Welcome To The Dollhouse!

Jake stayed busy as Olo’eyktan, a position Tsu’tey had passed down to him when his own fate was up in the air during the Battle of the Hallelujah Mountains. Ultimately, Tsu’tey had asked that Jake continue to lead when he had tried giving the title back to his healed brother-in-law. Tsu’tey found that he enjoyed having the pressure off of him for once in his life, and Jake thrived at making tactical decisions and delegating tough situations. Tsu’tey still operated as an advisor and as, what Jake called, “his general” of the warriors.

“I want you to be honest with me,” you urged, and this gained Tsu’tey’s attention fully. 

He dropped the cut fruit in a basket and laid the knife down too. “What is it? Is something wrong?” he asked.

“No,” you assured him, but the sigh you released did not make him feel any less on edge. “I do not feel like I once did. I am afraid that I am not pretty anymore. Am I still… Do I look different?” you asked. The tone of your voice was raw and cracked wide open. Tsu’tey’s heart ached for his little sister. 

“You are very pretty. Why would you say you are not?” Tsu’tey pushed, taking his sister's hands in his as another set of footsteps echoed just outside. You and Tsu’tey’s ears perked at the noise and your heads turned in the direction of the open entrance. Your other brother, Arvok, stood in the doorway, a tool he had borrowed from Jake a week ago clutched in his hand. He was obviously here to return it, but had stumbled onto your pity party instead. 

You sighed in relief that it was not your mate, embarrassed at the idea of Jake finding you upset about something so trivial. Tsu’tey, who was also glad that it was not Jake, needed his sister to tell him more so he could properly lay into her mate with all the required information. 

“What is the matter?” Arvok asked, his smile quickly replaced with a frown as he took in your teary eyes and Tsu’tey’s furrowed brow. 

“It is nothing,” you shook your head, laughing humorlessly even as the first tear threatened to fall. 

“It is not nothing. Do I need to kick the skxawng out so you will tell me?” Tsu’tey asked, making you form a small, genuine smile. 

You shook your head, “No, Arvok can stay.” You looked up to your other brother with that same broken smile and Arvok felt his jaw clench. He would kill whoever did this to you. 

“What is wrong?” he asked again, kneeling down next to you. 

You pursed your lips. “I just need someone to tell me if I am ugly,” you groaned.

Arvok reared his head back in surprise. “What? You are not!” 

“Tell me why you would say this,” Tsu’tey requested. 

“No reason,” you shrugged, semi-relieved that they did not think you looked like a monster, but also regretting your choice of input since your brothers were fiercely protective of you, and saw their baby sister as perfect, no matter what you did. They were entirely biased.

“You would not say this for no reason,” Arvok pointed out. “Something must be bothering you to cause this.”

“I have gained weight recently,” you admitted. 

Jake had noticed too. He would never say it, but you had caught him looking at your fuller breasts, the slope of your hips, the softness of your thighs and stomach. You had grown insecure in the past few weeks, hating to have his eyes on you, but hating even more to voice your concern and make him hyperaware of the change. 

“I had not noticed. You look very much the same to me,” Arvok assured you, “But even so, that means you are well fed and live comfortably. Is that not a good thing? Do you remember the winters where we did not eat but once a day, how skinny and miserable we were?” 

Tsu’tey ground his teeth. He hated the memories of those dark days when his younger siblings grew more and more gaunt and his parents became quiet. Eywa always provided, and she had when spring had come, but the time between nearly killed him from worry. 

“Thank you, Arvok,” you smiled, your spirit settled at the reminder, glad to voice what had been gnawing at you for so long. Arvok turned his gaze to Tsu’tey who realized he should speak as well. 

“You are beautiful, Tsmuke, both then and now. What does your mate say about this?” Tsu’tey asked. Surely, Jake was treating you well and telling you everyday how beautiful you were. But then again, if he had, then you would not need your brothers to assure you. 

“He has not said anything,” you shrugged, but the upset look behind your eyes gave Tsu’tey a better guess at the truth. “We have not spoken about it, but…” you trailed off, unsure of what to say to not make Jake come across as a bad mate because he was not. You liked that your brothers and your mate were friends, you never wanted to give a bad impression of one about the other.

