Ill Do What It Takes|Charlie Weasley

I’ll Do What It Takes|Charlie Weasley

Pairings: Charlie Weasley x fem!reader

Summary: it’s time for the quidditch World Cup so you and your boyfriend decide to go with his family.

Warnings: swearing, blood, fighting, use of pet names, teeth-rotting fluff

A/N: this oneshot follows the book events in Goblet of Fire at what happens at the World Cup.

The Quidditch World Cup. Your boyfriend invited you to go with his family. And of course you said yes. You had met his family a couple of times usually spending your holidays with them when you weren’t treating wounds.

Working in the medical ward is how you met Charlie. You were a year younger than him in Hogwarts, maybe that’s why you never talked to each other.

Though you quickly became friends and then one drunken kiss lead to where you are now. Two years of solid dating and hopefully forever left to go.

Currently you were packing your trunks to leave for the Burrow when Charlie got done taking care of the new baby dragons. Even though you heard the door close you kept folding clothes.

Two arms snaked around your waist and kissed the top of your head, “Hey, love.” Charlie greeted.

You grinned turning your head towards him planting a kiss on his lips. “Hey, darling.”

Charlie planted kisses on your cheek and started down. You tilted your head to the side, giving him more access as he trailed kisses down your neck. You giggled shaking your head

“Baby, I need to finish folding these clothes or were never going to get ready to leave.”

He huffed, halting his loving kisses and just nuzzled his face in the crook your neck as you continued to fold.

Once you were done and had shut the trunks you spun around in his arms wrapping your arms around his neck. “How are the babies?”

“Doing great, love. John’s taking over for me while we’re visiting this week.” You nodded.

“We’re taking a portkey right? I don’t want to apparate that far. I get a bit uneasy just thinking about it.” Charlie nodded.

“It’s an old bucket hat, out there.”

So you and Charlie trekked up the hill to the portkey.

You landed in the field outside of the Burrow and once you and Charlie stepped in you were attacked with kisses and hugs from everyone.

Molly Weasley pounced on you first, “Y/N, dear, it’s so good to have you!”

“Hi!” You smiled brightly accepting the hugs from Molly, Arthur, Bill, Ginny, Ron, even Hermione Granger.

When you saw the twins you gave them fist bumps, you kept your voice low, “How’s the joke shop coming along?”

“Mum was mad that we didn’t get as many O.W.L.S as she thought we would. Said we were wasting our brains on jokes.” George explained.

You have a sympathetic smile, “Just so you know, I think it’s so cool you can use your brains like that. Charlie and I will be the first ones in line, promise.” Fred and George’s smiles lit up beaming at you. Fred jutted his thumb towards you.

“Keep her, Charlie, or I’ll kidnap her.” You shook your head, grinning as Charlie came up wrapping an arm around your shoulders and placing a quick kiss to your temple.

“She’s stuck with me forever, sorry boys.” You rolled your eyes with a chuckle.

Later that Sunday evening, Arthur, Fred, George, and Ron left to go pick up Harry from the Dursleys.

You were sitting next to Charlie as he was talking to Bill and you. Charlie had his hand on your knee as he talked to his brother.

When everyone got back Arthur was scolding Fred about the ton-tongue toffee he gave to Dudley Dursley. When Molly got involved into the match; you watched the Golden trio and Ginny run upstairs.

When you were setting up dinner, Charlie and Bill had the task of setting up the tables for dinner. Charlie was fighting with his table in the air with Bill’s.

“Charlie, get him!” You cheered, and it seemingly distracted Charlie to lose a leg of his table. When Bill fixed the tables you walked over to Bill giving him a high-five.

“You rotten witch!” Charlie exclaimed. “You two cheated me out.”

“I’m sorry you got distracted by me.” You mock frowned walking back over to your boyfriend.

“You’re just too gorgeous, how could I not?” You rolled your eyes lightly hitting him in the chest as he chuckled.

Dinner was lovely. You sat next to Charlie; listening to Fred, George and him talk about the World Cup.

“It’s got to be Ireland.” Your boyfriend said talking with his mouthful of potato. You rolled your eyes.

“Bulgaria has Victor Krum.”

“I say,” you started turning to the boys, “Ireland’s most definitely going to win, but Lynch isn’t going to catch the snitch. It’ll be Krum.”

George rose his eyebrows, “Did you play quidditch at Hogwarts?”

“‘Course I did. Y/h’s seeker.”

“Woah! Harry’s a seeker himself. George and I are beaters.”

Charlie grinned watching you get along with his family.

The next morning, Ginny and Hermione had woken you up since they had to take the portkey. You had planned on apparating with Charlie, Percy, and Bill. It was just so you could sleep in a bit longer, but that plan had obviously failed. You were now up searching for something to do. Not wanting to wake anyone else, you slipped into the twin’s room. You knew Charlie was staying there.

Charlie seemed to be up too; he was reading a book. He looked up when you opened the door and grinned. Silently, you waddled over to him with your blanket wrapped around you and crawled into the bed next to him.

“Couldn’t sleep?” He asked, looking down at you.

“Couldn’t go back to sleep. Ginny and Hermione had left and it woke me up. It’s alright though, I’ll just stay here with you.” He nodded kissing your forehead and putting the book on the bedside table.

He brought you in his arms cuddling you close to him. Charlie was always so warm and it was so easy to fall asleep in his arms.

By the time you all had apparated and found your tent. You watched as Arthur Weasley was having so much fun with the matches. Bless him.

You were sitting on the couch reading next to Charlie when the trio of Hermione, Harry and Ron had come back.

When you made it to the top box you found your seat next to Charlie and Fred. Fred and George had bet all their savings with Ludo Bagman so they couldn’t get souvenirs. You were proud to know they bet on what you thought was going to happen. So, you bought them both shamrock hats.

When you ran into the malfoys, they eagerly waved and hugged you. They were great friends with your parents and you used to babysit draco. You ruffled up his hair and his cheeks turned pink as he tried to fix it.

“You’re friends with the Malfoy’s?” Harry Potter asked with a tilt of his head.

“Mhm, I used to babysit Draco.”

“I cant believe you could handle that git.” Ron muttered watching Draco stalk off.

As the game went on, at tense moments you would squeeze Charlie’s leg. He would grin and shake his head with a small chuckle.

After the game, you watched the twins eagerly accept their money from Bagman. “Thanks, Y/N. We went with what you told us.”

You shook your head, “Merlin, glad I wasn’t wrong.”

Everyone was celebrating in the tent and you were leaning against Charlie’s shoulder on the couch. You assumed you had fallen asleep because woke up to screams. It seems you were the the only one up when you stepped outside the tent to see a marching bad of death eaters. They were holding four muggles in the air like they were puppets. You screamed running back in.

Death Eaters.

“Charlie!” You yelled waking him, Bill, and Percy up.

“What’s wrong, Baby?” He muttered, sleepiness still coating his voice.

“We have to get out of here. Now.” Charlie shot awake.

“What’s happening?” Percy asked, ready to spring into action.

“Death eaters.” You four ran and got Mr. Weasley quickly explaining. You grabbed Ginny and Hermione leading them all outside the tent. You threw a robe over your nightdress and gathered everyone.

Fred and George were supposed to keep up with Ginny. You took the task of Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

Before Charlie ran off to fight he pulled you in for a sweet kiss. It was needy and passionate.

It was a promise to come back.

“You better stay safe.” You muttered.

“You better kick arse.” He smirked before running after Bill and Percy.

“Let’s go.” You, Ron, Harry, and Hermione took off. That’s when you ran into Draco.

He was so casual. You knew why. He made a comment to Ron about his falling and you rolled your eyes.

“Draco, just stay safe. Please.” You whispered to him as the other three kept running.

“You too.” You took off easily catching up with the three. You heard a man cast the dark mark spell. That’s when you took off after him.

The three kids were shouting not to, but you were going to take him down.

You were stalking him in the forest. Who was the prey? Him or you? You didn’t know. It was getting to quiet.

Then it happened.

The man grabbed you and slammed you on the ground. He kicked you, and you rolled off to the side with a groan.

“Son of a bitch.” You hissed.

When you got up he landed his fist in your nose. You finally fired back kneeing him in the abdomen and punching his nose now. He groaned taking a few steps back before he pounced again yanking you by your hair to face him.

You couldn’t see your attacker. It was too dark in the woods to tell. You heard shouts from where you came from, but when they were coming this way he dragged you by your hair. He hid both of you behind a tree a finger placed to your lips to keep quiet.

You bit his finger and he muttered crazy bitch or something of the sort. He kept quiet as the other man passed finding an elf, Winky.

When he was gone, you took the chance to shove him out of your reach.

—-

As you were fighting, the golden trio and Arthur went back to the tent to find out what was happening.

When they arrived, Charlie quickly stood, “Where’s Y\n?”

“She’s not back?” Harry gasped.

“No? She left with you? Where is she?”

—-

The man had shook you like a rag-doll some more. When you were on the ground, he took the chance to disapparate. You picked yourself up and dragged yourself all the way back to your tent.

“Where is she?” Charlie asked again through the tent.

“Where is who?” You asked slipping into the tent.

To say the least you looked awful. Your robe and nightdress had been ripped and blood splattered across it. Your face was littered with cuts and bruises. Your lip was cut, your nose was bleeding and bruised. Your upper arm had a gash bleeding. Your feet got torn up by the sticks. Your hair was frizzy and sticks were in it from him yanking you and throwing you down.

“Holy shit.” Charlie muttered running over to you. “You look awful.”

You chuckled, coughing a little bit of blood, “You should see the other guy.”

Charlie turned angrily towards the golden trio. “What happened?”

“She ran off into the forest. Whoever cashed the dark mark was right there in our grasp. Y/n took her chance and pounced. We would’ve chased after her but we were circled by the Ministry and having to deal with that. Though I thought Mr. Diggory was searching for a culprit. How did he not find you fighting someone?”

You grinned showing your blood-stained teeth, “he grabbed me by the hair and told me to stay quiet behind the tree. I took the chance and bit his finger.”

“Badass.” Fred smirked from the back of the room.

“Badass.” You agreed, leaning on Charlie. “I haven’t had a physical fight without wands in ages. I kinda just attacked him.”

“Did you get a look at him?” Arthur Weasley asked.

You shook your head, “No. it was too dark.”

Charlie set you up on the table and got his wand to fix you up. “No, babe.” You muttered shaking your head, “I’m the healer, remember?”

“Yes, but you’re hurt. I’ll do what it takes to keep you safe.”

You smiled softly as he patched you up. You were as good as new since there were no magic affects. You sighed, “How’d you rip your shirt? Is that a new scar?” You asked running your finger along it.

“Yeah, badass.” You giggled as he carried you off to bed.

When you got home the next morning you and Charlie decided to stay a few more days. You were cuddled up in bed next to your boyfriend a little sore from last night events at the World Cup. You ran your finger along his scars drawing little patterns.

“Did you mean what you said?”

He hummed glancing from his book to you, “What’re you talking about, Love?”

“That you said you would do what it takes?”

“‘Course I did. I’ll make sure you always come home. I’ll do what it takes.”

You nodded, “You too Weasley.”

“I’ll always do what it takes to bring you home back to me.” You sealed your promise with a kiss.

ೃ⁀➷ i hope nobody catch us, but i kinda hope they catch us.

- ,, neteyam x fem reader

- ,, you and neteyam get caught making out?

- ,, warnings - SUGGESTIVE! adults watch out this is a teenager ur reading abt. minors be careful yo, making out, neteyam is like deadass whipped for u.., can u guys tell i love when character is whiny and so inlove atp??

-‘๑’- les - childish gambino

Your friendship with Neteyam is not exactly.. per say, a friendship. Its what you would technically call it, since you both gave it no other said title. But we all know you guys aren’t just friends, lo’ak knows, kiri knows, spider knows, jake and neytiri know, hell, even tuk knows. Everyone acts oblivious as it is.

There are times where you wonder what your relationship really is, anything but “just friends” comes to mind, some specific memories take you back and give you scary realizations.

For instance, that one time when the whole crew was hanging out together in the forest, our designated hangout spot, you showed up a little after everyone else because you had errands to run, and Neteyam had saved a spot just for you.

“hey guys”

“y/nnnnnnnn” tuk smiles at you and runs towards you with her arms outstretched, signifying her desire to be picked up and spun by you, you do just that and laugh with her. “What’s little girl doing here with the big kids” you question teasingly, knowing Tuk dislikes being called a little girl.

“y/n, finally bro , i almost thought you ditched us” lo’ak says dramatically and spider and kiri laugh, you walk to the group with Tuk in your arms as you slap the back of lo’ak’s head, Tuk jumping out of your arms to go lay in Kiri’s lap.

You look at neteyam, he hasn’t taken his eyes off you since the moment you came into their vision, he’s leaning against a tree, sitting with his legs spread quite a bit, manspreading was a trait neteyam got from his father, and it was so hot.

He pats the space between his legs, and you happily oblige. “hi” you whisper when you look up at neteyam, his chin resting on your head, his arms encircling your figure, thumb rubbing sweet circles on your thigh. “hi sweetheart” he flashes you his infamous smile.

Or that one time when you went hunting for rabbits with him in the forest, you just couldn’t set your aim right, it was getting so frustrating you almost cried. But hey, you have neteyam with you, don’t worry!

He helps you fix your posture, his chest pressing up against your back, he’s so close you can feel his breath on your cheek, his deep voice rumbling in your ear that tells you to focus makes you do quite the opposite. How could you possibly focus when he’s this close to you? Your insides are exploding with butterflies, your lower belly warm and your lip almost draws blood from how hard you’ve bitten it.

Somehow you end up hitting a rabbit with your arrow without even realizing and only realize the situation when you hear neteyam’s laugh and him congratulating you. “you got it y/n!!” (mf that was all you)

This man really has no idea of the effects he has on you does he?

You don’t have to think hard of moments like these with neteyam, they rush through your mind like a film reel. Countless.

No one really thought much of it when they saw you and neteyam having moments like these. No one questioned when he called you sweetheart, or his love, or beautiful, or some sort of nickname on a daily basis, not even you. All waiting for that one particular moment where you both realize its love and make it official.

Which seems so likely to happen today, the tension is thick through the roof with everything that just happened.

You’re patching him up because of course he just got into a fight with some dingus because lo’ak can’t handle a fight alone for shit.

“y/n, gentle please” neteyam lets out a low hiss as you dab a piece of cloth on the cut that bleeds on his jaw.

You’re angry with him, he knows that. And god, he’s angry with himself too, but what’s he gonna do if his baby won’t talk to him?

He doesn’t know what to say, anything to ease the tension, so he decides to go with

“are you upset?” he looks at you with soft eyes

you move his face around to find any other cuts to deal with, his chin between your fingers “so upset, you don’t even know” you hold back a grin at his quiet voice.

“im sorry y/n, lo’ak would get his ass handed to him if i wasn’t there” he sounds so desperate, which he is, for you.

your heart swells, you wanna play.

you put on an act and look away from him, huffing in faux anger.

“y/n please” he whispers, looking at you with pure distress in his eyes, you think you can even see tears. He’s so hard to resist right now, how is he not catching onto your game?? Or maybe he is playing along?

You decide you’re done. With two things.

Torturing him, and torturing yourself.

You stroke the apple of his cheek with your thumb, swiping at the tear that dare fall from his eye “take it easy neteyam” he nods eagerly, he’ll listen to you until he dies.

You sigh, and clean up the cloth and medicine and get ready to leave, standing up but neteyam grabs your wrist and pulls you down, onto his lap, his arms circling your waist as he holds you close to him.

His forehead rests on your collarbone and you stroke his hair.

“okay, nete look at me..” he obeys.

you cup his face in your soft hands, he nuzzles against them and you lean forward, you look at his eyes and he’s already closed them. God!!! He’s so cute you could squeal!!!

You smash your lips against his and his hands automatically bring you closer, your legs straddling his lap as you run your hands through his hair, grazing at his nape.

Neteyam pulls away to look at you for a split second, and you look so so pretty he just can’t hold his tongue, “i love you” he whispers against your lips, three words meant for you and you only. He goes back to kiss you before you could reply, he gives you a few open-mouthed kisses before you mewl into his mouth and he crumbles.

Neteyam groans and he attaches his lips to your jaw, giving you gentle kisses that trail down to your neck, “i love you so much y/n” you wonder where he learnt this from.

“i love you neteyam” you whisper as you feel yourself grow more impatient as time goes.

he kisses you again and you feel him smile into the kiss, your chest is warm, neteyam intertwines his hand with yours and it becomes sloppy quiet fast.

you’re both a mess, whining into each others mouths , you’re so deep into it you don’t even realize footsteps getting louder and louder, eventually you are pulled out of your fantasies when you hear neytiri address her son right before she catches sight of you both in this sinful activity, you pull apart suddenly and scramble to get off his lap, failing miserably as neteyam seems opposed to the idea of letting go of you.

“neteyam! fuck!” you whisper-yell and shove your face into his shoulder, his hands still on your hips as he sputters to explain to his mother what she just witnessed

Neytiri coughs.

