So'lek x fem!avatar driver reader inspired by Tsumuke written by @lvlypinkesworld
Part 23 > Part 24 < Part 25
Flames suddenly roared to life down the corridor ahead, a burst of heat rushing toward them as something ignited—fuel, wiring, something volatile.
(Y/n) coughed, instinctively raising an arm to shield her face as the sting of the flames licked at her skin.
So'lek stepped in front of her, body angled to block the worst of the heat, one arm wrapping around her shoulders and pulling her close against his chest.
The flames flushed brighter, crackling violently as they consumed everything in their path.
He could feel the burn against his own skin.
His focus stayed on her. "We cannot stay here."
His voice was low but urgent.
His eyes scanned rapidly for another path—another exit—anything that would get them away from the spreading fire.
The corridor behind them was already filling with smoke.
His grip tightened slightly around her. "Can you move?"
(Y/n) kept pressure against her side as they moved.
"There is just a lot of bleeding."
She winced as another jolt of pain travelled through her abdomen.
She nodded yes, and he helped guide her to the far side where the flames had not yet reached.
The answer should have reassured him.
It did not. Not with blood still running between her fingers.
So'lek's gaze swept over her quickly.
Checking her footing. Her breathing. the colour in her face.
Then his eyes landed on an overturned supply crate nearby.
The warrior spotted it immediately. His bow. His knife. His quiver.
Before she could argue he crossed the distance in a few strides, dropping to one knee beside the crate and gathering his equipment.
The familiar weight settled across his back.
His knife returned to its sheath.
The bow found his hand once more.
Only then did he return to her. "Stay close to me."
The alarms continued screaming overhead.
Smoke drifted through the corridors.
Somewhere behind them came the distant roar of engines and shouted orders.
The entire facility was looking for them.
High along the wall, just beyond the reach of the flames.
It was their only chance.
So'lek drew an arrow as he stepped back just enough to get a clear shot.
The arrow struck true, shattering the metal grate with a sharp crack that echoed through the corridor.
Pieces clattered to the floor.
Smoke poured upward through the opening.
"Up," he urged, already moving beneath it.
He crouched and clasped his hands together, bracing himself.
She stepped into his grip, biting back a hiss as pain flared through her side.
He lifted her easily, guiding her upward.
Her fingers caught the edge.
She pulled herself toward the opening—
And coughed. The sound was rough, strained from the smoke filling her lungs.
It twisted something deep in his chest.
She dragged herself into the vent, disappearing into the darkness above.
Only once she was inside did So'lek jump, catching the edge. He hauled himself up after her, pulling his body into the narrow space just as the flames surged closer below.
The healer crawled ahead while So'lek followed behind, keeping one eye on her wound whenever he could.
Several times she slowed. She whimpered, pressing her hand harder to her side as the pain spiked sharply.
The vent eventually ended above another section of the facility.
Below them stretched the hangar floor—wide, open, and crawling with activity. Rows of aircraft loomed under harsh artificial lights, their metal bodies gleaming through drifting smoke. Beyond the hangar doors, the main yard was visible, floodlights cutting across the terrain as soldiers moved in tight formations, weapons raised, scanning for any sign of intrusion.
"They are on alert," (Y/n) whispered, shifting slightly to give him a clearer view.
So'lek's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene—the patrol routes, the blind spots, the rhythm of movement. Every detail mattered.
His gaze flicked back to her, already weighing their next move.
He leaned in, pressing a brief kiss to her cheek, his hand steady against her face.
"Stay here. I will not be long."
Her eyes widened slightly, fingers tightening weakly against his arm. "Where are you going?"
His gaze hardened, already shifting toward the hangar below. "It will be safer to get you out if they are all dead."
"So'lek, there are too many—"
He cut her off gently, cupping her cheek more firmly, his thumb brushing against her skin."I have a legend for a reason."
The warrior quietly removed the cover and dropped down.
She leaned against the cold metal of the vent wall, forcing herself to stay still despite the pain pulsing through her side. Her breath came shallow, uneven, as she listened.
Screams echoed from below sharp, panicked.
Gunfire cracked in rapid bursts.
Explosions followed, shaking the structure beneath her, sending vibrations through the metal that pressed against her back.
Each sound twisted something deep in her chest.
Her fingers curled weakly against the metal, nails scraping faintly as another explosion thundered through the hangar.
Eventually, it went quiet after the last crash.
Only the distant crackle of fire and the groan of damaged metal remained.
