow. The same sounds of a bird thrashing in a cage. Exhausted and rough, and yet, there was trust beneath the surface. Like jumping off a cliff and knowing something will catch you.
He nods at you.
“I’ll be right behind you, X.”
You grab your bow and dive, Neteyam follows your lead.
You cruise above the chaos, mud flying in damp specks, your vision is clouded by dust and overbearing sensations.
Neteyam is beside you, and you can feel his gaze shifting between you and the path below in a predictable pattern.
Your eyes focus on a small rift forming in the middle of the stampede. Like a crack in the mountain. An open space where single beasts drifted in and out of a bare area.
Maybe small spaces still managed to infatuate you.
Your eyes locked onto one sturmbeest that took its turn in the middle. You reached for an arrow, pulling back the string of your bow. The familiar satisfying stretch felt beneath your finger tips as neteyam spotted you from beside, tilting himself down along with you.
You quickly devised a plan. A blockade of sorts could be created. If you shot down at least two of the biggest sturmbest, the rest would slow down because of the largest creatures stumbling about.
You traded in your singular arrow for two of your own, resuming your position as you pulled back your arrows.
Neteyam seemed to understand your plan, grabbing an arrow of his own.
You both nodded at each other, a mutual procedure seemingly placed into action.
“Ready whenever you are, X. I’m under your order.”
Neteyam’s voice sent a cold sensation down your spine. Something about obedience..The willingness to follow your every move.
You both released your arrows, one of your arrows hitting the exact same spot as his in one of the largest sturmbeest, your other arrow landing solo in the other.
It all seemed to happen in slow motion. The two beasts stumbled into the mud, causing the other sturmbeest to disperse into a wider path. Creating more room for targets.
Neteyam let out a celebratory war call, following your lead as you and Kailo flew up, circling Reysa and Neteyam.
“Hell yeah!”
You screeched.
“Hell Yeah!”
Neteyam mimicked you, his accented voice sounding funny on the human term spider taught you.
You both laughed, circling each other on your ikrans as the wind caught your hair.
Time seemed to slow for a moment as you both caught each other's gazes.
But it didn’t last for long.
“Y/n!”
Lo’ak’s voice screeched through the static of your throat comm, causing you and Neteyam to pause.
You placed two fingers on your throat comm, tuning into lo’ak’s distressed call.
“I’m here. what’s happening?”
“It’s spider! The Samson is dragging too close to the sturmbeest, its looking dangerously close to a collision. Dad’s comm isn’t going through and neither is norm’s! You have to get through to them!”
Your heart thrashed itself into an unyielding rhythm of uncertainty.
You don’t even answer Lo’ak. You dive back down, ignoring the calls of your name leaving Neteyam.
You finally find yourself parallel to the Samson, that, quite literally as Lo’ak described, was dragging through the air, the usual smooth running ship making unusual sounds as norm seemed to struggle along with a concerned max on the controls. A malfunction maybe? Eywa. Why now?!
You yelled to catch spiders attention, he jumped out of his seat and leaned on the edge of the side door that was now wide open, hanging out with only his arm holding him up as he gripped a bar.
“Tell Norm and Max to go up!”
You screamed, desperately making hand motions.
Spider couldn’t hear you. He leaned a bit closer to hear when suddenly the Samson dips down further, a sturmbeest bucks upwards.
Your heart seemed to completely cease beating for a moment.
You didn’t see what happened. All you knew is that when you looked back at the ship, spider was gone. The panic that sets in was enough to smother your vision in an unfamiliar color you couldn’t quite place. Panic rushed through you in bolts as all you could think of is the possibility of your brother being dead. The boy you carried around on your back for so many years. The boy who protected you from all the creepy boys in the clan. The boy who let you scream and cry and vent after Neteyam broke your heart.
A small whimper left your lips, and you can’t really tell if you’re crying or not.
The world around you seemed almost in a reflective like manner, as If kept in a kaleidoscope or a dome.
You dive down desperately, screaming for him, your voice tearing through the wind.
Neteyam dives down after you, cursing to himself and calling for spider as well.
The world around you seems to blur when you catch sight of a smaller pale creature sprawled out on the ground, unconscious.
You dive down, scooping him up by the waist and throwing him on the back of your ikran, one hand struggling to steer as another hand keeps spider slumped against your back, stretched behind you.
Lo’ak is below you, following you on the back of his pa’li.
You land a bit farther from the path in the forest, jumping off your ikran with jagged, uneven breaths as you laid spider on the grass with scrambling hands.
You freeze when you see the twitching of his hands, and the small crack in his mask.
And all you can think about is how if you lost spider, you really did have no family left.
“No, no no no no no please-“
You whispered, not knowing what to do or how to fix this.
Do you take it off? Leave it?
You resort to placing your hand over the crack, thinking maybe it’ll keep more air from slipping inside.