“But…” Arvok prodded for you to continue and your eyes widened. 

“Nothing,” you said again, “I am just being insecure.”

Tsu’tey and Arvok’s eyes met over your head, both thinking the same thing. Rage simmered in their stomach’s at the thought of you being treated so coldly and being neglected by the man they thought had treated you like you hung the very stars in the sky.

“You should eat, we will see you later today,” Tsu’tey encouraged you.

You nodded, squeezing Tsu’tey’s hands that still gripped yours. Arvok wanted to stay until he had at least seen you eat a few bites, afraid that you would not eat, but Tsu’tey stood and nodded at him to follow. Purely because of the fury in his older brother’s gold eyes, Arvok was quick to get up and trail after him. 

As soon as they were outside and had stomped far enough out of your earshot, Tsu’tey started sharing his thoughts. 

“Jake must make amends for this. I have never seen her like this. There must be something he is doing to make her feel this way,” Tsu’tey growled, marching ahead to the training grounds where he knew Jake would be training the older teens. 

“But she said that he had not spoken about it,” Arvok argued, quickening his pace to keep up. 

“Maybe she lied to save his tail,” Tsu’tey pondered. “Something was not right in her way of speaking, something is off.”

“Our sister would not lie to us,” Arvok said, refusing to believe it.

“Perhaps his demon ways have rubbed off on her, I do not know. But I know something is being kept from us. I feel it,” he said matter-of-factly. 

“Fine, then we will get the truth, one way or another,” Arvok relented. Tsu’tey nodded, glad to have his brother at his side as the training grounds and Jake came into sight. 

“Keep your elbows up, defend!” Jake yelled brashly to a pair of young warriors who were sparring in the open field near the river. “Good! That’s it.”

“Suli!” Tsu’tey called, his steps were each sure and heavy. 

Jake glanced away from the teens, but saw it was just his brothers and let his eyes go back to the fight. He was a dedicated teacher. “Tsu’tey, Arvok. What can I do for you?” he asked, even as he was looking in the wrong direction. 

Tsu’tey’s eyes narrowed. “We need to speak with you,” he said as he stopped a few feet away from Jake. The young Na’vi warriors watched in nosy interest at what was so important that Tsu’tey would interrupt their chief and teacher. 

“Can it wait a minute? I’m teaching the basics of-”

“It is about our sister,” Arvok interupted grimly. 

“Stop,” Jake immediately barked at the two girls sparring in the ring and turned his full attention to the men. “Is she okay?” he asked, panic dripping from his question. 

“She has brought up a concern with us and we feel it must be addressed with you,” Arvok continued. Tsu’tey crossed his arms over his chest. 

Jake immediately tensed further. Although it was much better than his wife being hurt, it still made his heartbeat pick up. “Dismissed, get outta here!” he called to the trainees behind him and they scattered, knowing that Jake would not like telling them twice, not if it had something to do with his wife. 

“I do not know how humans treat their mates, but on Pandora, we do not let them suffer alone,” Tsu’tey began his lecture as soon as most of the teens were on the other side of the clearing. 

Jake grimaced in shock, his head inching back. “Suffer alone? What’s happening? Is my wife okay?” Jake asked, stressing the last question. Arvok’s fists balled up at his sides. 

“You have ignored her, you have neglected the one Eywa has chosen for you. She would not tell us what you have done, but I am no idiot. I know she is protecting you,” Tsu’tey pressed on. 

Jake’s lips pressed together in frustration. “I need to see my wife,” he decided, trying to brush past his brother’s-in-law and attempting to make it back to his kelku where he knew you would be making lunch. He knew you like the back of his hand, your schedule, your plans, your fears, your wants, your thoughts. He didn't need tsaheylu (the bond) to tell him that anymore, he knew you so well. So what could they possibly be talking about? Why had you told your brothers that you were suffering, and not him? 

He felt panic claw at his gut, the fear of you distancing yourself from him was palpable. He had noticed the way you shied away from his hands and his attention in the past week, but he had chalked it up to all the changes going on recently. He had felt them in himself too, but he had thought you were going through this different stage together. 

