In Heat [II]
Lo'ak Sully x Fem!Omatikaya!Reader
Previously: Chapter I
Keep reading: Chapter III, Chapter IV
The rundown: Tensions rise in the aftermath of your chance encounter with Lo'ak.
Warnings: 18+ content, smut-ish??, language, kiri being mother <3, characters are aged up, minors do not interact!! please
WC: 7.2k
A/N: this chapter is kind of long but it's for the plot!! thanks for reading idk ily :)
That evening, Lo'ak couldn't bring himself to ignore the glaring absence of your presence at dinner. Anxiety set in as his gaze swept across the dining area, well aware that you also skipped lunch that afternoon. Lo’ak’s worry only grew as the meal went on, anchored by the knowledge he had of your unwavering stubbornness.
He knew you well enough to know that you were most likely holed up inside your tent, refusing to leave after what went down earlier that morning, though that was about as far as he let himself dwell on your current condition.
Lo’ak totally understood the reasoning for your deliberate seclusion, but he wasn’t going to let you starve to death inside your home–embarrassed about the situation or not. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he turned to his sister, hoping to confirm your whereabouts.
"Kiri," he began, trying to sound casual yet failing to suppress the worry in his voice. "Have you seen y/n today?"
All too familiar with her brother's persistent nature, Kiri responded with a less-than-enthusiastic demeanor. Annoyed by his meddling, she pushed him away with an assertive shove to the shoulder.
"No. Why don't you try leaving the poor girl alone for once in your life?"
Despite his sister's snide remark, Lo'ak's determination to find you intensified. His persistence shone through as he continued his inquiry.
"But Kiri, y/n wasn't at dinner or lunch. I don't think she ate anything today."
At that moment, Kiri could no longer feign apathy. Lo'ak's genuine concern had a way of breaking through even her toughest exterior, and she was also admittedly concerned for you, her close friend.
She hesitated, then sighed in resignation, glancing over at the table laden with leftover meat and vegetables from their dinner. "Fine," she relented. "I'll go bring some of the leftovers up to–"
Lo'ak suddenly interrupted Kiri mid-sentence with an impassioned "No!" startling not only himself but also the people eating around them, who shot him a series of curious and bewildered looks.
Despite what he told himself not to think about, Lo'ak's overactive imagination created a vivid image of the state you might be in at the moment. He swallowed thickly around the lump in his throat, pushing the images of you–desperately clinging to his shoulders, head thrown back in pleasure as you cursed and whined and moaned and let yourself unravel on top of him–from his traitorously wandering mind.
When he had the chance to console you earlier in the day, he told himself it was probably just a one-time thing. Just a friend helping a friend come in the heat of the moment, something you'd both silently and mutually agree to forget ever happened.
Still, he knew that he couldn't just avoid you forever. It'd be suspicious. Practically everyone knew how close you two were. And besides, he didn't want to avoid you. He wanted to be the one to check in on you; he felt the protective need to be the one who was there for you during your heat. Just like any good friend with zero feelings attached would. He'd just have to find a way to convince himself about that last part...
Kiri raised a puzzled eyebrow at her brother, silently asking for an explanation.
Fuck. He hadn't actually thought that far. Eager to minimize his obvious blunder, Lo'ak hurriedly attempted to cover his tracks by saying, "I mean, I can bring y/n the food instead. There's something I wanted to ask her. Something about..."
Lo'ak's voice wavered precariously as he scrambled to fabricate a credible excuse for wanting to see you again.
In a last-ditch effort to sound somewhat rational, he finally muttered the first feasible reason that popped into his head: "...it's about our next training session together. You know, warrior stuff."
He attempted to deliver a soothing grin towards his sister, yet in her perspective, Lo’ak merely resembled a brainless banshee.
With an exaggerated roll of her eyes, Kiri gave in to her brother's antics.
"Ugh. Whatever, Lo’ak. So weird," she muttered, a hint of amusement dancing in her expression. Lo'ak heaved a sigh of relief, grateful that she finally relented without digging too deep.
Wasting no time, Lo'ak eagerly hurried over to the serving table. He selected a sizable cassava leaf and began piling a mountainous portion of sari and grilled sturmbeest onto its surface. He folded the leaf around the heap of leftovers, then secured the bundle with twine, tying it into a tight knot.
With the parcel in hand, Lo'ak proceeded to make his exit from the gathering with a quick stride. As he stepped out of the crowded cave, his feet seemed to navigate the pathway toward your tent on their own accord.
Meanwhile, you found yourself cooped up in your home, where you had remained all day ever since your chance encounter with Lo'ak.