So'lek appeared beneath the opening once more, his form emerging through the smoke and dim light below.
His eyes found her instantly.
Relief flickered across his features,. He reached up without hesitation.
(Y/n) didn’t waste a second. She shifted toward the opening, wincing as pain flared through her side, and carefully lowered herself down.
His hands were already there. He guided her the rest of the way before pulling her fully into his arms.
One arm slid beneath her knees. The other supported her back. Lifting her effortlessly against his chest.
The moment she was secure, something inside her finally loosened. Relief flooded through her so suddenly it made her dizzy. She sagged slightly against him, her head falling against his shoulder.
She had been terrified she was going to lose him.
The thought still clung to her.
Her fingers curled weakly into his chestpiece as she rested her head more firmly against his shoulder, drawing in the familiar warmth of him.
She was in his arms again.
A small, fragile smile touched her lips.
Her gaze drifted past him, taking in the destruction left behind.
The hangar was in ruins. Smoke curled through the air. Flames licked at shattered machinery.
Bodies lay scattered across the floor.
So'lek had not exaggerated.
There was no one left to stop them.
His forehead rested gently against hers. "There is no army that could stop me from getting you to safety."
(Y/n)’s lips curved faintly despite everything. She leaned forward just enough to press a soft kiss to his lips. Grateful. Exhausted.
Turning immediately, he carried her out of the base without looking back.
(Y/n) closed her eyes briefly. The scent of Pandora. It felt like a blessing.
She let out a weak breath, her voice barely above a whisper against his shoulder. "I can see why they call you the dog tag warrior… you really took out every single one of them."
So'lek huffed softly, not quite a laugh, his grip on her tightening just slightly as he adjusted her weight in his arms. He dipped his head, pressing a firm, lingering kiss to the top of her head. "You were in danger, (Y/n)."
"Doesn't mean you had to slaughter every single one of them," she murmured weakly.
"Yes, I did," he replied without hesitation, his voice steady and certain. "If any of them had harmed you, I would have never forgiven myself. So I killed them all. I would destroy any threat to your life."
Her fingers tightened faintly against him, her gaze soft despite the exhaustion weighing her down. "I love you, you know that."
He smiled down at her, something warm and unguarded in his expression. "I do."
He shifted her slightly in his arms, already moving with quickly. "Now, let's get you to the lab."
By the time they reached the Archipelago Field Lab, So'lek's nerves felt as though they had been scraped raw.
The entire flight back had been torture.
Every time (Y/n) shifted. Every small sound she made.
He knew she had said it was shallow. He knew she had remained conscious. He knew she was talking normally.
None of that seemed to matter.
Not when he was still suffering the stress from only a few hours ago when he had been trapped inside a metal box convinced he might never see her again.
So'lek was off the saddle before the ikran had properly settled.
His hands immediately finding her waist as he helped her down.
Ri'nela looked up from the table she had been sorting medicines on.
Then her eyes landed on the blood. "What happened?"
The young Sarentu was already crossing the distance. "I thought you were only going to tell him the good news."
"I did." (Y/n) winced as she carefully lowered herself onto one of the examination tables.
"Then he got captured by the RDA."
Ri'nela looked shocked. "That feels like a very important detail."
"It was an exciting afternoon." The healer's voice remained suspiciously cheerful.
So'lek looked like he wanted to strangle somebody.
Ri'nela immediately began gathering supplies.
The healer pointed toward a tray. "New lesson."
So'lek froze. His pacing stopped mid-step, his entire body going rigid as his ears flattened sharply against his head.
His gaze snapped to (Y/n)'s side, then to the tray Ri'nela was gathering, then back to his mate as if hoping he had somehow misheard.
His expression shifted rapidly—shock, disbelief, and then something dangerously close to horror.
His tail lashed once behind him.
(Y/n) did not even look at him.
"Yes."So'lek dragged a hand down his face, looking like he was reconsidering every life choice that had led him to this exact moment. "You are not letting her practice on you."
"I am not letting her 'practice.' I am teaching."
Ri'nela froze halfway through picking up the needle, looking between them like she had just been dropped into a battlefield. "I can— I can wait—"
"Yes," So'lek said at the exact same time.
They both paused. Turned to look at each other.
So'lek looked like he wanted to die. "Yawne," he said again, voice low and strained, stepping closer . "I cannot stand to see you in pain.
"I know it doesn’t matter whether Ri'nela or you stitch it—this wound is too large for natural healing."
