lil Chickie

It starts as a small thing, your timid hands laying over his broad shoulders, he tries to convince you to lay them on his thin waist instead, you refuse with a dismissive chuckle.

You two have been rather... Flirty lately. The Sarentu kids noticed before you, and the day Ri'nela teased you, you tried your hardest to keep your flirts and touches to yourself, or at the very least not to be that obvious around others.

Of course So'lek had noticed. At first It had seemed to enfuriate him, but eventually he found himself pushing you just to see how long it would take for you to cave in, like a game of shorts. You weren't a fool, you knew what he was doing, and yet... You took your time. This crush you had built up felt too strong too soon, it was quite overwhelming at times when in briefings you'd find yourself looking at the crowd searching for the tall, brooding warrior or how at lunch break you'd sulk away from your group sitting on the bench nearest to the gym to catch a glimpse of So'lek's naked torso while he did his daily stretches and sparings. Oh dear you had it bad...

This was slowly turning into the last straw, you could feel it in the way your nails dug on his shoulders, you were fighting so hard to keep your desires at bay but the little self-control you still had was slowly slipping through your fingers quite literally the more you felt the thick muscles of the dogtag warrior's back, his hot skin sharing his warmth with your sweaty palms.

Finally snapping out of your thoughts you clear your throat looking at the dangerously tight cliffs the pa'li was walking over. His hoof kicked a rock making it skirt through the ground until it fell down the edge of the cliff. Instinctively, you pressed your body closer to So'lek's back with a low sound and whatever conversation he was trying to bring suddenly died on his throat when he felt your breasts press against him. This somehow eased your nerves. He was just as flustered.

"Focus on the road, mighty warrior." You chuckled a bit feeling him tense, you couldn't help yourself. "I'd hate to die so early when there's so much excitement in the world."

So'lek's voice came out thick with restraint, it woke something in you. Something you tried so hard to keep to yourself in the secrecy of your room. "Yes, that would be unfortunate. To avoid such fate I suggest you..." But he cut himself. Because what was he supposed to say? Stop distracting me with your tits, sweet aroma and beautiful voice?

You smiled a bit since you expected him to falter. He was as desperate for you as you were for him. You two couldn't keep avoiding this, it's been months, for Eywa's sake. Your body aches for him and by the way his cheeks flush a little from your point of view, he might be aching for you as well.

But all thoughts were cleared the moment the horse reached the other side of the mountain you were crossing. His right, giant, blue hand took a gentle hold of your right one over his shoulder carefully placing it on his waist. When you thought he was done, he pressed his hand against yours like he was silently begging you to keep it there. But there was more about that quiet gesture... Like a request, like an invitation of shorts, as if he was giving you the chance to give in and continue where you left of all those months ago.

You couldn't see his face from where you were sitting, so you just sat closer pressing your cheek to his back, your other hand falling down from his shoulder to lay over his waist as his right one left yours to grip at the pa'li. This gesture was a "yes", a soft acceptance that you would, finally, indulge him. So'lek made an approving sound, something that felt like a purr and a growl at the same time, a weird combination, a sound you've never heard from him before.

"I wonder what other sounds I could pull from you..." You whispered against him, your lips brushing on his muscles making him fight a shiver.

You froze. Because you just realized you said that out loud.

To your surprise and... Delight... So'lek didn't say anything, his tense shoulders seemed to relax the slightest bit, strong legs finally spreading a little as the ground you both rode through had become safer and more stable. Or maybe it was because you finally eased the tension between you both with your touches.

The handsome warrior's back straightened when your hands slowly slid to his front, your fingers felt the hard, toned muscles that composed his abs, but when his dangerous voice broke from his fleshy lips you halted fearing you might be overstepping.

"What am I to make of this?" He lowly asks angling his face to the side so he could look at you over his shoulder sparing a glance filled doubt and inner conflict. "If you continue your... Explorations... When you have your fill of me, will we go back to how things were?" The moment he asked that, he looked straight ahead hiding his face from your attentive gaze.

"Will you hide in the shadows sparing me from the affection i also crave?"

This question broke you. Because if he's saying this it only means he has been more hurt about your discretion and sudden lack of attention as you thought he'd be. Was he thinking you were only using him for your own pleasure? That your infatuation with him was nothing but a mere crush that lasts less than a season?

Your lips pursed laying a soft kiss over his scapula, So'lek layed his right hand over your left forearm on his stomach, his thumb making a relaxing circling motion over your wrist that grounded your turbulent mind.

You finally answered softly.

"If I go any further I won't be able to go back to how things were." Direct, sincere. "I fear I... I'll never get enough of you. The more I'll have you the more I'll crave you in any way possible, ma' So'lek."

He threw his head back, thick long hair cascades down gracing your cheek making you smile softly. It's like your words had snapped the thread of tension he felt about your... Situation. His eyes flutter closed, a small sweet smile playing on his lips, not that you could see it from his back.

Then, as if Eywa herself was watching this very interaction, she threw a veil of darkness to prive Pandora of your loving touches. The hour of the eclipse announced your decision. You two would finally act on your obvious affections.

When you kissed his back again with closed eyes you didn't realize the sky was dark the moment you opened them as you were too distracted by the feeling of So'lek's soft skin under your fingertips, your hands explored his chest slowly, like you were feeling a soft rare fabric you'd likely never touch again.

You kissed his nape and shoulders over and over again as your hands dared to reach his pectorals earning the most delicious sounds from So'lek. He gasped a very low sound. Some short of whimper, something small and uncharacteristic. Then your lips graced that sweet spot behind his ear when he threw his head back and he was done.

"(Y/n)..." He whispers lost in the magic of your fingers and your small kitten licks on his sensitive ear.

"Yes...?"

"Do not shy away now..." He breathed out.

How funny of him to say that when he's the one who looks like he's about to cry, with eyes full of extasy, chest rising and falling and lips gasping out.

"I'm not planning to." You smiled softly kissing his jaw. At this point the pa'li was walking blindly ahead, So'lek only payed half the attention to the road to make sure no dangerous creatures lurked nearby while his fingers worked gently but firmly undoing the bond to, instead, fill all his senses mainly of you.

Your hands massaged his chest shamelessly, fondling his pectorals, fingers flicking his sensitive hardening nipples. A side glance was enough for you to drink his expression of relaxation and desire. His eyes were half lid watching the way you switched from playing with his nipples to massaging his long, toned torso, ear flicking a few times when you forgot to keep kissing and licking his neck and earlobe.

"There...right there..."

You looked at him a bit taken aback thinking he was already approaching his release until you saw his hand pointing at the treeline ahead. He wanted to do it there.

"No." You firmly said, both hands slid down stopping on his groin, your fingers played with the threads of the loincloth he had chosen to wear today waiting for his imminent response.

"No?" He asks baffled breaking a bit from his pleasure induced mind. "I am not open to the idea of running into any party of proud Zeswa hunters with your hands groping me everywhere. Especially not while riding one of their pa'li."

You huffed taking the blanket that covered your backside and swiftly threw it over So'lek's lap lazily hiding your other hand laying near his swollen pouch.

"Happy?" You said a little grumpy. "I can't see what I want to see but at least no one else will."

This earned a sincere chuckle from So'lek who took the blanket firmly with both of his hands adjusting it properly over his lap giving you enough room to blindly explore his body.

"You are always so good at solving problems."

"Why, is there a problem you need solving?" You answered, tone laced with arousal.

He hummed at this with a crooked smile.

"I may. Touch me, woman."

The pa'li eventually reached a meadow, his legs walking through it calmly as if he wasn't carrying two very aroused riders on his back.

Each sound you pulled from So'lek was a victory as the dogtag warrior fought tooth and nail to keep as quiet and still as possible. But it became quite difficult when your hands massaged just right under his pouch making his erection finally slid out of the confines of his body. You gasped feeling the length and girth of his member, So'lek's chest rumbling with an approving groan. From then it was pure extasy.

Your small hands massaged his thick sex up and down with expertise, so much so that So'lek had to bite back a few snarls the times you stimulated his pointy tip with the heels of your palms. It's like you could read his mind, his every need.

But even though he was a man of few words, you had spent so much time watching him you could read his body like an open book. His big calloused hands gripped your thighs when your hands began moving faster, then you tightened your grip just right and he couldn't fight the small, wet following sigh.

Your lips brushed his ear making it flick twice. "You like my hands around you like this, darling?"

"Tighter..." He groans and you comply.

Then the wet noises increase, it couldn't be more obvious what you two were doing. The blanket on his lap rose and fell at a very fast speed when you stroked him higher. The pointy head of his cock cried salty tears you wish you could taste.

"You will be my undoing..." He says. "And I shall take revenge and return what was given today..." So'lek moans as his hips began thrusting against your fisted hands.

You chuckled teasingly stilling your fists while your beloved warrior fucked the small gap between your fingers with a strength and speed that made the horse begin to question whether to throw you two off or not.

Then his thrusts became slower and sloppy, he left one of your thighs in favor of ripping the blanket off his lap and you could have cum right there by the sight of his member dangling the moment he uncovered it. Your hands were sticky with all of his juices, but he had much more to give as the sight alone of your smaller hands on him hurried his pleasured mind to resume his thrusts.

His small moans became groans, then growls, then he fell quiet swallowing your own pleasured noises behind him. But the moment your fingers quickly lift to deliver a quick succession of rubs to his tip while the other masturbated him faster and your teeth sunk down his throat he was done.

"M-ma' (y/n)-...!" He tries to warn you.

Then he spilled on your hand, but you kept rubbing up and down coating his large member on his seed, your lips drooling at the sight and the delicious overstimulated noises he was making.

Then the sun peeked out of it's enclosure and the hour of the eclipse was done.

You both sighed finally motionless until the horse did what he should have done a long time ago.

With a yelp you and So'lek found yourselves falling on a small creek with a loud splash, the cold water instantly washing away the previous arousal.

You looked at him from your spot, he was barely wet as he fell on his butt, eyes wide and hair unkept. You both locked eyes then you exploded in bubbly laughter, like this was all so ridiculous and funny at the same time and an anecdote you'd always keep to yourselves. Then his hand found yours over a warm dry rock and he just stared with this small, knowing smile and you were undone again.

"Do you believe we could delay our arrival for..." He looked at the position of the sun. "An hour longer at the very least?"

You chuckled sweetly, your fingers pinching at the thread of your top undoing it swiftly making him groan at the sight of your breasts.

You smiled softly at this. The Kame'tire's hospitality was something you will forever cherish. If it wasn't for the resistance and the healers of this camp you would have lost your avatar's life, not just your eye. You made sure to thank them by offering them your services in whatever they needed. Hopefully they'll share their healing knowledge with the resistance's medical team as they had trouble caring for Avatars and other Na'vi.

Alma has been inside your tent for a while, she needed to speak to So'lek privately. About what? You guess he'll tell you later. For now you have to wait for your turn with the very busy Resistance's leader.

"No one let's me hold a mirror for too long. And they look all intimidated when I stare at 'em... Is it really that bad?" You asked without looking up from the fire. You knew all too well who you were speaking to by scent alone.

"Well, you barely intimidated a soul in HQ. The eyepatch sure has it's perks, though. I could give you a googly eye and you'll be just fine." Jin teased walking closer  to sit on the ground next to your log.

You laughed shaking your head while you extended your hands to the fire to warm them up. Jin has been silent ever since your group arrived to the Kame'tire campsite, his worry for you was palpable, the unspoken feelings about your fight were making both of you very uncomfortable. Eventually one of you had to approach the subject, and lucky for you, it was him.

"I take it Alma already told you about Raphaela." He asked. You hummed in agreement and he tisked bitterly. "It happend at night. Luckily no one got hurt, how graceful of her."

"Can you just say whatever you wanna say so we can move past it?"

Jin gave you a side eye as he poked at the bonfire with a long stick, a long heavy sight deflated him, shoulders dropping like you had lifted a weight he had been carrying for too long.

"I'm sorry." He said with a watery voice.

"I know. I'm sorry too."

"About what? -"

"Just shut up and take the apology." You cut him.