Your vision starts to blur with tears. And just when you place your palm atop the glass, you feel a jolt of pain rush through your wrist.
The pressure you applied had cracked the mask even more, and now tiny shards of glass had covered your palm.
You didn’t feel the pain. Not at first. But then, like the bitch it was, adrenaline was starting to abandon you.
Lo’ak hops off his pa’li and runs towards you, leaning down.
“Shit! Spider!”
He looks at you.
“What happened? What- how-“
Tears streamed down your cheeks. And Lo’ak stared for a moment as one of the strongest people he knew was crying right in front of him.
“H-he fell- I don’t-“
Your breathing becomes uneven.
Behind you you see Jake and Neteyam both land their ikrans, the Samson landing behind them a bit in the distance as norm runs carrying a first aid kit.
The air around you thieves you of oxygen as your chest becomes heavy.
Strong arms wrap around your waist, gently pulling you to your feet as your turned around and met with Neteyams golden hour eyes, his palms softly dragging down your cheeks to your collarbones,
“Hey-hey look at me. Are you hurt?”
You try to speak but the air in your lungs is swallowed instead, and you gasp.
“S-spider.”
He turns you the opposite way, shaking his head.
“Don’t look at that right now. Look at me. Just keep your eyes right here. I’m right here. Y/n.”
He looks you over, and freezes when his eyes settle on your palm.
“Shit. Your hand-“
You look down, seeing the thin trail of warm red liquid that dripped down your fingertips.
You felt like a faceless phantom in a hollow shell of a wreckage you called your body. Watching the world spin by as you remained trapped in your bird cage of broken wing bones.
You watched as Norm quickly replaced spider mask, his chest rising up and back down again like an ocean being suppressed under a sheet of glass.
You almost release yet another sob when spider regains consciousness. His eyes blowing wide like a shell-shocked animal. The sight of his pale hand gripping Norm’s much larger bicep makes you sick to your stomach.
Neteyam gently guides you by your waist to behind one of the trees, you press your back to the rough bark in hopes some kind of sensation will break this shock.
He takes your hand, grabbing the waterskin pouch from his knife sheath strap.
You watch as he pours the clear liquid onto your cut.
The cool water washing away the remnants of red and painful delirium that stained your hand was a soothing stimulation.
He’s movements are quick. Unrehearsed. A raw desperation submerged under his skin.
He rips a strip of fabric off of his loincloth, kneeling down as his knees suddenly assault the dirt with his sudden drop.
He gently takes your hand, wrapping the cloth around the wound, methodical movements carefully tying off this makeshift bandage.
He stands to his feet again, running his palms down your shoulders, then your arms, then your newly bandaged hands.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?”
You shake your head. You find yourself in an absent abstraction of a state. A warped, uncanny fabrication of reality. This verisimilitude within a broken mirror. A wondering reflection.
“You’re shaking.”
His deep accented voice breaks your wall.
You find yourself collapsing into him.
It was a blur, the whole thing.
Your face pressed to Neteyams chest as he kept an arm around you. You breathed in his scent, reminiscences in the familiar warmth of him, an almost magnetic feeling flowing through you.
And for a moment, the spaces didn’t seem too small anymore.
☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆☾𖤓✮⋆⁺₊⋆
Y/n’s pov.
Norm says it was an accident. And accidents are prone to happen.
You sat in Mo’at’s tent, watching as the last few warriors had their injuries cleaned and bandaged.
You fidgeted with your bandage on your hand. Neteyam’s old one had been discarded when you returned, and you were given a real wrap for your hand.
Spider was alive. His breathing was normal again, but he suffered from his fall. You’re shocked he got away with only scrapes and bruises. He wasn’t allowed to climb or leave camp for the next few days. He was confined to bed rest.
He was now resting in the lab bunks. Norm and Max promised you they would not leave his side. It gave you some comfort.
It’s funny, really. How you had no problem facing war. You were good at strategy. A fierce archer. Different from some other na’vi who felt repulsed by human things.
You were fascinated with calculations and numbers. Planning and plotting. Reading and graphing. Heights, distances, etc.
But when something so sudden and blunt like your brother almost falling to his death out of a skyship, you fumbled and almost killed him.
You fidgeted with your bracelet. The one you, spider, and Lo’ak made as children. Twirling the beads between your fingers and staring down into the void of colors and shapes.
The feeling of Neteyam’s arms around you is far from absent. His scent lingers. Honey and wooded.
When you returned, he didn’t leave your side. He led you to his grandmother's tent, gave you water and sat with you until his father dragged him away to assist with gathering the meat from the beast you both hunted up to camp.
You didn’t like being pampered or prodded at, but for some reason your skin that now feels as hollow as a shell, it practically became a ragdoll under Neteyam’s hands.
The world around you felt far too big for this small tent to be encasing the storm of thoughts under your skin.
“Y/n!”
Tuk scampers inside through the entrance, practically throwing herself into your arms.