"What if I do it wrong?" Ri'nela asked.
Ri'nela looked scandalised.
(Y/n) laughed. "It is stitches, Ri'nela."
"It is not supposed to be entirely comfortable."
Meanwhile So'lek had begun pacing.
He had done plenty of pacing while trapped in a shipping container.
Apparently he had not gotten it out of his system.
The warrior moved from one side of the room to the other.
Eyes never leaving (Y/n).
His headache was rapidly becoming legendary.
The two women ignored him.
(Y/n) cleaned the wound carefully.
Blood and dirt were washed away until the cut was fully visible.
Ri'nela leaned closer. Studying it.
"Everything looks smaller once you stop bleeding all over yourself."
The healer handed over a vial.
Ri'nela took it carefully. "This is similar to the pain medication?"
"Similar idea." (Y/n) nodded.
"This one blocks the nerves around the wound."
"You inject around the edges."
"Not directly into the wound."
Ri'nela followed every instruction carefully. Her hands steadier now than they had been during the blood draw.
A few minutes later she lightly poked the area. "Can you feel that?"
"Excellent." The healer pointed toward the sterile thread. "Now we stitch."
The needle suddenly looked much larger than before. "You make it look easy."
"It is not easy." (Y/n) picked up another needle to demonstrate. "It is practice."
She showed her how to hold the instrument.
"Think of it like weaving."
Ri'nela visibly relaxed. That comparison made sense to her.
"Through one side." (Y/n) demonstrated the movement. "Then through the other."
The younger woman copied carefully.
Her tongue poked slightly from the corner of her mouth in concentration.
Ri'nela followed the instructions. The first knot looked slightly crooked.
The second looked much better. The third looked almost professional.
Ri'nela sat back. "I did that."
"And your patient survived."
Across the room So'lek looked deeply unconvinced. His ears flicked toward them.
Allowing Ri'nela to learn stitches.
Talking about it as though they were discussing tea recipes.
Meanwhile he was one headache away from collapsing.
The warrior looked over immediately.
She smiled softly. "I am okay."
Ri'nela wrapped a bandage around her side, securing the stitches in place. She smoothed the fabric gently, checking that it was snug but not too tight.
"There," she murmured, stepping back slightly. "That should hold."
(Y/n) glanced down at the finished work, then back up at her with a small, approving smile.
His eyes moved to the stitches.
She held out a hand to So'lek "Come here."
So'lek crossed the room. Taking her hand immediately.
The tension in his shoulders remained. The headache remained. The urge to lock her inside a safe cave where no RDA could ever reach her remained.
(Y/n) squeezed his hand. "See? Ri'nela did an excellent job."
The young Sarentu looked very proud of herself.
Then looked toward So'lek.
Then slightly less proud.
Because the warrior still looked as though he was considering hunting down every human involved personally.
"I am alright." (Y/n) repeated. This time softer.
His hand drifted lower. Resting briefly against her stomach.
His voice dropped, rough with worry. "The baby… will it be alright?"
(Y/n)’s expression softened immediately. She covered his hand with her own, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"It will be fine," she assured him quietly. "The wound is shallow. It did not go deep enough to harm the baby."
His shoulders eased, just slightly.
"All I need is a few days of rest," she continued, her tone calm and steady, "and to make sure the wound does not become infected."
She tilted her head, offering him a small, reassuring smile. "We are both alright."
So'lek's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, searching her face as if committing every detail to memory, before he finally exhaled slowly.
Then his ears flicked toward Ri'nela.
The young Sarentu straightened immediately. "Yes?"
"I need to speak with my mate."
So'lek waited until Ri'nela left.
For a few moments neither spoke.
(Y/n) sat on the examination table while So’lek remained standing in front of her.
He cupped her cheek. His thumb brushed softly across her skin.
(Y/n) immediately leaned into the touch.
So’lek swallowed. The words felt strangely difficult to find.
He hesitated, breath catching slightly as he searched for the right way to say it. “My head still aches from it,” he admitted quietly, almost embarrassed. “From how afraid I was.”
“I have never been as afraid as I was today.” His voice was quiet. Rough around the edges.
(Y/n)’s smile faded. She reached up and covered his hand with her own.
The warrior lowered his forehead briefly. Closing his eyes.
He sat on the edge of the examination table beside her and gathered her into his arms
“I almost lost you.” His arms tightened. Not enough to hurt. Enough to make his point. Enough to tell her exactly how terrified he had been.