You two sat there gazing at the fire, sometimes at passing people and other times at the beautiful view of the mysterious Clouded forest around you. It really was beautiful, not more than the Kinglor forest but... Being with Jin now, feeling like you two made a step towards the right direction made this whole place feel magical. There's nothing worse than breaking up with a friend... Except losing a fucking eye of course.

You swated your arm his way, when he playfully shoved you back, your arm instantly wrapped around his shoulders pulling him to your side. He grunted a chuckle before he returned the loving gesture.

"You look like a pirate. It uh, it gives you character, I think. The eyepatch, I mean." He compliments weirdly.

"I'm expecting y'all to make stupid jokes about it from now on." You responded. "If you don't, I will."

"Eye eye, captain." He joked. "By the way..." Jin broke free from your side embrace reaching to his other side so he could take his backpack, his hands unzipped it and pulled out something big wrapped in newspaper. "Happy late birthday, (Y/n)."

"Are you for real!?" You huffed an incredulous chuckle, your hands eagerly took the present ripping the paper to shreds. "Ohohohoho you'll make the whole resistance your enemy, sweet ol' friend!"

"Yeah-... Don't tell them I gave you that..."

You smiled innocently as if trying to say: "how cruel of you to assume a sweet little angel like me will tell on you!" You were most certainly NOT a little angel and everyone will suffer under your wrath now that Jin-Young Mackay have given you a fricking MEGAPHONE! It's so stupid but so great at the same time. Where did he take this from!?

You went ahead trying to turn it on but the switch didn't seem to work. "Huh..."

"Doooon't bother. It needs batteries." He laughed relieved.

Bummer...

You almost fell from the log you were sitting on when a purple shadow rushed towards you at full speed. Priya hugged you so tight you swore your remaining eye would pop out.

"I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SO SORRY...!"

Many pitiful apologies and some reassuring later, Priya had finally decided to look up at you from her place between your tits, big blue eyes glistening with tears of shame.

"You're okay, bug, it's fine-"

"You could have died! Or at least your avatar... And the last thing I said to you were those stupid words I never meant...!"

"I know, I know... But I'm here now and with the coolest eyepatch in the world!"

It was surreal to sit with Jin and Priya, eventually Anqa caught up to you three and joined the conversation near the fire. To catch up with the friends you thought you lost, to be part of a group of humans again... You felt great. Like the fact that your psychopath sister had escaped wasn't as worrying as it was supposed to be.

The minutes extended too long. Your patience was running thin as you waited for Alma and So'lek to finish. There was a strange sense of rage and frustration within you that bit through your humor and usual clownish nature, and yet you tried to push it aside because you knew deep down that something huge was about to happen.

You could feel it in your skin, in your bones, could feel it in the strong link between your mind and this blue alien's body. You could feel a tension rising within you, something that Itu once explained to you. You remember how serious he had gotten as he talked about the link of energy between every living soul in Pandora and everything around it, how Eywa guided all of her children, how sometimes she could even speak through them.

And you believe she was speaking to you by giving you this strange feeling of electricity that ran from your brain to the tips of your fingers. A battle was coming. Something terrible will happen. It settled deep and heavy in your stomach like swallowing a boulder. Could So'lek feel it too? Is this why he was acting so irritated and tense lately? And what's with that question about you not touching him? Honestly you have been so busy and stressed with everything you didn't even realize you haven't been touching him that much. But you two did have sex a few times before-... Is that not enough? Jeeeesus, that sounds fucking nasty... No way you just mentally asked yourself that. Okay scratch that-

Jin squeezed your shoulder making you blink breaking from your trance. Your friends had grown silent feeling your tension until you stood up abruptly, hands pinching two batteries from Anqa's flashlight making Jin explode in a fit of panicking "NO, NO, NO-!"'s

The megaphone made a strange noise, then you pressed at the right button as you pushed Jin to the side easily with your scarred arm.

"DOCTOR SHAGGY TITS!" You spoke through your megaphone towards the tent's direction. Every Na'vi and human near the camp turned to your secluded space in shock and terror by the sudden loud sound of your voice projected by the device. You were so irritated and impatient you didn't care. "ATTENTION, DOCTOR ALMA CORTEZ WITH THE SHAGGIEST OF TIDDIES IN ALL PANDORA! YOUR ATTENTION IS REQUIRED RIGHT FUCKING NOW~!"

A booming voice came from the tent, one you knew to well, until that very same Na'vi rose the flap of the tent's opening angrily "-I am not sparing another second here, handling your incompetence." He spat looking back at Alma as he stepped outside. He was holding a tablet with a list of shorts. It looked like some short of military documents, probably one of the many documents Jin took from the Border Observation Post.

Your eyes met, he looked so angry, his anger barely melt when he looked at your silly self, something was eating at him. You almost dropped your megaphone when Alma came rushing to take it from you, but before she turned to the tent telling you all to follow her she fell belly down after she tripped with the log you used to sit moments before.

"Ow great..." Alma groans from the ground brushing off the mud from her pants. She really misses her avatar body. Truth is she wasn't so clumsy when she was blue.

"Is my megaphone alright?" You asked when So'lek begrudgingly helped her to her feet with an exasperated sigh.

"Yes, your megaphone is fine. Dick." She bit.

"Watch it, grandma. Don't wanna break an ankle while walking through the forest. You'd make a good snack for a Thanator."

"No shit... This stuff never happend to me while I was in my avatar."

Everyone stared blankly and uncomfortably at her when she said that, specially now that Tamtey made their appearance clear by awkwardly clearing their throat as they approached the group to enter the big tent. You bit through the tension blowing a raspberry. The discomfort within you settled as So'lek made a chastising expression that told you to behave, you complied.

Once you all were inside the tent, you discussed the chaos the drill had caused, the info on the RA's late operations Priya had found out and the next plan of action. Everyone agreed that Mercer was cooking something terrible, and not knowing exactly what it was only increased the tension in your hearts. Alma made a catastrophic speech about unity and determination. Tamtey, bless their heart, joined the speech with encouraging words offering a plan of their own easing many headaches in the process. They really were eager to help. So'lek curtly commented on some details, but overall he participated as a listener.

You? You were uncharacteristically silent through it all. Your eye switching from one talking person to another like a game of ping-pong. But your body was tense, your arms were crossed and your head tilted. Your usual smirk was replaced by a thin line. Like the person you were moments ago wasn't the same as the one who was sitting and listening to the counsel of the Resistance.

The way the fire lit directly under you, how it casted a dramatic shadow over your face making your stoic expression all the more dramatic and scary caught the eye of not only So'lek, but Alma, who every time she paused to let someone else speak gave you this look of quiet understanding. She really wanted to speak to you about your sister's problem in private, but the approaching threat of the RDA simply could not wait. So'lek stole most of the time Alma wanted to use to speak to you as he so angrily demanded to talk about the military list provided by Tamtey that he was so sure would contain the exact names and locations of the people involved in the massacre of his clan because Alma hasn't sent it to him yet... As if she hadn't have enough with the massacre of the Sarentu already. She lost a lot of time gathering everyone to this exact location so your avatar wouldn't bleed to death, no one had taken care of her when her avatar died, no one even showed up to her own avatar's funeral-... But this wasn't about her. This was about her friend, about you. Sometimes she hated herself not only for the sins of her past but because of the deep jealousy she harboured within her. You were accepted by many, by the Sarentu, you successfully mated with a Na'vi (something that only happend TWICE after Jake and Neytiri.), joined a clan, had charisma for days, you survived a bullet to the head and made a clan of Kame'tire you had mever met treat you so carefully they never mentioned the fact that you were a dreamwalker. Fuck, the kids loved you... You! Even Nor seemed strangely attentive to how you handled things...

Your eye stared so hard at her she didn't realize she was looking back, it's like the depths of the forest were silently judging her. You really had changed a lot, and so has So'lek. When everyone fell quiet, she just sighed never breaking eye contact with you until you finally moved you eye to the side, you were laying on your side over three pillows carelessly thrown to the grassy ground. Your big hand took a hold of some medical tools laying near the bedroll they had you sitting down on when you arrived. Then you opened your mouth the words that followed were so you... But they came from a body that suddenly DOES feel unnatural and so not you... You often used humor to ease your stress.

"Say, how do ya work the Nitrous?"

"You- you don't! Actually." Priya cuts you taking the breathing device from your large hand.

"Come on, just one hit!" You chuckled, but your friend didn't budge making you shrug.

When Tamtey pushed you to share your mind you finally broke the act and spoke freely. "Now, where's my fucking sister at? And I don't mean her avatar, that I don't give a flying crap."

Alma took her tablet projecting the documents you had sent her to one of the tent's walls. "She's on Director Mercer's base. If the Intel you provided is an honest one, then this is exactly where her and Mercer are." She picked a long stick So'lek was fidgeting with to point at the location in the projected map. To your delight and horror, it was much closer to home than you expected.

Then the talk finally arrived and Tamtey spoke up about the many ferals they had encountered in their travels. The conversation was bitter, as it also involved Hajir. Your sweet deceased Hajir. Tamtey didn't shy away from explaining every detail about the facilities and information they encountered about the ferals, their horror was clear when you and So'lek told the whole group about your sister's involvement. Suddenly hunting down Raphaela was personal for everybody.

Alma seemed more awake when she assessed the topic of... The feral Na'vi. The images she projected from the documents will forever be engraved in everyone's brains, Tamtey was actually asked to leave immediately to protect them from seeing the horrors you dealt with, and yet they stayed. There were videos, documents and images of the experiments and results, many videologs of Johaness and your sister speaking about a fucking army of the dead. They talked about her plan to destroy the RDA and every Na'vi from the Western Frontier. How their stupid and fruitless attempts to control the local fauna could actually be used for something great... To erradecate every human and Na'vi life on Pandora by using these tortured animals and Na'vi. These beasts with no kuru who killed everything and everyone around as they suffered from the pain of still being alive. Then they would unleash a quick electric shock to a certain area of their brain thanks to a small chip inserted inside their heads to end them all, to save themselves from the carnage. To murder them once and for all before they could harm your sister or anyone she decided was fit for her new world. The psycho.

"I'm glad Hajir passed away before ever finding out he took part in the making of an army and at the same time it's terrible to think he left us blaming himself for all the ferals' existence..." Alex lamented from the video call Anqa had started at some point. "Many scientists from the RDA have no idea about what they were being part of while working for Johaness. Dammit... The RDA is nuts but Raphaela...? Who would do this? And why?"

You shrugged. "Don't look at me! She used to eat her buggers, I never thought she'd end up trying to pull a The Walking Dead on some alien race from a moon far from our solar system once she got older."

"I do not know why we waste so much time discussing all this." So'lek grunts standing up from his sit. "That devil could be heading to our mountain for all we know. She knows we are after her, she could kill (Y/n) before that happens and-"

"She won't." You said making him blink in surprise. Everyone began whispering amongst eachother clearly worried about the vulnerable state of your human body in the link bed far from here. And not only that. But now she also knows the location of the Resistance's new HQ in the Clouded Forest and could use that information as bait for Mercer to trust her and dive deeper into her lies and fake alliance.

"She'll be waiting for the challenge I bet. I know her, we grew up together." It's so surreal to think the little girl that used to lend you her barbie dolls was planning an attack towards every living creature in this moon. How the little girl you once were proud to call sister grew up to become... This. Everyone looked at you bitterly, like they could only barely fathom what it felt like to have to actually murder your only remaining family for the sake of every living thing. "Raphaela always played solo. I know for a fact working with all the people from her fake resistance must have been a nightmare for her. We destroyed one of her secret laboratories underground, she already lost many allies and we now possess literally every existing data from her plans to her experiments, past and future doings from her organization with the exception of the location of her gathered ferals. I'm confident she'll be handling things by her own from now on, so she'll have to be extra cautious..."

You all agreed your sister would most certainly take part on the fight, how? Probably with her army of the undead. It physically ached to think how those veterans' sacrifice was for nothing as you had proof enough that your sister was hiding another huge stash of severed creatures somewhere. But there was no point on lamenting anything now, you had to act before it was too late.

Priya spoke about missing data on Mercer's plans and the next plans for action. Then her, Alma and Tamtey began planning what to do next.

So'lek took your hand swiftly and then you exited the tent leaving everyone behind. No one said anything. You probably needed to rest, you had been shot in the fucking face after all.