“Oh Tuk-Tuk.” You whisper, finding familiar warmth carrying you back to reality.
You held Tuk close. As if some threat of a force would take her away. As if the hollowness that shaved your bones longs for something to protect. Something to keep within the circle of your arms.
You smoothed back her braids, kissing her head.
“You’re back.”
She whispers, nuzzling her head into your shoulder. You place your hand on the back of her head, keeping her still and safe.
“Of course I’m back. I’ll always come back. What do I always tell you, love?”
Tuk sniffles, wiping her big eyes with the back of her hand.
“It would take a thousand sky ships to take you away?”
You smiled, tapping her nose gently.
“Make it a million.”
She smiled, but it fades away a bit as she glances down.
“Is spider okay?”
You still for a moment, the familiar ache in your chest returns.
“Oh little love. He’ll be just fine. Spider is big and strong. He’s a wild child, remember?”
You scooped tuk up into your lap, pressing a few kisses to her head, tickling her stomach. She giggled and thrashed in your arms.
“Y/n! Stoppp!”
She laughed wildly.
Finally, you put her back down, letting her snuggle up next to you as you wrapped an arm around her.
It wasn’t long before Kiri and Mo’at entered.
You bowed your head slightly, greeting mo’at.
“Ma’tsahik.”
She nodded at you, placing a hand on your head, smoothing down a few stray hairs from your braids.
“The salve will take affect soon, child. But you must not use it for the next few hours. Let your mind and your body heal.”
You nodded, squeezing her hand.
“Thank you.”
You whispered.
Kiri sat behind you, starting to untangle a few of your braids from its disheveled position tied back with your beaded cuff.
“Let me straighten your braids, tsmuke (sister). It looks worse than my fathers job at braiding.
You snorted, rubbing Tuk’s back as a small giggle leaves her lips.
Mo’at started to clean up the bowls laid around, behind her entered Lo’ak.
“There’s my sister from another mister. Killer shot.”
He teases, locking his hands with yours in a handshake-hug gesture you and him
Picked up as children from watching norm and Jake do it so many times.
When you pull away, he swings his arm around you, making himself comfortable as he leans sloppily over you, pushing Kiri back further.
She groans.
“Lo’ak! You idiot! Stop making me pull her hair!”
He shrugs Kiri off.
“Relax. We all know who y/n’s favorite sully is.”
Kiri scoffs and you reach behind your head to squeeze her hand.
Before you even realize it, the broken fragments of fear and self-hatred wither away under the surface of a settled skin. No longer sleepless with worry.
The air feels lighter with Tuk’s small snuggles and Kiri’s gentle hands running through your long braids, leaving some pieces at the ends unbraided just as she always loved the way it looked on you. Your chest doesn’t feel so tight after a few of Lo’ak’s stupid jokes and stories. The laughter seemingly loosening the threads of torn tapestry.
A few hours later, Neytiri enters the hut.
“Mama!”
Tuk squirms out of your arms, running to neytiri as she smiles softly down at her youngest.
“Oh tuk.”
She hums, leaning down to kiss her daughter's head, her attention turning towards you after tuk jogged away to mo’at.
“My sweet. Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
You shake your head, standing to your feet as she gestures for you to come closer, wrapping her arms around you and resting her chin atop your head, kissing your hairline.
“Oh my strong girl.”
She whispers, running a hand down your back.
“Strong heart.” She hums, stepping back a bit as her eyes slowly take you in.
She turns to Lo’ak and Kiri, who stand up soon after you.
“Your father has called a gathering of the clan’s hunters and warriors.”
She turns to you and Lo’ak, tilting her head upwards slightly.
“Your presence is needed. Both of you.”
You feel yourself straighten instinctively as you let her words register past the lingering haze of your earlier experience still looms over you like a storm cloud.
Lo’ak stretches, ruffling Tuk’s hair as she hisses and swats him away.
“Alright then. Let’s get moving.”
He nudges your elbow, brushing past Neytiri who softly touches his shoulder as he passes by.
“Y/n. A moment please.”
Neytiri’s slender fingers wrap around your forearm. Not harshly, but her voice has a clear coat of concern.
You pause, looking at Lo’ak once more as he ceases his strides.
“Y/n? You coming sis?”
You nod.
“I’ll be there in a minute. You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
He nods, starting to walk away.
Neytiri turns to her mother.
“Sa’nok. Do you mind watching Tuktirey and Kiri?”
Mo’at shakes her head, standing to her feet and ushering Kiri and Tuk back to the sully family marui, Kiri giving you one last hand squeeze and Tuk giving you a small hug.
Once the tent is empty, your focus rechannels onto Neytiri.
“Is there something wrong?”
You ask.
She shakes her head.
“I just wanted to see if you were alright, yawne.”
Her hands rest on your shoulders, traveling down to your arms.
“You have been through so much these past few weeks, my sweet. If you ever need anything, please, don’t ever be afraid to ask me or Jake or Tsahik. You know this.”