“We are the ones talking to you. You do not get to talk to her until we are through with you,” Tsu’tey said, stepping to the side so that he and Arvok made a wall that he could not cross through without a fight. Jake knew he could beat Tsu’tey one on one, he had done it when your brother learned of your mating all those months ago. But Jake had never fought Arvok, and he did not know what his chances were against both. If they did not tell him the problem now, he would have to test his luck in order to get to you. 

“Get outta my way,” Jake said in a near growl. “You’re forgeting who you’re talking to.”

Tsutey’s lip curled. “I know exactly who I speak to. Olo’eyktan or not, you will treat my sister with respect,” he demanded, planing a flat hand on Jake’s chest and stopping him from getting any closer. Jake’s panicked and enraged expression only added to Tsu’tey’s anger.

“She’s not suffering alone,” Jake bit back, “You two don't know what you're talking about.”

“Don't we? We were the ones she was just crying to because you made her feel ugly and unwanted,” Arvok spilled. 

Jake physically took a step back, the news like a blow to his gut. “What?” he muttered, devastated. 

“Explain yourself, Suli. If you wish to break the mating bond, I am forced to challenge you to protect the family honor,” Tsu’tey ground out, his voice like gravel as he said words he never thought he would have to say to his Olo’eyktan.

“Break the bond? I would never do that. I love my wife,” he insisted, his fist curling and unfurling as he attempted to keep his anger and anxiety in check. Jake ground his teeth, his disbelief evident on his face.

“Yet she is sitting in her kelku, alone and feeling discarded. If you do not like that she has simply gained weight, then you are a bigger kurkung (asshole) than I realized,” Tsu’tey hissed, stepping forward into Jake’s space. 

Jake’s golden eyes nearly glowed at the anger simmering underneath the surface of his gaze. “I don't care if she's gained weight!” he exclaimed. 

“So you notice that, but you do not notice our sister’s fears?” Arvok asked, brow low over his eyes. 

“I haven't said a word about it, because I didn't want her to know I noticed. On Earth, women don't usually like you pointing that out. I had no idea she thought I didn't want her anymore. Let me through, let me fix it or I swear I’ll kill you both,” he demanded, his rage building. 

“You should tell her everyday what you think of her. There should never be a question or a doubt in her mind,” Arvok argued, not paying anymind to Jake’s threats, his mind was clouded by anger.

“I do! But she’s had a lot of questions and doubts recently,” Jake muttered, letting his hand try to iron out the wrinkles on his forehead. 

Arvok’s lip curled, “So you did know? You are a liar.”

Jake sighed, tired of the circle he kept being forced to run in. “I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone, but this is getting ridiculous. She’s gaining weight and insecure because she’s carrying my child. Did she tell you that?” Jake growled. 

Tsu’tey and Arvok both blinked in surprise at the news, Tsu’tey stepping away from Jake. “What?” Arvok mumbled. 

Tsu’tey glanced back at the home that contained his sister, all her emotional turbulence suddenly making more sense. He had been angry at Jake for making his sister act unlike herself, but it had truely been his little niece or nephew the whole time. 

Jake stepped forward and this time, he was easily able to get through. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to smooth some things over with my wife,” he grumbled, but paused and turned back to face them. “And you better not let her find out that you know, or she’ll skin all of us,” Jake suggested, knowing he was in deep if she found out that he told their secret before she was ready.

Tsu’tey nodded solemnly, and Arvok followed, albeit looking more cautious and awestruck. “Brother,” Tsu’tey called to Jake as he began in the other direction again. 

“Yeah,” Jake said, looking a little worse for wear after all the badgering. 

“Congratulations,” Tsu’tey said, his lips curling up into a grin. 

Jake smiled back, nodding as he huffed a laugh. “Thanks, Brother.”

Taglist:

When you’re about to cradle her so she can be fed for the second time this morning, your stomach rumbles in quiet protest, reminding you that you haven’t eaten yet yourself. Having a baby, along with your other many responsibilities, the main one being Tsahìk [clan's spiritual leader], it is easy to forget these things, but thankfully your body is willing to keep you in check.