“mother i was just- we were- “

“making out?” Neytiri chuckles and shakes her head, making her way out after grabbing the plate you used to fix neteyam’s wounds.

“neteyammmmmm i can’t do this right noww” you cry embarrassed into his shoulder and he shudders at the thought of his mom knowing what you guys were doing. He laughs soon after, snaking his hands around your waist as he holds you in his lap

“i don’t know this isn’t all that funny nete” you grumble and shake your head, “poor neytiri”

“no.. poor neteyam, i didn’t get to finish “making out” with you” he says, putting up fingers meant to imitate quotation marks to mock his moms words.

you slap his arm gently “as much as i was enjoying, i don’t wanna risk getting caught again.. ewya forbids its tuk next time.. i would never even kiss you again”

he gasps, putting a hand over his chest to fake his hurt and you giggle at his expression

he kisses you again, and again, and again until you have to put your hand over his lips and tell him to stop in between a fit of giggles, he laughs with you “just kissing you enough so i don’t die when you refuse me later” you grin so hard your cheeks hurt, but its so worth it.

You hear lo’ak , spider , kiri, jake , and tuk cheering from outside, “GO BIG BRO” “is y/n my actual sister now?” “ugh finally they stopped beating around the bush” “thats my son, on his lap?? thats literally us neytiri!”

Oh.. Neytiri told them. Great!

His Secret Admirer (Final Part) - Neteyam x fem na’vi reader

part one part two part three

wc: 8.3k

a/n: ahhh you guys we’ve reached the end of the His Secret Admirer series! So bittersweet :,). Thank you for all the love on the chapters I’ve put out, it means a lot that people enjoy my writing this much. And thank you for 500 followers!! (still can’t believe that).

Here is the well awaited Part 4, the final part. I am sooo beyond happy with how this came out I honestly think it’s my best one, and it’s also the longest out of all of them! I had so much fun writing it i love these two so much it hurts. I hope you guys enjoy reading! 💗

contains: sooo much fluffff with a sprinkle of spice 🤭

The next morning came terribly fast, which was pretty much the opposite of what you had hoped for. You awoke groggy and unsettled, the night hadn’t the courtesy of blessing you with the rest you so badly needed to prepare for what was to come. Today was the day of the well awaited festival, the day you looked forward to all year, and now you were dreading in with every fiber in your body. While you tried to convince yourself you were ready to face Neteyam, you were still utterly terrified at the possibility of potentially facing rejection.

You pulled the light sheet that held warmth to your body over your face, hoping your mother would somehow forget you even existed.  You weren’t even sure you were breathing. Your body tensed when you heard footsteps nearing, shutting your eyes and making a wish for them to disappear. Perhaps it would’ve worked had you not used them all up last night, begging for at least a couple hours of continuous, undisturbed sleep.

The sheets were pulled from over your head, the bright sunlight making an abrupt reappearance and aiding in waking you up completely. “Maaaa!” You groaned, throwing an arm up to cover your eyes. “Leave me, I’m not ready.” Your whining did nothing to deter your mother from her plans.

“Up, child. There is no time like the present.” She sat beside you, grabbing your arm and gently pulling you to sit up next to her.

You sluggishly lifted your body from where you had fallen asleep last night, your shoulders slumping as you looked at her with doubting eyes. “But what if it all goes wrong?”

“No fear, everything will work out the way it is meant to in the end.” She spoke reassuringly, stroking your arm.

Your mother was always so positive all the time, and usually she was correct. You had no idea how she did it, but it’s been proven your mother knows best so you listened. You exhaled, your uncertainty leaving along with your breath and nodding your head in agreement.

“Good, now we must begin. There is no time to waste.” She grinned.

Taking your braids down took what felt like three lifetimes. In na’vi culture when a woman is looking to court a potential mate, her hair must be loose and styled differently than it is everyday. Something about impressing the male you would be promised to. You tugged at the beads that had been woven into your hair for about a month now, wincing whenever it would catch a loose strand in the process. Though the action of unloosing them was both daunting and aggravating, you couldn’t help the way your excitement grew every time you moved onto the next one.

You ran your fingers through your jet black hair, it slightly wavy from the style it had previously been in. It stopped just above your mid back, the sides pulled back and secured with a clasp adorned with beautiful crimson colored feathers. Two strands were left out in the front, the bottoms having two of each of the beads you used for Neteyam’s necklace on them.

Your mother had sewn together a gorgeous outfit for you, the top garment using the same feathers you had in your hair. They were strung together with thin beaded loops, about three small feathers coming down on each side of your chest to maintain your decency. You held it out in front of you, looking towards your mother apprehensively. The top was so tiny, you wondered if it would actually even cover anything.

Thankfully for you, it did. You still felt a bit exposed as this was much more revealing and dainty than something you would normally wear, however you knew it was only because of the occasion, so you obliged. The feathers felt soft against your skin, and you gently toyed with the intricate beading that tickled below your collarbone. You eyed yourself in the slab of glass that served as a mirror, covering your mouth in awe at the sight of yourself.  You hadn’t felt this beautiful in a while and your mom could tell, coming over to give you a tight hug and smiling back at you in the reflection.

“My child, you look stunning. I cannot believe how much you’ve grown.” Her voice was one of intense admiration, backing away and waving her hands as she started to tear up.

“Mama,” You laughed to yourself, bringing a hand up to your cheek as you quickly became embarrased. Your smile was bittersweet, approaching your very emotional mother and taking hold of her shaky hands. “Don’t cry. I’m still your little syulang.”

She sniffed and nodded in immediate agreeance, pulling you into yet another hug that you were sure would cut off your airways this time. Wiping her tears, she reached over to grab the necklace the two of you had made off the table, gently placing it in your open palm and closing it. “Go get him.” She gleamed.

~~~

Neteyam sat on a stool in front of a mirror in his family’s home, head hung in silence and hands clasped together in his lap. He eyed them closely, feigning interest while his thumbs twiddled idly. The tension in the air between him and his mother as she prepared him for the festival could easily be sliced with the knife he kept strapped to his waist. His braids were pulled back, orange feathers weaved into the strands here and there. He had a burning urge to pluck them out, grimacing at the fact that Eyiti would be wearing matching ones.

Neytiri worked on him silently, a word hadn’t been spoken between them since his outburst yesterday, and he felt the guilt eating him alive. His mother always had something to say, even if it were something as simple as correcting him on his grammar. Knowing her to be outspoken, she made sure her opinion was always heard, even if nobody wanted to listen. So the fact that he hadn’t heard her so much as scold him made him worry. Either her feelings were vastly hurt, or she was in deep contemplation about something.

“Your father and I have made a decision.” The sudden appearance of his mother’s voice caused his head to snap up in her direction, his mouth open slightly while he awaited the verdict. He searched her face for any hint towards what she would say next, but lately it’s been hard for him to read her emotions. Saying the two of them had been disconnected recently was putting it lightly.

“And?” He questioned, his voice just above a whisper. For some reason he was afraid that if he asked too eagerly, the answer he received would be opposite of the one he so badly wanted.

“And,” She sighed, placing the tool she had used to help re-braid his hair down on the table. “We have decided to let you choose your own mate.”

His eyes widened the second the words left her lips and his arms trapped her in a tight embrace before she could fully finish what she was saying. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” He repeated, feeling that familiar lump return to his throat. “I’m so sorry for what I said, mother.” His voice split as her hand came down to affectionally caress his head.

“Neteyam,” She peered down at him empathetically, using her hand to turn his face towards her and keeping it on his cheek. “Do not apologize, you were right. We have no right to dictate who you love. I chose for myself, as should you.” She nodded, pulling him away gently so she could finish getting him ready. “All that’s needed from you, is to get through tonight.” Tying his songchord around his bicep, she smiled at him and gently placed her hands on his shoulders. “And after that, I would love to meet the girl my son has fought so hard for.”

~~~

You watched as na’vi gleefully danced into the auburn night, singing out praises to the spirits and celebrating a year that had awarded your clan with yet another bountiful hunting season. There was a big bonfire off to the side where a circle of drunken men sat around, laughing loudly and feasting on the legs of an animal with gluttony. You clasped the necklace in your hands tightly and carefully made your way through the crowd, repeating affirmations in your head to keep yourself from puking. It was simple, really. Find Neteyam, give him the necklace, and tell him you have feelings for him and want to be his life long mate. Boom, happily ever after. Easy, right? Wrong. You kept forgetting that she-devil would probably be attached to him at the hip, making your plan even harder to go through with than it already was.

You shook the image out of your head before it burned itself into your skull, mapping out your breathing to remain calm. “You can do this. You can do this. You can do this.” You mumbled to yourself, peeking your head around in the mass of people until your eyes locked on the man of the hour.

The second you saw him it felt like time came to a full stop. Neteyam looked even more breathtaking than usual, you had thought that would’ve been impossible until this very moment. You honestly had to stop thinking like that, this was the second time he had proven you wrong and it was getting kind of embarrassing seeing as your mouth would hang open in utter shock every time. Colorful beads and feathers embelished his hair and he wore a shoulder piece that made it easy to determine his status when he stood next to the other young men. You stared at him incredulously, almost forgetting what you were supposed to be doing right now.

You wished you could have stayed there forever and it was nice while it lasted, but unfortunately it was time to face reality.

A body that had been blocking your sight of who was next to him moved to the side and Eyiti came into view, her hand clasped onto Neteyam’s forearm as she stood next to him. Her grip so tight you could see the indentations in his arm, it looked like it hurt. You swallowed what felt like an impossible lump to push down, closing your eyes and repeating encouraging words to yourself.

You quickly decided it was not working like it did before.

“I can’t do this.” Your chest heaved, your lungs out of breath without even holding it. You spun around on your heels before he could notice you, prepared to accept defeat and go home.

But the unexpected sounds of blood curdling screams and shrieks caused you to gasp and quickly return to your prior position, the commotion of people frantically running to safety not allowing you to see what was going on. “What? What’s going on?” You grabbed the shoulders of some around you and spoke anxiously, but your attempts were futile. Your ears perked up attentively at the sound of a spine-chilling growl.

Oh no. Not here.

Your feet picked up speed before your mind could register where they were taking you. Ducking through the crowd, you hurriedly ushered the children who hadn’t yet found their mothers together and in the opposite direction of the growling. War cries began to ring out, and you watched as every hunter surrounding the perimeter of the common grounds raised their bows and weapons with haste.

“Wait!” You hopelessly shoved past barriers of your people, your voice not having the ability to project over the warriors shouting above you. You squeezed yourself between panicked bodies and nearly tripped over limbs, your ears letting you know you were getting closer.

Jake and Neytiri had since stood from their chairs that were positioned to look down over the people, and the expressions on their faces let you know that the situation in front of them was far from good.

Directly in front of Neteyam and Eyiti stood a blood thirsty Palulukan, it’s six strong legs aiding in it’s slow and menacing prance towards them. By the looks of its nostrils flaring in agitation, you were sure it would pounce any second. Neteyam, being the fearless warrior he is, instinctively stepped in front of Eyiti and raised his bow, stretching an arrow against the string with one swift motion.

You forced yourself into the center where others had backed up enough to make a large circle. Mothers held onto their children protectively, more terrified than ever. “Neteyam, lower your bow!” Your voice caught his attention almost instantly but his arms stayed raised in position, ready to protect whoever he needed to.

His eyes did not meet yours, instead they stayed targeted on the vicious animal in front of him and he shook his head harshly, not daring to let his attention waver. “Get back [Y/n]. Now.” He ordered.

You shoved the necklace you realized you were still clutching away and into your bag, your hands put out in front of you as you pleaded with him. “Please, you are scaring her. She will pounce.” You responded breathlessly, your eyes flickering between him and the most feared creature on Pandora who was obviously not in the best mood. You were most familiar with her than the others of her species, she was the one you often ran into when venturing through the forest and you could instantly tell by the sound of her growl. You usually had scraps to offer her but it was extremely rare that a Palulukan would come deep into the village, leaving you with nothing to utilize but your own skills.

“She?” You heard Lo’ak’s voice carry over from the top of the hill, referring to the fact that you knew the gender of the savage animal you all heard stories of when you were young. “[Y/n], are you crazy?!” He screeched.

Kiri’s head snapped in his direction and she swatted at his arm. “Lo’ak, hush! You must not distract her.” Whisper yelling at him so only he could hear, he rubbed his arm to soothe the sting and scowled at her.

Tuk peeked out from behind Kiri’s legs, tugging on her fingers to get her attention with a worried look on her face. “Is it gonna hurt her?” Kiri peered down at her younger sister, gently shushing her and shaking her head before returning her attention back to you. Her gaze was one of profound fascination and oddly enough— trusting.

Pre-occupied with trying to stop Neteyam from releasing his arrow in defense, you hadn’t noticed Eyiti slowly backing away from him, the look on her face one of great terror.

The last thing you wanted to do when face to face with an animal threatening to attack, was move.

“Do not!” You shrieked, your warning coming late when the snarling creature started towards her. She screamed in fear, tripping over her own feet and falling flat on her butt. Her eyes flooded with tears and she used her hands to crawl backwards, farther away from the snarling beast. You hate to admit it but there was a tiny part of you that wanted to let this creature sink her teeth into the girl who had made it her life’s mission to terrorize you. The elders, including Neteyam’s parents and hers, stood in attention at the top of the hill at the roots of home tree. Eyiti’s parents called out to her in distress, but they were much too far to assist and moving would only accelerate the attack. They would never make it in time.

You jumped into action, strategically positioning yourself right in the middle of the Palulukan and a defenseless Eyiti. The entire clan gasped, some even cried out prayers and shielded the eyes of their children as they were sure you would die in this very moment. Neteyam was the only one who relaxed somewhat, the string of his bow becoming less taut. He wasn’t entirely sure why, but for some reason, he felt you knew what you were doing.

“Ma Jake!” Neytiri cried out, one hand on her chest and the other grabbing his arm, begging for him to do something. “It will kill her!”

Jake stared down at the scene unfolding in front of him, completely bewildered with his mouth hanging open. “What the hell is she doing? Get out of there!” He yelled.

With your shoulders pulled back confidently, you mirrored the hunting approach of the animal in front of you and glared through your brows, stalking like a Palulukan would before ambushing its prey. You watched it take a step back once you rounded closer in attempt to force more room between it and the blubbering girl behind you, then raising a hand in the air to silence the na’vi who had many distracting comments and opposing opinions against your methods. “Mawey my people, mawey!” You shouted, not taking your eyes off the task in front of you.

Your olo’eyktan watched intently, signaling his approval to the men to lower their weapons like you instructed.

Kiri smiled from ear to ear while watching you, the expression on her face contrasting greatly from everyone else’s. “I knew it.” She whispered to herself, resulting in Lo’ak looking at her like she had lost her Eywa-loving mind.

The giant beast opened its mouth and a loud, menacing roar rumbled deep from its diaphragm. Sharp quills stood tall off its neck while its beard flared out as an intimidation tactic. You stood unfazed, tilting your head with narrowed eyes and loudly hissing in response. Your ears had fallen flat against your hair while you barred your sharp fangs right back with no fear. Neteyam blinked at you in genuine disbelief when the animal’s challenging stance faltered, its legs lowering itself into a submissive position in defeat.

You sighed in relief and rolled your eyes, steadily approaching the beast and gently stroking its head. “What is the matter with you, Yuna? Were you trying to get yourself killed?”

“I-is she… talking to it?” The younger Sully boy questioned, looking back and forth to anyone for an answer. Nobody could respond to him, everyone stood in shock- not able to process what had just happened. “It has a name? Bro, is nobody as lost as I am right now?” He screamed, his hands holding his head as if it were about to explode.

Your eyes dropped down when you noticed one of her legs slightly raised off the ground. You quirked an eyebrow and crouched to get a better look, easily recognizing what had made her come into the village in the first place. There was a thick, sharp chunk of wood lodged between the webbing of her paw. It would have been impossible to remove on her own.

“Oh my… you poor thing. Let me help you.” Your voice was sympathetic as you lowered your head to examine how deep it had gone, deciding it was safe for you to remove it. You used all of your strength to lift the paw that was much bigger than the size of your head with assistance from the creature, gripping the large splinter and finally removing it with a grunt after a few seconds of tugging. The animal roared in pain, and with a whimper its demeanor quelled due to the instant relief, earning an accomplished smile from you. You looked around in search of food, grabbing some teylu out of a bowl from a table off to the side. You tossed the blood stained slab of lumber to the ground once you rose to your feet.

“Make a path.” You ordered, watching the crowd that was huddled around you hurriedly part like the Red Sea.

You waved the worms in front of the creature’s nose, watching her nostrils twitch with interest before you threw them into the direction of the forest. You watched the thanator gallop away, sighing and wiping your hands off onto your legs.

“Ma Jake… Who is that girl? She possesses a fine ability.” The Tsahik stared down at you, her voice seeping with pure awe. She couldn’t even blink. Neytiri had never seen such a display in her entire life. A Palulukan had not been tamed like this since… well, her. Almost two decades past. And even then, that had been an offer of assistance from Eywa to restore balance to the land during the war with the sky people. A genuine taming, such as this, was completely unheard of.