You nod. Smiling softly to reassure her. This woman. This strong, beautiful woman who was giving you the love your mother left behind.
“I am fine. I promise.”
She sighs.
“You have dark circles under your eyes, Y/n. Your thinning a bit. You need sleep, and proper meals.”
She cups your face.
“All I ask is that you take care of yourself, my sweet. And please, let us take care of you. We are here for you. We always have been and will be.”
She gently runs her thumb over your cheek.
“Lean on us, yawne.”
You smiled, the two of you embracing one another in a hug.
You step back after a few moments.
“I promise. I’ll practice at it.”
She smiles and kisses your head.
“Tonight may be a bit evasive for sleep, thought. I’m gonna spend a few hours in the lab before turning in.”
Neytiri tilts her head.
“The sky people room? Why?”
“To check on spider.”
Her expression sours slightly as she hears his name.
“I’m sure he is healing just fine. The sky people’s tools take no time at all, it seems.”
There was an edge in her voice, but you knew it wasn’t directed towards you.
It was a difficult case when it came to what is left of your family.
It was always you, your father, your mother, and spider. A circle of safety and familiarity that never left you unguarded.
When your parents died, you were placed under the care of Jake and Neytiri. Neytiri would do anything for you. She would go to the same lengths for you, she would go to for any of her children. In her eyes, you were hers. Hers to love.
But love is a sacrificial abstraction. (Seems to be a common theme, does it not?)
You think what frustrates her is the sacrifices you make for him. Love was a unsteadily structured sentiment. And when all his attempts seem futile in forms of pale skin painted blue, there was a sensitive inflection of utterances.
You were his sister. You weren’t leaving him.
To Neytiri, your life was a cage. Stuck with this feral human boy who fancied himself a na’vi. A soul coaxed to wild-child thunderstorms and bruised knees from tree climbing, messy locs from days of sunlit spaces.
In her eyes you were stuck with Spider.
Her love and protection was something that created a barricade between you and your brother. You prayed you would never find yourself having to choose between spider and her.
“I should go see him. Just to check on him. I won’t be there long.”
Neytiri nodded, but you can tell she was biting her tongue.
You give her one more soft smile before turning to leave.
“Y/n?”
You turn at the call of your name, and she only utters a few words.
“Your mother loved that…boy. I know she did. But you are allowed to think differently. You need not be burdened with carrying yourself and another.”
You didn’t need her to elaborate. You understood.
You nodded.
“My mother believed that connection is unconditional. The color that stains our skin and our blood doesn’t make a family. She always told me that if you bind yourself to pure hatred, you forget who you are. I love my people. It’s all I’ve ever known.”
Neytiri’s tail swished.
“Y/n. Do not abandon what eywa has given us.”
Her voice was pleading. As if trying to place tessellations of an invisible disillusionment. A carefulness edged.
“I abandon no one.”
You whispered, holding her hands.
“But please. Understand that my home was built around both me and spider. The biggest abandonment I can see from that would be leaving him behind.”
She says nothing.
She stared at you with something you didn’t recognize.
It wasn’t cold, or shallow. Her gaze monitored a retrospection of something lost. Behind a liquid glass. You couldn’t tell if she saw you in a mirror or a window.
It’s blunted and ceased after a few moments. She kisses the top of your head.
“Olo’eyktan waits for you. Go on.”
You nod at her, deciding to take that as your signal to depart.
☾𖤓✮ ☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮
When you arrived at the meeting spot, the first thing you see is your clans most renounced warriors in a circle with the exception of a few hunters and Lo’ak. He wasn’t quite as skilled as Neteyam when it came to certain skills, but was a warrior all the same.
You find a spot next to Lo’ak, nodding respectfully at the other na’vi easily recognizable that stood across from you.
Kyuna’s father, Makeyo and his father, Ka’ani, Lo’ak’s current teacher, and the man who took your fathers and place in teaching the young hunters undergoing iknimiya, and a handful others.
The dreamwalkers couldn’t be seen in the gathering, you assumed they retired back to their reserved part of the stronghold.
You turned to Lo’ak, who was fidgeting with his bracelet, the one you, him and spider shared.
“What is this about?”
You whispered.
Lo’ak shrugged, glancing at you, the two usual braids that framed the sides of his head falling in his face.
“Maybe we’re all gonna hold hands in a circle and dance about love and peace.”
He hummed, his face blank.
Your tail thwacked the back of his head.
“The sarcasm is not appreciated.”
You rolled your eyes.
He scoffed.
“I learned it from you.”
You felt something brush your side, you and Lo’ak both turn to see Neteyam take a spot next to you.
“Bro, where have you been? Being late for you is like-
Once in a lifetime.”
He nods, standing next to you.
“Had to make sure the ikran were tended to with a few others.”
He placed a hand on the small of your back, his gaze forged of soft honored gold, and deep skies.