The way he guided you through the forest giving you his back as rain poured down stabbing your skin like cold, tiny needles worried you. His shoulders were tense. It made you feel like he would yell at you any moment, his jaw was shut so tight you could feel the ache in your own face. You stopped abruptly near a tree, hand rushing up your eyepatch as you dropped down your knees. The ache you felt from the bullet wound was horrifying, it hurt so much you couldn't even make a sound, your ears rang and you felt some short of tickling feeling over your mouth and nose. You couldn't hear or feel a thing other than pain, not even So'lek's desperate calls, how he forced your mouth open making you bite down a dapophet fruit.

"The medicine they had given you does nothing to your Na'vi body." So'lek said with spite.

"They gave me pain killers and treated me the best they could, babe... They did everything they could-"

"It is still not enough." He snarled.

You widened your eye letting the juices of the healing fruit run down your chin. So'lek lets out a sharp breath, thumb catching the droplet of juice from your chin up to the corner of your mouth. Then he licked his finger clean sensually, so sensually you weren't sure if the pain from your eye left you thanks to the dapophet or your boyfriend's natural charm.

"You look tense." You comment.

So'lek licked the remnants of juice from his thumb, you did the same with your lips

"So I am."

"You yelled at Alma..."

"So I did."

Now he was being stubborn. You both sat under a tree, it was a secluded spot close enough from the camps to come back if they needed you, but far enough that no one could possibly see or hear you unless you stepped out of a tall line of bushes.

Your hand cupped So'lek's cheek, he leaned in instantly like he yearned for your touch. Jeez. Was it really that bad...?

"You did not answer me. About why you do not touch me that much anymore." He cleared. You had a feeling he would bring up the issue.

"I will answer you, but answer me first. What the hell happened back there? Shit, we are all so tense..."

So'lek hums in agreement as he lays down on the grass, a few droplets of rain fall down his toned abdomen. His eyes were lost in the foliage above the beautiful tree that sheltered you both. Yours was fixed on his exhausted expression, he finally seemed to relax.

"We are in the middle of a war. I can feel the tension in the air, a battle is quickly approaching and I fear for your life and the Sarentu's. Today I... I thought I..." He sharply shuts his eyes with a grimace, the pain the memories of your bloody face brought was terrible enough for him to have to physically shake his head and move on to finally explain why he had been so mad at Alma. "I was angry. Alma often speaks to me about things she does not understand. She refused to give me the roster I require to begin my hunt,"

"Your hunt? You mean killing those involved in your clan's..."

"Carnage. Yes. When I asked why she would not show it to me she spared me the details, said things were bad enough and my personal 'vendetta' would only distract me from the current threats."

You leaned closer kissing his neck slowly and softly. This seemed to work it's trick as So'lek relaxed further marvelling over your loving ministrations. Still, It didn't spare you from having to answer him as he grunted a "Your turn." when he tilted his neck further to give you more room for your kisses and licks.

"Hm. I guess I haven't been touching you because of stress?" You sigh, your lips gracing his neck as you spoke.

"That is oddly vague, even from you." He softly said, lost in the magic of your kisses.

"Even from me!? Okay I'll just ignore that."

Then his hand rested on your nape making you pause your kisses and kitten licks. You sighed looking at him. You angled body as you layed down your side propping your head up to better look at his expectant face, his brow muscles were raised, eyes staring blankly at you obviously hiding his inner discomfort. It's crazy how, even without eyebrows, these aliens could be so much more expressive than many people you know. You finally spoke, and he listened carefully.

"I feel like... Like I'm fucking my sorrows away." You confess. "Sometimes I feel like I'm using you... Am I using you?" Na'vi in general are so spiritual and emotional, and you always struggled in both departments. "I never wanted that. I never... It was never my intention. When I started flirting and all... I thought it was fun, I loved your little reactions, I loved seeing you get flustered sometimes, I felt... I felt seen, then we began getting closer and I felt wanted. Everything you make me feel drives me closer and closer and sometimes I wonder if perhaps I haven't been giving you enough."

"You give me enough. That is not the issue." He said as a matter of factly, sunlight eyes taking in your expression.

"It's obviously not enough if we are discussing about me not touching you much around others." You mauled at this for a moment. "Yeah maybe I'm not that touchy when we are in public and all, but you gotta understand I'm not that experienced in relationships, besides, most of the time we are doing something important as you, so kindly, fucking remind me all the time." You don't mean to come off as clingy either.  He hummed considering this. It's true you both have been busy with one thing or another, it's not like you were free to do much other than resting and fucking most of your free time in between your training to become one of the people, fix your issues, find Raphaela and So'lek's many duties with the resistance and other personal matters.

"I want this to work. That's the clearest thing in my mind right now." You softly said tracing mindless shapes across your lover's patterned torso. He purred contently at this.

"I would say we are making a great job considering the circumstances. We are in the middle of a war. We are very different and yet we lay here together today just like yesterday and the day before that... Because our love for eachother is stronger than our fear for the future. You are worried you are using me, that someday I will come to belive we are not meant for eachother and still you try to make our bond work. Just as I do. That is all that matters." He said the last bit so softly you felt something shift in your chest. The way So'lek looked at you with so much love and devotion made you feel so warm, so seen... So undeserving. "The great mother shows us life is full of difficulties we must overcome one way or another. Being with you... It makes everything easier, sharing the burden of adulthood, trauma, survival, finding our way in this world..."

"Look at you. The great So'lek te Elusa Kiro'itan, dogtag warrior and poet." You chuckled throwing titles.

"Hm. I may be one of a kind, perhaps. Not all warriors are poets, not all poets are warriors." He replied with humor on his tone obviously taking the piss.

"And what are we, Shakespeare?" You smiled, his hand squeezing yours over his chest.

"The way I see it, is that we are two warriors who found the most beautiful poetry together." So'lek says easily.

"Gosh you're so corny... I love it. I love you." You whisper, lips pinching at his earlobe softly making him shiver deliciously.

"And I you. Always."

And with that sugary love declaration and many teases, you gave So'lek a distraction, something to help him clear his head from all the stress and uncertainties. In other words. You gave him head, more specifically, your mouth. And gosh, did he jump to take it.

He sat on the soft moss under the tree, back resting on the bark while his hand gripped at your braided kuru.

"Someone's got a lil worked up." You coo between his spread legs where you layed flat on your stomach, your tail swaying side to side hypnotizing your lover. Your left hand rested at the base of his shaft as the right one lazily pumped his hardening cock feeling the ridges with your fingers.

So'lek said nothing. He looked down at you with eyes full of lust and desire, like the aphrodisiac you gave him hours back still had an effect on his body. He purred followed by a loud pleasured groan when you sank down to kiss and lick at the sides of his girth, eager lips circling around his fat, pointy head giving it a few string suckles.

His hands trembled, nails carding against your scalp encouragingly pushing and pulling your head to guide a steady rhythm. Soon, you ignored his hand and pushed his cock deeper and deeper feeling the ridged length pass down your uvula. This made the lovestruck warrior growl, his legs spreading wider, you could feel both of his hands on you, one around your neck so he could feel how far his member had gotten and the other on your scalp.

You fought the tears at first, but you can only do so much with a cock this large violently penetrating your throat like a sex toy. Your face was messy and wet with drool, pre-cum, tears and a bit of snot but it was so deliciously worth it as you could hear the beautiful sounds of pleasure from the dogtag warrior who couldn't keep his half-lid eyes off of you, expression compleatly melted in pleasure, body sweaty and tense as he fucked the shit out of your mouth. You never thought you would enjoy being used so much, now you understood how So'lek must have felt when he ate you out the day you first mated.

You both took your time with the foreplay, it was long and brutal, like every time you both got your hands on eachother, fucking like crazy animals who felt nothing but passion for one another. In the end, just when he was about to spill himself inside your waiting mouth he jerked away, standing up like your greedy tongue burnt him. So'lek's face was fucked out of his mind and determined, jaw slack after moaning for so long.

He sat on his knees behind you, back straight and veiny hands tightly gripping your shoulders raising your body against him making you kneel before him. You sat over his cock with your legs well spread, body looking forward pressing your back on his toned chest. You could feel his warm body against yours, sweat coating your skin. You rose your ass as So'lek aligned his cock towards your hole, and the moment you sank down on it you both exhaled in unison, groaning like this is exactly what you have been needing to feel all day.

The way you shamelessly bounced on his lap fucking yourself on his cock until So'lek fought to take back control and mount you roughly to remind you was more dominant, how he tightly held you, hands roughly playing with your breasts as if you had any intention of scaping, how he growled every time you moaned to the air as if you weren't fucking a few meters from the camps and someone could easily spot you if they got too close.

It was all addicting, a dangerous game you both had been playing ever since you felt the sexual tension building from the moment he first entered your room in the old HQ. A dangerous game that spoke against So'lek's beliefs, further pushing him from the Great Mother's path and yet he never felt guilty for it. Because if the Great Mother was so against your relationship... How come she brought you to him that night when he found you wondering in the woods? Why didn't she send a pack of Viper wolves to eat you alive or a Hammerhead to crush you? If she sent him to kill you... Why did he feel a tightness inside his chest as he saw his own reflection in your eyes? Why did he feel like he wanted to protect you when he recognized the obvious signs of your defeat as you wondered around unarmed searching for death?

"Irayo..." He whispers in your ear as his hot seed filled your womb, words almost drowned by the loud moan of relief you let out into the humid air of the raining forest. "Irayo, ma' yawne..."

Your eye opens slowly as you came out of your high, breaths coming in soft pants before they were interrupted by a soft sigh as you felt his softening cock slid out. His long arms guiding you down the soft moss under you so you could lay down on his chest. You both spent a few seconds in silence, basking in the soft noises of the forest and your uneven breaths until you had calmed.

"You don't need to thank me, lovely." You said lowly trying not to break the peaceful atmosphere. So'lek purred, a rumbling sound making his chest vibrate a little.

"I have many things to thank you for." He replied making you smile looking up at him. He melted at the sight of you, hair messy, blue skin slightly damp with sweat and eye reflecting him as your pupils were dilated like he was the most beautiful thing you had ever seen. Oh Eywa, there's only one woman So'lek loves more than you. And that's (Y/n) (L/n).

"About Alma..."

The way So'lek's eyes rolled to the back of his head was way more exaggerated than when you were choking on him moments ago. "Must we speak about her now...? First allow me a few moments of bliss, my darling."

"I'd say I've given you enough bliss." You smirked.

"You have milked me dry, I will not deny that." He hummed content. "And yet I crave more-" his hand reaches to your waist pulling you imposibly closer with a predatory face but he stopped when you gave him a look. He huffed. Then, you both spoke about Alma.

"I have a feeling you weren't telling me the whole truth." You point out making So'lek squint in confusion and slight offense.

"Na'vi do not lie. We do not even have a word for it-"

"So'lek, I didn't say you lied. I'm saying there's gotta be something more to your anger towards her." This made him shift.

"The Sarentu children are suffering because of her past mistakes. She does not want to share the list I have been looking for for years, and... I fear she is loosing her way." He said the last bit with a somberness you have never heard on him. It surprised you.

"What do you mean she lost her way?"

"We need Alma's talents as the leader of the Resistance. If grief overtakes her she will be lost to the cause, and someone else will have to step up and take leadership. I am not ready for such position, Alex refuses to step up, and I will not lay that burden over Tamtey's shoulders." He looked down your lips, a little distraction from the discomfort in his chest.

"You guys have really been talking about the possibility of replacing Cortez?" You couldn't fight the pure shock laced in your tone.

"Is it not important for the sky people? To entrust your legacy to someone else if you were to perish?" He asked genuinely curious.

"I guess? But... I don't know... She's still alive..." You weakly replied.

"We are in the middle of a war. And Eywa always protects the balance of life, be it Na'vi or Human. Every life has it's weight, so we must make our stay in this world worthy of her protection. Alma is... Failing. Catastrophically so. She has broken the trust of many meaningful relationships making others question her. The Sarentu are slowly turning into the strong pillars of the resistance. And with her betrayal to them... Everyone inevitably looks around for another person whose leadership overpowers hers, someone whose past mistakes weight less than their good actions."