Huddled closely by a flickering fire that cast a faint, warm glow over your living space, you distractedly sharpened an impressively long spear with a dull blade.
Your nose suddenly twitched as if betraying you.
You were overwhelmed by the all-too-familiar scent of fragrant herbs, rich musk, a tantalizing sweet spice, and...grilled meat?
Your tail immediately stiffened in recognition. There was no question about it–Lo'ak was unmistakably nearby, and unfortunately, you were still most definitely in the throes of your heat. It was a catastrophe in the making. You must have been cursed by Eywa.
You heard a gentle rap at your tent's flap, followed by the whispered voice of your best friend quietly calling your name.
"y/n?"
Internally cursing your circumstances with every ounce of your being, your legs betrayed you as they involuntarily propelled you to your feet and toward the entrance of your tent. Your treacherous tail swayed in anticipation, giving away your hidden excitement.
With a reluctant move, you untied the fastening on your entryway. You cautiously lifted it open just wide enough to see the figure of Lo'ak shadowed in the darkness outside, a leaf full of what was definitely food cradled in his hands.
At that moment, you realized you had forgotten about the simple yet vital act of nourishment–the process of consuming food essential to sustaining life. Right. Such was the impact of your recent experiences that your thoughts had been entirely consumed by your primal, lust-fueled desires and the tantalizing tease of your fingers against your–
"y/n,"
Lo'ak repeated himself, noticing your lack of response to your own name. His gaze nervously shifted to the spear you held, his free palm lifted in front of him in a show of caution. The palm that held your hips down on his leg, the palm that you had eagerly traced with your tongue, the palm whose fingers were inside of you.
Momentarily lost in your thoughts, you snapped back to reality.
You casually tossed the weapon you'd been sharpening onto a nearby mat, attempting to appear calm and composed and not as though you wanted your best friend to fuck you right there in the entrance of your tent.
"I was just sharpening some of my weapons. Trying to keep myself busy."
The deeper, unspoken motivation behind your actions hung in the air between the two of you. Both you and Lo'ak understood exactly what you were alluding to.
Lo'ak bobbed his head, the two-word response, "Right. Good." escaping his lips.
He noticed your gaze shifting, avoiding his eyes and fixating on the morsel in his hands. Deciding to address the obvious, Lo'ak extended the wrapped meal toward you. "Oh, yeah. It's for you. I saw you weren't at dinner today. Or lunch, since…yeah."
A flood of emotions washed over you; embarrassment and longing mingled together as you briefly shut your eyes. The thought of sitting in the same vicinity as Lo'ak and his entire family after the intimate moment you'd shared just hours prior was too much for you.
"That definitely wasn't happening," you muttered, imagining the impossible task of looking Jake and Neytiri in the eye after what you'd done with their son.
The corner of Lo'ak's lips lifted in amusement, although he earnestly attempted to suppress it. "You have to eat, though," he advised, genuine concern evident in his voice.
You rolled your eyes at his unwavering persistence, yet you undeniably found it kind of heartwarming how deeply he cared about your well-being.
"Yeah. I know," you conceded, slowly nodding your head in agreement while deliberately avoiding meeting his eyes.
However, you were firm in your resolve that you would not accompany Lo'ak to any of his family gatherings over the coming days. You most definitely did not want to immerse yourself in that particular social minefield just yet.
Lo'ak, completely understanding of your situation, quickly tried to come up with a workable compromise that would benefit both of you.
"I can bring you leftovers every day. Until you wanna come back." He again lifted the leaf full of food towards you, emphasizing his offer.
You gratefully accepted the proffered food, inwardly feeling a sense of relief for the extension of generosity. "Yeah, that'd be really nice. Thanks," you expressed.
Though your gratitude carried a deeper sentiment, you remained uncertain if Lo'ak had truly comprehended it within your words.
"I mean, thank you for everything. For dealing with what happened earlier," you added, feeling as though you didn't have to emphasize further to relay your multifaceted appreciation and mortification.
Lo'ak, in response, nodded swiftly, unconsciously wiping his clammy palms on his thighs as he recalled the earlier happenings.
"You're welcome. And, you know, I'm here if you need help tomorrow." He visibly winced at his words, hearing how eager they sounded on his lips "–or anytime! Obviously." He added, then mentally urged himself to stop talking.
You swallowed, your mind racing at the thought of Lo'ak's offer. If it were solely your decision (notwithstanding that it kind of was), you would have seized the chance to beg for his proposed 'help' right at that very instant.
However, you definitely weren't shameless enough to ask for such a favor a second third time within the same day. No way. You'd never recover from that.
You instead nodded your head in affirmation, quietly uttering, "Okay," in agreement. You hated how short you were being with him. It felt so forced and unnatural and it left the both of you struggling to find something, anything to say.