“Tonowari,” you call gently, glancing toward your mate, needing to gain his attention.

The Olo’eyktan looks up from where he’s seated, repairing his spear shaft that got damaged during a sparring session with some of the hunters, one of the his ways of keeping his combat skills sharp. “Yes, psakalin [honey]?” Tonowari replies while putting down his spear, eyes softening immediately when he sees Pril wiggling in your grasp. 

You carefully walk over and place your daughter into his large waiting hands, needing your hands free for a few moments. “Hold her while I prepare something to eat,” you say, feeling your stomach growl again, begging for any source of nutrients. “If I do not keep my strength, she will soon complain that there is none left for her.” 

When breastfeeding, mothers must eat plenty of food so they can maintain energy and milk supply. Therefore, you must eat so she can continue to happily suckle milk from your breasts until her little tummy is full and satisfied, so she can grow big and strong like her older siblings.

Tonowari nods immediately, taking Pril with ease and adjusting her position, wanting her to be comfortable as he holds her against his chest so she can feel his warmth. 

Your daughter blinks up at him with wide, curious eyes, looking at her father as if he’s her whole world which makes Tonowari smile. Soon, Pril's attention shifts. Her tiny hand reaches up, trying to grab her father’s akula teeth necklace. Her hands are far too small to grab it fully, but her little nails do dig into Tonowari’s skin as she tries her best to grasp it, making him lightly wince.

“You have a strong grip,” he murmurs with quiet pride, furthering the his notion that he's built in his mind that once Pril is older she’ll be a great warrior just like her mother. Pril gurgles happily, moving her little fists in the air, as if she’s agreeing with her father’s statement. 

While they are having some father daughter time, you move with ease around the small cooking space, slicing fruit and pulling warm fish from the cooking pot, feeling your mouth water from the delicious aroma. You toss a cubed piece of fruit into your mouth, already starting to eat as you wait for the fish to cool off just a tad.

Behind you, Tonowari continues his quiet conversation with your youngest daughter, keeping her entertained as you tend to your hunger. “Your mother says you are always hungry,” he tells her, thinking about how just last night you were telling him that she inherited his large appetite. “I suspect she exaggerates.” He says jokingly, knowing that you are telling the truth about her eating habits. He has witnessed her hunger first hand and he can agree that her little stomach is somehow never satisfied.

Pril squirms closer against him, pressing her nose into the firm muscle of his chest, making your husband assume she wants to be cuddled so he begins to gently bounce her, thinking it’ll help her settle down. “Maybe you will grow into a great weaver,” he muses, stroking her hair, wondering what position she will feel led to once she grows old enough to make the decision. “Or a strong diver like your tsmukan [brother].” 

Your daughter’s ears twitch, as if her attention has yet again been drawn elsewhere. Pril’s little tummy begins to growl, showing that her hunger has grown stronger since you handed her off to Tonowari.

Your daughter’s ears twitch suddenly, small and reactive, as if something deep within her has shifted. Pril’s tiny nose presses more firmly against Tonowari’s chest, her face nuzzling instinctively into his warm skin. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoes beneath her cheek, the one thing that usually calms her little spirit when she’s riled up. But today it isn't working. 

Pril’s stomach gives a small, impatient growl, making her brow lines furrow. Her hunger has become sharper than earlier. It is no longer a gentle feeling but an urgent pull that will no longer go unsatisfied. 

Her mouth opens slightly, her tongue pressing forward as instinct takes over. Your daughter’s small hands press clumsily against Tonowari’s chest as she shifts, searching for the source of the nutrient rich fluid she gets from you. Her lips brush his skin, crawling toward what she assumes to be your breast, and she latches.

When Tonowari feels his daughter attach to him, he stills instantly, breath catching as he looks down at her in confusion. He does not move at first, clearly trying to understand what she is doing. His hand hovers awkwardly near her back, unsure whether to adjust her or leave her be. “…What are you—” He doesn’t even finish his sentence because Pril pulls back slightly, making Tonowari not feel the need to continue. 