"You or Tamtey...?"

So'lek turns his head away looking up the raining sky. His silence was all the confirmation you needed.

"Perhaps... You could speak to her." So'lek softly said. "You are strangely comforting to talk to, even if you do not like deep, meaningful conversations. There is wisdom underneath your layers of clownery." He spoke with a smile, eyes turning to your face with fondness. "I have witness the effect you have on the Sarentu many times, how they looked out to you finding comfort in your chaotic nature. I saw what you did with Etuwa, how you helped her see reason when she was filled with nothing but impulsiveness and hate. I remember the way you defended Itu in your great speech when you bonded with your Slotsyal... And this morning. When we saw Tamtey. I heard every word you spoke to them." He listed.

Your eye glazed, your bullet wound stinging deeply crying tears of blood inside your eyepatch. And yet you didn't move an inch, listening carefully to So'lek.

"The Aranahe chose you as their champion for a reason-"

"They what-!?" You squacked. He ignores you.

"-They saw greatness, strength, but most importantly they felt the power in your words. Sometimes the greatest tsamsiyu is not the one who fights the best, but the one who effectively brings peace when everyone only seeks conflict."

"I don't know about that-. But what the hell do you mean the Aranahe chose me as their champion? When did this happen?"

"Just go speak to her!" He loudly demanded making you jump up to stand. He gave you more encouragement than you needed to face Alma. "But clean yourself first, my heart. You are... Dripping." He pointed out, hungry eyes sneaking a glance down your leaking cunt.

You ignored him. Like always.

Using a wet rag to clean the most evident clues of your lovemaking, you made your way to Alma's tent. Your feet stopped at the closed flap catching the sound of faint sobbing. As much as you wanted to give her space, Priya, Tamtey and their big group of scientists and armed personnel were leaving in twenty minutes, and you didn't want to miss the chance to repay their medical treatment and the huge trip they made to meet you here. You only hopes So'lek would join, but at this point you knew very well if you asked him to jump he'd ask how high. Specially after you both had sex, he tends to be more agreeable once fully milked dry.

"Tell me you didn't bring your megaphone..." Alma sniffed when she saw you enter, her hands furiously wiping her face with a tissue before she readjusted her breathing mask. She was sitting on a rock, hands busy with her tablet browsing around the many documents you had sent her about your sister's nefarious plans in the middle of the pitch black tent with zero lights on.

"You're lucky. I dropped it somewhere in the forest." You chuckled walking closer. She stood up to properly face you even if you were way higher.

"What can I help you with, (Y/n)?"

You looked down at her, the dim light coming from the small gap from the tent's closed flap casting a small cold  light that only lit your eyepatch, your remaining eye hiding in the darkness of your face. She sat back down the rock, hands gripping her tablet tightly.

"You want me to confess? Retell all the details of what I did to those poor children?"

You kept silent, smirk turning into a thin line now looking more serious than you usually did.

"Or maybe you want to yell at me for not prioritizing the problem with your sister?" She tiredly accused, eye bags deeply marked by the darkness of the tent. "Just say something..."

"You think I'm here to give you a good ol' ass whooping?" You asked curiously with humor in your tone. She silently looked up at you, eyes roaming at every detail in your face, your stripped pattern, your outfit which was the perfect combination of Aranahe and Resistance, your handmade eyepatch, the... The hickies in your neck. You tilted your head to the side so she'd look back up to you, she complied ignoring what she just noticed.

"How do you make everything work for you? You probably killed more people than me. Your humor and brutal honesty often makes people uncomfortable, you-... How did you make the more stubborn Sarentu soften around you? And the broodiest of Na'vi fall in love with you when in one year back he couldn't stand your presence? What's the... Secret recipe to integrate and be liked...? Or at the very least respected..."

You sat down before her, blue hands gripping hers on her lap.

"One thing I'll tell you I've never done is kill Na'vi." A glimmer of a memory flashes your mind. One in which you and So'lek were shooting at feral Na'vi. A bullet piercing a young tsahik's eye socket going through her skull and impacting on a flammable container causing an explosion that took the rest of her suffering people. The words died in your mouth as did your bravado.

Alma recognized that look in your face. Guilt, the heavy burden of loss. And suddenly she felt more connected to you.

"I guess we are not so different after all." She softly said. "Our hate for the RDA runs deep." Alma squeezed your hands, eyes staring up at you with sorrow before you looked away thinking about her previous questions.

"I'm a fucking mess. But I try to move forward and fix shit before it gets worse, and something war has taught me is that the more you look back at the past the more it will consume you. People are complex, trauma is complex, but with determination and perseverance-"

"Don't give me that mister wonderful bullshit (Y/n)..." Alma interrupted, and the thread of irritation within you snapped. You were sick of her jealousy but sicker of her self pity. You knew Alma was strong, and seeing her like this frustrated you. So'lek was right.

"You don't think I have shit in my plate too? I spent years inside bases never seeing the fucking sunlight. I have to kill my own fucking sister who is the only living family I have left. She tried to destroy my friendship with So'lek and all of you, which is something any stupid sister would do, I've moved past that shit. But then she had to spy on us, kill my friends, she made a fucking army of-of... Alien zombies. My friends at the resistance sided with her and casted me out. I took four kids under my wing, two are out god knows where, one is off to war and the other is alone blaming herself for this whole mess. A fucking Stormglider, which are probably the most untrusted aerial predators chose me in my iknimaya, and I was named champion of the Aranahe without my knowledge, probably being responsible of every warrior's life from now on. Plus! I'm a fucking sniper who has lost her fucking eye. I am STRESSED." Alma's eyes were slightly wider listening to you, her hands and lower lip trembling a little until you cupped her face dwarfing her head with your giant hand.

"You were... The only person besides So'lek who defended me." You blinked back the upcoming tears at the memory, Alma caught sight of the pink scar in your forearm, testament of that day when you left the resistance after your sister's betrayal was made public. "You were the one who stepped up to help me, to see just what the hell was going on before jumping into conclusions. Not only that but... Since the beginning you had always looked out for me." When you first joined she made sure you had everything sorted out, personally fetched you whatever you needed, kept you company when she thought you wanted it, she believed in you when everyone felt uneasy by your presence the first few weeks you tried to integrate in the group. Although busy, Alma has always tried to be there. Not just for you, but for everybody, even for So'lek, and specially for the Sarentu. You thought she was maternal like that, a caring leader, but in truth... "You are a very strong woman, stronger than you belive... You are more of a sister to me than Raphaela has ever been."

Alma blinked at this, eyes wide, the tightness of her chest was evident in the way her breathing mask beeped at her sudden lack of oxygen. Like you had punched the air out of her with your words. "You don't hate me." She whispered to herself. You gave her this dumb face as if to say "you think I'm that stupid?"

The leader of the resistance laced her hand to your forearm covering your scar, you did the same with her own. A sign of trust, of alliance. Your loyalty for her was as fierce as hers for you.

"What I did to the Sarentu... Doesn't deserve forgiveness. But I truly, honestly thought we were doing well. I thought..."

"We were all fed RDA propaganda from the start.

She shook her head thinking about the Sarentu children suffering every day because of her stupid delusions.

"I just thought that when the kids grew up things would change. That we could change the RDA for the better, to do what it was supposed to and smooth human and na'vi relations so we could coexist... Mercer's view of the RDA, the painting he displayed about the future was so beautiful..." She said tossing the tablet to the side in defeat.

"Maybe the RDA was always meant to fail. Have you ever thought of that?"

It was stupid. The Na'vi would never agree, they would never give up their moon to us, free access to It's resources at the cost of every ecosystem? It couldn't work. No matter how hard the RDA tried.

Alma looked down, brown eyes halflid in thought. She looked dead. Like the years she spent researching and working were for nothing. At this moment Alma Cortez looked like a living corpse or a very tired mother. At this moment she was glad Jake Sully kicked out the RDA from Pandora at some point, but equally irritated at him for taking her out of the bubble of illusion the RDA had built up around her.

"No... I suppose I didn't." She whispers, brows knitting. Then she says something that takes you by surprise. "Your sister isn't a psychopath. She's a misanthrope."

"What the fuck is that?"

"Pretty much what many of our people are..." Alma took a sharp breath and continued, eyes fixed on the resistance's camp through the little open gap from the tent's opening. "Misanthropy is... Loosing faith in humanity. Feeling disgust, distrust and overall reject towards humans. It's a complex thing. To live with so much hate towards your own species... She must feel quite lonely."

You looked at her taking her words in. There wasn't a snarky response waiting to be spoken, only shocking understanding. You both knew what that felt, all of the resistance knew what that felt. And yet...

"The things my sister did... All the lives she took. I won't forgive her, I don't care how lonely she must feel."

"Why did you forgive me?" Alma spoke up.

You squinted your remaining eye, ears flicking back feeling as if she had slapped you. And yet you felt pity again, but not anger. This was a genuine question born from years of self loathing.

"Because you are working to remedy your mistakes. You knew what you did was wrong, and although it's too late, you try to make up for it every fucking day. I know she won't. I know she won't rest until we are all dead. Both Human and Na'vi."

Then Alma's face hardens looking at the tablet she just tossed. "I understand." A simple sentence that seemed to put and end to that conversation, until you turned to leave feeling spent from so many feelings and long conversations.

"(Y/n). You don't want So'lek to have that list." You looked at Alma in confusion until she went on to explain her reasons.

So'lek squeezes the camp's keeper shoulder in gratitude after they both had communed to Eywa, his other hand holding the basket of various ingredients and remedies the Kame'tire gifted the resistance.

When he walked up to Priya's big group, Tamtey kindly took the basket he was holding with a knowing appreciative smile. He thanked them with a nod.

His eyes were instantly on your back. You were already walking ahead of everyone guiding the group through the wilderness. He was confused at first, he never saw you leave Alma's tent. But before he could approach you, Anqa stopped him with a small tug on his tactical vest telling him to give you some space. He pushed down his worry to focus on protecting the group from the wild creatures as Anqa couldn't lend you her Samson, she had to carry the remaining members of the resistance and Alma back to HQ with little fuel.

Django's screetch announced the departure of your group. He flew upwards to the grey sky, enormous wings flapping the air and like Eywa had sensed his presence, the little droplets of rain stopped, grey clouds dissipating leaving behind the beautiful blue sky. The sun was still up, the shadows casted by the towering trees of the Clouded forest left little windows of light basking you in the soft, warm kisses of sunlight. You wish you could capture the beauty of the Clouded forest in a picture and frame it.

At some point you all thought you had gotten lost as the signal was quite troublesome in this area. Luckily, with time and effort, you all figured you were actually closer to the Prospective site bravo than you initially believed. But like any part of Pandora, this wasn't exactly a walk in the park or a cute date with So'lek, danger lurked nearby. Soon, you stumbled across a small RDA camp filled with AMP suits and many soldiers of different kinds, they seemed to be heading on that same direction before they decided to rest for a while.

"Seems everyone's in a camping mood t'day." One of the resistance soldiers jested.

"I say we round them. It's too risky, we have so much data they could get their hands on!" Priya cried.

"I can help! I'll take them down, one less RDA platoon to worry about." Tamtey said easily, and when most adults of the group looked at the kid in concern they went on to add: "So'lek could join the cleaning? We fought well last time. And (Y/n) could cover us from a distance, that way you all will make sure I'm alright." They cheerfully suggested.

So'lek agreed easily, already preparing for the imminent fight, you smiled at Tamtey seven feet away from your mate. "I'll make sure to keep my one and only eye on you."

So you three got into action.

The new life of Ian Saints in Pandora was nothing but intense. He spent months on end practicing and preparing. For what? For this exact same moment, to become the best of the best and aid the RDA however he could, so one day director Mercer would notice his spark as his father once put it. But when he was assigned to patrol this perimeter he couldn't shake this nagging feeling of uneasiness, he felt like someone was watching him constantly. And one thing he has learned from his years saving humanity from alien threats was to trust his instincts.

"I don't know, captain... These woods are suddenly so..."

"Terrifying? Come on, kid. If you're gonna cry all day maybe you should have stayed in HQ." His captain sighed through his walkie-talkie. The laughter of his men was loud enough for Ian to hear from his position without needing his radio.