“I fed Kailo and made sure he was tended to. He’s just fine.”
You mentally slap the shit out of yourself when you remember rushing to get spider to the lab so fast you dismounted Kailo without even noticing your companions weariness from the excitement.
“Shit- I completely forgot- fuck.”
You drag your palms down your face.
“It’s okay. He was fine. Still feisty as usual.”
The chuckle in his throat reverberated against the deep accent of his voice.
You felt yourself heat on the back of your neck.
“Thank you, Neteyam.”
He nodded, gently letting his hand fall back to his side.
“Yeah yeah, so kind of you-
Bro do you know what we’re even here for?”
Lo’ak not-so-subtly shoved himself between you and Neteyam pensively, unbothered by his clear dislike of your close proximity.
Lo’ak never loved the idea of you and neteyam being together. Not when you two were courting, and not now. Always pensive of you and Neteyam hanging out for too long, even doing together something as harmless as helping Mo’at back to her feet after a nap.
You always thought it was jealousy. Not the romantic type. The clan always told you that you and Lo’ak would make a beautiful match. But the thought felt like wearing clothes too big for you. Detached, displaced sense of stability. You loved Lo’ak. More than anything, you really did. But it wasn’t romantic. And Lo’ak clearly didn’t see you as wife material.
That’s fine. He wouldn’t make a great wife either to be honest.
It confused you sometimes. Lo’ak often showed Neteyam off to you, praising him. You wondered if it was sarcasm, or just respecting his brother enough to not embarrass him, but not wanting you two to court again either.
It was a mess for another moment.
Neteyam shrugged, shaking his head.
“Probably just a debriefing. The hunt was…unexpected to say the least.”
You nodded, locking gazes with Lo’ak for a moment as you both had a silent conversation.
It wasn’t long before Jake arrived, the first thing he did was check on the three of you. Mo’at followed behind him, making her way straight for the center ahead the gathering. It wasn’t uncommon for Tsahik to be present and meetings like this.
“You kids alright?”
Placing a hand on Lo’ak’s shoulder, checking your hand and patting Neteyam’s back.
“We’re fine, sir. Just a few scratches.”
Neteyam affirmed, shifting on his feet slightly.
Jake sighed in relief, hugging both his sons, before dragging you into the hug.
“I’m proud of you boys. Did nice riding out there, Lo’ak. And your shot was right on line, Neteyam.”
Lo’ak didn’t show it, but you could tell he was smiling. He kept his gaze down, peering at the ground.
Neteyam nodded, a smile tugging at his lips as well. You found it cute that both Neteyam and Lo’ak, even at ages 19 and 18, were still excited about getting a compliment from the great Toruk Makto. Their father.
The two of them talked for a moment, you found your gaze drifting to Makeyo and his father. They were speaking in the crowd. Makeyo looked anxious. Almost tensed as his father kept a hand on his back, ranting in a whisper.
Jake lead the three of you to the front of the gathering, straying from the crowd a bit. “Boys, do me a favor and go make sure we have everyone?”
Lo’ak and neteyam nodded, both jogging off to weave through the crowd and count heads of all the warriors they recognized.
As Neteyam and Lo’ak walked ahead, Jake placed a hand on your shoulder, giving you what you think spider called ‘a thumbs up’
“Nice shooting, sweetheart.”
He smiled proudly, sitting down next to you on one of the crevices.
You tried to conceal a smile of your own; your attempt pathetic as you smiled up at him like a child bringing home a freshly caught fish.
“Thank you.”
He ruffled your hair.
“Two for two shot-
Eywa, you never fail amaze me. What was it you and Neteyam did, the uhm, the two arrows in one-?”
“And one in the other. Something I’ve practiced with Lo’ak.”
You explained, smiling as he laughed.
“Genius. Absolutely.”
You two sat like that for a moment before neteaym and Lo’ak returned.
“Father, we are ready.”
Neteyam informed. Jake nodded, stretching as he stood to his feet.
Mo’at gently touched your back as she stood next to you.
Jake held a hand up, signaling the clan to be still and quiet.
“Thank you, my people for gathering. I’ll try to make this one quick.”
Jake’s lack of informality never seemed to not make you chuckle a bit.
“I have decided to make arrangements for the trainees in the war parties.”
He turned to the group that stood behind Makeyo and his father.
“It has come to my attention that some of you have clearly been ranked beneath your current abilities. And need more open field training.”
Open field training?
It was something you had back when you were 15. A few months after your parents passed. Jake started teaching you human tatical skills. How to use a gun, far distance targets, how to read radios and signals on old ships and navigate the screen charts on the controls. You so heavily insisted on having a position fighting the sky people. You worked, and you trained, until you became the most skilled warrior on your group. Even passing Neteyam and Lo’ak in your group.
Jake appointed you to his side. And you still at the realization that the moment he appointed you, it started with a meeting just like this.