As the tension in the room threatened to build into an awkward silence, you mustered up the courage to break it.
You stated matter-of-factly, "It's getting late. Maybe you should head back."
Lo'ak nodded in agreement, acutely aware that the suggestion was your polite way of kicking him out of your home. The fact that you took care to soften your words instead of outright telling him to get lost spoke volumes.
You desperately craved solitude, and his lingering presence only heightened the discomfort and awkwardness you probably felt.
"Yeah, no. You're right. I'll see you later."
Lo'ak turned to leave, but just as he took his first step, he remembered his earlier promise.
"I'll bring you breakfast in the morning."
The air between you seemed to thicken as Lo'ak held your gaze, his promise heavy with unspoken implications.
Your breath hitched involuntarily as the anticipation of the coming morning filled you with a desperate yearning to be in Lo'ak's company once again, and he hadn't even left yet.
Mustering all your self-control, you managed to choke out a single word.
"Okay."
With a nod, Lo'ak exited your tent.
With an effort bordering on heroic, you forced yourself to close and tie the door's flap shut, leaving you alone amid your darkened room.
Your heart thundered in your chest, and an insistent throbbing began to resonate between your legs as if a second heartbeat had sprung to life within your body. The room seemed electrified with Lo'ak's absence, and all you could do was stand there, unable to move, as the magnitude of your emotions threatened to consume you.
Early the following morning, you were abruptly awoken by the insistent sound of knocking on one of the wooden support beams at the entrance of your tent. As your groggy brain tried to make sense of the intrusion, you were besieged by a throbbing ache that radiated from deep within your core, sending tendrils of searing pain throughout your body.
It was a feeling that you had begrudgingly become accustomed to throughout your heat. Your brain immediately thought of Lo'ak, whom you were expecting to arrive any moment now, bearing the gift of breakfast as he had promised you just the night before.
You searched for that warm, familiar scent of your best friend, but it was nowhere to be found.
Still half-asleep, your thoughts were interrupted by a second wave of thumping, much louder and more insistent than before.
With a hoarse voice that barely managed to scratch out the words, you called out, "One second."
Struggling to shake off the last vestiges of sleep, you scrubbed your hands over your face and forced yourself to rise from your sleeping mat. Not even bothering to spare a thought for your disheveled appearance, you shuffled towards the front of your tent.
With a combination of grogginess and caution, you slowly untied and cracked open the covering of your tent, peering out to see who was responsible for your early morning disruption.
What you found was not the anticipated sight of Lo'ak but, instead, another member of the Sully family. Lo and behold, it was his sister, Kiri.
A look of concern began to form on Kiri's face. Her eyebrows pinched together, and she tried to stretch her neck further to get a better glimpse of what was happening inside your home.
Her eyes quickly scanned your condition, hoping to find an explanation for your sudden disappearance.
Without waiting for an invitation, Kiri pushed the cover open wider and barged inside. She carefully placed the bowl of fruit that she was carrying on a nearby table before turning around to address you.
"Where have you been?!" Kiri exclaimed, scanning the darkened room for any hints of your recent whereabouts.
Having spent countless hours inside your home, she knew her way around the place like the back of her hand. The familiarity made her feel comfortable enough to roll up all of the openings within the tent, allowing the early rays of sunlight to pour in and illuminate every corner. You squinted at the unwelcome onslaught of light, raising a hand up to shield your poor eyes.
"I didn't see you at all yesterday, and then Lo'ak came asking about you at dinner," Kiri continued, still pacing around the room, allowing more sunlight to bathe the tent. "I thought he was just being annoying about you, as usual, but then he—"
Her words trailed off as she finally turned to observe you in the shining sunlight.
Kiri's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but gasp at your state. She hurriedly stepped closer, placing her hand gently on your forehead.
She recoiled in surprise, hissing at the excessive warmth of your sweaty skin. "y/n, you're burning hot!" she shouted, her voice filled with concern.
She batted the hand shielding your eyes away, finally noticing your blown pupils and darkened irises, and a look of realization washed over her face. Kiri, an exceptionally talented apprentice healer, undoubtedly shared some kind of deep bond with Eywa. Her uncanny abilities allowed her to quickly deduce that you were, in fact, in the midst of your very first heat cycle.
"Oh, Eywa! Why didn't you tell me you entered your heat?!" Kiri exclaimed, her voice laden with surprise and concern.
Mortified at being exposed, you felt your cheeks turn purple. You were utterly bewildered as to how Kiri had managed to discern your condition simply by touching your forehead.
Attempting to regain some composure, you responded, "Not exactly the easiest conversation to have, Kiri."