The kid shook his head disappointed by his comrades' reluctance, concerned eyes looked at the treeline ahead, his hand trembles a little around his gun. Like he expected a giant Thanator to pounce on him or a stampede of god-knows-what to run towards him.

"I'll just report anything that looks suspicious, sir..." He breathed out. His captain gave him a small encouragement that sounded too fake and mocking to be real. Whatever, it wasn't him he wanted to impress.

He threw a rock in the direction of the treeline, ready to act if the imaginary threat revealed itself to be real. He waited, gun clutched firmly. One beat, two, three... Nothing.

"Shit..." He sighs. "Calm down, Ian..." But as those words left his lips, his jaw was gone. Tongue languidly moving up and down as he tried to speak, yell, anything, only to splurt out a massive bubble of blood from his open throat, and when it popped, he dropped to his knees, hands halting mid air as he tried to reach up to his missing lower face, maybe his brain was in denial and he really just tried to adjust the broken oxygen mask around his face. It doesn't matter now. The last thing he saw as life slipped through his broken gags was your avatar rushing towards him, he foolishly allowed himself to think that in his last moments perhaps you were a kind stranger trying to help him. He never hated Na'vi, he just hated being unnoticed. At least someone noticed him now.

Your hand shoved his away when he tried to reach out to your face, his lifeless body kneeling in front of you. You didn't hesitate to prop your heavy sniper riffle over his shoulder using him as support for the recoil of your weapon.

"I'm in position." You called through the coms, the silence from both ends was enough signal that Tamtey and So'lek were nearby kicking RDA ass. You made sure to double check the silencer you had put on your trusty riffle.

Tamtey was ruthless, using stealth to kill every unsuspecting soldier around. So'lek moved in the shadows as well, but his fighting style was messier, more impulsive, even if he was a very skilled warrior his hate for the RDA burned too deep and it reflected in the way he moved around, or perhaps he was distracted... You had to cover him way more than Tamtey as his recklessness almost got him caught twice.

"I've got your six, pretty boy." You comforted him. So'lek visibly relaxed.

"Are you going to watch over me, dear?" His voice was like honey for your ears. He really sounded taken aback.

"Like a lil devil on your shoulder." You replied making him chuckle.

"Whatever that means... Good." It's nice that you seemed to be talking to him normally. He wanted to guess you had a heated argument with Alma hours back and maybe that's why you were so distant. Lucky for So'lek, he didn't need to guess for long, as Tamtey took down the last few AMP suits left. The group gathered in the clearing only to realize you were exactly where you were supposed to be.

As Priya's group of experts began preparing, the armed personnel, So'lek and you were assigned to spread out and keep an eye on any potential danger. Your mate tried to approach you but to his irritation you insisted on being alone.

So as night time approached and your team had made camp in the ruins of the RDA facility waiting for Tamtey to clear the second objective, So'lek made the decision to approach again, but this time he wouldn't back down. There's nothing he hates more than when his mate acts distant. Specially when he doesn't understand why.

Your mind has been pondering heavy thoughts all day. The irritation of feeling slightly dizzy from your messed peripheral vision didn't help. You had to practice your aim now that you had one eye, and just staring into anything too detailed was a pain in the ass, it gave you a headache to have to tilt your head to properly see anything. But was that really the worst thing you got going on? Your sister was on the loose again and... What Alma showed you...

You love So'lek. You truly love him. But will he still love you when he finds out you were assigned to fight in the battle that whipped out his clan leaving him scarred for life.

You remember talking to him once about what motivated his clan to fight against the RDA, their loyalty to Jake Sully.

"When someone very close to you dies in battle and you ask them if honor and duty were a good cause for dying, the only thing they will answer with will be silence."

This made you visibly pause. So'lek looked down, not in shame but in silent grief of how cruel life could be. He was wise, wiser than anyone you had ever met.

"I only hope I never see you rotting under the sun after the final fight." You remember thinking, but you never replied.

Will he pray to Eywa for your safety during battle when he finds out that you were meant to kill him and his people?

You drag your large hand down the scaly surface under you, a slow, soft movement that earned you the gentlest of growls from the winged beast carrying you. Your eyes flutter open when you noticed the strong breeze, the night air carries the scent of grass and pollen making you sneeze, it's not as humid as the Kinglor forest, that's when you noticed you are in the upper planes.

Even in late hours of the night this place looked absolutely breathtaking. It was vast and open, a sea of golden grass that could reach your real body's torso if only you were in it, it kind of reminded you of Windows Hp's background field.

Many strange animals you've only seen in pictures up until now roamed free across the gorgeous land, giant herds of pa'li trotted the night field following the direction of the strong wind. There were also crimson trees croked to one side due to the strong winds, their long branches pointing at the horizon and you also saw many pillars of stone competing with them in height. But even in their grandiose esplendor they were instantly dwarfed and eclipsed by the stone arches' beauty. The planes had many more arches than the Kinglor forest, you'll definitely come visit them whenever you can.

An amazed sigh escaped your lips seeing the scenery before you, you could feel Django's humour by your delight thanks to the tsaheylu, this is the first time you saw the planes in person. But your joy was momentary replaced by a worried gasp.

"So'lek?" You ask out loud after your Stormglider flapped his enormous wings so you could be heard properly. "Babe?" You asked again looking around. Shit. Did you fall asleep and got lost!?

Your hands fisted Django's leather saddle. "Fuck... Why does he leave every time I fall asleep!?"

Your radio in your belt crackles alive, the voice of your beloved reaching your earpiece quickly after.

"Just below, dumb girl."

His voice was like the sweetest honey, you couldn't stay irritated for long when he reminded you that you two were entangled in the strangest romantic relationship in all the Western frontier. You smiled softly looking down and sure enough there he was looking up at your sleepy face.

So'lek looks like he came out of a maiden’s fantasy, long hair swaying in the breeze, his metal chest plate caked in blood and grime, multiple dogtags crinkling in the air glittering as the rising sun illuminates him and his eyes... Those beautiful pools of gold looked up at you borely like he was so used to your silent admiration, overall looking as handsome as ever. You couldn't help but blush.

"You fell asleep right after you mounted your spirit brother. I got us ready and guided him while you drooled all over him." He teases, big, gorgeous eyes returning to the horizon. His long lashes fluttered like wings, So'lek silently curses himself for forgetting his goggles.

"Aha... And why are you all bloody, honey?" You finally managed to ask.

"The RDA decided to make this trip interesting with their flying metal machines." So'lek sneers. "I entertained them."

You cried out loud, it would have been awesome to see So'lek and Iley in action taking down Samsons like they were flies. But even in your avatar you were still human, and purebred Na'vi don't need as many hours of rest as avatars or humans do.

Your hand adjusted the microphone on your neck speaking into it as the strong air currents made it hard to be heard. "Why don't you come up here? I'm lonely~ Django and I could use some company from the dogtag warrior. Besides you know how much I hate waking up without you."

"You are like a baby. You do nothing but complain even when I give you all, I have turned you into a spoiled brat..." So'lek protested from bellow. There was a pause before you heard him again, his tone was strained like he couldn't keep pretending he wouldn't kill to be near you as well. "I would get closer if I could. The air currents exhaust Iley... Your Slotsyal has proven to be quite the shield against strong winds."

What can you say? He is at home after all.

You could tell by the way Django flied with familiarity, like he had roamed these skies since he was a hatchling. But that's something you'll ponder over later, soon you have to land.

Once your feet touched the grass you couldn't help but whistle at the realisation of just how great of a job So'lek did herding Django and protecting you from the RDA's helis while you slept aaaaall the way up North. He really is husband material... Talking about the devil, once he unmounted a very exhausted Iley, softly speaking soothing words to him, his eyes instantly met yours never shying away, like a predator stalking his prey, like whatever he was whispering to his Ikran was also meant to you. Your body yearned for him. But now it wasn't the time, not when Tamtey was so adamant on dealing with whatever that was causing those earthquakes and messing around with the ecosystem.

Your holo map projected from your wrist so you could track the route you two had made while you slept. You left the Aranahe territory flying past the Ovation falls crossing the border between the Kinglor forest and the Upper planes. To So'lek's order you two promptly arrived to the now ruined drill tower bravo, where Tamtey was meant to arrive before meeting Anqa at Ally's Overlook, a small hill down the Celebration Arches.

The trip to the Upper Planes was long and tedious, you had to fly high and slow to avoid most of the currents and the RDA's air patrols which meant it took longer for you two to arrive than anticipated, luckily, for once, Tamtey decided to wait for reinforcements before they threw themselves into battle like they usually did. The pain and grief from the Sarentu clan's downfall and Alma's spilled secrets did not cloud the young Sarentu's judgement, that's a huge relief.

"Do my eyes deceive me? Or is it really you auntie?"

Your head snapped to the side, ears flicking and tail swaying agitated by the excitement of finally, oh finally, seeing Tamtey again. Tamtey hooted, their ikran landing gracefully near Django their eyes meeting in greeting.

"There's my kiddo! Dammit I missed you..." The young Sarentu rushed in to hug you, So'lek tilted his head quietly admiring the tender reunion. The hug lasted a while until the Trr'ong elder yipped calling for your attention.

As you three settled near the campfire So'lek made, he traced a plan of action. Close to your location was a Zeswa campsite called the Celebration Point where many Zeswa hunters had complained about an RDA facility near the Pa'li falls near the drill you were meant to attack, one you knew too well. The Border Observation Post (or BOP) your sister used to be assigned to when you were still under Harding's command. You don't miss your days at the RDA.

The plan was to shut that place down, settle there until Tamtey finished talking with Anqa so she could properly explain what she has been learning about the drill, then reunite and attack it together. You'd be snipping in the air flying Django from a safe distance so he wouldn't trigger the aerial turrets. So'lek would clear the area from any RDA activity to make Tamtey's job easier while they figured how to dismantle the whole facility as sneakily as possible.

Your hands worked around Django's saddle, adjusting the straps and unbuttoning the big ammo bag from the animal's back. Tamtey complied when you offered them to stock themselves up to the brim before they went to see Anqa. Meanwhile So'lek meditated after his usual after-dinner praying near the fire brazing his troubled mind for the upcoming battle.

Tamtey's soft voice distracted you from your wondering eyes. "I cannot believe you bonded with a Stormglider. I've heard rumours but when Anqa confirmed it and showed me pictures I was... Blown away! Itu must have been proud."

"Yeah, so proud he was the one who pushed me to tame him when I was about to beat the crap outta him." You mused placing dry grass between your teeth as a makeshift toothpick. Django side glanced at you with a huff making Tamtey giggle.

"That's Itu." Tamtey said remembering their own iknimaya. "And that's so you. You were always keen on dangerous creatures." They smiled looking at So'lek, your dogtag dangling from his wrist wasn't missed by the attentive eyes of the young Sarentu. They'd make an amazing sniper.

Your eyes returned to them, their youthful face carrying more worry and burden than someone their age should wear. How you've missed them... Your sweet little warrior. The Sarentu who defied Eywa's laws to touch metal so they could protect the people.

"I see you." You said mindlessly. Tamtey blinked, lips parting in surprise finally realizing just how much you've changed. And not because you were on your avatar, but they could also see the Na'vi in you, this filled them with pride and controversial thoughts at the same time as their mind went back to Alma. Then they whispered it back.

"I see you, 'eylanai." Their hands wrapped around their bow tightly. "Did... Cortez send you here?"

You didn't question why they'd mention Alma, nor why they'd call her by her last name. You knew what she did. "Nah, Priya did. Honestly I'm glad. My sister's mess is getting all the more complicated the more I find out... Needed a breather."

"Cortez told me she'd given Ra'fi-... Sorry, Raphaela, the choice to speak to you for a few minutes every day."

"I don't really want to speak to my sister. Just wanna get this over with and kill 'er."

You didn't mean to sound so cold, you only realized how vengeful and cruel, how utterly human, that sounded when the younger Na'vi flinched. They had lost a sister once, they knew that pain.

"She's going to pay." You said curtly. "For Dani, for the people she murdered." You'll make the veterans' sacrifice count. You'll avenge those tortured Na'vi and helpless animals.