Uncertainty shaved the hopeful soul that coated your bones.
Jake continued.
“I have decided that the upper rank trainees will start with new practices. They will now be lead by Ka’ani. Awkey, you will lead the years younger.”
So it wasn’t what you thought. Your position remained, it seemed.
The sudden switch of teachers was a bit odd, nonetheless.
Jake finished his speech minutes later. It was a short overview of new tactics the warriors would be learning. New places for target practice, and unfamiliar routines.
You didn’t mind the new schedules. It seemed like less of your day would be consumed in strategy sessions.
When he finished, the crowd started to disperse. Lo’ak went to speak with Awkey, leaving you with Jake, Mo’at, and Neteyam.
Makeyo and his father remained in their spots; as if waiting for a further instruction.
Makeyo’s father, Va’ru, was ambitious to a point it was farther than frightening. Constantly trying to put his son in first place. Like a cloud formulating a storm that swirled seated under restless skin.
Neteyam stepped forward, his tail flicked slightly.
“Dad, if Lo'ak's group will be with Awkey, does that mean I will be undergoing Ka’ani’s training?”
Jake shifts for a moment, as if trying to place his words in the right order.
“Yes and no. I have a different plan for you.”
Neteyam’s eyes widened only slightly, his tail flicking.
“Sir?”
He tilted his head.
Jake’s tone was clinging to remain inconcous as he saw Makeyo’s father approach.
“Olo’eyktan. I assume this is about the private lessons for Makeyo?”
Private lessons? Makeyo was going to take private lessons with Jake?
Makeyo seemed reluctant to engage in whatever was about to happen, gently tugging on his fathers arm.
“Father. Please. There was no certainty it would be me.”
His pleading falls deaf on his fathers ears.
“Va’ru. There has been a change.”
Jake speaks slowly, as if not to wake a sleeping thanator.
Va’ru is still for a moment.
Neteaym steps forward, gently past his grandmother.
“What are we speaking of?”
He inquires, his own ounce of impatience slipping past his mask ever so subtly.
Jake sighs, rubbing his temple.
“This is not how things were supposed to go.
Over the last few weeks, I have been individually monitoring the warriors in your group to consider them for private lessons. Since Y/n is my most prominent warrior, she would be teaching the one I chose. My choice was Makeyo.”
Makeyo’s ears flicker upwards, and his father straightens, a smile forming on his face. It wasn’t genuine or even greatful. It was hungry, frenzied with torrid energy.
“Olo’eyktan. I would be honored to have Makeyo be taught under your most trusted archer.”
You felt your expression sour. Clearly uncomfortable with the energy that radiates off Va’ru.
Jake shakes his head.
“I have had a change of mind. As of a few days ago I have decided to give the role to Neteyam.”
This feels mosaic the moment you register his words. The figures around you now made of oddly shaped colors and sizes of glass. All the wrong shades.
You feel your fingers twitch and your mind go adrift. A blanket ablaze blanks your mind to a faceless slate.
Alone. With Neteyam.
The words swirl around like a whirlpool. A windless storm without the familiarity of chaos to stabilize the seas.
You try to place yourself in the vision but you can’t. You can’t seem to inhabit the precipice of this reality.
Your shaken away from the void of your thoughts as Jake places a hand on your shoulder.
“Y/n. You will train Neteyam. Teach him the things I have taught you and your own ways. He will learn a lot from you. We’ll have another archer in our skies. More air combat support.”
You force yourself to nod and swallow, neteyam still seemingly frozen at the news.
Va’ru is clearly not pleased.
“Olo’eyktan. With all due respect-“
The funny thing is, there’s not an ounce of respect in his tone. Its ironically edged, as if Jake’s decision is the height of audacity.
“Makeyo has been training. He’s familiarized himself with Y/n’s methods. He studies her.”
It doesn’t go unnoticed when Neteyam’s ears pin down, his gaze narrowing as the words ‘study her’ reach his ears.
You can’t blame him. It does sound fucked up.
Va’ru digs himself in a deeper hole this time.
“He trains the younger children with her. He spends most of his days with her. He’s dedicated his time, his-“
Jake cuts him off, his voice a bit sterner this time, and you can tell his patience is slipping away.
“It’s not about time. It’s about skill. Makeyo is a very talented warrior. There’s no doubt. He’s a strong archer. But neteyam has shown promise over these last few weeks. He’s worked to improve his knowledge on the air strike patterns of the RDA. Hes flown with me to scout the perimeters of hell’s gate. He’s ready to advance to start training with newer methods.”
Va’ru scoffs, taking a step back, your tail flicks.
“You throw your son in the highest place again and again. You choose to ignore the others potential.”
Jake wasn’t one for favoritism when it came to the honest work of his warriors. To suggest otherwise was offensive.
Honor was valued among the na’vi. It was wrong to accuse him of just always picking neteyam. If anything, this was Neteyam’s chance. He had worked so hard to be seen by his dad. You knew this.