Kiri placed a hand on her mother’s shoulder. “That is the girl Neteyam has been trying to tell you about this entire time, mother.” She smiled. “That girl, is [Y/n].”

“My daughter.” Your mother’s voice clarified as she emerged from the crowd to address Tshaik, effectively catching Neytiri’s attention, but your mother’s eyes remained on you from afar. She had been watching closely, off to the side the entire time. You had explained your hunches with the animals of Pandora to her before, how you felt a deeper connection to them than most did. All of them, even those forbidden to interact with. Though she had never seen it for herself until now, her faith in you never wavered for a second. Her eyes filled with pride seeing her daughter prove herself in a way even better than she had imagined.

Remembering you were in the middle of the circle, you looked up to see everyone gawking at you and cleared your throat before speaking up.

“Um… I’m sorry about her. You all can go back to the party now, everything’s fine. Please, proceed.” You looked around and motioned to the tables that still had candles lit atop them, staring blankly at all the eyes that were glued to your face. You were definitely not used to having this much attention on you, or attention period. It was so quiet you could hear the crackling of the bonfire in the distance. Nobody could believe how casually you were speaking about what you had just done.

“Y-you saved my life… I- Thank you.” Eyiti was a sniffling mess, her body trembling in shock from what could’ve resulted in her death. Her cheeks were stained with tears and for once in her life, her expression matched her words. Oh how it made your heart swell with joy to see her groveling.

Looking down at her, your face twisted as if you had smelled something rotten. “No, I saved my friend’s life. You, however, just happened to get lucky.” You scoffed, making your way out of the circle.

Neteyam’s breaths were heavy as he watched you, glancing up to his father with sanguine eyes, a silent plea to go after you. As soon as Jake hurriedly gave him the okay, he was running off into the crowd. Not even taking a second to help his so called ‘date’ up from the ground that served in humbling her.

He tried his best to keep up with your strides, losing sight of you a few times and apologizing to those he bumped into. He rolled his arm, swiping off the shoulder piece that was preventing him from keeping up with you and letting it drop to the ground. He plucked the feathers out of his hair with zero regard of those watching, wanting to rid of everything that had to do with the girl who kept you two apart.

You managed to make your way out of the sea of people and faded into the forest, ducking under branches and successfully escaping from the sudden influx of attention you gained from your entire village. A relaxed breath left your lips once you were out of sight, trying to take in the fact that you had saved not only one life but two, all while in front of the boy you were preparing to confess to at that. You whipped your head around at the sound of leaves rustling, hearing a voice that never failed to make your heart jump.

“[Y/n], wait!” Neteyam called out for you, his expression softening once you finally stopped. “Jeez, you’re fast.” He breathed out.

You couldn’t help the smile that threatened to appear on your face, dissappointment quickly flooding back in once you remembered the reason the two of you hadn’t been together in the first place. “Yes?”

He searched your eyes for anything that would tell him you were just as stunned as he was, but he was unsuccessful. You stood in front of him, appearing nonchalant despite what had just occurred. “What was that back there?” He asked, reaching forward and taking hold of your arm. “It was like you knew what to do. How?”

You looked down at his hand on your skin, not even being able to think as he was touching you. You swallowed hard, shrugging your shoulders sheepishly as you tried to find an answer. “I-I don’t know. I just… I listened to her. It was like I could hear her- hear her voice.” Your tone grew faint when your eyes met his again, realizing he had never once stopped looking at you, even when you stopped looking at him. You chewed your bottom lip, lowering your head to stare at the ground with a puff of air that was supposed to be a laugh. “You think I’m crazy now, don’t you.” You mumbled.

“No, no! I believe you, I do. I promise.” He shook his head vigorously, dipping his head to catch your faltering gaze once he realized that his wide-eyed, dumbfounded look must’ve given off that impression. “Look, I’m really sorry about yesterday. I did not plan for any of that to happen, with Eyiti. It was my parents doing, I tried to get out of it but I couldn’t…” He sighed, his voice faltering when he spoke of her. He didn’t even want to think about her, let alone bring her up to you.  

He felt you pull away slightly, apprehensive due to you having no idea what was really going on behind the scenes other than what you had witnessed with your own eyes.

“[Y/n],” His eyebrows creased apologetically, his hand coming up to hold your cheek. “Follow me, please. I will explain everything, I just really, really need you to come with me.”

You could never say no to him, even with the residual feelings of betrayal that lingered in the back of your mind. The desperate look worn on his face was enough for you to give in without another thought. A small nod of your head brightened his face up immediately, though you could tell he was trying to let himself not get too excited at the small victory.

He took your hand into his, fingers intertwining and hearts racing. Your cheeks heated red as he pulled you through the forest with a firm grip, no intention of letting you go.

You followed closely behind him, looking back in the direction of the festival when you heard music resume in the distance. You felt a pang of guilt, you didn’t want to be the reason he got in trouble yet again. “Neteyam, you are the chief’s son. Are you sure you can just up and leave like this? They will surely be looking for you-”

The two of you broke out from the trees and onto a stretched path, your breath catching in your throat when you were suddenly pulled into his chest. If you had inched just a smidge closer, your noses would have been touching. You blinked sporadically, probably to keep yourself from fainting.

“I do not care what anyone thinks. Now is not about them, it’s about you.” The words flowed from his mouth smooth like silk, and with the way his amber eyes eyes were mending into yours you truly felt as if nothing else mattered to him. “Yesterday, you said you wanted to go on another Ikran ride with me, no?” You had no idea how he was able to maintain eye contact so easily, your legs felt like they were about to snap at any moment and you thanked Eywa you had his arms to hold onto.

“Yes…” You would have looked away by now, but his eyes were inviting you in. There was such a different look to them, like he was seeing into you. The sound he made to call for his banshee brought you back to reality. “O-oh, right now?” You gulped, seeing his Ikran land at the end of the trail.

“Yes, now.” He laughed at your stuttering, gently pulling your hand and leading you over. He glanced at you while he prepped the saddle, a playful smirk playing on his lips as you eyed the animal, the apprehensiveness you held for years trying to re-introduce itself. “Oh, don’t tell me you’re scared. This isn’t your first time.” He hopped onto its back, extending a hand out to you.

Your mouth fell open and your eyes narrowed, pretending to look offended at his teasing. “You wish.” You took his hand and grinned, allowing him to pull you up behind him. You settled into the saddle, breathing out before loosely snaking your arms around him like you remembered.

“Come on love, I don’t bite.” He chuckled, taking your arms and tightening them around him. “Wouldn’t want you to fall.” You blushed, a small shiver striking through your body when he grasped your hands and placed them over his chest just like he had done the first time.

“Shut up.” Had he not been able to hear the grin overshadowing your words he probably would have thought you were being serious.

“Ready?” He looked over his shoulder, face beaming.

Before you could even respond, a chirp to his Ikran sent it plunging into the sky at full speed. A scream left your mouth, but unlike last time, this one was oozing with exhilaration. Your grip on him tightened and you pressed your cheek against his warm back, a laugh producing from him at your thrilled squeals every time he took an unexpected dip or a turn.

Your eyes were so focused on the gorgeous display below you that when you began to ascend higher and higher into the sky, the landscape seemingly shrinking caused you to look up at his focused expression. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

After a few more minutes of flying passed, your set destination came into view. The hallelujah mountains approaching made you gasp in amazement, you had never once gotten to see them up-close due to your now squashed fear of flying. He felt your heartbeat quicken against his back, the sensation of his hand reaching back to rub your thigh instantly drawing your attention away from the scenic landscape in front of you.

The banshee came to a gradual landing on one of the larger floating platforms, its heavy wing beats slowing once its feet made contact with the ground.

Your gaze immediately locked on the faint flickering of candles in the distance, having trouble pulling your attention away from them as he dismounted. “Neteyam… What is that?” Your voice was calm and directed towards him- but your eyes remained in front of you, worried that if you expressed too much interest, whatever it was that he had set up would disappear.

“Just, come on.” He smiled diffidently and pinched the back of his neck, ignoring your question and holding his hand out to you once again.

You hurriedly grasped it and hopped off the saddle, using his arm to stabilize your landing. You could tell he was a bit nervous but you hadn’t known the exact reason why. He leisurely lead you along and you turned your head towards him, the smile on his face making your own appear as a blanket laid over the grass with a few small, lit candles became visible. You held his hand with both of yours now and squeezed gently, marveling at the set up still ahead. You couldn’t contain your excitement and skipped off without him, lowering to your knees on the soft fabric at your feet.

You brought a hand over your mouth to stifle what would’ve been your one hundredth gasp of the day, taking a glimpse around and seeing a spread of your favorite fruits and snacks positioned off to the side. “Neteyam,” You lifted your head to see he had caught up with you now, grabbing his hand and lightly pulling on it to urge him to sit down with you. “You did this for me?” The spread along with the pillowy, bioluminescent foliage around you were all very enticing, but you couldn’t look at anything else but him.

He sat beside you, blushing and nodding his head while eyeing everything like it was his first time seeing it. “Yeah. Well, I may have asked Kiri for some help cutting the fruits. And Lo’ak assisted me in bringing everything up here…” He trailed off once he saw your sudden unamused expression, most likely due to the fact that he always struggles to take credit for the sweet things he does. He cleared his throat, rephrasing his answer. “Yes, I did it for you.” He grinned.

Your hands came up to cup his flushed face, yellow orbs overflowing with adoration for the man in front of you. “This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever thought to do for me, I-“ Your sentence came to a halt and your hands slowly retracted from his face upon remembering something that still hadn’t been addressed.

He noticed your demeanor change, bringing his hands up to stop yours from falling completely. “I talked to my parents,” Somehow he was able to answer the question that was lingering in your mind, without you even having to say it out loud. “They’re letting me choose now. I can choose my mate.” He repeated, making sure you didn’t miss a single word he was saying.

“That’s good.” You smiled at him sadly, not being able to help your gaze falling to the side to avoid looking at him.

He rolled his eyes at you in a joking manner, hooking a finger under your chin to tilt your head back up at him. “And I choose you, sxkawng.”

“You can’t,” You shook your head, feeling betrayed by your own mouth at the words it picked as a response. “I am not a healer, Neteyam. Or a hunter. I don’t have what it takes to be Tsahik. I can’t-“

“No,” He cut you off before you could finish, like the words angered him to even listen to. “You don’t need to be anything other than yourself, [Y/n]. Do you not remember how you single-handedly managed to save our village tonight? You have proved yourself plenty, trust me.” He rubbed the back of your hand with his thumb. “You are so much more than special, and you always have been. Especially to me.” His tone comforting and leaking with affection, he used his other hand to caress your cheek while he reassured you.

“Neteyam….” You melted into his touch and leaned against his hand, feeling all the uncertainty you held for yourself slip away.

He went to tuck one of your front strands behind your ear to get a better look at your face, then he paused. Watching his expression change, his eyebrows furrowed as he peered at what was woven in on the ends. “These beads,” He stared intently, deep in thought while he rolled one between his index finger and his thumb to try and spark a memory. “I feel like I have seen them before.”

Your mind instantly flashed back to when you had pushed through the circle to stop the Palulukan, remembering that you were still holding the necklace when you came into his line of sight. “Oh!” You quickly reached behind you to grab your small pouch, lifting the strap over and off your shoudlers then opening it and sifting through the contents. He watched curiously, his eyes illuminating when you revealed a necklace made of the same beads that were in your hair.

His mouth opened but you were already explaining before he could ask. “I-it’s for you. I was gonna give it to you, at the festival. But then I saw you with her and everything started happening so I-“

He delicately took it into his hands, tilting his head to the side to get a better look. His head was dropped down as he studied it and silence that weighed in the air began to worry you.

“You don’t like it?” Your voice was quiet and your sweating palms indicated how nervous you truly were.

His strong arms suddenly pulled you into a hug, holding you tightly. You were shocked at his unforeseen actions but ultimately had zero complaints. “I love it.” He whispered, pulling away to look at you with one of the most genuine smiles you’ve ever seen on his face. “You made this for me?” He sounded like he couldn’t believe it.

You quickly nodded, still trying to gather your thoughts. “Well, it was my idea, but I was on a time crunch so my mom-“ You stopped yourself, seeing the same kind of look on his face you had given him earlier when he went off on a tangent to discredit his efforts. The both of you were thrown into a fit of laughter at the moment of deja-vu. “Yes, I made it for you.”

You took the necklace back into your hands, motioning it towards him as a silent offer to help him put it on. He obliged, using a hand to hold his braids up and out of the way.

You licked your bottom lip and sat up on your knees, realizing now that you had accidentally volunteered yourself to get closer to him. You moved your body in his direction, not missing the way his eyes tracked every movement you conducted. You brought your hands apart and circled them around his neck, trying your hardest not to think about the way his breath was fanning against your shoulder, his lips lightly grazing it. You felt his gaze boring into your face, the pace of your heart increasing as you fiddled with the clasp before fastening it.

“There, all done.” You mumbled, allowing your hands to trail against the skin from the back of his neck down to the front of his chest. As you pulled away it was impossible to hide from his stare, your eyes connecting with his. The both of you sat there for a beat, simply looking into each other’s eyes until he decided to make the first move. He leaned forward, stopping inches from your face. Your breath shuddered, his eyes falling from yours, to your lips, then back up again.

“Let me kiss you.” He breathed out, his fingers brushed against your sides, eager to hold you but wanting to wait until he had your permission.

God, you thought he’d never ask.

He took you falling in to close the remaining space between your lips as a prompt yes. Your eyes fluttered to a close the moment your lips met, your arms ribboning around his neck to bring him closer. His hands followed suit and grappled onto your waist, his right arm hooking around your back to pull you up and into his lap as the kiss deepened almost instantly.

You broke for air after a few seconds, raking your hands into his braids when he quickly became too impatient to wait for you to catch your breath. You held his head whilst he placed featherweight kisses along your jaw, mindlessly craning your head to the side to grant him further admittance to your sensitive skin.

You nuzzled your cheek against the top of his braids, not being able to stop yourself from inhaling deeply to take in his scent. You felt his lips latch and suck on the skin of your collarbone, gasping at the feeling and knowing it would for sure leave a mark. Biting your lip to contain your voice, you drew your body away from his.

His head snapped up to look at you, fearful that he had done something you didn’t like or made you uncomfortable in any way.

His worries were extinguished once taking in the wanting look on your face, eyeing carefully when you reached back to grab your long braid and pull it forward. He followed suit, eagerly bringing his own to present it to you. The ends of your queues unveiled from the hair that protected them once in close proximity with each other.

“[Y/n], we will be mated for life if we do this.” He started, not wanting to rush you into a decision just in case this wasn’t truly what you wanted.

You placed a reassuring kiss on his lips, pressing your forehead against his once you pulled away. “I promise, Nete’. I want this.”

The two of you brought your hands closer, your queues grasping onto each other and intertwining to make Tsaheylu. Your breath caught in your throat and your eyes closed, your body trying to adjust to the new feeling that had been gifted to you. It was as if you could now feel everything he was feeling, think everything he was thinking. You felt the immense love he held for you all these years coarse through your veins. He had already told you this, but feeling it was something completely new, a foreign sensation you didn’t know you could crave this badly until now. Neteyam’s head hung below you, and based on the short, uneven breaths that could be heard from him paired with his chest rising and falling— you knew he felt it too.

He finally raised his head to look at you, his hands tenderly rubbing up and down the sides of your body. You allowed your back to be pressed against the soft blanket beneath you as he switched the position the two of you were in, meeting your lips again. His lips chased yours every time he felt you pull away, and with each kiss his lips transferred the burning desire he had onto you. Your mouth parted instinctively when his warm tongue swiped at your bottom lip and you gladly allowed it in, hands fervently grasping onto each other in attempt to be closer than you already were. You smoothed over his chiseled back, fidgeting under him slightly at the heat you felt starting to grow deep in your core while his wandering hands served as further ammunition.

You had no idea where he learned how to do all this but you were so far from a complaint that you wouldn’t even be able to hear if it yelled your name. The two of you kissed like it would be your last, lips melded together to confirm it had been a mistake that they were apart all these years.

“‘Teyam…” You softly moaned against his lips, his ears flicking in delight at the way you called his name. You trailed a hand down his torso, fingers rolling over his abs and feeling them tense at your touch. You rapidly felt yourself growing impatient, your back arching off the ground and your heaving chest coming in contact with his.

His large hand squeezed the plush area where your thigh met your hip, lifting your leg to wrap around his waist securely then dragging his hand back up to continue loving on your heated, dark blue skin. A finger finally slipper under the string of your loincloth and with one swift motion it could be lost and forgotten for the night. His heart was beating against his chest so hard he swore you could hear it. He didn’t bother to open his eyes, but simply hovered his lips over yours with enough room for you to speak.

“Do you want me to stop?” His tone was gruff and deep, tail swishing in delight as he could already feel what the answer was against his leg.