There was a pause then, Tamtey mauled over your words, your reaction to your sister's betrayal, your choice to handle it all. And you could clearly see the way they internalized everything, probably comparing their situation to yours, pondering, learning, meditating.

"What are your thoughts on..." Tamtey couldn't finish the sentence, not when their throat constricted around nothing, ears flicking back fighting the upcoming tears.

"Alma?" You asked. Bingo. Tamtey nods looking away occupying themselves with their inventory. You thought for a bit, playing with the makeshift toothpick before you spat it to the side. "Honestly? You ain't gonna get mad?" You asked.

Tamtey smiled a little not looking away from their stuff. "I always appreciated your sincerity. Specially now that I know everything around me has been build up around lies."

You smiled at this, and yet hesitation burned deep within you before you decided to ignore it and give the kid your honest opinion:

"I think we're all fucking monsters. Not you, kids. But everyone from the resistance has done some level of evil, I think it's stupid that everyone is wary or mad at their leader for doing something so fucking atrocious when they all had been part of the RDA at some point." Tamtey halted their hands. Listening closely but never looking at you as you continued. "What Alma did was blindly believe in the RDA. She was so enamoured by the idea of Grace Augustine's school that she spent years studying and planning to make it work only to have it explode in her face." You sighed frustrated. "She was so determined to make it work that she ignored every obvious sign that what she was taking part on was wrong, fucking immoral. I know her enough to think she accepted to suffer every day with the guilt of doing something wrong if it meant it'd benefit both Na'vi and human in the future. But..."

Tamtey took a sharp breath, hands trembling around their braid thinking your words over clearly holding some discrepancies.

"I'm not one to play devil's advocate, kid. I'm not saying you should forgive her. Again, what she did was terrible. But what I'm trying to say is... We already knew she was hiding something, everyone is. If we would all sit in a circle and talk about the shit we did for the RDA I promise ya there wouldn't be a soul spared from a glare."

"So the people in the resistance are not trustworthy...? Is that what you are trying to say?"

"They are hypocrites. But No. What I mean is that it was obvious from the start that the resistance's leader from this border would have skeletons hidden in their closet. Hell, Jake Sully spied on the RDA'S biology department, played his part on the bombing of the Omaticaya's Hometree and started a war that put every scientist and avatar user under heavy vigilance for years. But he also fought for the people and casted out the RDA. Not all humans are cunts. Some of us may do horrible things, but good people fight tooth n' nail to make things right. I do believe in reception, just not for my sister." Tamtey finally looked at you, eyes glazed. "Alma loves you all so much... I can believe that preserving your future is the only thing pushing her to fight. If it wasn't for you I bet she..."

"I know." Tamtey cuts you, their voice broken. "I know..."

You both sat down on the grass, backs pressed against Django's side. The conversation went on and on. About the day of the party, about Nor's fury, Teylan's manipulation, Ri'nela's burdened mind, Tamtey's feelings and fears. You spoke about how the resistance was progressing up until Alma's past was revealed, how some left but many warriors from the Zeswa and Kame'tire came around as well as scientists from all around Pandora, how other Na'vi from foreign clans joined in the name of the Bad Omen, you. How the Aranahe had been sending more help and finally, Tamtey opened up about what happened at TAP. What they remember and what they learned about from Alma's memories.

"I'll never forget the screams, (Y/n)." They cried. "My mother's face... Aha'ri crying... How they treated us all like animals..."

"Don't forget it and don't feel ashamed about it either. Wear it like armor, use those memories for good, to remind you of what you fight for. You are carrying your clan's legacy, kid." You surprised yourself by your own words of encouragement, So'lek definitely changed you.

"I'm not letting another child suffer the things we did. Mercer won't get away with this, neither will your sister." Tamtey declared. You gave them a tight smile.

The sound of heavy steps approaching crushing the grass underneath in pleasant crunches made you two look up to your right. So'lek stood tall looking at the rusty tower in the middle of the abandoned facility. He whispers a prayer under his breath, then he slowly turns his head in your direction, his eyes holding a renewed fire that made you feel some heat pool between your legs.

"Now we ride."

The sun is up bathing the planes with it's torching warmth and light. Your group of three roamed the sky towards the arches until you split. Tamtey departed with a Na'vi salute and a hopeful smile, a silent promise to continue your conversation after the mission. Meanwhile So'lek and you flew off avoiding the arches, flanking them to the right to not alert Na'vi or the RDA. Good guys or not, Stormgliders were very respected aerial predators around these parts, the Zeswa would either attack thinking Django is preying on them or leave the area until the creature is gone.

The only people you'd love to scare are the soldiers from the Border Observation Post after all. But as much as you would like to attack the place with your bonded, So'lek strictly told you not to play reckless, not when there's so much at stake. Even if the post is far from na'vi campsites this facility has direct contact with Mercer. You don't want to trigger the whole beehive.

Django and Iley waited near the waterfall while you and So'lek climbed up the mountain with little effort.

"Stop it." He said after he jumped from a branch to climb up the last few stone steps reaching the top of the Pa'li falls. His larger hand gripped yours pulling you up with ease. You took it with a playful smile.

"Stop what? Now who's the one complaining over nothing?"

"You have been staring."

"So? I can't stare now? I thought you enjoyed the attention." A teasing flick of your tail distracted him for a moment.

"Your strange attraction towards my bottom-"

"Your ass."

"Your strange attraction towards my ...ass..." The na'vi rolled his eyes. "Can get quite annoying when your main focus should be on the mission ahead." He reminds you bitterly. But you knew he wasn't THAT serious, not when his cheeks were slightly flushed and his tail swayed nervously, but that could also be because of the warm weather and the climb, oh well.

"Okay, okay, I'm focusing! What do we do, boss?" You asked now crouching towards the tall grass nearby following his lead.

As expected, the place was almost empty. Some soldiers boredly patrolled around pretending to be doing something productive, others played cards on the porch of the main house and there was one younger mechanic making some repairs on one rough looking AMP suit using spare parts from another. It was pathetic really. It's clear how the very neat John Mercer never really cared about the few border posts he had scattered around the Western Frontier. These guys looked like they were in timeout, clearly none of them wanted to be here, so as the kind person you are you'll put them out of their misery.

So'lek stared at the place, his eyes unimpressed before his nose twitched. Then his expression shifts compleatly in recognition.

"What?" You asked looking around. But before he could say anything you spotted an open window on the second floor of the house. Him.

Jin-Young. He was tied to a chair inside the main house in the center of the outpost, his mouth was taped, eyes looking down in a defeated expression. Just what the hell was he doing here!? You felt your chest tighten remembering the last time you saw Jin. When he wanted to apologize for believing your sister and punching the living shit out of you. Feels like ages ago.

"Three on the porch. Five on patrol. One inside the warehouse." You list all the visible humans.

"Nine total. We must act cautiously, if they suspect anything they will most certainly kill Jin-Young."

"That'd be a pain in the ass. He's the head of the construction team, it would suck to replace him."

So'lek looked at you once then he kissed your temple. "Do not let your resentment cloud your mind, ma' yawntu." He reminds you, your cheeks flush a little. Then he departed after handing you a few extra mags for your snipper, you smacked his ass as a thanks, he turned around in fake offense before he took off with a warning hiss.

You moved quickly uphill laying belly flat on the tall grass, the spot was perfect as the shade would help you hide your lid from shining like a fallen star under the bright sun alerting enemies nearby.

"I've taken position." You informed So'lek.

You quickly spot the dogtag warrior sneaking inside the warehouse. Covering his position you saw two guards approaching the building who seemed very into the conversation they were having until you lined a perfect shot that quickly dropped them to the ground with a single bullet. Gosh you felt nostalgic.

One minute and a few seconds later, So'lek jumped from a high window landing smoothly and gracefully over the grass, he was covered in blood again, hands busy reading another arrow. He stood tall, looked over the hill and threw you a kiss when he quickly spotted you. Cocky bastard.

"Awe! I'm keeping that kiss, thank you very much." You purred. "I take it there was more than one guy inside the warehouse?"

"Four. Only one was working, the rest were engaged in chatter mocking the youngest." He spat under his breath clearly displeased with the power dynamics around here while his long legs carried him around the corner to sneak behind a truck.

"Oh boo-hoo. They are all dead now, let's keep increasing the kill count, alright handsome? Back to work." You ordered catching the faint chuckle from the end of his line.

Before So'lek could go any further you halted him. Took down one guard and gave him the green light to move to his next target. Said target was one of the guards in patrol who had decided to take a small break under the shade of a metal tower where another guard was. At the count of three both of you attacked at the same time but once their bodies dropped to the ground a giant rumble shook the valley violently, the earthquake made So'lek fall back finding cover behind the rusty truck as you shielded your head beneath your arms.

"What was that!?" You asked. "So'lek!? Do you read!?"

"Are you well!?" He asked back. "I believe it came from the arches-" then realization hit him.

The three remaining soldiers clapped and cheered from the porch cracking up as if the view of the arches falling down crushing the land and life underneath was like the most beautiful fireworks spectacle.

"SO'LEK! TAMTEY AND ANQA-!" You cried out alerting the guards.

So'lek charged to the porch with his knife, the view was fucking scary. The way he massacred the last three soldiers made even Jin sudder. You couldn't see much as you were quite busy shooting down other alerted patrol coming from a recently parked vehicle a few yards away. They tried to make it to the warehouse but they ended up meeting their end when you shot the thumper twice their way making them quite literally explode. You always made every bullet count, you'll be saving the riffle's mags for later.

Your legs carry you downhill almost falling twice until you arrived to the main house. Jin was already freed from his restraints, he gave you a curt nod eyeing the destruction in the background, then he ran back to the warehouse where his stuff probably was while you and So'lek stood near the window overlooking the fallen arches.

Tamtey's voice came from So'lek's radio. The way they spoke in na'vi all rushed and alarmed told you all you needed to know. There were no survivors and this time Tamtey wouldn't be waiting on neither of you. So'lek hissed, heartbreak clear in the way he glared at the destruction.

"We're dropping the plan then? Going all in?" You asked like a little devil sitting on his shoulder.

"We most certainly are not. You will fly the Slotsyal and attack from a distance, I will go with Tamtey before the RDA catches them."

You nod twice finally looking at him, you took a step back ready to go and he took two closer until his hands found your cheeks halting you, eight fingers squeezed your cheeks possesively as a storm of unspoken feelings broke in the pools of So'lek's eyes. Your own widened eyes felt glossy in understanding. Your lifestyle has always been dangerous, this could easily be the last time you saw eachother. You didn't hesitate pressing your forehead to his, hands feeling So'lek's pulse under his thick neck, the dogtags were cold brushing your arms. His eyes fluttered closed, long, pretty lashes almost gracing you.

"Take care of our kid." You mindlessly said.

So'lek's eyes shot open, pupils blown wide as something awakened inside of him. "Our kid" he mauled these words feeling a certain way about them. What exactly, was a mystery as his stone cold face gave nothing away.

"I love you, my strong heart." He said.

"I love you, i see you, baby." You replied.

"CUNTS!" Someone screamed.

"Ye-yeah?" You ask hesitantly looking at the liberated post's direction, So'lek never took his eyes off of yours. He'd never voice it but he really wishes he was looking at your real face right now, and yet he feels relieved your body is safe at home.

"ARTILLERY!!" Jin shouted just when a bunch of explosions erupted over the post, his smaller human body came running from the warehouse and jumped towards you until you all crouched and crawled on fours towards safety fighting off the shockwaves.

"This fucking post is lost!" You cried out.

"Doesn't matter! We got what we wanted anyways!" Jin exclames, he'll have to explain later.

So'lek took you by the elbow while you were grabbing Jin's arm successfully dragging you both with him.

Your handsome Na'vi let out the mightiest warcry jumping down the waterfall, you didn't hesitate to do the same but Jin's girl-like scream drowned your call. Lucky for you Django had an amazing hearing. Iley took So'lek with ease but your bonded clasped his talons around your shoulders balancing you and launching both you and Jin forwards so he could fly down giving you the opportunity to grasp the rains on his back tightly, Jin had stopped screaming at some point but he was shaking like a leaf by the time you two had settled over Django's back.

So'lek gave you a scandalized look you returned with a grimace. He was perplexed by the shaken state of the human clinging to your back like a baby monkey.