You released an exasperated sigh and grabbed the bowl Kiri had previously set aside, delving into the fruit it contained to divert your attention elsewhere.
Kiri, not one to let the matter slide, marched back to you with determination. Taking your face in her hands, she scrutinized your features, angling your face left and right as if trying to decipher some hidden message written across your skin. You groaned at her steadfast resolve and the way she was handling you like a literal rag-doll.
Kiri's eyes suddenly lit up with recognition.
"Are you kidding me? You're already on day two? You should've come to me sooner! I could've given you a tincture to ease some of the pain! Skxawng." Kiri chided, her voice a mixture of affection and mild frustration.
Relinquishing her hold on your face, she swiftly confiscated the bowl of food from your lap, even snatching away the piece of yovo fruit that you had been on the verge of devouring, held halfway to your mouth.
You hissed, a sound of pure displeasure as your stomach rumbled angrily, reminding you just how hungry you were–way more so than usual. Your hand shot out towards the fruit bowl in Kiri's grasp, only to be thwarted by a swift swat from the girl.
"No way," Kiri scolded, "Yovo fruit has inflammatory properties that'll worsen your pain. I'll get you some fungus soup. It'll help soothe your blood pressure and reduce your body temperature."
With that, Kiri finally let out a sigh, clearly feeling sorry for the pitiful state you found yourself in.
You looked like a train wreck, and Kiri barely held herself back from bursting into laughter at the sight before her. Stifling her giggles, she reached out with a gentle hand to tame the tangled mess of your hair, combing through the disheveled strands before smoothing them out with a warm smile.
"You look like absolute shit, y/n."
You shot your friend a deadpan glare, unimpressed with her remark.
"And you are a terrible person, Kiri."
Kiri shook her head in amusement even as she patted you affectionately on the cheek.
"I think you mean 'your guardian angel.'"
At that, you could no longer suppress your laughter, snorting at her confident proclamation. Despite the jesting tone, deep down, you knew it was true—you didn't know what you would do without Kiri in your life, especially right now.
"So…" Kiri began tentatively, a cautious yet persistent gleam in her eyes instantly putting you on high alert. "How have you been coping with your heat? Aside from the pain, I mean."
You shifted your gaze away from her, murmuring an unconvincing "fine" under your breath.
You abruptly rose from your seat and strode across the room, hoping to distract yourself by reorganizing your already meticulously organized shelves. Your mind wandered as you diligently picked up and inspected each trinket you'd amassed over the years.
Kiri, however, must have harnessed some mystical power because, in what seemed like a blink of an eye, she materialized behind you, curiosity still etched upon her face.
"y/n…" she ventured cautiously, drawing out your name. "We've both grown into strong young women now. We can talk about these things with one another, right?"
You, however, were sure that Kiri wouldn't want to know that it was her very own brother who had aided you through your heat the day prior.
Undaunted by your continued silence and evident reluctance to engage, Kiri maintained her resolve, determined to ensure that you weren't subjecting yourself to additional suffering by deliberately abstaining from the obvious pleasure of release.
"Had you ever touched yourself? I mean, before your heat started."
Your cheeks flushed at Kiri's blunt inquiry, the question hanging between you. You were well aware of the question's implications and knew about the topic before you even entered your heat.
It was unavoidable, really, considering you had spent time socializing with groups of Omatikaya girls over the years. Such conversations would inevitably arise, particularly from the more boy-crazy girls who swooned over the tribe's popular warriors.
As the memories flooded back, you could vividly recall the animated banter and giggles that echoed around you, reminding you of their frivolous nature.
During these chit-chats, you often felt like a fish out of water. You were a warrior-in-training and had grown up alongside the boys that they fawned over–namely Neteyam and Lo'ak. For that reason, your bond with the brothers, as well as with the other warriors, was entirely different.
For you, the warriors were your friends and training companions. All you ever thought about was perfecting your skills, being a better fighter, and proving your mettle to the tribe.
You had nothing against the girls who rambled on about their latest crushes. You actually found it quite interesting. However, you rarely entertained fanciful thoughts about boys for most of your childhood, and you had certainly never acted on any fleeting notions that might have crossed your mind.
Your prolonged silence spoke volumes and seemed to telepathically convey your answer to Kiri. With a gentle grin that almost appeared apologetic, she extended a hand toward you. She tenderly grasped your shoulder, providing a reassuring squeeze.
"That's completely normal, yawne." she soothingly whispered. "You don't need to do anything if it feels uncomfortable. But if you want to, and you do have those urges to relieve yourself, that's also okay. It's all very exploratory—you try things and uncover what you enjoy most."