“Please don’t.” You panted out whatever would use up the least time, not wanting his lips to leave yours for more than a second and using your hand at the back of his neck to pull him right back down into you.

~~~

You were glad tonight would be a warm one, seeing as the two of you wouldn’t be moving from this spot anytime soon. Where in the world he had tossed your bottoms was a problem saved for the morning.

Even if you actually wanted to move, you couldn’t. Neteyam’s arms were wrapped so tightly around you, as if you would slip right through his fingers if he let up in the slightest. Not to mention that you were sure the minute you’d try to stand up, the stability of your legs would automatically succeed in embarrassing you.

You couldn’t exactly see just how marked up the skin surrounding your neck and chest looked, but brief flashbacks of him nipping at where he’d seen noticed other men ogling at before pretty much told you that you were in for a treat. Your mother would probably faint if she saw you like this, so you’d make sure to stop and get some yahlnabark in the morning to tend to the bruising before home.

Neither you or Neteyam had taken it upon yourselves to break Tsaheylu, wanting to relish in the unfamiliar feeling of comfort it brought. Enjoying your hearts beating as one, you cuddled closer to him while your queues lay connected between your exhausted bodies.

You spent your time afterwards threading your fingers through his hair and against his scalp, appreciating every part of him. The both of you took turns feeding the other pieces of fruit, easily resembling a cliche married couple on their honeymoon and giggling at yourselves for it, completely lovestruck.

“You are so beautiful… Did I tell you that already?” He twirled the strands of your hair along his fingers, his elbow propping him up and his eyes utterly mesmerized as they trailed from your head to your toes over and over again. He had said it so many times already that you were starting to forget your own name.

You cheesed, nodding your head while he continued to delve into how gorgeous you looked for the umpteenth time regardless of your answer.

The twinkling stars in the sky above begged for your attention, but all your eyes could focus on was him. The way his face lit up when he spoke of something that excited him, the sound of his voice when he laughed at his own corny jokes. You could listen to him go on and on for hours. You lived for it all and didn’t want to miss any of it.

“I won’t disappear, you know,” He chuckled at your melancholy expression, planting a prolonged kiss on your cheek that made your heart skip a beat. “Not this time.” He assured, lifting the back of your hand to kiss your knuckles.

This was definitely something to get used to. Him displaying his love for you so openly as well as literally being able to tell what was on your mind.

“I know that, but I can’t take any chances. I miss you already and you’re right here in front of me.” You pouted, not being able to stop it from transforming into a sheepish smile.

After a while of laying together he started to doze off, his slowed breathing indicating as such. He had tried to keep himself awake for as long as he could, going to sit back up every time he felt his eyes begin to close and swearing that he wasn’t tired. You had to hammer it into his head that you would remain next to him; that if he fell asleep you would still be here in his arms when he woke up. He eventually fell asleep with his head on your chest, his arms maintaining a concrete hold on your body to make sure you would keep your promise. With his tail loosely wrapped around your thigh, indistinct, quiescent snores could be heard from who you had come to love so deeply over the years.

You wished he had been awake so you could poke fun at his possessive behavior. Every time you moved so much as an inch from him, just to see what he would do, he stirred from his slumber and pulled you back flush against him with a muffled, exhausted grunt in protest. The sensation of your heated skin pressed close to his was enough for him to let his guard down and rest without worry, even if it were just for tonight. He knew he still had hardships to face, but the fact that you would be there by his side through it all helped erase all feelings concern. The man who spent his entire life protecting everyone could now bask in the same treatment. One night with you was all that was needed to heal all of his wounds. The confirmation that he now had you as his mate for the rest of his life, and in the next, aided in keeping him sound asleep.

Though it was most likely the influx of newfangled emotions washing over you, you couldn’t help but grow emotional while watching him sleep so soundly. In all your years of knowing Neteyam, you had had never seen him more at peace than he was with you in this very moment. The space between his eyebrows held no weight, his shoulders no tension. His body and mind were completely relaxed for the first time in forever.

Trailing your fingers over the necklace you had made him, you chewed your lip to stop your grin from enveloping you as you remembered the way he had peppered your face with endless kisses just a bit ago, thanking you over and over again for such a thoughtful and sincere gift. He swore the only way he would take it off is if it broke, and even then he would come to you and have you fix it.

You listened to the distant sounds of the forest tucking itself in for the night, insects humming, the leaves on the trees gently swishing when the occasional breeze would pass. If someone had told you just two weeks ago that you and Neteyam would be mated for life, you would have laughed in their face. You couldn’t believe you had gone from being his secret admirer to the love of his life right before your eyes.

You vowed to always support him and love him unconditionally. You would never again allow him to feel less than he was- a beautiful, strong, humble man deserving of all the love he craved and more. You gazed down at him as you felt sleep creeping up on you, brushing the loose hairs from his forehead and seeing the corners of his mouth unconsciously turn up into a subtle smile.

“I see you, Ma Neteyam.” You whispered, eyes softly flittering to a close.

a/n: And that’s a wrap ladies and gents. Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed! ☺️

Please like + reblog if you can, they are greatly appreciated 💗

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---

— 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘴

the deets — in which you, a quiet healer in the tribe, have the biggest crush on the upcoming leader. sometimes you think the feelings could be mutual. until one night in the glowing forest shatters that.

the who — neteyam x fem omatikaya!reader

the word count — like 7.6k (jesus h. christ)

the tags — idiots-to-lovers (it's teyam, he's the dummy), childhood friends-to-lovers, one-sided pining (reader is a softie).

the warnings — language, a lil kithy kithy, neteyam's emotionally constipated, but he redeems himself! reader's kind of a pushover, but it comes full circle!

the notes — first post for avatar & i'm really excited but a lil nervous bc like ??? i haven't written fanfic in SO long. i imagine neteyam & reader to be a few years older in this fic (eighteen or nineteen), but at the same time the circumstances could fit their current age as well. finally, this is written in a heinous blend of second / third. don't know how to explain, but i think it flows okay? if you like it please leave a request or let's have a chat! (also barely proofread oops).

YOU AND NETEYAM HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN DISTANT ORBIT. Many would argue the two of you are cut from the same cloth; quiet, noble, mature, but you couldn't feel even more disconnected from the tribe's golden boy even if a chasm would crack the earth between you.

It's why you think it's silly that you'd develop such a yearning, your heart thudding like a war drum every time his amber eyes flit to yours. There's never any weight to his gaze, just fleeting glances among frequent observation, but you can't help but stare.

It doesn't help that his youngest siblings cling to you like a second and third skin, chattering excitedly about whatever piques their immediate interest. You just listen and hum your acknowledgements, a comfort to the two as you move through your studies.

Oftentimes he's sent to fetch his siblings, clearing his throat outside of the tent's flaps to announce himself, then wiggling a few fingers through the opening before peering in.

He's always in a hurry, never biting when you offer him opportunities to linger. You understand, how busy it can be when the whole clan begins to rely on you. So you bask in the short-lived moments in his space, skin scented with salt and the tang of the foliage.

But there are moments when you truly think he sees you. When you cross paths during clan meals, and the smallest of smiles twitches in his lips when you cut fruit and he's the first you offer to. When it's time to train to shoot your bows and he adjusts your form with a brief brush of his fingers on your elbow. When all of the older healers are unavailable and he shyly peeks his head into your tent for a quick patch up.

Nevermind the small tells stored in your short-term, but the little slivers of time when you were both growing into yourselves. When you were seven and he'd carried you to the elders when you hurt yourself. When some of the older kids in the clan would pick on you for keeping to yourself and he'd tell them that it was unbecoming and cowardly to pick on someone weaker than them. When he picked a flower during a group excursion into the deep depths of the forest and stuck the glowing stem in your satchel.

You had fallen so hard for Neteyam and your only hope is that he'd be at the end of the fall to catch you.

“You're not listening, ________!” Tuk whines and you look up from the scrolls you unfurled from the basket moments before she walked in.

“Sorry,” you murmur. “I have a lot on my mind.”

There's a small giggle from somewhere else in the tent and you peer from Tuk to Kiri who beads an anklet on her own.

“Yeah, like big brother,” Tuk teases, turning her attention back to her own beadwork.

Kiri's face splits into a grin.

“You've been lost in thought a lot more recently,” she observes. “Could Tuk be correct?”

You don't bother to deny it, the obvious flush in your cheeks a dead giveaway. Kiri's always been perceptive and the more you fight her on it, the longer she'll draw it out.

“I think it's worth a shot,” Kiri says. “Neteyam’s always had a soft spot for you.”

It's a million degrees hotter in the tent.

“You don't have to do that,” you say quietly, slouching in your seat.

“Do what?” Kiri challenges.

“Pretend I have a chance.”

Kiri makes a face.

“You do!” she argues. “Neteyam's just shy.”

You're silent for a moment, fingers twitching over a tear in the scroll. You want to believe her, tell her that you think it could be worth a shot, too. But you scent him before you hear him, and then you hear him before you see him.

Four blue fingers wiggle in the tent's opening before Neteyam is poking his head inside.

“Tuk? Kiri?” his voice rumbles. “Ready?”

Kiri glances at you as she stands to her feet and begins gathering her things. Her eyebrows do a little dance, eyes widening as she tilts her head discreetly to her brother.

“I'll see you,” you say quietly, patting Tuk on the back of her leg as she drops her finished anklet in your lap and giggles at you.

You follow their movements as they exit the tent through where Neteyam holds the flap open for them patiently.

He simply lifts a hand as a silent greeting and you wait until they're out of sight and earshot to expel the breath you'd been holding and slump down on your pillow.

In hindsight, you should have been more careful. Neteyam was a skillful hunter, the tribe's best warrior after his father. It's only normal that he'd be in the dense forest when you were plucking flowers and herbs for your salves, speaking quietly to Eywa about your concerns.

“Please, Great Mother,” you whisper, the woodsprites caressing the skin of your arms. "Please give me a sign, any form of motivation to be brave about my feelings."

The grass below your toes lights up and tickles the pads of your fingers as you pluck the glowing flowers.

There's a trail of them, purple and pink, and you pluck and pluck and pluck until you're led to the mouth of a clearing.

Something salty and tangy circles your figure and like usual, you scent him before you see him. When your gaze latches onto his lithe figure, you grin a little, lips parting to announce yourself. This must be your sign, of how vast and great the forests are surrounding your looming home tree, it must be fate that you stumble upon him at this hour.

But his name dies on your tongue when he shifts and you see the silhouette of another pressed to his side.

It's another Omaticaya girl, pretty and tall. You'd know her anywhere, the waves of her thick hair, the tinkle of her dainty laugh. But she is fierce all the same, far from perfect, but gritty enough that it doesn't matter.

Te'feyra draws a bow and one of Neteyam's hands come up to adjust her front grasp, fingers closing over hers and the arrow.

“Steady hands to make up for the recoil,” he says softly and your heart is in your throat.

He's engulfing her as she takes her aim and sends the arrow flying through the air.

Somewhere unknown to you, the arrow sticks its landing and Te'feyra jumps excitedly, pressing her lips to Neteyam's briefly.

You back away from the clearing, eyes burning as you fist the flowers so hard they wilt in your hands. A twig snaps underneath your weight and from your distance, you see the glow of Neteyam and Te'feyra's eyes through the brush.

You take off running without a single word, and despite your stomach tearing itself to ribbons, you thank Eywa for the clarity.

“Something's wrong,” Kiri says to you days later.

Instead of the tent, you two are sitting on opposing branches of a thick tree, observing the flora and fauna of your corner of the forest. You decide that you need some time away from the bustle of the clan's circle and venture off into the opposite side of the woods.

“Why do you say?” you wonder, scribbling onto one of your scrolls.

“You're naturally quiet, I get that, but the past few days, I feel like I've been in the presence of the dead,” she sighs, staring down at you from the branch above. “And Ewya's given me the feeling that all may not be well with you.”

You lick your teeth, then roll your lips nervously.

“I told you Neteyam didn't like me,” you admit.

Kiri's eyebrows furrow.

“What are you talking about?”

“I saw him,” you sigh, fiddling with your pen. “In the forest with Te'feyra. She kissed him.”

Kiri curses under her breath.

“This is stupid,” she huffs. “He's just being stupid. Neteyam likes you and I'm going to prove it.”

You open your mouth to protest, but Kiri's already jumping down from the branches of the tree and dragging you with her through the darkening forest.

“Kiri, this isn't necessary,” you finally pipe up. “It's okay if the feeling isn't mutual, I never expected it to be.”

Kiri stops in her tracks and her pinched face softens, braids swinging by the set of her jaw.

“________, we all grew up together,” she says softly. “I know my brother, and I know you. You two belong together, I feel it.”

You swallow around nothing, allowing her to drag you through the forest and back into the clan's main circle.

“Hey, Kiri! ________, where are you two headed off to in such a rush?” one of the elders calls from where they're working on tools.

Kiri smiles politely.

“Very important business,” she replies quickly, fingers tightening around your wrist to pull you across the grass.

You stop in front of their family's hometree and Kiri guides you through vines and steep inclines before pausing in front of their family's tent.

Lo'ak's voice sounds from within, whiny and irritated.

“Bro, are you being serious right now?” he squeaks and Neteyam grunts, obviously bored.

“Frankly, Lo'ak this has nothing to do with you,” he says.

“Dude, yes it does,” Lo'ak argues. “You've inadvertently involved everyone in this affair because you won't get your head out of your ass for three seconds and just admit that you like her.”

“I don't like, ________,” he says simply and Kiri freezes in front of you.

You chew the inside of your cheek, fingers twitching in Kiri's loosened hold.

“Who are you trying to convince?” Lo'ak moans. “You're really going to commit to Te'feyra even though you have no interest in her?”

“Te'feyra is a great huntress,” Neteyam says simply. “She's well-loved, a strong leader. What's there not to like?”

“________ is all of those things,” Lo'ak says. “She's a talented healer, always patches you up when you get yourself in trouble. The clan loves her, Tuk and Kiri love her, Mom and Dad love her.”

“The clan barely knows that ________ exists,” Neteyam says and you wince.

Kiri makes a move to infiltrate the heated conversation, but you put a hand on her shoulder and shake your head.

“Dude, that's low,” Lo'ak scoffs in disbelief.

“________ is a sweet girl, but she's weak. She's hollow and does what she's told. I wouldn't want to spend my life bonded to someone so passive,” Neteyam says plainly and Lo'ak lets out an exasperated hiss.

“You're kidding right? ________ is amazing,” Lo'ak challenges. “She's quiet, but she's caring. She's resilient and intelligent and anyone would be lucky to be bonded to someone like her, your stupid ass included.”

“Maybe you should focus more on training for your rite rather than trying to play matchmaker,” Neteyam says, showing the first signs of annoyance.

“You just won't admit that for the first time you're scared,” Lo'ak finally says.

Everything seems to still and Lo'ak presses on.

“Everyone loves you, you're the clan's golden child and you can do no wrong. You like ________ so much, but you're afraid that you'll let her down,” Lo'ak says fiercely. “But you don't realize that being a pussy about your feelings is the ultimate let down!”

“You'd know a lot about being a let down, wouldn't you,” Neteyam grumbles.

There's a split second of silence before Neteyam lets out a loud grunt of pain. The flap to their tent flies open and Lo'ak freezes before you and Kiri.

His eyes meet yours and his gaze softens before stalking past.

Neteyam stands stunned in the middle of the tent, lip bruised and bleeding. His gaze swings to the arch way, face falling when he finds you standing behind his younger sister.

“Wanna go swimming?” Tuk asks you the next evening, after dinner.

You smile down at her weakly, heart melting when she pets your hand. You can't deny her, nodding gently as you stand from where you're sitting on the outer circle of the scattered clan.

“Carry me?” she asks sweetly.

You heave her up with a grunt and she grins at you, playing with one of the braids in your hair. Her small fingers caress the skin of your cheek and you blink when she ghosts over your eyelid.

“Pretty,” she whispers, head nestling on your shoulder.

“I think you're prettier,” you tell her, readjusting her growing form as you walk through the brush, towards the rush of the waterfall.

You don't realize that there's a set of eyes on you, watching as you disappear through the trees with Tuk.

The cliff that houses the waterfall towers above you two in a semicircle, the water rippling gently as Tuk squirms from your grasp and splashes through the shallow pool.

“Stay close, Tuk,” you coo, toes wiggling through the pebbles washed up on the tiny shore.

“I've been practicing!” Tuk tells you. “Wanna see how long I can hold my breath under water?”

“Stay in shallow waters,” you advise her, wading into the pool until you're waist deep.

Tuk dramatically inhales and then sinks down under the surface. Something cracks in the distance and you glance around, met with the stillness of the forest and the chirp of bugs.

When you turn your attention back to Tuk, you smile fondly as you wait for her to emerge, counting the seconds diligently to report to her chubby cheeks.

Fifteen pass, then thirty. Your smile begins to fade as your arms feel around in the water around you.

“Tuk?” you call out, chest tightening when you're met with the subtle rush of the glittering cascade from the waterfall up above.