"You alright, Mackay?" You asked. You could feel the short, timid nod he made against your back, sweaty body clinging to you making you feel gross and bad for him at the same time. At least he didn't piss himself or vomit inside his breathing mask.

Iley made a perfect flip over Django. To Jin's dismey, So'lek grabbed him by the shoulders lifting him with ease making his limbs shake in the air like a flipped upside down cockroach. He screamed and kicked thinking something had taken him until So'lek yelled something on his ear adjusting the scared man over the ikran's neck.

"I am taking Jin-Young to Anqa! Take position and watch over us, ma' yawne!"

"Don't get killed or I'll kill ya! Good luck!" You yelled back flying Django up to the skies. You didn't miss the way So'lek looked up at you in awe.

"Irayo..." He breathed out his thanks.

From here and so close to the drill, the damn aerial turrets almost caught you, they didn't fire but they did follow your tragectory sensing your presence. Luckily all RDA personnel was already alerted by something else, at some point some soldier must have triggered an alarm of shorts from the post as they were focusing all their attention to your previous position shooting a bomb mortar towards the ruined post.

The clouds blind your vision, Django flied further up into the heavens the beautiful sky made your focused breath catch, you could see Toruk's peak from here, the planes beauty momentarily distracting you until your bonded huffed calling for your attention. Your hand clutched your riffle in your chest before you caressed his neck.

"We're in this together, Django. You ready?" You could feel his hesitation slipping away. It didn't matter the short time of your bonding, he trusted you. You could feel it deep within your soul, like a warm blanket shielding you against the cold winds of uncertainty and fears of the future. Everything will be alright. His dead fish eyes side eyed you burning with determination, sharp snout pointing to the West. You smiled at him and in your bond, you could feel him smiling at you.

"Come on then! Let's give 'em hell."

Stormgliders weren't as agile as Ikran, they couldn't manoeuvre as fast as their wings were too big, not even the great Toruk could match their wingspan and yet they lacked Toruk's muscle mass. Slotsyal are the perfect in-between creature, they are big, ferocious, venomous and most importantly they specialize in something neither Ikran nor Toruk did, and that would be their endurance and speed-diving.

Today, Django was proud to show you as he dived down at a great speed cutting the air with his pointy snout. Like a 278 kg missile directed to a big wired tower at the northern side of the drill, it was far enough from it that no RDA personal noticed the giant creature destroying the crap out of the atena. There, no more reinforcements. And now you have a great bird's nest to snipe from.

Django seemed impatient, like cutting the flight so quickly had made him restless for more. Good. You'll need him active if things were to go to shit.

Tamtey was way more sneaker than you imagined. From your viewpoint they moved so smoothly taking enemies from the shadows. Of course it helped that your sniping skills were at their peak. In more than one occasion Tamtey nodded to themselves in thanks as you avoided many close calls with precise shots. The only thing bugging you now was finding your man... Ah there he is. How dreamy~

You adjusted your scope catching So'lek unmounting a pa'li at the bottom of a large stonewall. He rolled his shoulder while his hand fished his long braid undoing the bond. The gesture alone was so sensual that you could feel your skin erupt in goosebumps. Dammit.

Ever since you two finally mated, your body screamed for his. This magnetism was strong when you were in your real body but stronger when you were in your avatar's, which was a little conflicting because for So'lek he felt more connected to your real body but he did feel attracted to your avatar's nonetheless. Curious, but you must focus on the task at hand, don't wanna get yelled at.

"Hey So'lek, smile for my scope would ya?" You joke seeing him from your sniper.

"You see me?" He smoothly asks.

"Mhm. Tell me when you're ready."

"I am on the move. First floor, second crate. Two enemies. Aim true, ma eylan."

"Always, handsome."

You shoot twice, Django shakes his head irritated like the bullet sounded worse than a mosquito in the ear. He needed to get used to it if you wanted to snipe riding him one day.

So'lek compliments your aim with an approving hum. Then, when you made sure he got it all covered you shifted position to look out for Tamtey.

"You holding up alright, kiddo?" You asked out loud making sure the mic was well set.

Your earpiece crackles, Tamtey's voice came out of breath giving you a vague confirmation that told you enough. "I'm watching over ya. But don't let it get to your pretty head, you gotta keep your eyes open and focused alright? This ain't no training."

"I know... I've been doing this since I woke up from the long sleep."

The long sleep? Agh the coma... You were so pissed when you found out. Alma isn't the best making decisions in the heat of the moment as she so proves over and over again. But then again she's the leader you all chose.

Tamtey wasn't like So'lek. Although very focused they liked to talk when they had the time and the AMP suits were far enough not to hear them whisper. They told you about what happened when the arches fell. The many bodies they were forced to walk though and the desperation they felt when they couldn't find any survivors in the rubble. You didn't speak, if Tamtey needed to vent you'll gladly lend them your ear.

"Anqa told you how to destroy the thing?" You asked changing the subject when you felt Tamtey spiraling.

"No, I left before she could explain anything, but Priya guided me a little, I'm confident I can do this and with both your help it'll be much easier."

Speaking of the devil, Priya called you, her voice panicked and rushed. She couldn't contact Anqa the signal was too weak. After soothing her a bit while you covered the two Na'vi she finally renewed her focus explaining you what you guys were meant to do.

"Drill Platform Alpha has a giant core surrounded by two heavily secured platforms,"

"Ah, so that's what the giant glowy thing was. Isn't it crazy that the most vulnerable parts of every RDA facilities are so giant and glowy? It's like they are screaming to get blown away."

Priya actually laughed at this in agreement then went on with the plan.

"After dealing with the core I asked Tamtey to go to the nearest terminal and download all the data. I lost all we had after the party... They bombed pretty much everything. Gosh this wouldn't have happened if I had payed attention! If only I..."

"Hey. No need to beat yourself about the past, alright?" You grunt firing twice, you got used to the strong recoil after a while but you'll definitely need to make some improvements on your sniper once this is over.  "Let's just fix this quickly and-"

"You know, (Y/n)? It's so easy for you to say that. You've spent years inside bases. Barely seeing the world and the people around us... I know dispatching is a hard job, I've been doing it since I got here, but- but you'll know the struggle when you decide to take a break, just ONE break, to party with friends and be happy for ONCE then everything goes to... To... To SHIT... And it keeps going to shit because you didn't do your job because you so desperately wanted a fucking break!" Priya cursing? Shit this is worse than you thought. "I should have spend the night analyzing the data, studying the possible outcomes... I could have avoided all this destruction! Thousands of lives would have been spared from all the natural catastrophes the RDA threw upon us..."

You listened in silence. Priya began weeping, then she cut the call. She needed this, she needed to break eventually. At least she did it with a friend, you know she'll feel ashamed later but to be honest you've been worse and done worse, you know she knows it. Some people talk about their problems and rambles not wanting to hear any solutions but because just NEED to be heard. You didn't mean to sound so unbothered... You'll apologize too. But frankly it's hard to remember and follow any social ques when you are covering So'lek and Tamtey at the same time in different spots.

"Shit- what the fuck was that!?" You yelled over the mic.

So'lek had managed to get caught by two AMP suits when he threw an unconscious soldier out of the catwalk falling to his death, the shots ringed through the whole place alerting the other guards who didn't hesitate to fire on sight.

You took down as many as you could but they just kept coming from every direction. Tamtey took this momentum to fire at the drill's ginormous core until an enemy sniper caught them firing a few times, luckily missing every shot. Good thing bad guys always had bad aim. Or so you thought until a bullet pierced your shoulder making you yelp. You caught a glimmer of a far scope on the highest platform, they had another sniper.

"SHIT! I'VE BEEN CAUGHT! CHANGING POSITION!"

"Fall back (y/n)!" So'lek yelled from the other end of the line.

Django screetches picking you up with a gentle hold between his mandibles. Launching into the air quickly as more shots kept coming gracing the winged beast.

So'lek ended up being saved by Tamtey as the young warrior distracted all the soldiers firing at them bravely while they shot the nearby air turrets so you and Django could get closer. So'lek didn't miss the chance to take a rocket launcher from a crate and fire it directly to the core managing to surpass its opening and closing metal flaps.

The whole place rumbles, the drill stops compleatly followed by many explosions that momentarily halt the fight until they stop. By the time air support arrives, you and Django are reeking havoc in the skies giving So'lek and Tamtey enough time and ground to rush out of the catwalk they were in and hurry to the terminal at the Eastern side of the drill. With all the pollution around you guessed neither Iley nor Tamtey's Ikran could approach to help.

Your thumper proved handy blowing the helicopters that flew too close as you took down the furthest with clean shots from your sniper, every bullet casket falling down like the bodies of the many RDA soldiers who dared challenge you. Your bonded was as fierce as it's rider. Although huge, Django proved his fighting skills to be absolutely ruthless. His barbed stinger sliced through the chests of the stunned pilots, huge claws and teeth destroying tails and propellers like they were made out of ice scream's wooden sticks.

Together you were unstoppable.

"You are a tough woman to kill, ma' yawne." So'lek compliments through your earpiece.

"I'm like a cockroach alright..."

Keeping the RDA busy wasn't an easy job but you and Django managed to give So'lek and Tamtey enough time to clear the field enough to continue your plan.

By the time you had finished every helicopter, sniper and AMP suits from the drill, Tamtey had notified you that they had already dealt with the Southern and Eastern probes and were now waiting for all the data from the terminal to be transferred to Priya. So your mission now was to defend the terminal until all that precious information was secured then you'll have to evacuate both So'lek and Tamtey, meet with Anqa and Jin then get the fuck out. Easy enough, right?

Until it wasn't.

Django roared and you let out the mightiest warcry your lungs allowed attacking savagely at every helicopter you encountered. But these were no rookies. These soldiers were veterans, and although you two were a scary sight to behold, these vets have seen it all.

Fighting for what felt like hours you began shifting uncomfortably, the many wounds and torching sun seemed to wear you down, your sweat made your blue skin glimmer, add that tiredness to Django's and you felt like you'd faint any moment. Undoing the bond mid flight wasn't an option as you feared the RDA would send more helis again the moment they felt you falter. In the end, destroying the radio tower wasn't even necessary, what a waste.

"DONE! WE'VE GOT IT!" Tamtey screamed waving their arms to sign you and Django to pick them up.

Landing was a nightmare, as expected, many more AMP suits arrived in helicopters that left once the soldiers landed. The many bullets pierced Django making the beast roar in pain and anger as So'lek and Tamtey hurried to climb his back. Once you three were secured, the animal launched to the air quickly making Tamtey grip down your waist, what you guessed was So'lek's arm kept the kid well adjusted between your bodies as bullets whistled missing you for a few millimeters.

You looked back once. Just once. To make sure they were okay. Everything happend so fast...

Django jerked to the side quickly squacking a very strange noise, your three bodies clutched together in fear any of you would fall. Something happened, you didn't exactly know what with the shock and adrenaline of the fight, but no one commented on it so you focused on flying to Anqa's location. You felt like you just got stung by a giant mosquito.

"Anqa is down there! Near that tree! Is that Jin?" Tamtey asked pointing bellow the fallen arches.

So'lek said something you didn't quite catch, Tamtey responded something you didn't understand either. Your face felt weird. There was so much darkness on one side... But there were little to no clouds in the sky.

Your confusion distracts you, Django kept making a crying sound that irked a bit of irritation from you, your head hurts. Once landed, So'lek got down in one jump helping Tamtey to the ground, Anqa and Jin hurried to tend to them speaking words that sounded from another language. But when you didn't get down right away and Django kept yipping strangely So'lek turned around making the whole group follow his line of gaze.

"The kid is okay?" You weirdly asked with a tremor in your voice, your jaw felt numb like it took so much effort to even open it.

A strangled scream erupted from someone. In one moment you were shifting from the leather seat over Django's back, then you were falling until a pair of arms took you easily like you were a delicate feather falling from the sky.

"NO! No no no-! (Y/n)!?" Tamtey cried out.

"So'lek we don't- we can't treat her here!?" Anqa screamed rushing to her Samson looking for a med kit.