You couldn't deny the overwhelming wave of affection that washed over you at that moment.
Considering how juvenile your previous response had been when Kiri tried to coax you into discussing your true feelings, you marveled at her unrelenting patience and sincere support throughout your conversation.
It was as if Kiri possessed the calm wisdom of a person thrice her age merged with the loving empathy of a dear friend–a rare and enchanting combination.
The reassuring touch of Kiri's hand, coupled with the warmth in her amber eyes, broke down your mental walls.
In surrender, you nodded, a glint of gratitude sparkling in your gaze. A tender smile danced upon your lips, silently voicing your appreciation for Kiri's unwavering kindness and gentle guidance.
"I'd never actually done anything like that to myself until yesterday," you admitted, laughing at your own naivety.
Kiri tilted her head, amused by your self-deprecating humor.
"You know," Kiri began, mischief dancing in her eyes and voice alike. "Many young women discover the object of their heart's desires during their first heat."
Your breath hitched at the mention of this phenomenon, and the memories rushed back to you, unbidden. You recalled the raw, magnetic attraction that had struck you the moment you'd laid eyes on Lo'ak the previous day. A visceral, almost irrepressible urge had come over you—an unquenchable longing to be close to him, experience him, taste him.
As your distracted expression shifted to one of pure, unbridled longing, Kiri's eyes widened in surprise. Never before had she seen you wear such a mask of desire and want, and she couldn't suppress her shock at the sight.
"What was that look all about?" she blurted, pointing at your face in disbelief.
Trying (and failing) to appear coolheaded, you quickly scrunched up your face and feigned ignorance. "What look?"
Not one to be easily swayed, Kiri stubbornly pointed her finger in front of your face, demanding an explanation.
"That look right there! Don't try to hide it. You so have feelings for someone. Who? You have to tell me!"
Kiri paused to turn away, her face scrunching up in momentary distaste as another thought crossed your mind.
"–but please, spare me the details if it happens to be one of my brothers," she finished, only half-joking. The thought was enough to make her shudder.
The moment you fell into a curious silence, Kiri's ears immediately perked up.
She hastily whirled around to face you, a look of sheer horror etched upon her features. You stood beside her, awkwardly fidgeting with your fingers, face flushed with what you were sure was a deep shade of purple.
"No way," Kiri exclaimed disbelievingly.
Yet, your silence persisted, provoking a deep groan of exasperation from the girl before you.
With a dramatic flourish, Kiri leaped to her feet and paced erratically back and forth within the confines of your tent, throwing her hands into the air in equal parts frustration and hilarity.
"I knew it!" she shouted, pausing her frantic march to face you.
"I've always had this gut feeling right from our childhood! Great Mother... it's so glaringly obvious! Just last night, he was asking about you. That's why he brought you leftovers for–" Kiri abruptly halted mid-sentence, a horrifying revelation dawning upon her.
Her face contorted into an expression of horror as she pieced the puzzle together. Barely able to contain her incredulity, she stammered, "Oh my–Did you two...?"
Open-ended as Kiri's question was, it could have been easily misconstrued. But despite its seemingly limitless possibilities, the question did indeed possess a clear, unspoken intent.
You both exchanged knowing, furtive glances, acutely aware of the answer that loomed unsaid between you.
Mustering every ounce of courage you could find, you spoke up. "It was just one time. Yesterday morning."
Kiri shook her head in disbelief. "So he came back looking for more last night? Eywa, help me. I swear, I'm going to murder my brother with my bare hands."
Immediately, Kiri rose to her feet and began storming towards the entrance of your tent.
"What a skxawng, making a move on you during your first heat when you're at your most vulnerable!" She continued, a look of pure fury dancing in her eyes.
Fearing that Kiri might actually attempt to strangle Lo'ak, you quickly intervened to placate your infuriated friend.
"No! I asked him to! He was actually...gentle and caring about the whole thing."
Your words made Kiri's face twist in disgust for what felt like the hundredth time, utterly repelled by the idea of her brother being 'caring' in the heat of the moment.
You both were suddenly interrupted by yet another knock coming from the entrance to your tent.
This time around, you instantly recognized the distinct aroma of Lo'ak lingering just a few paces away. When he called out your name, you let out a small gasp, your ears perking up and your tail excitedly swinging behind you.
Kiri, witnessing the scene, was nothing short of horrified. Her jaw dropped as her face twisted into an expression of unbridled revulsion.
"Please, please, please tell me you're joking," she muttered, praying that what she had just learned was nothing more than a cruel joke.
You could only manage a shaky exhale, your eyes unwaveringly focused on the front of your tent. Despite Kiri's efforts to maintain a stubborn facade, she couldn't resist chuckling at your love-struck demeanor.