His hand slid down. Resting against her stomach.
One stray bullet, one bad timing, and he would have lost everything.
The thought struck him with a force that made his chest tighten.
Not just her. Not just the life they had begun to build. But the future he had only just allowed himself to imagine.
The warrior’s eyes closed. He could still see her emerging from behind those crates with her hand pressed against her side.
And feel that horrible cold terror that had seized him in that moment.
The certainty that if anything happened to her, some part of him would never recover.
His hand remained against her stomach. His thumb moving slowly.
The warrior lowered his head. Pressing a kiss into her hair.
“When I was trapped.” His voice grew quieter. “I was not thinking about myself.”
“I was thinking about whether you got away.”
His jaw tightened. “I was thinking about whether they had hurt you.”
His arms tightened slightly around her. “I was thinking about our child.”
The words still felt unreal. Wonderful. Terrifying. Perfect. All at once.
(Y/n)’s eyes stung. She pressed closer.
“You did not lose us.” Her voice was soft. Certain.
The warrior drew in a slow breath. Then released it.
His forehead settled against hers. Golden eyes meeting hers.
“But I came closer than I ever wish to again.”
Then he leaned forward and kissed her. Just long enough to reassure himself that she was real.
"I have lost everything once already, (Y/n)."
His voice was quiet. Lower than before. "I cannot do it again."
He had convinced himself that surviving was enough. That teaching the Sarentu was enough. That avenging his people was enough.
A woman who somehow managed to walk straight through every wall he had built around himself.
And now— A wife. The mother of his child.
(Y/n) reached up and rested her hand over his where it lay against her stomach.
"And you're my everything, So'lek."
The words stole what little breath he had left.
"I do not know what happiness was until you came along and gave it to me."
The warrior stared at her. "You already had happiness."
(Y/n) shook her head immediately. "No."
That finally earned the faintest smile from him.
Her eyes glistened. "And suddenly I had someone waiting for me when I came home."
The warrior's ears lowered slightly.
"You worried if I had eaten." A small smile tugged at her lips.
"You tried to protect me from all that upset me."
His expression remained stubbornly neutral.
"You sat through hours of me talking about medicines you had never even heard of."
Now both of them were smiling.
"You make me feel protected."
"When I am with you, everything feels... easier." it.
His gaze dropped briefly. To her hand. His hand. Their child. Then back to her.
Without thinking he pulled her closer.
The warrior buried his face against her shoulder. Drawing in a slow breath. Then another.
Finally, he lifted his head enough to press a kiss against her forehead.
Then one against her temple. "You are wrong." His voice was rough.
"You gave me happiness too." And for a man who rarely spoke about his feelings, it was perhaps the most important thing he had ever said.
(Y/n) shifted slightly in his arms.
A sharp sting pulled across the fresh stitches in her side.
Unfortunately for her, So'lek noticed everything.
The warrior went rigid. His arms loosened. His hands moved to her shoulders. His eyes searched her face.
His hand was already hovering near the stitches.
Afraid to touch. "Did they tear?"
"Well yes, I was caught by shrapnel."
The answer did absolutely nothing to reassure him. The worry only deepened. "(Y/n)."
She could tell he was about to panic.
His posture had gone rigid, his gaze flicking between her and Ri'nela as if calculating how quickly he could summon help.
Possibly every healer on Pandora.
He paused. "The stitches."
"The stitches caused that expression."
(Y/n) reached over and cupped his face. "I promise."
His shoulders remained tense. "You winced."
"Because someone stitched me back together today."
He still looked unconvinced.
The healer could almost hear the argument taking place inside his head.
Part of him believed her. The rest was busy imagining every possible disaster. Involving her. The baby. The stitches. The RDA. Probably all at once.
A tired smile touched her lips. "You are worrying yourself into another headache."
The warrior looked away. Which was answer enough.
(Y/n) laughed softly. Then immediately regretted it when her side protested again. Another wince.
Before he could launch into another round of panic she grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him.
Mostly because it derailed every thought in his head.
When she pulled back, his expression had become considerably less alarmed.
His hand settled carefully against her side.
Avoiding the wound. Avoiding the stitches. Just wanting to touch her. "I am concerned."
His thumb brushed lightly along her arm. "I spent hours believing I had lost you."
His gaze dropped briefly toward her stomach. Then returned to her. "I think I have earned the right to worry."
So she leaned forward and rested her forehead against his. "Fine."
The warrior looked pleased with himself.
"But only a reasonable amount."