Pril’s tail begins to lash and her small face scrunches in growing frustration since she wasn't able to find any milk. She doesn’t understand because when she’s with you this always works. She nudges forward again, more insistent this time, pressing harder against her father, latching onto him for a second time. 

She tries again, but she still comes up short, making her tiny fingers tighten against his skin, showing how she’s growing impatient. Pril thinks if she works harder, milk will come, so while she’s still latched to her father, she bites down. And it’s not a soft bite either. 

When it happens, Tonowari jerks sharply, his confusion of his daughter actions turns into pure shock as pain spikes through his chest, making a strangled sound tear from his throat. “AUGH!” He nearly loses his hold on her, but his arm tightens at the last second purely on instinct, thankfully keeping Pril from falling to the ground.

His free hand flies to his chest, eyes wide in disbelief as he looks down at the small culprit latched onto him with strong determination, clearly not willing to let up until she finds what she’s looking for.  “Daughter, release!” he chokes, trying to gently pull her away without hurting her, but the attempt only seems to encourage her stubborn grip. Tonowari did say that Pril has a strong grip, now she’s showing it.

The commotion echoes through your kelku [home], making you nearly drop the plate full of food in your hands at the sudden shout from your husband. You quickly place it down and swallow the food you were chewing before running over, wondering what has transpired that calls for this loud of a reaction. “Tonowari, what has happened?!” 

“She has bitten me!”

You blink, not understanding him at first. “…What?” Pril has never been a aggressive baby, so you don’t know why she would bite her father.

“Our child just bit me!” he repeats, gesturing to his chest, bringing your attention to his clearly reddened and abrasive nipple that he was finally able to get his daughter to detached from.

When you look at your husband’s wounded area, and then you look down at your daughter and how agitated she’s becoming, that is when you connect the dots. Your daughter had mistaken Tonowari’s warm skin and muscular pecs for your own breasts, thinking if she latched on she would be able to find a source of nourishment, but clearly she was wrong. 

For a moment you try very hard not to laugh, but the sight of Tonowari, a great warrior and fearless leader, currently defeated by your daughter who is only the size of his hand, is simply too adorable.

The laughter escapes before you can try to stop it, which makes Tonowari frown immediately, not finding this situation funny. “You find this amusing.” He grumbles, rubbing his chest, trying to stop the pain.

“I am sorry,” you say between laughs, crouching down next to your husband. You place a supportive hand on his shoulder, calming down your laughter before giving him a comforting look. “I truly am.” 

“She attacked me without warning.” He says, his forehead lines creasing, similarly to when he’s disciplining your oldest child, Ao’nung. 

“When you hold her like that,” you point out, gesturing to his broad chest and how he’s cradling her so close to his skin. “What did you expect?”

Tonowari opens his mouth to argue, but he just closes it again, thinking you could possibly have a point. This never happened with your other two children. He held Tsireya and Ao’nung in the same manner when they were Pril’s age and they never tried to bite him, so he doesn’t know what got into his daughter for her to act this way.

You move a few steps over to your medicine basket, a thin smile spreading across your lips as you reach for a small jar of healing salve. “Well,” you say lightly, applying the cool mixture to Tonowari’s skin, seeing the small indentations Pril caused to his nipple when she latched firmly onto him. “I suppose I cannot blame her.”

Tonowari eyes you suspiciously, wondering what you mean because it is clear your daughter is at fault. “Why not?”

You tilt your head, examining his body in a loving manner instead of how you would do a usual injured patient. You can't help it when your handsome husband has his chest puffed out in front you, looking very attractive when he’s being all domestic and fatherly with your youngest daughter. 

“You do have a very… impressive chest.” When you say that, your mate’s ears flicker at the compliment, making him wonder where you are going with this. “Broad shoulders,” you continue casually, flickering your eyes at him before looking back down at the affected area. “Strong muscles.”

Tonowari huffs under his breath, enjoying your praises at his physique, but he cannot properly receive the compliments when he’s in pain. “Flattery will not undo the injury.”