Affectionately, she gave your shoulder a squeeze before rising to her feet and striding with purpose toward the tent's entrance. Lifting the flap open, she revealed a bewildered Lo'ak, who definitely wasn't expecting to see his sister inside your tent.
"I'm leaving," Kiri announced before her brother could even muster a single query about the unfolding situation.
Shoving her way past the dumbfounded boy, she pivoted to face him, a menacing glint in her eyes. "Do not do anything stupid. I will kill you."
Kiri turned to offer you a casual wave, eliciting a feeble, awkwardly returned gesture from you. With that, Kiri exited the tent, abandoning her brother to an anxious silence with you.
Lo'ak lingered in the entryway, his brows furrowed in bewilderment, clutching a platter piled high with the morning's breakfast offerings—a token of his promise from the previous night to bring you something to eat that morning.
In a sudden, rather embarrassing move, you found yourself by his side at the front of the tent too quickly. Desperate to recover from your reflexive reaction to his presence, you hastily took the plate from his hands, stating, "Thanks. Your sister beat you to me, though."
You set the plate on the table carefully, right in the same spot where Kiri's yovo fruit-filled bowl once rested. You wondered if déjà vu was a sign of entering one's heat.
Just then, Lo'ak broke into your thoughts with a hushed "shit."
You glanced up at him, almost sure he had just connected the dots.
"Does she know?" He asked, his eyes widening in fear.
You nodded your head, averting your gaze away from Lo'ak's face. "Kiri is a very smart girl."
Despite your overwhelming embarrassment, you found it nearly impossible to suppress the tiny smile that subtly danced upon your lips. Though maybe that was due to the heart-fluttering closeness you shared with Lo'ak at that very moment. It felt as though every single nerve ending within your body was set ablaze, becoming ultra-sensitive merely from breathing the same air as the boy.
Lo'ak hesitated, lingering awkwardly by your door as if he were a cautious animal, evidently unsure if you would be comfortable with him inside your home.
Perceptive as you were, you quickly caught on to his uncertainty and frantically scrambled to conjure up an excuse for him to stay. "Why the fuck is this so difficult?" you thought to yourself.
Coming up with things to say to Lo'ak should be second nature–this was your best friend. It was never uncomfortable or awkward with him; there was always something to say, something to joke about. You grew up inseparable, forever intertwined with shared experiences and adventures, always ensuring there was never a dreary moment in one another's presence.
"You can come inside, skxawng," you reassured him light-heartedly, hoping to dissolve some of the tension. "I'm not going to bite you."
You silently prayed to Eywa, fervently hoping that you would be able to keep your word.
Lo'ak, to his credit, took your playful jest in stride. He let out an amused snort, his eyes twinkling with mirth as he finally settled into your home. You moved to sit beside the heaping plate of assorted fruits, picking up a ripe, juicy piece and taking a huge bite.
With an encouraging smile, you urged Lo'ak to join you by nodding your head towards the delectable spread.
Lo'ak breathed out a sigh of relief, feeling more at ease as he sat beside you. Nonetheless, he maintained just enough of a respectful distance between you for your comfort–a gesture that did not go unnoticed.
"So," you ventured, striving to keep the conversation flowing and centered around innocuous subjects, steering it clear of your own personal matters. "What do you have planned for the day?"
Lo'ak smiled, thankful that you were making an effort to engage in conversation, because he sure as hell was inept at doing so.
"I have training with Neteyam later this afternoon," Lo'ak replied, his expression taking on a determined glint. "We're supposed to drive a pack of viperwolves further away from the southern boundary. Then I think I might go check out that waterfall—y'know, the one I told you about the other day—with Oa and Teon'i after that."
Lo'ak tilted his head to one side as he thoughtfully chewed on a sweet, tangy piece of fruit plucked from the plate. "And I'll probably be avoiding Kiri for the entire day, so. Wish me luck."
Lo'ak's enthusiasm was contagious as he shared his plans for the day, and you couldn't help the grin that spread across your face. Deep down, a twinge of FOMO tugged at your heartstrings, knowing that you'd be confined to your home for at least the next day or two. You missed the forest, missed being able to hunt and train and make yourself useful to the tribe.
However, you were more than content to live vicariously through Lo'ak's escapades until you recovered and felt like your usual self.
Shaking your head in amusement, you teased, "So, you're taking Oa to a waterfall? Whose brilliant idea was that? We all know he can't swim for shit."
Lo'ak, in the middle of stuffing his face with another piece of fruit, snickered, some of the juice grossly dribbling down his chin. You grimaced, rolling your eyes as you watched him messily wipe it away with the back of his palm. Lo'ak continued talking with his mouth full. "He swears he's a pro swimmer! I already bet Teon'i that Oa would wuss out before we even mount our ikran."