Jake took a breath to steady his urge to let this guy steal the last shred of tolerance he has left.
“Va’ru. Not infront of the others. We can speak privately-“
Va’ru’s tone was biting now.
“You cannot keep doing this. And your son can’t keep ‘running to daddy’ when he falls behind my son and can’t admit it.”
Something surged through the hungered veins under your skin. The fire never stayed absent for very long. Purging itself to cultivate on unsettled gilded flesh.
A hiss left you. The ardent prolonged end notes of something almost inhibited by a growl. A fervid, feverish vehemence whisped behind.
Va’ru’s eyes widened a bit, his prior confidence subduing under a sheet of hesitance.
Jake pushed you back a bit, a warning glare tossed towards your squirming figure to step forward once again.
“We can speak privately. But I will not allow you to insult the hard work of my son. Or question the expertise of Y/n.”
Va’ru and Jake agreed to talk privately, but you predicted just more arguing.
☾𖤓✮ ☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮☾𖤓✮ ☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮
Seeking solitude in the hidden caves of the mountainous cave of high camp, you settled with your anxiousness with one of the corridors above the first columns.
You paced back in fourth, cursing to yourself and throwing sharp stones at the wall.
You weren’t ready. You just weren’t ready. The moment Jake and Va’ru left you ran for the farthest place you could find. You couldn’t bare to look at Neteyam.
Jake’s words from earlier pierce the surfaces of unsteady standing ground in your heart.
Love isn’t easy
Love isn’t easy
Love isn’t easy
You know what else isn’t easy? Having to spend all day with the man you used to dream about kissing. Loving. Hugging. Mating with.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Your pulse quickens.
You remember that day. You remember the day though you waited for him under the rain.
Under a lapis hued nightfall you were ready to give him your heart. Raw and bruised and blemished and every curve and dip and imperfection yearned for his touch.
But you fell in love with the sun. And you were undeserving of sunlight.
A boy made of flaxen fanned regrets and flamed forged promises.
You loved him. You didn’t love him for the son made of stone. Through the shifting shadows and vibrant visions of excellence engraved in ecstasy that echoed through disassembled pieces of manic daydreams.
You loved him. Tormented yourself with distance and fervent optimism. Idealisms too far to be attained.
This forbidden collision of the sun and the moon.
And you waited. Damn yourself yet you waited.
You waited for an explanation for his departure. A reason for this distance.
Weeping under a wild sky, disgusted with your own reflection. The sight of yourself just a poor effort of what you could have given him.
And then your family went somewhere you cannot follow, and suddenly he seeks remorse.
It’s unfair. It is so fucking unfair the nights you spent crying over the loss of his warmth. The sunlight felt cold. The warmth wind felt unfamiliar.
And then you found the moonlight. The contingent comfort of dimmed sapphire hues and vengeance.
You refused to cry. You refused to be weakened. Your mother had seen fire and survived it. You had seen fire and burned with it-
And burn you will. Burn under the Sirius secrets whispered under the raptured intimacy of independence and its sweetening bindings.
So be it. So burn. bloodshed forging bones into bludgeons of tattered tears trains and scarred screams, soulless sleep.
Forgiveness surrounds itself in fractions of frustrations.
You damned the sky starless because all the stars had fallen with your tears waiting for him. Waiting for the voices in your head to surrender and ricochet to the shallow corners of the planes traced lines on your palm.
You recount. Roll back and fast-forwards through every memory no longer remembered under glistening sunlight poured into liquid glass, and the hues of his golden eyes.
He was daylight. He wore a halo of Helios and draped warm flesh over sun-stained soulful essence to challenge the sea and the sky. A faint heartbeat under adrift moments scattered to a tethered wind.
A man, a mask, and it’s burdens and bodies and sun-dried bones. He was a symphony and you, a mere half note of lost virtues.
Why must you constantly be at war with yourself? Why do you do this to yourself?
Do you hate him?
Do you love him?
Do you want him?
You were nightfall.
Cascades of constellations and curls of lavender. A restless shade of reddened sunset, undertoned swirling and swept to hues of purple, orange, blue, a fiery sunset. Moonlight worn like a veil, tear-stained lips and blood stained hips and yet, oh how beautiful you were. Dark and delicately dressed in grief.
Sensationalize these bittersweet story endings and happily never after forever, then maybe some more.
To restrain this punishment, this internal unredeemable consciousness.
Someone is behind you. Coming slowly into your peripheral view.
You move quickly, drawing the knife on your hip and flipping it into your uninjured hand, steadying at the perpetrators throat.
“Shit! Easy, easy…”
Neteyam holds his hands up in defense, his eyes wide at your sudden movements.
“Y/n. It’s just me.” He cautiously lowers the knife in your hand.
Great. The man of the hour.
Oh eywa must have you fucked up if she thinks you’re dealing with this right now.