You push forward in the water until your chin touches the surface.

“Tuktirey!” you shout, thrashing around the pool, searching for her tiny frame through the illumination. “Tuk!”

Your toes lose purchase as the water deepens and you begin to panic without the youngest Sully in sight. You turn when you hear a splash, Tuk giggling on the shore.

Your stomach churns hard and Tuk's face falls when she sees your panicked expression.

“Tuk, I-I can't swim well!” you cry out, legs flailing as you splash through the water. You try to dig your toes in the earth below, but you're just shy of the mark.

Tuk looks scared on the shore, fidgeting as she looks around desperately.

“You're too deep, ________!” Tuk whines, voice laced with tears.

Your legs ache, head lolling under the water for a moment before you emerge with a splutter.

“Get– Go get help!” you instruct her, feeling your calves begin to burn as you try to keep yourself afloat. You don't know how long you'll be able to tread water. “I'll be okay, little one. Hurry!”

Tuk turns, picking up her satchel as she makes way for the path you took. When she's out of sight, you fall slack, chest heaving as you try to use your skinny arms to paddle at the water.

Meanwhile, Tuktirey runs through the forest, tears spilling down her rounded cheeks as she trips over sprawling roots and nudges low-hanging vines from the pathway.

She skids to a stop when Neteyam, who had finally worked up the nerve to excuse himself from dinner, comes into view.

He turns when he hears her wailing, face scrunching when he registers his youngest sibling's anguish.

“Tuk, wha—”

She grabs at his hands, tugging him towards the path to the waterfall.

“________ needs help!” she cries. “She can't swim!”

Neteyam's ears prick at the mention of your name, scooping up his youngest sibling in his arms before breaking into a sprint through the brush of the brightening forest. The woodsprites begin to emerge and he barrels into the clearing of the waterfall breathlessly.

It's still, like it's been untouched and his heart hammers nervously in his chest, eyes searching the pool for any sign of you.

He's setting Tuk down quickly before splash desperately into the water.

“_______!” he calls.

He ducks underneath the surface, eyes open wide as he searches for you. And there you are, body slack as you sink slowly to the bottom of the rocky pool.

He dives forward, lungs burning as he cuts through the waters with lean arms. His fingers circle one of your wrists, the other hand winding around your waist as he propels you two up above the water. He chokes on a breath, hand coming up to touch your face.

Your head lolls to the side, eyes shut as Neteyam holds you close.

“Neteyam!” Te'feyra calls from the shore, having followed him after being rebuffed during dinner.

Kiri and Lo'ak are close behind, eyes wide when they see their eldest brother wading quickly through the waters with your unconscious form in his arms.

“Neteyam,” Te'feyra repeats, hand coming to grasp his bicep.

“Not now,” he grunts, tugging his arm from her grasp to march through the brush of the forest.

Woodsprites surround you two as he takes you back to the village, a silent plea to the Great Mother not to take you away weighing heavy on his lips.

You awake to a shining sun and a wet towel on your head. You squint against the beaming light and sit up abruptly as the prior night dawns you like a swift strike to the gut.

“Whoa, wait, slow down,” a thick voice rumbles.

You scent him before you see him.

Neteyam's hands are on you, guiding you back to rest on the pile of pillows that had propped you up before.

You shoot up again anyways.

“Where's Tuk?” you ask anxiously.

“Tuk's fine,” Neteyam says. “She's eating breakfast with Kiri and Mom.”

You lean back in relief, eyes squeezing shut as you wheeze out a sigh.

His hands are on you again, gentle, warm as he takes the towel from your forehead and wipes your face to refresh you.

“Are you okay?” he asks quietly, hesitantly.

You pause a moment, but then nod.

“Yeah,” you affirm hoarsely. “M'fine.”

Neteyam just stares at you, yellow eyes unblinking and you know this isn't like one of those fleeting moments. He sees you and it makes your gut churn hard.

“I'll be okay here,” you say quietly. “You may have...someone, you know, waiting for you.”

Te'feyra's name is a silent implication and Neteyam doesn't look amused.

“I told them I would look after you until you're fully well,” he counters, wringing the towel into a bowl that sits next to the mound of blankets your rest on.

You fiddle with your fingers, fully disheartened because even in times like these, he remains the diligent leader-in-training that he is.

The air in the tent is think and you can't breathe.

“I'd like some air,” you whisper, crawling from the soft mat to climb to your feet shakily.

“You need to rest,” Neteyam says crossly, seemingly annoyed at your persistence to put as much distance as you can between the two of you.

You don't respond and finally he seems to burst.

“You can't swim and yet you still went after Tuk,” he calls after you like an accusation. “Why?”

You pause.

“Tuk is like a sister to me,” you say quietly. “I would never let anything happen to her.”

You make a move to exit the tent, but Neteyam's voice stops you in your tracks.

“You could have died,” he says quietly, and you can't place the emotion in his voice.

“I'd do it again,” you admit, craning your neck to face him. “I'm not that weak.”

Neteyam's face falls and you duck from the tent.

Neteyam becomes restless after that moment. He loses his focus, agility taking a hit as he hunts one on one with his father.

He goes to shoot another arrow, but Jake stops him with a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“Neteyam, I know I can be hard on you,” he starts. “But I’m always here.”

“Yes sir,” Neteyam nods.

“Something’s bothering you,” Jake observes. “You’re not yourself. You’re losing focus.”

Neteyam swallows.

“Sorry, sir,” he says, head hanging.

His braids form a curtain around his face and Jake gives his shoulder a squeeze.

“Son?”

Neteyam swallows again, head tilting up to look is dad in the face.

“I don’t want to be with Te’feyra,” he admits quietly.

Jake's lips twitch.

“Well I could have told you that,” Jake scoffs, the corner of his lips twitching into a soft smile. “You look about as dead as a washed up fish when she’s around.”

Neteyam recalls the kiss she’d given him nights ago and how he'd internally recoiled, body stiff under her touch.

“I’m sorry,” he repeats.

“Why are you sorry?” Jake prods.

“Because I know Te’feyra is who the clan wants me to be with, who is my most suitable match,” he says. “I just— I don't want to let you down.”

Jake gives him an impish grin.

“Neteyam, let me give you a word of advice. There are things in this world that are suited well for each other; you and Te'feyra are one of those things. But your heart and your mind are the two most powerful things about you,” he says. “You will not be punished for giving into your heart.”

Neteyam thinks of you. He thinks of your face, the lines of your timid smile, the idents that dimple your cheeks. He thinks of your touch when he's wounded, gentle and expert, warm against his skin. He thinks of your voice, airy, soft, a low rasp.

He thinks of when he'd called you weak. Of your face, wounded and hurt. He's stricken in this moment as he realizes that strength doesn't have to be audacious. It can be quiet, small acts that become mighty.

Tuk had told him about the waterfall, how she'd wanted to pull your leg a little. You'd accepted your fate if Ewya deemed it time, you'd even sent the youngest away in the chance you wouldn't surface.

You were far from weak. Your strength ran nearly as deep as the roots of Ewya herself, yet you'd taken the criticism in stride. Let Neteyam paint you as a coward, a pushover with no spine.

“I think there’s someone you need to clear the air with,” Jake says after a few moments of silence. “She should be in her tent.”

Neteyam's hands are clammy. It's been nearly a week since he'd last seen you. You'd reserved to spending time inside of your tent to brush up on your studies and refine your work. He'd catch glimpses of you, but you were used to blending in the background and Neteyam's used to overlooking you.

Was he being presumptuous? Maybe you only admired him as a warrior. Or perhaps it was a duty to the clan to revere him. He feels sick to his stomach thinking of confronting you. But Lo'ak wouldn't try to convince him of his own feelings if it wasn't mutual, would he?

And when had the feelings become mutual? He's recently began to think that perhaps he'd always liked you because you were the only one who didn't actively vie for his affection. Who only saw him as Neteyam, an equal, not Neteyam, the Olo’eyktan's son.

Maybe it was whenever he'd see you wandering in the forest during his hunting trips, murmuring to yourself as you picked herbs and flowers for you studies. Or maybe when he'd spot you still high on the branches of the lofty trees with a tablet of paper and ink. Maybe it was when you'd smile at him shyly when he'd adjust your form during archery and it'd melt his insides. Or when you two were little and he'd plucked flowers for everyone and you were the only one who'd smiled at it sticking out of your satchel.

If he recalls correctly, it's pressed to a scroll hanging in your tent and that alone makes his heart race.

Maybe you two are inevitable and he'd only prolonged it because of his own fears.

“Neteyam!”

Te’feyra steps in his line of sight, standing before him and the hometree that houses your tent. He glances away when she stops in front of him.

“Te’feyra,” he greets cordially.

“I haven't seen you since the incident with ________,” she says. “Are you alright?”

Neteyam nods.

“Never better,” he says simply.

“After dinner we should–”

He spots you, satchel thrown over your shoulder. You glance his way momentarily, but scurry in the direction of your tent when you lock eyes with him.

“If you will excuse me, please,” he says politely, extricating himself from Te’feyra to follow after you.

He catches up to you right outside of your tent.

“________!” he calls.

You freeze almost imperceptibly, but continue on your way, climbing the flattened incline spiraling around the center of the hometree.

“________,” he murmurs, fist closing around your skinny bicep.

You jolt to a stop, golden eyes razor sharp as you glance down at him. Your fist is wrapped tight around the strap of the satchel, knuckles stretched taut.

“Neteyam,” you reply softly. “Yes?”

He opens his mouth to say something, but finds that his tongue weighs heavy behind his lips.

“If you seek help, there are elders available for healing,” you inform him, making a move to remove your arm from his grasp.

He instinctively tightens his grasp and you shift uncomfortably.

“Sorry, sorry,” he says quietly, pulling away. “I just want to speak with you.”

A few beats pass as you blink at him.

“Well?”

“Oh,” he swallows. “Can I come in?”

You turn to face the flap of your tent before craning your long neck over your shoulder to nod.

“Sure,” you agree, holding the hide open to let him in.

You step in after him, table scattered with mixtures of finely-pounded dust, scrolls of research and bundles of materials.

You set your satchel down and begin unloading your finds from you excursion.

Meanwhile, Neteyam paces nervously, trailing the circumference of your tent, eyes flitting every which way to take in every piece of you.

A thick silence envelops you and you clear your throat when the satchel is empty.

“You wanted to talk?” you ask, watching as he stops in front of a scrolled tacked to one of the beams.

It's the pressed flower he'd given to you all that time ago as children. It's central in the room, catching the sun so beautifully and Neteyam uses this as the last bit of courage he needs to continue.

“You kept it,” he says, voice shaky.

“Of course,” you say simply, picking through your different finds. “You gave it to me.”

Neteyam turns, looks you head on and he feels his resolve crumbling.

“You like me,” he says bluntly, afraid that if he beats around the bush, he'll cop out.

“Everyone does,” you deflect.

Neteyam's jaw locks.

“No, ________, you like me,” he repeats.

You feel small, sorting the petals by color, fingers nimble against the soft grain of the wooden tabletop.

“Presumptuous,” you hum, unable to meet his piercing gaze.

“________,” he presses.

You bite your lip, tears clouding your vision as your fingers begin to trembling through the sorting. He's being so unfair and he doesn't even know it.

“Why?” you ask shakily.

“What do you mean why?” Neteyam counters, voice taking on the same edge he did with his brother days prior and he'd interrogated him about you.

“Why are you doing this?” you croak, and he hears the tears in your voice.

He's across the floor before you can blink.

“Are you crying?” he asks, shocked.

“Why do you want me to say it so badly?” you choke, poor petals strangled in your vibrating fist. “Is it not enough? To know that I yearn for you silently? That everyone pities me because my heart belongs to someone who's already spoken for?”

Neteyam is stunned.

“I like you, Neteyam. I always have,” you say, voice raw with emotion. “It's my biggest defeat to say I always will. Is that what you want to hear?”

Your eyes are tinged red and his throat feels stuffed with cotton.

“I've always admired you,” you say quietly, between hiccuping breaths. “But I didn’t know you could be so cruel.”

Neteyam winces, every word he’d practiced earlier, completely obliterated from his short term. He knows he should just tell you, tell you that his heart yearns for yours, too. That he'd been too blinded by his impending duty to feel the full effects of what a first love could be like.

“You should go,” you say when he's silent.

You brush your tears away and pat your cheeks dry with the back of your hands as you carefully set the wilted flowers the the edge of the table.

“I–”

“Neteyam, spare me, please.”

“I don’t want to,” he finally says.

Your eyebrows furrow, eyes swollen as you gaze at him unjaded. Who he believed to be so stoic and passive now baring every possible inch to him.

“You're–”

“I don't want to be with Te'feyra,” he finally spits, fists clenched. “I won't be with her.”

Your gaze softens, lips parting to ask what's gotten into him, but he cuts you off.

“You,” he answers firmly, before the question clings in the air. “It’s you. I want to be with you.”

"Stop," you whisper, shaking your head furiously. You take a step away from where he's quickly closing in on you. “Don't–”

He pauses mid-stride and the expression on his handsome face is absolutely devastating. His chest rises and falls shakily and you take a moment to meet his eyes.

“I’m sorry I didn’t notice it before,” he says desperately, “I was scared and didn't fully realize it, but I do now.”

“That’s unfair,” you hiccup. “This isn't just on your terms. You can’t— you can’t just tell me you like me and expect me to be with you.”

These passing moments are the most he’s ever heard you speak, and he’s afraid that he's severely underestimated you. It doesn’t taste so sweet now that he’s faced with the reality of things.

“You will be the future leader of this clan,” you continue. “That is a great responsibility that you've prepared for your entire life. Who you decide to be with is a permanent fixture that cannot be undone.”

“I know, I know,” he assures you.

“You find it in your heart pity me, Neteyam,” you breathe quietly. “But do you really want to be bonded to someone passive and weak?”

He opens his mouth to argue, but you've squared your shoulders, stomach caving and expanding with a deep breath. You turn to your prior task.

“You should go,” you repeat. “Duty calls.”

“What do you mean you need help?” Kiri asks incredulously, eyes widened at her older brother.

“________,” Neteyam says. “She's icing me out.”

Kiri's face melts in relief and she scoffs a laugh.

“Do you blame her?”

“Kiri!” he pleads.

Kiri stops her movements, falling back on her haunches to meet Neteyam's desperate gaze. It's so unlike him, being uncertain, nervous. He's picked up the habit of fiddling his fingers and Kiri snorts to herself.

“Actions,” she says simply.

“Huh?” he vocalizes.

“Words mean nothing to ________ if your actions don't support them,” she says. “This entire time you've acted so lukewarm towards her. Of course she won't believe you when you decide to acknowledge that you love her.”

Neteyam's throat bobs as he stares down at his sister.

“And how will I do that?” he presses.

Kiri shrugs.

“Not so mighty warrior now, are we?”

As the days progress, you begin to grasp at finally coming to terms with the tattered remains of what's left of you and Neteyam's frayed relationship. Your heart hasn't stonewalled him completely, but the yearning for him has dulled to a slight ache.

His eyes are piercing every moment you share the same vicinity. Kiri would even try to argue you that it's longing, but Neteyam's a slave to his honor and you aren't convinced.

“You should pity the poor boy,” an elder tells you as you cut up ingredients for the evening's dinner.

You pause, fingers tightening around the handle of the knife. You roll your lips together before briefly meeting her gaze, warm under firelight.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you deflect, clearing your throat.

She laughs, peeling a purple fruit.

“Neteyam,” she says forwardly. “Hasn’t taken his eyes off you in who knows how long. Will you continue to let him suffer?”

You want to argue that it's you who's suffering. That the heart that beats inside the hollow of your ribcage feels like it'll tear in two every time you recall the venom in Neteyam's voice when he'd called you weak.

“I doubt his suffering has anything to do with me,” you say instead. “We are only acquaintances.”

The elder laughs again.

“Is that why he's been pestering the elders for input on how to sway your heart?”

Your head shoots up from where you've focused on the fine cuts of vegetables.

“What?”

“He’s been slacking on his duties, instead poking around the elders and villagers trying to pry information about you,” she says. “Heard him muttering about what kind of flowers you like.”

“It will take more than flowers to sway my heart,” you mumble.

“So you admit that there's something there, hmm?”

Your cheeks heat, caught like a fish in warm waters.

“I–”

“I'd argue that Neteyam’s liked you longer than you've liked him,” the elder says simply.

You bite.

“Why do you say that?”

“He's always asked Eywa for courage, and it seems like she gave you as an answer.”

The elder climbs to her feet, leaving you near the open flame. You open your mouth to call out to her, but the scent of salt and leaves envelops you before you can say anything.

You crane your neck and find Neteyam a few paces from you.

“Do you have a few moments?” he asks politely.

You want to say no, tell him that you'd offered him an infinite amount of moments that he'd spent building bridges between the two of you, but if he's a slave to his honor, you're bound by heart.

“Okay,” you say hesitantly, abandoning your task.

He holds his hand out for you to take and your fingers slide across his warm palm as he pulls you to your feet. Once he secures your hold in his, he tugs you along.

You don't know where he's taking you, or what he could possibly want with your time, but you feel a thousand times more nervous than ever now that the tangled web of your feelings drapes the both of you.

After a few moments of rugged silence, climbing through bushes and brush, he punctures the quiet.

“Are you well?” he asks.

“Yes,” you answer after a moment. “You?”

“Truthfully?” he responds, pausing to face you. You realize his hand still engulfs yours. “No.”

“No?” you parrot shakily.

“No,” he affirms. “I've been hurting actually.”

Your eyebrows furrow.

“You should seek help if you have an ongoing–”

“Here,” he says, the hand still caught in his being guided to lay flat against his chest. You can feel his heart hammering behind his ribcage. “It hurts here.”

You swallow, pulling away from his grasp when you realize his insinuation.

“Don’t,” you warn.