Your face shown in amusement, and you playfully jabbed him in the ribs. "Right. You're one to talk, Mr. Almost-Drowned-In-Waist-Deep-Water."
Lo'ak feigned bewilderment, scoffing in response. "I was practically a baby back then, like, seven years old!"
You shook your head, your voice lilting with suppressed laughter. "Lo'ak, you're such a liar. You were definitely at least thirteen."
Lo'ak tried to press his lips into a thin line, stubbornly shaking his head in disagreement as if he wasn't a whole teenager when he finally learned to swim. His little act lasted all of about two seconds before he joined you in your cackles, knowing deep down that you were right.
"Pxasìk!" he chastised with a wide grin, unable to contain his amusement.
Reaching over, he playfully tugged at the beaded braid that hung among the strands of hair framing your face. Teasing him back, you hissed in response, leaning out of his reach. However, the tickle that raced down your spine from his fleeting touch sent a jolt of surprise and delight through your entire being.
The two of you continued to devour your platter in companionable silence for a while longer, the weight of the unacknowledged emotions in the room growing heavier and more conspicuous with each passing second in which you had nothing else to focus on.
You were hyper-aware of Lo'ak's presence beside you, so much so that you could practically feel the rhythm of his heart thumping in his chest, the faint whoosh of air as he inhaled, the gentle puff as he exhaled.
The intensity of your feelings was overwhelming, and before you even realized it, your leg started to bounce nervously, crisscrossed beneath you.
Your fingers dug into your skin with an anxiety-driven force as you tried to regain control over your emotions. It was only when you became conscious of your tense and irrational actions that you mustered the willpower to force yourself to unwind as best you could, releasing the grip on your legs and restlessly tucking your hair behind your ears with a quiet exhale.
It was Lo'ak who finally shattered the uncomfortable silence that hung in the air. The beads of his braids clashed together as he turned his head, his gaze focused on you.
"I didn't ask before because... well, I don't know why, but. How are you feeling today, with everything?"
You made a valiant attempt at playing it cool, shaking your head nonchalantly and shrugging your shoulders. You weren't sure if your voice could even be trusted to articulate a response.
Clearly dissatisfied with your lackluster reply, Lo'ak scooted his body closer, placing a gentle hand on your arm and tilting his head in a futile attempt to catch your gaze.
"y/n?" he spoke with a tone that skirted on being a scolding. It wasn't a question; in fact, it was quite the opposite. It was a firm demand. He had no intention of letting you avoid confronting the topic at hand. You groaned internally, silently reprimanding yourself for choosing a best friend as stubborn as you were.
You finally spoke up. "Lo'ak, you really don't have to—" but he abruptly cut you off before you could finish your sentence.
"I know I don't have to," Lo'ak interjected, firmly yet gently, punctuating his point with a reassuring squeeze to your arm. "But I want to." His expression turned anguished as he continued, "I barely even fucking slept last night. I couldn't stop thinking about you, if you were okay."
The moment was electric, punctuated by the sharp inhalation of your breath as you felt the weight of Lo'ak's piercing gaze. The intensity was overwhelming, and you found yourself unable to maintain eye contact, your gaze flitting away nervously.
The air between you and Lo'ak was thick with unspoken tension.
Lo'ak bravely let his hand glide slowly, deliberately, up your arm, tracing the outline of your dark stripes, taking his time to caress the curve of your shoulder, and finally continuing to trace the delicate line of your neck. He gently cradled your jaw, his fingers framing the softness of your face.
You automatically nuzzled into his palm, warm and sure–the sole anchor tethering you to reality. His eyes, dark and smoldering, traced over your features, mapped out the intricate patterns created by your bioluminescent freckles before falling to your full, flushed lips—bitten red from your nervous habit. He noticed two small indents on your lower lip, evidence of the slight punctures from your fangs. He inadvertently swiped his tongue over his own lower lip, as if he'd be able to feel the indentations on his own skin
You were so pretty, so soft and pliant under his touch, and it was slowly driving him to the brink of madness.
Almost unconsciously, his thumb began to trace a deliberate journey over the same path his eyes had just taken. Trailing a path over the freckles that painted your cheeks, down the bridge of your nose, across your jaw, all the way down to the jut of your chin.
He gently tugged at your bottom lip with the pad of his thumb, the expression in his eyes daring you to respond.
He knew that he was being too forward, too affectionate, the line between friendship and something more growing increasingly blurry.