“Get out.”
You didn’t mean to sound so punitive, but you were pissed, confused, and on the verge of tears. That was never a very delightful combo.
Neteyam shook his head.
“I can’t.”
“Neteyam I’m not going to tell you again. Get out. Please.”
Your voice cracked this time as you took a step forward.
“Y/n please.” He begged.
“Get out! Go! Leave! Fuera!”
You used every word you knew. Including another earth language spider had been teaching you. ‘Spanish’ is what he called it.
He winced, but only for a moment.
“I can’t. Because if I leave id just carry myself right back here.”
It satisfied you but it did nothing to console the ache in your heart.
“Then what do you want?”
You whispered.
“Another chance.”
Fuck.
You took a step away, running your palms down your face. Neteyam ignored the gesture, walking after you.
“It’s been years, y/n. I’ve dug my own grave and I’ve lied in it. I can’t eat or sleep properly anymore because it fucking eats me alive.”
Neteyam Sully was never one to curse. That was more of lo’aks calling card. So it stunned you slightly when he spoke in such a way.
You turned to face him. His golden hour eyes locking with yours.
“I don’t ask for your forgiveness. I only ask for you to hear me out.”
He took a breath.
“From the moment I was born, every single moment of my life feels like it’s been calculated. Staged, rehearsed, nothing was ever out of place. Everything was a plan- a strategy. I’m not asking for your pity but all I ask is that you understand. That life is all I’ve ever known, Y/n.
And then I fell in love with you. And you were just-“
He paces around as he walks. Talking with his hands, making grand gestures to try and articulate some spontaneous thought without really knowing what he was saying at all.
For every moment in his life being staged and prepared, this sure as hell didn’t seem rehearsed.
Maybe the sun-stained son made of stone broke like glass after all.
He continues stumbling over his words. It was rather unlike him. To be this outspoken and unequivocal with his words.
“You we’re just, Eywa I don’t know how to begin.
You were wild and unpredictable, so unbothered and reckless and passionate. You still are. You make the most dangerous shit I’ve ever seen in my life seem so graceful and beautiful. You care for my siblings, Tuk wants to quite literally ‘be y/n’ when she grows up and Lo’ak and Kiri would probably plot a mass murder if you asked them too. My mother and my father love you like one of their own. I don’t want what used to be between us ruin any of that. I’m tired of it, y/n. I’m tired of all the awkward formalities and hating eachother. And I’ll be damned if I’ve ever met a woman in my entire life who knows a bow and arrow like you do.”
You’re stunned. Everything he says sinks under your skin for a moment.
He takes a breath.
“Y/n. Please. Give me another chance. To be friends again. I miss you. I really do. You're going to be my teacher now. We shouldn’t be-“
“Just shut up for a minute.”
A small ‘yes ma’am.’ Leaves his lips as his gaze darts down a bit.
Now, if someone told you about 30 minutes from now you would be hugging neteyam sully, you probably would have called them crazy.
But now, as eywa as your witness, that’s exactly what you did.
He was still for a moment, and then he wrapped his arms around you, hugging you back.
You took a step back, smiling at him softly.
“Our first lesson starts as soon as my hand is healed. Don’t be late.”
And with that, you left.
Neteyam stood there for a moment before jumping up, fisting the air, a celebratory ‘fuck yes!’ Leaving his lips silently.
Maybe things made of stone can break like glass after all.
☾𖤓✮ ☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮☾𖤓✮ ☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮☾𖤓 ☾𖤓✮
Parallels:
Biggest parallel: the “hell yeah!” Line between neteyam and y/n is parallel to this scene between Jake and Neytiri.
Spider and Y/n - Tommy and Jake (two siblings, two sides of the same coin)
Y/n and Neytiri - (learning to love even through grief)
Y/n and Jake - (’soldier mentality’ and low self image because of trauma)
Lo’ak, Y/n and Neytiri - (rebelliousness)
Spider and Neteyam- (oldest sibling responsibility)
Authors note:
I’m alive! I survived probably the longest chapter in this fic. I think I owe all my virago readers an apology. This chapter is WAY overdue. I'm sorry about that one, y'all.
But we're finally out of the enemy stage! And now I get to enjoy writing fluffy moments between neteyam and y/n, aka our resident virago and sun son made of stone.
So I just want to clear some things up before I wrap this up.
In my story, spider is a Spanish speaker. I read the original script and saw that he does speak Spanish in one of the scenes, and as a Spanish speaker and a spider stan that just warms my heart. Yes, a na’vi speaking Spanish might sound kinda cringe but it's my personal headcanon that spider would definitely teach y/n Spanish.
Btw I just finished watching the hunger games so if anyone can catch all the Haymitch and Katniss references between y/n and Jake I will literally kiss you.
Remember to pleas like, comment, reblog, and as a request from me, please comment your favorite quote. trope, dynamic, or moment in this chapter or even the story so far.
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