He breathes a shaky sigh before taking a step towards you. He's corded muscle and warmth as his palm comes to cradle your jaw. Your bottom lip twitches as you stare up at him.

“It’s always been you,” he says quietly, thumb brushing your chin as his eyes map every curve of your face. “I think I’ve always known it deep down, but...”

Your hand comes up to meet his, gently prying his touch away.

“Neteyam,” you sigh. “Had the last few days unfolded differently, I don't think you'd been saying this now.”

“Maybe not now,” he agrees. “But one day, I would. I know I would. Because when I recall every fond moment, you’re there. No matter how close to the background you get, you’re always there.”

You look skeptical, and Neteyam knows he's losing you. So he digs in the small knapsack he has slung over his broad shoulders and pulls out something thin.

When he holds it up with shaky fingers, your breath catches in your throat. Strung through the taut brown of tree vine is a line of beads identical to the one that he wears on a braid tucked behind his ear. Upon closer inspection, you notice the blue and purple beads formed to create your favorite flowers.

“Wha—”

“Until you decide you want to be mine,” he says, voice trembling nervously as he takes your arm and gently slides the band up until it fits snuggly around your bicep. “So that you remember I'm always yours.”

Your voice is caught in your throat as he brings your fingers up to his lips.

“I won’t push you,” he says when he realizes your words have evaded you. “But I’ll wait for you.”

“Neteyam–”

He simply smiles at you, golden eyes shy as he takes a step back to admire his handiwork. He seems satisfied, triumphant, when you eye the band but make no moves to remove it.

“I’ll wait for you,” he repeats, giving your fingers a squeeze before running off.

“He did what?” Lo’ak shrills a week later.

The younger three Sully's had hunted you down and brought you to the clearing dedicated to archery training.

Slender fingers wrap around your wrist and elbow to turn your arm to examine the band with wide eyes.

You can’t help but smile gently to yourself, watching the way the sun catches the reflection of the pearlescent beads and reflects them brightly.

“I knew that dummy was planning something,” Kiri grumbles. You bite your lip when she meets your gaze. “Well?”

“Well what?” you ask, arm still in Lo’ak’s grasp.

He twists playfully and your laugh glitters in the air.

"Are you going to put my knucklehead brother out of his misery or what?" Kiri hisses, arm drawing to shoot a arrow that stabs the target about a centimeter too left.

Tuk giggles as she runs up to the target to examine the damage.

“Yeah, please do, he's in love and it's disgusting,” Lo'ak grumbles, still eyeing the cuff.

Your heart skips at the mention of love, cheeks going warm when both Kiri and Lo'ak notice how you've gone quiet. They begin laughing, dealing you playful punches.

“Stop that,” you scold, swatting their hands away. “I haven’t given him an answer yet.”

“Oh, get real!” Kiri huffs. “You are so in love, you know you'll say yes.”

“Please put me out of my misery,” Lo'ak moans. “I'm tired of being his therapist because he's a little bitch.”

“Lo'ak,” you warn, eyes narrowing.

He giggles and Kiri stifles a laugh as you flounder, cheeks blooming under the siblings' teasing.

“You are both so awful,” you say petulantly, arms crossing one over the other. “How are you so sure I’ll return his feelings?”

It's Kiri's turn to groan, eyes rolling.

“Sure enough that I know if I let you in on a little secret, it'll light a fire under your ass,” she says seriously.

Your spine goes rigid, arms loosening as you wait with bated breath.

“Neteyam may choose you, but if you don’t choose him back quickly enough, someone could swoop in and claw that chance from you,” she shrugs.

Te'feyra's name is an ugly insinuation and something green coils its way into the pit of your stomach as you recall the chaste kiss she'd pressed to Neteyam's lips all those nights ago in the forest.

“Gears turning?” Lo'ak lilts.

They definitely are and suddenly you feel small, digging your big toe into the dirt to drag lines through the forest floor. You nod hesitantly, band suddenly tight around your bicep.

In your ruminating, Lo'ak and Kiri pass a knowing glance.

“Well?” Lo'ak prods.

You fidget, rattling with nerves.

“I suppose...”

Lo'ak sighs and his hands come down on your shoulders to steer you through the clearing.

“Where are we going?” you squeak.

“To put everyone out of their misery,” Lo'ak huffs.

The forest seems way more alive than usual, glowing so bright it almost overpowers the sun. Woodsprites gather around as Lo'ak nudges you through the thick foliage and you can't help but think about the sweet smile that curled on Neteyam's lips as he assured you that he was yours. All yours.

The fire crackles in the distance and you know that the morning meal is in the works when voices roar quietly meters away.

Neteyam sits near the center, surrounded by elders and the dreaded girl.

Te'feyra's obliterated every single centimeter of space available, nearly melded to his side as the elders talk animatedly over the two.

You want to turn back, uncertainty vice-like, but Lo'ak squeezes your shoulders as a silent plea. Not even a moment passes before Neteyam peels himself away and begins putting distance between them.

When Te'feyra gives him a curious glance, he gives her an uneasy smile.

“Be courageous, ________,” Lo'ak encourages. “You're one of the strongest people I know.”

With a final pat on the back, he pushes you towards the circle and the sudden movement catches everyone's gaze.

“________,” one of the elders calls fondly.

You smile and bow your head, fingers twitching at your sides.

“Hello,” you greet quietly, eyes swooping hesitantly to Neteyam who rises to his feet, already watching you intently.

That's when you notice it, the choker fastened around his throat. The vine is identical to yours, but it's strung with a line of beads that mirror the ones woven into a singular braid at the nape of your neck.

You hadn't realized that he'd noticed it all this time, but it's the ultimate confirmation that Neteyam sees you. And when he notices that you notice, he smiles softly.

The elders notice as well, drawing the link between your arm band and the necklace that Neteyam wears, now that you two stand opposite each other.

“May I borrow Neteyam for a moment?” you ask politely.

The same elder you prepared with the evening prior gleams a wide smile when Neteyam takes a step towards you, fingers brushing delicately with yours.

Te'feyra remains seated, lips twitching as her gaze flits between the two of you.

“By all means,” one of them says. “Take your time.”

You bow your head again, heart thudding when Neteyam's fingers twine with yours and he lets you drag him out of the circle and deeper into the forest.

When you deem that no prying eyes or ears surround you, you stop, Neteyam bumping softly into your back. The hair on the back of your neck bristle when he makes no moves to extricate himself from you, simply moving your braids from your face to reveal the string of beads tucked near the nape of your neck.

“You needed me?” he whispers, fingers still ghosting the skin of shoulder.

You swallow, squeezing your eyes shut as you relish the moment. Your fingers are still locked and for a fleeting second, you pretend that it's always been like this, the two of you.

“I am nothing extraordinary,” you start, and Neteyam's fingertips pause at your elbow.

“I'd argue differently,” he responds.

“I value time alone and I get overwhelmed often,” you continue.

“We all have our moments,” is his rebuttal as the hand covering yours squeezes gently.

You sigh.

“I could—”

Neteyam turns you and you're met with the the choker, beads glinting under the light. Your eyes drag up the column of his strong neck, flit past his soft lips and finally lock with his searing gaze.

“You can try all you want to run me off,” Neteyam laughs quietly, cupping your jaw. “But I'm not scared anymore.”

Your expression is skeptical and Neteyam decides to bite the bullet. He's closing in on you and your heart pounds violently in your chest.

“Neteyam,” you whisper weakly, hand coming up to his chest.

He traps your fingers against his heart, lips slotting between yours before you can protest some more.

It's like the forest comes alive around you, grass tickling between your toes as you melt under his touch and lean up into his mouth.

His hands are everywhere at once, branding your cerulean skin as he kisses you like it's your last moments. There's no hesitation, no feeling it out, just his warm breath and his soft lips as he pulls you impossibly closer.

“I'll take you as you are at any moment,” he says breathlessly between kisses. “You just have to say you want me back, ________. Please.”

You nod, nose brushing against his as one of his palms splay at the small of your back and the other grabs your chin, pulling you back to plant another burning kiss on your lips.

“Say it,” he begs.

Your eyes begin to mist as you nod again eagerly, parting for a moment to whisper the words.

“I'm yours,” you hoarse, hands on either side of his neck. “I'm yours if you'll be with me.”

Neteyam simply kisses you again, a satisfied hum rumbling from his built chest.

“Fucking finally,” a whisper sounds from the brush.

A LIL' BONUS

“You think they would have figured it out on their own?” Lo'ak asks, wolfing down his food.

Kiri shrugs, feeding Tuk a piece of fruit from her wooden plate.

“Maybe,” she says, unable to suppress her proud grin. “Maybe not. They're both stupid."

“I think so,” Te'feyra laughs watching you and Neteyam fondly from across the fire. “They were a long time coming.”

an – thank you SO much if you've made it this far! again, leave a request or let's chat hehehe. up next is lo'ak so stay tuned! :)

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neng © 2023

𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮, 𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫. | Neteyam Sully

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 : green is all you see, and for once it's not because you live in the midst of the damn jungle. it's because envy and greed consume you. what's the root cause of it? neteyam and your supposed friend who is trying to definitely charm him. 

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭 : “This—” [points at their chest] “—this belongs to you. Always.”

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 : neteyam sully x fem!omaticaya reader.

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 : requested, yes | no. hellooo idk where this came from, but here we are at least another request done! just wanted to put a lil something out because the songcords are some chonky mfs and taking some time! so hope you enjoy. this is loosely based on "my heart it beats for you" - grentperez (filo represent!)

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 : jealousy, flirting w/o clear consent?, neteyam is so boyfie/bbg here, protective!nete, ur friend is an asshat, hurt/comfort, established relationship, cussing, fluff yippee!

𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 : olo’eyktan - clan leader, yaymak - foolish/ignorant, tsamsiyu - warrior, oeyä - my (possessive), hawnu - protect/shelter, muntxate - wife/mate.

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 : 2.5k words !

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 :  @pandorainmymind @eywas-heir @spicycloudsalad @missdreamofendless @prty-poisxn @scarlettwitch-4 @23victoria @avidreader3107 @purplehyacinthss-deactivated202 @itssiaaax @neteyamoa @tsireyasgf @nijirozzz @useryourbut @yua-himari @sweetheartlizzie07 @grierpilots @reneehillary69 @fruitsalad1 @forasgaard @iwaslikeblah @dumb-fawkin-bitch @theicemav @narutoboi @azaleaniath @goosemothersblog

𝐉𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐘 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐁𝐄 𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇, especially if you have to witness the cause of such erratic inner turmoil. 

She hadn't meant to wander this close to the training grounds, and truthfully she had no clue how her little detour brought her here. 

Alas, perhaps she'd gravitated here for a reason. After all, Neteyam was training some warriors-to-be, and maybe now she could catch a glimpse of him in action without disrupting the lesson.

She missed him, the consistent need of kissing him like the ocean does to the tide as it retreats back to shore. It held her heart in a monumental lock, Neteyam had infiltrated her thoughts once again. To be fair, she could not be blamed for this - they'd barely been around each other the past few days. 

Jake had become even sterner, prepping his son for when he'd take the mantle of Olo'ekytan as it is handed down to him. It had Neteyam wishing he could talk back, just simply out of spite. To demand some room, freedom to spend more time with you. But the only thing keeping him grounded and sane was the fact that perhaps once this is all over, and he has secured his place as the leader of the clan - maybe then things would settle. He'd get to be around you more, even if it is through lingering touches and a fuse charged to his heart due to the yearning glances from across two ends of a place in their home in the midst of the forest. 

His desire to cross the finish line had increased by tenfold at the mere thoughts flittering in his brimming mind. To start a family with you, live his life to the fullest with you…that was all he's yearned for. 

But now she's cursing herself, feet stomping onto the forest ground with uncertainty brewing deep in her bones. ___ did not know whether or not to be pissed beyond belief or let her heart sink into the doubts already sneering at her. 

Because through the thick branches, she stood behind to peer into the training grounds, the sight before her was certainly something to behold. 

Training my ass! Speaking of ass, is she pressing hers into- what the actual fuck? 

Her heart drummed in her ears, and suddenly fury fills her veins until she feels ashamed. Is this what has been going on all this time? How could her friend act on the attractions that she seemed to very obviously have? Neteyam was spoken for. 

___ best friend stood a good few metres away from where she had unintentionally hidden, pressed too closely to Neteyam as he tries to readjust her stance and the way she grips her bow. 

That coniving little… ___ had already taught the ins and outs of how to control her bow and how to aim it. They did this months ago. She wanted to give her friend the benefit of the doubt, maybe she just needed some touching up? But why wouldn't she have just gone to you?

Such questions fizzle out as her eyes cut to your own, unnerving and edging on callousness. Oh, so this definitely was purposeful. 

She knows more than anyone else that her boyfriend is capable of holding his own, but sometimes - he is just a little dense. Especially around the ladies of the clan, and the fact that every female (even males) wants a piece of him. 

Not even just to be the Tsahik of the future Olo'ekytan, but because he inherited the beauty of his mother - the roughness of his father. He also had a very protective demeanor, never hesitating to be vocal about his genuine adoration for you - or back you up when a situation demanded of it. 

It lights a fuse in the back of your mind then, a raging insistent thought that you'd try to tone down the moment you realised that you were each other's, person. That hopefully nothing was going to come of the way of that. 

But your supposed friend is definitely coming in the way of you acting civil right now. 

Maybe you just weren't good enough for him, never able to live up to everything Neteyam is known for and will come to be.

Jake had told Neteyam that he could begin to train other like-minded Na'vi - the people of the Omaticaya that wanted to become warriors. Saying in the same sentence how his dear friend Tsu'tey used to do the same. 

It instilled him with great pride and honor, which he was undeniably blinded by in this current moment as your friends' fingertips graze his arm in a very flirtatious manner. 

Disdain clawed at your skin then, making you want to scratch at your arms. Did she willingly sign up for these lessons? Yaymak, she's taking up the time of true soon-to-be warriors who await more proper training. 

She lets out a loud and very obnoxious giggle, and Neteyam doesn't acknowledge a thing - still too focused on the lesson. The fuse imploded then. 

All the doubts came gushing in at once, searing to your skin as envy wilts around your conscience. Green is all you see, and for once it's not because you live in the midst of the damn jungle. It's because envy and greed consume you. Betrayal too, towards the friend you lost and your lover who was too focused on living up to the legacy of two influential men of the clan. 

Oh maybe, just maybe you had to unwillingly entertain such detrimental thoughts.

There's a reason why the clan is so unbashful in their efforts of trying to claim Neteyam as their one and only mate for a  lifetime. 

You weren't enough in their eyes. 

You'd come from a mediocre family, hunters on the bottom of the hierarchy - nothing remotely remarkable. 

Nothing compared to your soon-to-be ex-friend who is inching her way closer into Neteyam's chest - whose mother is also incredibly close to Neytiri.

___ was really wishing for Eywa right about now. That the atkorinas that had danced among the sky and brushed your shoulders when you and Neteyam shared your first kiss, were not something she had hopelessly imagined. 

With fists clenched, Neteyam releases the arrow. Bullseye.

"Yep, that's how I do it." He just smiles down at her respectfully, stepping back unintentionally as he reloads his bow to demonstrate it one more time.

The girl inflicting all this bitterness and resentment frowned then, before turning slightly and meeting your teary eyes once again. 

She knew you were there and was still doing this? Yeah, she can rot in hell.

In an instant, she squeals, but it's still a late reaction to what he had just shown - jumping to him and giving Neteyam an audacious hug. 

Great mother, she was testing your resolve. Your claim. ___ can't do this, can't bare witness to such crude manners and undeterred actions from someone she had confided in and befriended for a large part of her life. 

Before you knew it, you were fumbling, feet stepping on a hollow stick.

Snap. It echoes in the now still air, missing how Neteyam had flinched and retreated from her hug immediately. His features darkened as he spat out, "Don't touch me like that. You are here to learn, so learn."

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Two heads whip towards you as ___ bolts off, not daring to take a quick glance back at where you had left your broken heart.

Neteyam is only just able to catch a glimpse of who had suddenly retreated, dread drenching him in a mere half second once everything falls into place. 

It was his yawntu.

The need to please his father and live up to the great hold his uncle Tsu'tey still had on his people sputters, becoming an afterthought.

"How dare you take advantage of me like this?" He thunders at the now floundering girl. 

She gapes and stutters. But nothing flows through his ears. How pathetic.

"You're her best friend!" He hissed, ears laying flat in vexation. 

Once again nothing leaves her suddenly parched mouth, and it leaves him utterly cross. Neteyam decides then to drag salt across the wound.

"You are not capable of being a warrior, especially if you cannot take my lessons seriously. I suggest you head back to where you belong because I will not teach someone as lousy as you - ever - again." He glowered, snatching the practice bow out of her hands and proceeding to not only snap it in half - but throw it on the ground as well.

"Neteyam!" She desperately calls at the same time he yells out for you, running in the same direction he had seen you flee. 

He doesn't bother to pivot and throw more spite at the already frightened girl who had tried to make advances on him, it was her fault they got caught in that position (literally).

The ever-so-mighty tsamiyu now feels like he is shackled to the forest floor as he calls out for you again, frowning as his feet dig into the soil beneath him once finally finds you.