“I am not flattering you,” you say sweetly, continuing to rub the herbs on his wound, wanting to help wipe that grumpy expression off his face and make him smile. “I am explaining our child’s confusion.”

He gives you a long look, his eyes squinting just a tad, before his lips turn into a thin line, as if he’s trying not to smile or show any sort of amusement, but he cant help it when you look at him the way you are. “You are enjoying this far too much.”

“Maybe a little.” You admit, not being able to deny how funny yet cute this situation truly is. Once the salve is applied thoroughly, you lean back, placing the lid back on the jar. “There,” you say, putting the salve back into its original place. “It will stop stinging soon.”

Tonowari rolls his shoulders experimentally, testing to see if the herbs have begun working yet. “…It is feeling better.” He says softly, thanking Eywa that soon his pectoral muscle will no longer be in pain because he has many duties ahead of him today. 

He’s always had empathy for women, he knows their bodies go through a lot when it comes to bearing children, but feeling this pain and knowing this is something you and other women in the clan go through each time they have a child, Tonowari has gained even more respect for na’vi women. 

“I am glad.” You reply before gently lifting your daughter from his arms before she attempts another attack on Tonowari, not wanting her to try to bite at her father’s good side, the only side he has that is uninjured.

Her tiny face scrunches immediately in protest, not enjoying that she’s being ripped away from her father’s warm embrace. And she’s still upset at the fact she hasn’t been given any food yet. 

“Mawey [calm], little one.” you murmur, settling down comfortably next to your husband. You adjust your top, moving the decorative feathers out of her way before bringing her in close, angling her in the perfect position to breastfeed. “I will feed you properly so you do not have to bite sempu [daddy] again.”

When baby Pril smells the colostrum in your milk, her nose guides her to your breast. Once she finds your nipple, she latches immediately, happy to finally be feed after not having any success with her father. As her tummy fills with milk, content little noises fill the room and her tail happily sways as her little appetite finally gets what it has been dying for. 

Tonowari leans in towards you, wrapping his arm around your waist, watching the two of you with quiet amusement now that the shock of the incident has passed, though he’s still surprised about what happened. “For someone so small, she is very dangerous.”

You smirk up at him, knowing exactly where she gets that trait from. “She takes after her father.”

Tonowari snorts, not accepting that comparison, in his mind, he has done nothing along the lines of danger. “I have never bitten anyone.”

“Are you sure?” you tease, remembering an event that would say otherwise. “You were quite fierce when we first met.” You give him a “look”, one that helps jog his memory to the early years of your relationship, when you both were just two teenagers in love.

His eyes warm at the thought, remembering the times where he chased you around the island until you gave him a chance and when you did, his fierceness only became refocused… mostly in how he expressed his affections. “Perhaps… you are correct.” 

Tonowari reaches over you, brushing a gentle finger along your daughter’s tiny tail as she drinks from your breast, acting as if she hasn’t eaten all morning, making him shake his head with a quiet laugh. “I battle many things,” he says, thinking of the storms, disputes, and the endless responsibilities of leading the clan, challenges he always faces head-on. Yet his gaze softens as he looks down at the small life in your arms. “Yet my daughter defeats me before breakfast.”

You grin, knowing how much enjoys being a father, and how he would not want his life to be any differently. “That is fatherhood, Olo’eyktan.” You say before leaning your head against his shoulder, feeling his hand rub the small of your back as the two of you watch your daughter drink contentedly.

For a while, neither of you says anything, allowing yourselves to just enjoy this moment of peace. You and Tonowari bask in the warmth of parenthood, listening to the ocean waves lap against your dwelling and your daughter’s soft nursing sounds filling your home.

Tonowari presses a gentle kiss to the top of your head, thankful that he’s able to call you the mother of his children, that Eywa blessed you and him to create three wonderful souls together that show the love and strength within your union. 

Although Pril already shows signs of being a little troublemaker, you and your mate cannot wait to see the young woman she will grow into. However… for the time being, it might be wise to keep her away from her father’s chest whenever she’s hungry so the little adorable baby you birthed, doesn’t turn into a little milk thirsty monster.

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