There was just something about the way you were looking at him, like he was more than just your stupid friend, more than the second-born son to the olo'eyktan—the screw-up, the freak. You looked at Lo'ak like you were seeing him.
Caught in his enchanting web, you yielded to temptation and softly bit down on his thumb, your body practically thrumming with need under his intense gaze.
Your mind was ablaze with the vivid memory of his hand, slick with your desire and the heady taste of yourself as you eagerly licked him clean.
Lo'ak let a tiny, knowing grin spread across his face, no doubt recalling the same memory. He gently removed his thumb from the warm prison of your teeth, allowing your lip to bounce back to its natural position, and you nearly whined at the loss of contact.
"Thought you said you wouldn't bite," he chided, his warm hand still cupping your jaw.
You narrowed your eyes in confusion at Lo'ak's musings. Your already fuzzy brain desperately scrambled to remember when the fuck you had made such a statement.
Lo'ak's grin widened in full upon seeing your bemused expression, his thumb leisurely tracing little circles on your lower lip.
The gesture was entirely too distracting.
It sent a wave of tingles from the base of your skull all the way down your tailbone. You let your eyes fall shut, unable to stop yourself from folding under his touch.
The moment was suddenly and rather unceremoniously yanked away from you both by the rustling sound of the flap to your tent lifting open. You silently cursed yourself and Lo'ak for forgetting to tie the flap closed, solely blaming his entrancing and all-consuming presence for the oversight.
Right on cue, Kiri strolled into the room, her arms laden with two bulky containers.
Still finding yourselves in a decidedly suspicious position, you and Lo'ak fumbled to create some distance–your combined attempt at seeming casual a spectacular failure.
"Really?" Kiri began with a tone of disbelief, dramatically dropping the containers on the table between the two of you with a loud thud that echoed throughout the tent.
You widened your eyes, blinking rapidly, convinced that you were on the brink of emotional whiplash.
"I leave you two alone for five minutes…." Kiri continued, exasperation evident in her voice as she rubbed her eyes in frustration.
"y/n, yawne," she began with the patience of a saint. "This is the tincture for your pain, and that is your soup."
She pointed at each container as she emphasized their functions with an air of authority, adding, "It should be enough for a couple of days, at the very least."
Kiri then proceeded to give you a set of simple yet vital instructions.
"All you need to do is mix a scoop of the medicine into a bowl of the soup, eat it, and then sleep. And I mean seriously sleep." Pausing for dramatic effect, Kiri shot a piercing glare at Lo'ak, emphasizing the last word, "Alone."
Lo'ak's jaw visibly clenched in retaliation to his sister's nagging authoritative command. Kiri was cursed with the worst timing in the world.
Deep down, Lo'ak knew she was right; you needed food, medicine, and rest to recover properly.
But he just couldn't shake the desire to be by your side every step of the way. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving your side, even for a moment. Lo'ak was so devoted to your well-being that he was ready to throw caution to the wind and abandon his training session, forsake the trip he had planned to the waterfall with his friends, and toss aside any other obligations or engagements that stood in his way, all just to be near you and tend to your needs, to watch the way you melted into his touch, to bask in your presence, so beautiful and soft–
Kiri couldn't help but notice her brother's complete and utter lack of urgency. Lo'ak seemed to have become a statue, frozen in place, as he fixed his gaze on a seemingly unremarkable spot on the floor near the front of the tent.
She decided to snap him out of that particular state by abruptly clearing her throat.
At the unexpected sound, Lo'ak finally tore his gaze away from the floor and found Kiri glaring right back at him, a challenge reflected in her raised eyebrows.
Sighing, Lo'ak closed his eyes for a fleeting moment, gathering every ounce of strength he possessed to restrain himself from cursing out his sister right then and there.
He recognized the futility of resisting Kiri and reluctantly mumbled, "Yeah, okay," before pushing himself off the floor.
As he stood, he managed to make eye contact with you, offering an apologetic glance. You appeared dazed, your eyes glazed over, and your lips slightly parted as if you were perpetually on the verge of saying something.
The tender moment, however, was shattered by Kiri, who decided this was the perfect opportunity to further humiliate her brother.
She grabbed Lo'ak by the ear and began to drag him toward the front door. Wincing in pain and trying to keep up with Kiri's powerful strides, Lo'ak briefly wondered if his sister had somehow acquired super-strength overnight.
As they reached the door, Kiri paused just long enough to call out to you.
"Rest up, y/n," she advised in a caring tone, not forgetting to add a hint of playfulness. She punctuated her words with a warm smile before turning on her heels and leading a pouting Lo'ak out of the little tent.
Taglist: @vanillawhale
Previously: Chapter I
Keep reading: Chapter III, Chapter IV
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