There you are, winsome as you quietly sob into the palm of your hands that cover the aggrieved expression that painted your features. The waterfall cascaded down on you as you pushed yourself to sit inside the little cave that had created itself over the years right behind it. 

A jolt ripples through ___ as Neteyam instinctively brings you into a hug the moment he reaches you, pressing repetitive kisses to your forehead. 

You let yourself feel the wrath of your thoughts then, right at their peak - so you can come to terms with them. They can settle and move away from having you anchored down like you were currently.

A gut-wrenching sigh ebbed out of you then, whispering to Neteyam apologetically. 

"I know, I know it's not your fault. I'm sorry I reacted this way."

He just shakes his head in turmoil then, features hardened at the thought of you having to witness him try to be swayed by someone who he didn't find trifling interest in. Someone who had been in your inner circle of friends. 

Neteyam felt scorned, struggling to find words that can appease both of you. This is all unexplored territory to him, he'd never had to deal with someone so bold that was also trying to get with him. The eldest Sully is so unapologetically enamored, essentially soaking in all the love and devotion he has for you. There's so much of it to go around, that even his heart sometimes grapples with where to place it all. 

He necessitated, tone yearning for you to see him. "I hope you know, these were never my intentions. To hurt you, for her to act so-...for it to turn out - I was trying to appease my father and it's just been-"

You cut him off, understanding and knowing all too well of the troubles and responsibilities that have been bestowed upon him and weigh heavily on his broad shoulders. 

"Nete, I know. Really, it's just my mind playing games with me. It is not your fault that she decided to, well - ruin our friendship. You also did not deserve such treatment when time is already not on your side right now. I'm sorry for that."

___ doesn't meet his eyes, instead her own are downcast - allowing her hair to hang like a curtain over her blotchy face due to the tears that she had just shed.

"___." He utters with purpose, hands moving to push your damp hair back and away from your face.

You hum lowly, eyes still holding a peculiar melancholy and distant as ever. 

His hand pressing to your heart is what shatters you from the reverie.

Neteyam's amber eyes are fierce, bold, and enraptured with the deepest appreciation for you. 

Now he knows he holds your attention,

“This—”, he points to his chest then, vehemently and with such precision it has your heart stilling for a moment, “—this belongs to you. Always.”

A shudder breaks from your lips then, astounded and in awe that he is all yours. Shaking hands fold over his that still are motioning to his own heart. 

The heart that had been ever so charmed by your delightful presence, so effortlessly whole due to the affections you bestowed upon him over the years of his childhood up til now.

You're each other's eternities, aligned with the stars and the atkorina's. ___ is sure of it now.

He'd orbit around you as long as you wished for him to. A shield and a protector for this lifetime and the ones that followed. Neteyam liked to believe that if there was another life, you'd fall right into place beside one another. That your love would just shift and begin again. 

If only he knew you thought the exact same thing, especially now as you just appreciate Neteyam for all that he is and who he'll come to be. He has big shoes to fill, but you know he'll be just fine. 

"As does mine. Always." You whisper with consolation, delicate and saccharine. 

His heart squeezes, hands darting away from yours to cup your face as he let his head dip into yours.

It was a movement that was second-hand nature to him now, a daily occurrence of sorts.

Neteyam breathes you in, letting your aura wrap around his being.

Your arms capture him in return, fingers trailing down the divots that line his spine as he allows himself to melt into your hold. Tension fusing into ease.

"You're not mad at me?" He questions, mindlessly playing with a strand of your still-damp hair.

"I'm not mad at you, oeyä hawnu."

His heart flutters then, a light blush dusting his cheeks. He shyly whines into the nape of your neck, your response is to giggle in return.

"You know what calling me that, does to me! I guess it's time to once again show my affection to you in front of all the people!"

You squeal his name as he suddenly lifts you up, throwing over you his shoulder as he wades out into the real world and across the water, away from your little bubble.

Bursts of laughter mingle with the bustling sounds of nature as he makes his way back to your home base.

 Neteyam will gladly let everyone know how devoted he is to you, to make sure they know that he isn't kidding around when he said you'd be his future muntxate.

In his heart and soul, he knew you were the only person Pandora made for him in the eyes of Eywa. That's how it always will be, is the thought that springs to both of your minds in that very moment. The great mother wishes then she could give you a sign then, but she rectifies herself then.

Your heart beats when with each other speaks enough.

𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 ━━━ 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

⤷ feedback and reblogs are always much appreciated ! feel free to ask through my inbox if you would like to join my taglist. ♡ // a/n: i tried using ___ instead of y/n cos i was getting tired of it lmk if that's ok. also LMAOO i imagined the waterfall as the hsm2 scene, the pool iyky!

Quiet love (Neteyam x reader)

Masterlist

Description: You didn’t see the way Neteyam was longing for you, too caught up in why it was impossible anyway. But he was insistent that you were the one he wanted.

Warnings: really insecure reader, that’s all I think

The humans never came back, Neteyam is aged up (like both him and the reader around 19/20)

6336 words

You wished you were more special, you really did. Watching Neteyam being surrounded by all these pretty Na‘vi was breaking your heart, because you knew you would never have a chance with the Olo’eyktans son the way you were. You were just an average healer, even if you were good at what you were doing, you had never had the chance to learn from the tsahìk, that place was snagged by a more popular member of the clan, with influential parents.

Your father had died in the big war, your mother had just found out she was pregnant with you and you were sure she still wasn’t over losing him, even if she put on a strong face. Your mother was such a gentle soul though, always being there for you and supporting your decisions. She herself wasn’t a healer, she was responsible for foraging. You also were happy that she didn’t pressure you to find a mate, now that you were a full member of the clan, instead telling you to take your time, as the decision was an important one.

As if you could ever imagine being with someone other than Neteyam, your heart bound to be broken the moment he finally decided on a mate - which surely wouldn’t be you. He could pick from the strongest warriors, best singers or most talented healers, the most beautiful women of the clan. You were quiet and soft, gentle like your mother, not a hardened warrior or a confident singer - you blended into the background. You were somewhat acquainted with the Sully kids, having a few short conversations here and there with Neteyam too, his little sister Tuk had taken a liking to you, accompanying you into the forest when you had to pick new herbs and plants and Kiri was one of your few friends.

You watched the other girls throw themselves at the firstborn of Jake Sully a little longer, standing at the edge of the village, before being interrupted by the youngest of the family. „(Y/N)!“, Tuk hugged you around the waist, making you laugh softly and you took her into your arms. „Hello Tuk“, you greeted her and she excitedly pulled at your hand. „Can we go explore the forest today? Nobody wants to go with me and sa‘nu said I can go if you come!“, she jumped up and down with a cute grin, making it impossible for you to say no. (Mommy)

„Of course, where do you want to go?“, you gently stroked her head and let yourself be pulled along into the bushes and away from the commotion of the village. „Lo‘ak and Kiri told me about this really pretty clearing with lerìk flowers and I want to gather some“, she explained, leading you through the plants that were growing in your way. „That sounds awesome“, you giggled and were honestly kind of eager to see the clearing yourself - maybe you could pick some flowers for your mother.

What you didn’t know, was that Neteyam couldn’t take his eyes off of you when you left the village with his little sister. Eywa, he was awed by your beauty and the gentle nature you always cared for Tuk with. His parents were urging him to pick a mate since he had passed his Iknimaya, telling him that they didn’t want to put any pressure on him, but that the whole village was waiting for his decision. Yeah, no pressure at all, he thought with scoff.

He had made his decision already - it would always be you. But he didn’t know how to go about this, you were so quiet and soft, not throwing yourself at him like the others, he didn’t want to scare you away by coming on too strong. Lo‘ak was always teasing him about the way he had no problem facing a palulukan when it came down to it, but confessing his feelings to you - that’s were he couldn’t be brave.

„Do you want me to put them in your hair?“, you offered Tuk, the clearing really being a mesmerizing place. „Yes, yes please!“, she immediately plopped down in your lap and started humming one of her mothers songs. You smiled and started fixing the small purple flowers in her hair, one after the other. You loved slow days like this, the hustle of the village exhausting you quickly. Another reason why you weren’t the right one to stand next to the future Olo’eyktan, you thought and your smile dropped a little.

„You looked so pretty!“, you exclaimed with a grin and the little girl hugged you happily. „Can I do your hair too?“, she was already taking some of the flowers into her small hands, and you nodded in agreement, turning around so she could access your head better. You could tell she was working with utmost concentration. When she was done she ran around to your front, a huge smile on her face. „You look so so pretty!“, she giggled and you pulled her into your arms with a laugh. „Not as pretty as you syulang‘it“, you were tickling her and she writhed around in your arms a little before you let up. (small flower)

You two totally forgot the time, engrossed in making some flower crowns and when you finally looked up you saw it was almost eclipse. „Oh Tuk!“, you gasped, „we need to get back, it’s late already!“ The little girl looked up from her now finished work too, standing up when she noticed you were right. „Come on“, you smiled and held out your hand for her, you two trekking back through the forest that got darker and darker. When you were halfway there, you noticed Tuk got slower and slower and when you looked back, she was yawning so big you could see her cute little canines peaking out.

„Come here sweet girl“, you giggled and picked her up, her head immediately falling onto your shoulder. Eywa, she was so sweet it made you think of having children of your own, a family and a mate - in a fantasy that you pushed far away, that mate was Tuks oldest brother. You hummed slightly, walking through the now dark and bioluminescent forest in peace, knowing there were only a few more corners to turn before you reached the village again.

Suddenly you heard a twig snap behind you and froze. If this was some sort of predator, you were more or less helpless, a sleeping child in your arms and no real self defense skills - except some basics you were taught when you were younger. Your heart hammered in your chest, you eyes wide in fear and you slowly turned around, not wanting to startle whatever was behind you.

You let out a shocked gasp when you saw Neteyam standing right behind you with a concerned expression, then you felt immediate relief. „Don’t scare me like that!“, you whisper-yelled, but the worry in his eyes didn’t fade. „We thought something happened! Are you two alright?“, he stepped even closer, grabbing your shoulder with one hand and placing the other on Tuks back.

Your heart was beating so loud you were sure he could hear it, the heat rising to your face and you were glad it was dark.

„Yes we are alright“, you gave him a calming smile, feeling guilty for making his family worry, „I’m so sorry, I totally forgot the time today.“ You looked away from his intense stare shyly and adjusted your hold on the sleeping child in your arms. He still had his hand on you, and the place where it laid was tingling and the warmth from his touch was spreading through your body. „I’m glad you’re safe“, he said quietly and you could feel his stare on the side of your face.

Neteyam couldn’t stop staring. The way your freckles were glowing in the dark and your soft hair with the small flowers in it was falling over your shoulder, made him want to pull you into his arms, never to let go. Your gentle hold on his little sister was only fueling his imagination of a future with you. You would be such a great mother, preferably to his children. Eywa, the thought of you bearing another man’s children made the bile rise in his throat. „Come on, we should head back“, he shook the unpleasant thoughts off and gently took the child out of your arms, trying not to wake her.

As cute as Tuk was, she was getting heavy and you were glad Neteyam took over. But when he wrapped his tail around your waist, guiding you forward, you nearly stumbled and fell flat on your face. This was torture and bliss and the same time, your body was going crazy and you were happily sucking in every bit of attention he gave you, but you knew the more you would obsess over your feelings, the harder the inevitable fall would be. But you didn’t care in that moment, the tight grip he had on you and the way he would glance at you every so often made your heart flutter.

—————————

You sat in the shade of a tree close to the edge of the village with Kiri, the both of you busy with weaving new baskets for your herbs and healing supplies today. You sat in comfortable silence until Kiri let out a huge sigh, making you look up. „What is it?“, you giggled slightly at the annoyed look in her eyes. „My brother won’t stop staring at you, I swear he’s such a skxawng“, she chuckled and you were confused. „What?“, you asked and looked around until you locked eyes with Neteyam, who was sitting together with a group of young warriors fixing their weapons.

His eyes widened when yours met his and he sent you a small smile, making you blush and drop your gaze. „Don’t be silly Kiri, why would he stare at me“, you were sure that he was just looking around and accidentally met your gaze, Kiri liked to tease you after all. „What? Are you blind? Neteyams so in love with you it’s almost disgusting“, she giggled and now you were sure she was messing with you. „Kiri, why on earth would that be true?“, you looked at her so seriously her giggling stopped and she was slightly confused.

Kiri was honestly astonished, couldn’t you see the way her brother longed for you? „Why wouldn’t it be true?“, she asked back, putting down the basket she was working on and focusing her attention on you. „I know you like to tease me, but you shouldn’t joke about something like this. Kiri, he has so many more beautiful, more talented and more confident mates to choose from, he would never settle for me“, she could see the hurt in your eyes when you fiddled with your work, and it left her slightly speechless. „I’m not- I wouldn’t…I swear-”, you cut her off immediately. „Please, just let it be“, you whispered, and she decided to let the topic rest for now. She knew her friend was shy and quiet, but she didn’t know you were so…insecure about yourself.

You weren’t mad at Kiri for messing with you, she couldn’t know that the feelings you had for her brother were so serious that you didn’t allow yourself any kind of hope they could ever be reciprocated in fear of how much it would hurt in the end. You were sure she thought you had a crush on him, just like every girl in the village, and decided to tease you a bit. You could never be angry at her. But this conversation brought your thoughts back to the topic you normally tried to steer clear of, your concentration long gone, making you put your basket down and get up.

„I’ll see you at dinner?“, you tried to smile, and the younger girl got up with you. „(Y/N) I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you sad“, she looked so guilty, you softly squeezed her shoulder in encouragement. „It’s not your fault, it’s just…“, your eyes wandered off to where Neteyam was talking to Nansìt, a pretty singer of the clan, „…there’s no hope.“ You squeezed her shoulder one last time and walked off, needing some time to yourself. Would you ever get over these feelings?

When dinnertime finally came around, you sat in your usual spot with Kiri, at the edge of the circle so you could talk in peace. Both of you didn’t like to be the center of attention, your mother was always sitting with the adults and socialized. „Yeah and then Tuk jumped on top of-”, she paused, looking to the middle of the dinner crowd. You were looking where she was in wonder, eyes immediately falling onto Neteyam who was making his way towards you two. „Can I sit with you?“, he smiled down at you both, food in his hand and tail flickering behind him.

„Yes sure“, Kiri answered, your throat was clamped shut anyway. Neteyam chose to sit down next to you, his knee touching yours slightly, your ears twitching treacherously. And then the little traitor next to you decided to leave. „I forgot I promised mom to…watch Tuk“, she didn’t even try to find a good excuse, but you couldn’t concentrate on anything else than the way your stomach was tingling so much, you couldn’t even think of eating any more.

„Are you well (Y/N)?“, Neteyam smiled at you, noticing the way your ears twitched in his presence. Eywa, you were just so cute. „Yes I am, thank you, are you?“, you were still not looking at him, your pretty big eyes trained on the floor. Lo‘ak had convinced him to finally ask you to spent time with him today, he was still nervous, but he couldn’t wait anymore. He wanted you to be his. „I am good. (Y/N) I wanted to ask you something“, he took a deep breath, and you finally looked up curiously.

„Do you want to-”, he is cut off by a highpitched voice above him. „Neteyam there you are! You promised you would tell us about your last hunting trip“, it was Zetire, one of his many admirers. You immediately looked back down and he sighed. „I’m busy right now“, he normally wasn’t that rough, but he was annoyed, he didn’t want to spend any time with the other Na‘vi girls, he wanted to sit here with you. „Oh come one, I’m sure (Y/N) won’t mind“, when the girl mentioned your name you winced slightly, and all he wanted to do was take you into his arms and tell the other girl to leave you alone.

„No, no I don’t mind“, you quietly said and Neteyam wished you told him to stay, he honestly would do anything you would tell him. „See, come on then“, Zetire hauled him up by his upper arm, her touch uncomfortable and his eyes never leaving your form. He didn’t want to cause a scene though, he knew you didn’t like the attention. He would have to ask you tomorrow.

„He really is an idiot isn’t he“, Lo‘ak watched the scene with a shake of his head, his sister next to him already had her face buried in her hands. „They are impossible“, she groaned, she thought this was finally it, you could finally be happy. That stupid ngwang, why did she have to interrupt the moment! (Worm)

————————

You had been busy all day, and you were glad you were, because you had successfully suppressed the memory of dinner the evening before. You hated how you just crumbled under the gaze of the other female, you liked Neteyam so much, why couldn’t you be brave, why didn’t you ask him to stay. Not that you thought you were better company than Zetire, but even if you had the smallest chance with him, the way you were acting would surely destroy that immediately.