Jin was stone silent following behind So'lek who carefully layed you over Iley. Both males began moving hurriedly but expertly trying to tend to the bullet wound you had over your now missing eye as you babbled something incoherent, Tamtey encouraged you to speak through it all.

So'lek's arm went numb at some point trying to keep your head up, his hand covered your eye socket with a huge ball of gazures Anqa gave him before you all flied out of the Planes. The few words he mumbled against your ear were strange, like prayers or quiet apologies, your brain couldn't quite process it.

It took a screaming match between Anqa, Tamtey, Priya and now Alma from the coms for So'lek to give in and go to the Hollows instead of your mountain. The flight felt longer than it actually was, you ended up meeting with Priya and her medical team on a Kame'tire campsite called The Crooked Seat, the leader of the camp easily agreed to help tend to your eye until Alma arrived shortly after. Tamtey's presence helped ease the Kame'tire's fears as seeing a big group of humans and a giant bloody Stormglider frightened them at first.

You were awake through it all. You didn't scream, nor did you protest. You only flinched a bit and wheezed from time to time but overall you were in so much shock you barely even reacted to the pain, not even when you saw all the blood stained cloths and your damaged eye laying on a leaf plate right next to the campfire. A gruesome fucking sight.

You only thought: I'll have to thank whoever is cleaning all this mess because I sure as hell am not touching my shattered eyeball.

It's like you had gone compleatly zombie. One minute you were landing with Django and the others in the planes and now you realized you were in a Kame'tire campsite, one eye less than an hour ago.

The climate here was colder. The healers said it'd benefit you, the doctors said other things you didn't get. Too many technicalities. Priya did explain to you in words you could understand. Basically the bullet didn't damage your brain, the Na'vi bones including their skulls were thick and much more resistant than human's which obviously helped. And yet the bullet pierced the corner of your eye socket destroying the eye in the process. Thanks to your teammates' thinking you didn't bleed to death, overall you had a flower in your ass for surviving such shot. "She's lucky" they said. "No one would have survived that."

Lucky. You are lucky.

Feeling a blanket wrapped around your sitting body in an empty tent was comforting, it was even more comforting feeling So'lek's body clutching yours from behind in silence like he feared that one word would rob you of your life after the close call you just had.

He was looking ahead, golden eyes staring deeply at your removed eye on that pretty leaf plate surely thinking the exact same thing you were thinking right now:

"Better an eye than my life." You voiced your thoughts.

So'lek's lip quivered. He was silent trying not to explode and let out the anguish he was feeling. He almost lost-... Your avatar. You were safe. You were safe at home. And yet he fought back the tears, it didn't matter that he was clutching a shell of skin. It was you who hid in it. His mate.

His tail broomed the dusty ground dirty with the many herbes and remedies the Kame'tire had used on you while they treated you a few minutes ago. Strangely you couldn't even remember when they examined your eye, not even when they removed it. It's like feeling the warmth of So'lek's body awakened you.

His long legs caged your sitting frame, arms wrapped around your middle like you were a giant teddy bear he wouldn't let go of. He really couldn't.

"I'm sorry." You said. He stilled his heavy breaths. You genuinely felt sorry. "For worrying you..."

You could feel his fingers brush a few locks from your shoulder before he planted a kiss there, inches from the bullet grace you got in the fight.

"Your eye." So'lek whispers into your skin. "You lost your eye..." He lamented, hands roaming your chest and neck soothingly.

You took a moment to gather your thoughts, like everything was coming back to you slowly. There was a mirror near your foot. So'lek noticed your attention shifting and took it, rising it slowly so you could see what they had done to you.

You exhaled, he tensed. It's like he had lost the eye himself.

The na'vi who stared back at you in the mirror was strange. She looked calm, serene, even with the nasty stitched eye and the strange looking salve coating it. In a way you found it hilarious that your avatar had lost one eye from the same side your human body gained a scar the day you fought Raphaela, and yet... You felt an ache deep down, and it was so stupid... So goddamn stupid but you couldn't help but fear the thought of So'lek finding you disgusting now with your missing eye. And that feeling angered you. You were a mess. Everything was a mess.

"I've got a spare one, don't need two to snipe... At least I can wink at you forever." You joked. But So'lek didn't laugh, you looked at his reflection, the way his usually stoic face looked utterly broken and defeated. "I heard some Na'vi like scars-" you went on.

"You are a skxawng." He cuts sharply surprising you. Then he sniffed, holding back the tears but missing a few, his eyes squint like he could feel all the dulled pain you were vaguely feeling thanks to the salves and painkillers. You thought he would curse at you again, that he would be mad at you for being so reckless, instead all you got was his sweet voice soothing your foggy mind. "I am glad you are okay... I refuse to live in a world without you."

You smiled softly at his reflection he took a few seconds to return it.

"And you are beautiful. Missing eye or not." He huffed, his shaky hand threw the mirror away hugging you tighter, you threw your head back nuzzling his.

"Tamtey is okay..." So'lek whispers.

"Everyone else...?" Your hand clasped his in your lap.

"They are worried. Joyous about the drill being taken down and the information gathered, but terribly worried. Alma wishes to speak to you about your sister and the information you had sent her yesterday. I had forbidden her to see you until you were okay."

You huffed. Scary dog privileges, what a bliss.

So'lek stood up, you watched as the tall na'vi rummaged through stuff near a bassin of shorts. He had taken off his chest cover the dogtags crinkled on his naked chest and back as he moved from one side to the other. You didn't wonder what he was doing, your eyes were too busy scanning his beautiful body, the way his tiger patterns shifted with the movement of his muscles as the fireplace bathed his blue skin in its warm light. Hm... Has he gotten bigger? He used to be so skinny when you met him.

When he returned, he did it with a plate of food that made your stomach instantly rumble, the hunger overtaking any thoughts you had. Your cheeks flushed looking away, arms crossing around your stomach. He chuckled seeing your little display of shyness.

You ate the food the Kame'tire had cooked, a delicious roast with a big fat pill the docs had left for you. So'lek wasn't impressed with such alien medicine, but seeing how quickly and well your body had reacted to the human's treatments he didn't complain. He sat next to you facing the wall, back pressed to your side as you ate slowly.

"You're getting buffed." You mused, drinking some water.

He squinted in your direction before he looked away again, hands busy with something down his lap you couldn't see.

"You seem... Muscular. Bigger. Your body, your muscles, your..."

"Is this why you do not touch me?" He asked suddenly, voice coming out weak and hesitant. Your eyes widened in confusion, your hand lowered your half empty plate down.

"You do not..." He let out a shaky sigh. There was something he was hiding. "You do not touch me when we are out of our home."

Your hand clutched his bicep, with a raw, desperate expression darkening your face. Your other hand took his cheek and he turned around compleatly to meet your eye shifting on his seat over your bedroll. Instead of speaking, his gaze shifted from your eye to your missing one, then to your lips and suddenly his hands rose and he offered you an eye patch. It was made out of natural elements and the inner part was coated in medicine, surely something the Kame'tire had made for you. It looked quite pretty.

"So'lek..." You carefully took the eye patch and placed it down determined to pick up the conversation, his eyes followed the motion. "What do you mean?"

He took a moment to answer, gorgeous eyes looking back at you with so much vulnerability you were certain he hadn't looked at anyone like this in years. "When we depart for missions, when we interact with others. You leave. Or you stay but you do not touch me." He gave it a thought and continued. "I understand that when I tell you to focus every time we are on missions you obey and you do not touch my body. And yet..." He squinted looking down, he was hesitant, rethinking all his bad thoughts and wondering if he had just imagined all this, if perhaps he was just too emotional.

"Are you kidding me?" You asked with a smile, your hand cupping his cheek lifting his handsome face to meet your eye. He looked at you strangely, like your question didn't make any sense. "I would be touching you every minute of every day if I could." You smirked. "You are gorgeous. A deadly warrior, with a beautiful heart and you make me so fucking happy..." You tried to be corny, and by the look he was giving you he was enjoying every second of it. "You are so handsome, my sweet love... So brave and caring..." You coo making his lips pout and his expression to melt into one of pure devotion and relief. He really was beautiful. The Na'vi version of Adonis. And you were lucky enough to call him yours.  

"My body..." He whispers. "I am eating more, exercising more. I want to improve, i have-" he cuts himself thinking his words over. "I have seen videotapes, the ones Alma and Priya sent us, I have watched them over and over again thinking..." The sex tapes...? "That perhaps I could be more attractive to you. Our physic is different. We Na'vi are taller, thinner,-" he went on and on about physical comparisons. Something ugly bloomed within you. It was something like disgust and anguish.

"Did you work out and got all muscular because you thought that after watching a couple of porn Videos i'd get tired of fucking you?"

He flinched at this. Face contorting awkwardly before he adjusted his position sitting with his legs crossed in front of you.

"So'lek do you realize that all this time- the beginning of our relationship was based on how much I wanted you to like me physically? The shit I did to make you like me, take an avatar, work out, dress like the people, join a clan... Do you remember how frustrated you were that I didn't understand that you liked who I was and not what I was?" You felt the anger burn within you, your nosetrils flaring as you got more frustrated. "I felt like I was the most disgusting human in Pandora when I flirted with you." This actually hurt him. "Not just for the shit I did with Mercer, but because after all I did I kept thinking you of all people would find me attractive at some point. Then my sister came around with a cute avatar and I just gave up because I couldn't handle your rude ass a second longer. Then you gave me some hope and i-"

"What is the point of telling me all this!?" So'lek complained loudly, tone angry wearing a hurt expression. "That I cannot change myself if I wish? That I cannot improve where I see fit because I deeply appreciate all the effort you had put on bettering yourself!?"

"Dude I just asked you if you had been working out."

"And I have answered sincerely! You are the one digging through our unpleasant past to throw it to my face!"

"Oh! So now our past is unpleasant!? Then why the fuck are you even trying to change yourself physically for something so unpleasant-"

"I did not say I was changing myself to honor our past. I said-"

"I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID! GODDAMN!" You screamed standing up abruptly.

"SIT. DOWN. WOMAN." So'lek growled loudly, he was making a very scary expression that made your ears flatten and tail sway side to side in anger nose scrunching in a building hiss.

"You can be such an ass sometimes."

You sat back down with a scowl. So'lek's face mirrored yours. But just before he was about to spit something you launched forwards and he took you by the waist like he was expecting it. Your lips clashed, mouths panting against eachother while your hands roamed across his body feeling his toned muscles, your legs caged his body when you sat on his lap, tails entwined as the dance of your tongues got more intense by the minute low grunts turning into open-mouthed moans until he squeezed your hips twice in warning.

The way your mouths departed was hot and sloppy, a thin thread of saliva still connected you, but So'lek broke it with a quick lick to his lower lip.

Finally, you broke the tension. "I didn't want to throw the past to your face... I just wanted to tell you that I love you just the way you are. Just like you love me, human or avatar."

His eyes closed shut, one of his hands went up to take your cheek as he leaned closer to nuzzles your face against his.

"I should have let you finish. But i really hate remembering how all of this started. I fear not many beautiful things have a beautiful start." He spoke carefully.

You hummed in agreement brushing the tip of your nose on his, he purred.

"I was afraid you'd get all angry and we'd end up falling in the same pit of misunderstandings and broken hearts all over again..."

"I will tell you what I think. Always." He responded sincerely.

"You yell at me so good. I need that in my life... There's no one who knows me better than you do, love. Just... Please don't ever change just to make me like you more? I already like you so much it's ridiculous." You smiled.

"I understand that you have a way of handling affection and I have mine." So'lek looked down taking the eye patch rising it to your face. His hands were careful placing the patch carefully over your eye, you made a face that worried him until you sighed and leaned in, he worked slowly but firmly making sure the patch wasn't too tight nor too loose.

"I meant what I said, love. I would touch you constantly." You softly said caressing the inner side of his wrist.

"Then why don't you?" So'lek stared at you like whatever you would answer next would either kill him or give him salvation.

The flap of the tent flew open as Alma's curly head popped inside, her eyes were wild, breaths coming out rapidly like she had been running for a while.

"(Y/n), I... Hi."

"Yeah hi, what's up?" You asked impatiently.

"Your sister... She has escaped!" She gasped out.

"...Oh give me a break...!"