You were nearly wrapping up for the day, when someone stumbled into the healing tent. And your heart skipped a beat when you realized that someone was Neteyam. He had a few big scratches on his biceps, a few places still bleeding. „What happened?“, you immediately got up from where you were sorting some bandages, pushing the tall warrior to sit down on one of the cots. „It’s not that bad, just a viperwolf getting too close“, he explained and you looked at him with concern, taking out your healing supplies.

He loved the way you looked at him with those big eyes, worrying about his well-being. You would be the perfect mate he just knew it, and he would always provide for you and protect your smaller frame from any harm, being a good and worthy mate to you. He just had to convince you of that too. You registered his explanation with a soft nod, your small hands already working on cleaning and patching up his wounds. He just leaned back slightly, enjoying the feeling of your gentle touch on him.

You wrapped his biceps in a bandage softly, the bulging muscle making you flustered. His gaze was on you the whole time, and now that you were finally done, you were wondering why he didn’t go to his grandma about this. She was a more seasoned healer after all. „Why did you come to me? Was your grandmother busy?“, you looked at him with wondering eyes, about to stand up, but he pulled you back down next to him softly. „No, I wanted to come to you“, he smiled at you, his hand not leaving your arm, your tail swishing behind you.

„Neteyam“, you whispered slightly, obviously overwhelmed by all this attention, but Neteyam didn’t care, he couldn’t wait anymore. „Come fly with me tomorrow?“, he finally asked you the question that he wanted to forever, the idea of spending time alone with you making him giddy. You looked shocked at his suggestion.

„On…on your ikran?“, you were slightly terrified, not being a warrior yourself, you had never flown on a banshee before. „Yes, I would really like to spent some time with you“, his smile made you feel all fuzzy inside, he really wanted to spent time with you! „I will protect you, don’t worry“, he reassured you, softly squeezing your arm, and you felt yourself nod slowly. „Great, I’ll find you tomorrow“, he grinned, his tail swishing happily behind him when he left the tent. Oh Eywa, you really hoped your heart would live through this.

————————

You were nervous all day, completely distracted during everything you were doing and about an hour before eclipse, Neteyam approached you when you were hanging up some herbs to dry. „Ready?“, he was grinning again, his ears twitching slightly. „Yes sure, let’s go“, you took a deep breath, following the future clan leader into the forest. You could feel a few glares on your back, the other Na‘vi women seemingly not happy at the sight of him leading you somewhere where you would be alone.

It was hard not to get your hopes up, your heart grasping onto every small and oh so pathetic possibility of him returning your feelings. You walked in comfortable silence, Neteyam was vigilant about everything going on around him, his bow slung across his back. His toned, broad and muscular back. His tail was alertly swishing from left to right, sometimes the tip would brush your thigh, making your breath falter and your body shiver.

Neteyam had a hard time only brushing his tail against you every now and then, he could feel it made you nervous and he loved every second of it. But what he really wanted to do was wrap it around your thigh and keep you close, making sure he knew you were safe the whole way. When you two finally stepped out of the treeline and had a view of the hallelujah mountains, he called out for his ikran who landed infront of you two after a short while.

The mighty beast infront of you beating his wings intimidated you to no end, your hand immediately grabbing onto Neteyams arm. He sent you a smirk over his shoulder. „Mawey, just don’t look into his eyes“, he patted your hand softly, pulling you forward after he made tsaheylu with his banshee. You had to admit that the beast was mesmerzingly beautiful, but it could also crush you easily with one of its claws so you had your reservations.

The tall warrior loved how you clutched onto him for protection, proud that you trusted him enough to ride with him when you were so obviously scared of it. Before you could change your mind, he picked you up easily by your small waist, putting you down on his ikran and hopping on behind you. Normally if he took someone with him, they would sit behind him, but he figured you would feel more comfortable if he had your back. Also, he couldn’t wait to pull you into his chest, breathing in your scent and enjoying the feeling of you so close to him.

When the strong Na‘vi behind you pulled you close, caging you in with his muscular arms and taking the reigns, you couldn’t even focus on the foreign feeling of the animal underneath you, you were totally preoccupied with not passing out. „Are you ready?“, his breath warmed your ear, making them twitch slightly and without thinking you wrapped your tail around his calf. „Yes“, you were speaking so quietly you weren’t sure he heard you, but he wrapped his own tail around your waist in response and the ikran took off.

Your hands were gripping the saddle so tightly your knuckles turned light blue, but you couldn’t bring yourself to close your eyes, the vast of the forest beneath you and the floating rocks around you were just too memerizing. And you had to admit, tucked into Neteyam like this, you felt kind of secure. His scent enveloped you, making you calm down, but you were also heating up because of his strong chest pressed against you.

Neteyam made sure not to fly too rough, eventhough he would love to show off his skills, he felt you gradually relax against him and didn’t want you to feel unsafe. Your big eyes were in awe at the scenery around you, your scent making him feel like he could do this forever, he was already dreading having to let you go later on. Your tail around his calf made his ears twitch in excitement, everytime he flew between two close mountains it would tighten. He had never been this close to you, your embrace almost intimate, and he loved every second.

You two flew in silence for what felt like ages, the presence of the other enough to be content. But when eclipse rolled around and the bioluminescent forest started to come to live, you landed right where you started earlier. When you felt Neteyams tail slowly let go of your waist, your own tail hesitantly let go of his leg, you really didn’t want this dreamy evening to end and reality to settle in. He jumped down and helped you off his ikran too, holding onto your waist until the beast was gone.

„Thank you for taking me ‘Teyam“, you smiled when you finally found your voice again, a grin breaking out across his handsome face. „Thank you for trusting me enough to come“, he chuckled and you blushed, your gaze dropping to the floor and you missed the dreamy look on his face. „Are you going to attend the feast in two days?“, he asked you and a frown made its way onto your face. „I don’t know, I didn’t plan to“, you admitted and the unhappy look on his face tugged at your heart.

„I know you don’t like the hustle and big crowds, but I would really like to see you there“, he tried to convince you, taking your smaller hand and holding it to his chest, making you all flustered. He planned to lead you away from the crowd after a while and finally confess to you, asking you to mate with him. You still seemed unsure, but nodded softly. „I’ll be there“, you promised and the grin that broke out across his face was almost blinding.

——————————

Your brain was going haywire the whole time your mother was fixing your hair and pushing and pulling on your tweng and top. What on earth were you even doing here? You hated going to these big feasts, normally fleeing the village center and reading one of the books you got from the scientist in your hammock. And what were you even expecting to come from today? Neteyam was probably going to be busy anyway, his admirers were never going to let you near him. But the way you two were so close and touchy two days ago, made your hopes uncontainable.

„Why do you look so sad ma’ite? Aren’t you excited Neteyam wants you to be there?“, your mother stroked your hair softly, worry in her eyes. „I don’t know, I’m scared“, you grabbed onto her hand, and she pulled your head towards her. „Why?“, she asked, patiently waiting for your answer. „What if I’m interpreting too much into this? There are going to be so many pretty Na’vi woman there this evening. What if…I’ll get my heart broken tonight“, you whispered the last part, a thousand scenarios of rejection and humiliation running through your mind.

„I can’t believe someone as kind as the Olo’eyktans son would be so cruel ma (Y/N)“, she reassured you, and you just nodded halfheartedly. You knew Neteyam wouldn’t hurt your feelings on purpose, but if you saw this all wrong and he had no interest in you whatsoever - maybe he was just nice to you because you were so close to Tuk and Kiri - you would get your heart broken today. You wished you weren’t so shy and insecure, you would love to just enjoy this evening.

You arrived at the feast a little late, everyone already gathered, a few fires burning and music was being played. You were immediately stolen away by Kiri, your mother waving to you and telling you to have a good time. „I’m so glad you came! It would have been unbearable without you, I swear“, Kiri told you and you laughed at your excited friend, but your eyes were scanning the crowd for a certain someone.

„He’s not here yet, had to help Tuk get ready, she was throwing some kind of tantrum earlier“, Kiri smiled knowingly and you looked away blushing. „You two are so cute I swear“, Kiri laughed pinching your cheek, and you swatted her hand away unhappily. „Stop it“, you scolded her, but she just giggled, but then her face turned annoyed. „Oh, I’ll be right back, I see Lo‘ak sneaking off over there that skxawng“, she hissed and tried to catch her brother before he could do something reckless.

You smiled at their antics and settled down in a spot in a less crowded area, contentedly watching the people around you. „Did you hear?“, you heard a woman a few feet away ask her friend. „I overheard Neteyam has chosen a mate“, both of them were excited at their gossiping, but your heart stumbled slightly. „They said it is Zetire, they were seen in the village together yesterday“, the first woman spoke, and you were praying to Eywa that this was just a stupid rumor, your heart only just gaining a little bit of hope for itself. „They would make a perfect pair“, the other woman gushed, and you begrudgingly had to admit they were right. Had you really interpreted everything wrong?

„Oh look, there they are!“, you followed the direction where she pointed, and sure enough Neteyam was standing there talking to Zetire who was hanging onto his biceps. The women next to you were actually right, and everything you had let yourself believe these past days shattered inside of your chest. How could you have been so stupid! Of course he would choose her, she was a more than gifted singer and would stand strongly by his side. The thought alone made tears gather in your eyes, but you didn’t want the other clan members to see, so you got up to find a quiet place in the forest. Why did he even want you to come in the first place?

But you didn’t get very far, before a male voice interrupted you. You immediately knew it wasn’t Neteyam. „(Y/N), wait!“, but you didn’t stop, only coming to a halt when a big hand grabbed your upper arm, the touch making you uncomfortable. „Hey wait a second“, Terlsey grinned down at you, and you had to admit eventhough he was good looking, your heart would always be spoken for. „Do you want to join me for a dance?“, he looked excited and you felt bad for turning him down, but the picture of Neteyam and Zetire was still burned into your mind. „I’m sorry Tersley, maybe another time“, your voice was barely stable and the smile you gave was probably more pathetic than you wanted. „Nah don’t be silly, come on!“, you started to protest when he pulled you along, but before he could get very far someone else pulled you away from him vigorously.

Neteyam had been searching for you the moment he finally arrived at the feast, he was already annoyed at being too late. He perked up when he found you sitting in a quiet corner, and excitedly made his way towards you. You didn’t see him, and halfway there Zetire basically jumped him. „Neteyam! There you are, come on sit with us!“, she tried to pull him away, but Neteyam stayed where he was. He really didn’t have time for this.

„I can’t, I have other plans“, he explained, trying to pry her hand off of him, his eyes making sure you were still there. But you weren’t where he last saw you, instead you were standing a few meters back, together with Tersley. That annoying skxawng. You looked like you were uncomfortable, his protective instincts wanting to knock the man next to you out. His gaze darkened, completely tuning out whatever Zetire was babbling about and when that bastard grabbed onto your arm and tried to pull you away, he roughly shook the girl next to him off, leaving her pouting.

He rushed over and pulled you into his chest and out of the other’s arms, his heart unclenching a little bit at your proximity. „Don’t touch her“, he growled, his fangs baring and Tersleys eyes widened, his hands raising in surrender. „Alright, alright“, he scowled, but knew he had no chance against the future clan leader, ultimately leaving you alone. But what Neteyam didn’t expect was you shaking him off and quickly walking into the forest without a comment.

You couldn’t face him, you were embarrassed enough as it was, honestly thinking he could ever like you back. And him seeing you cry would be so humiliating, so you quickly marched through the dark forest, hoping that he wouldn’t follow you, your tears flowing down your cheeks one by one, your heart hurting inside your chest. But of course he was following you, he was probably pitying the poor, shy girl. „(Y/N)! (Y/N) stop!“, he was shouting behind you and you sped up, but after a few more meters he had caught you gently by your upper arm, pulling you around. „Please wait“, he was panting slightly, the tips of his ears dowturned with concern.

„Can I please be alone?“, you whispered, discreetly trying to wipe away your tears. „Are you crying? What did that skxawng do to you? Are you hurt?“, he was frantic, his eyes checking your body for injuries. „No it’s not about him“, you sniffled slightly and before you had a chance to escape, Neteyam pulled you down on a log that was behind you two. The bioluminescence of the forest helping you see his face, a few glowing insects flying in the air.

„What is it then?“, Neteyam was worried about you, the girl he loved was hurting and he didn’t know how to help you. When you attempted to shake off the hand that was still holding your arm, he let you go, but it hurt his heart that you didn’t want his touch. „It doesn’t matter, please“, you wouldn’t meet his gaze either, „you should go back, Zetire is probably already waiting.“ Now he was confused, why would he care about her?

„What? I don’t care about her waiting for me, my priority is you“, he was speaking quietly, trying to get you to open up to him. „Neteyam stop that, I don’t want your pity“, you turned your face away from him. „(Y/N) please, I don’t understand“, he was getting desperate, having no idea what was happening. You let out a deep sigh, wiping at your tears again and there was nothing he wanted to do more than his hands being the ones to dry them. „I heard you chose a mate“, you finally gave him something to work with, eventhough he didn’t understand why you were crying, he was certain you liked him too.

„Yes I did“, he smiled and tried to take your hand, but you pulled yours away, his smile dropping immediately. „She is a good choice, you must be happy“, you whispered and your hands were fiddling with eachother in your lap, your head turned down. „She is perfect, but I can’t say I’m happy right now, because she seems to be hurting and I don’t know why“, he moved closer to you, relieved when you didn’t move away. „Zetire seemed more than delighted, what do you mean?“, your eyes finally met his, and the sad, heartbroken look in them almost made him wince.

„What does Zetire have to do with any of this?“, he was getting frustrated, you could see it. „I don’t understand, she is the one you chose isn’t she? Or is it someone else? Nansìt?“, you thought about all the beautiful women who would immediately agree to be his mate. Suddenly his face got all serious, and his big hands firmly, but gently, grabbed your face as it dawned on him that this was some kind of cruel misunderstanding. „(Y/N), how could you ever think I would want anyone else but you?“, he sounded so sure of himself, and you felt like your heart stopped in your chest.

„Me? But I’m…I mean why would you want me? I‘m way too shy, I hate big crowds and I’m not even overly talented in what I do. The other girls would be a much better choice to stand by your side as the next Olo’eyktan”, your voice was quiet, but he heard you and immediately shot down any doubts you had. „I don’t care about any of the other girls. You are the one I want to mate with. Ma (Y/N) you are perfect, you are so gentle with everyone, the way you care for Tuk makes me yearn for our own children, you are always helping the ones who need it and you are such a talented healer. Not to mention you are beyond beautiful. You are the one I want to spent my life with ma tìyawn“, he pressed his forehead to yours, wiping your tears away softly.

„'Teyam“, you whispered, speechless at the realization that he actually returned your feelings. He smiled at the pet name. „I see you (Y/N)“, he softly stroked your jaw, your face heating up at his confession. Your hands hesitantly wrapped around his neck, a gentle smile lighting up your face. „I see you ma Neteyam“, you whispered, a grin breaking out across his face, his excitingly swishing tail curling around your waist and pulling you even closer.

His eyes darted down to your lips, and your stomach was tingling overwhelmingly at the thought of what would happen next. When you accepted his advances by leaning a little closer yourself, he couldn’t hold back anymore and he softly met your lips with his. The feeling was indescribable, you felt like your body was on fire - in a good, pleasant way. His lips moved carefully and his hands ran down your body, gripping your hips and pulling you onto his lap, making you gasp and break the kiss.

The girl in his lap was blushing madly, but he didn’t care, he was so thrilled that you returned his feelings, making him kiss all over your face excitedly. „'Teyam stop it“, you were giggling so adorably, and he stopped with a lovesick grin on his face. Finally having you in his embrace like this made him implode with pride. He would never let you go. „Please tell me you want to be my mate“, he wanted to make sure you were his. You nodded and he kissed you softly before shaking his head.

„I need to hear you say it ma txe’lan, say that you’ll be mine“, he murmered against your lips. „I’m yours Neteyam“, and that sentence alone made him want to take you to the tree of souls right now, his body telling him to claim you. But he didn’t want to rush you, tonight he just wanted to hold you tight and kiss you as much as you would let him. „Mine“, he hummed contently and kissed you with a little bit more vigor, pulling all these sweet sounds from you. „Yours“, you sighed against his lips, you couldn’t believe you were so lucky. But when he softly traced your lips with his tongue, one of his hands wrapping around your back to hold you as close as possible, you knew he was yours.

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That’s it! A more fluffy and less smutty one this time, I hope you liked it I’m not as happy as with my other avatar works meh..anyways leave some love!

Tags: @brooklynscherry-z @eywas-heir

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