"What is a reasonable amount?"
"Less than trying to summon every healer on Pandora because I pulled a stitch."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
A rare sign of surrender.
And despite everything that had happened that day, despite the stitches, the RDA, the trap and the shipping container, the answer made her laugh anyway.
"So..." His thumb brushed slowly across her side. "We are truly going to have a child?"
The question sounded almost cautious.
(Y/n)'s smile softened. "Yes."
The warrior drew in a slow breath. His gaze drifted back to her stomach.
Still completely flat. Still unchanged. And yet everything had changed.
(Y/n) shifted slightly, making herself more comfortable against him. "I was teaching Ri'nela how to do blood tests."
So'lek looked confused. "What is a blood test?"
"It is where we take a small sample of blood and analyze it."
"Blood carries information."
His ears flicked. Listening carefully.
"There are certain hormones that only appear when someone is pregnant."
The word still made his chest tighten.
(Y/n) continued. "The hormone is called nCG."
"I noticed the level was elevated."
So'lek nodded slowly. Not entirely understanding. But trying.
Then she smiled. "So I checked with the ultrasound."
"The machine that lets you see inside the body?"
The warrior remembered seeing her use it on injured creatures before.
(Y/n)'s hand settled over his. Helping keep it against her stomach. "There was a gestational sac."
The unfamiliar words immediately earned a confused look. "A what?"
She laughed softly at his expression. "It is the first structure that forms during pregnancy."
His eyes narrowed. Still trying to follow.
"It is basically a small protective sac." She thought for a moment. Trying to explain it in a way that made sense. "It is where the baby begins developing."
Understanding slowly dawned. His hand instinctively spread slightly against her stomach. As though trying to feel something impossible to feel. "The child is already there?"
"Very small." She held her fingers close together. "Very, very small."
His eyes followed the gesture.
The warrior stared. A seed.
His child. The size of a seed.
"The gestational sac tells us approximately how far along the pregnancy is."She smiled. "And judging by its size..."
The healer's eyes sparkled. "I am about five weeks along."
The number settled over him.
Their child had already existed for five weeks.
Growing quietly while he went about his patrols. While they drank tea together. While he held her in his arms every night.
The realization left him speechless.
He was going to be a father. The thought no longer felt distant. No longer felt like a dream.
The warrior lowered his head.
Pressing a long kiss against her forehead. Then another. Then one against her temple.
When he finally pulled back his eyes looked suspiciously bright. "I did not think Eywa would answer my prayers so quickly."
(Y/n)'s smile grew. "What prayers?"
The faintest hint of embarrassment crossed his face. Rare enough that it nearly made her laugh. The warrior looked away.
His ears flicked. "I asked often."
That finally made her laugh.
The warrior looked back at her. "I asked for a family."
His hand tightened slightly over hers. "For you."
Then his gaze dropped to her stomach again.
A smile finally won its battle. Impossible to hide.
"And now it seems Eywa listened."
(Y/n) chuckled softly and leaned forward to kiss him.
The warrior immediately melted into it.
One hand still resting over her stomach.
The other cupping her cheek.
When she pulled back, her smile had become brighter. Warmer. "You will not be the last of the Trrong."
So'lek went completely still. His throat tightened. As though he still could not quite comprehend it.
For fifteen years he had carried the weight of being one of the last.
Every grave. Every memory. Every face. He had remembered them all because he feared nobody else would. Feared there would come a day when no one remained to speak their names. When their stories would die with him.
His hand pressed a little more firmly against her stomach. Not enough to hurt. Just enough to feel the reality of her beneath his palm.
Their child. The first Trrong born in fifteen years.
The thought nearly brought him to his knees.
The warrior closed his eyes.
For a long moment he could not speak. Because suddenly he was seeing things he had never allowed himself to imagine.
A child racing through the grass. Small blue hands reaching for him. Laughter echoing through their home.
Stories being told around a fire.
Not survival. Not revenge. Not grief.
His chest ached with it. A deep ache that somehow felt wonderful.
When he finally opened his eyes again there was a vulnerability there that only she ever saw.
"You do not know what that means to me." His voice had grown rough. Quiet.
(Y/n)'s hand found his cheek. "I think I do."
So'lek shook his head. Slowly. "No." A faint smile touched his lips. "You know what it means to the warrior."
His thumb brushed across hers.
"But not what it means to the lonely man who thought he would die as the last of his people."
"I spent years believing the Trrong would end with me."
His jaw tightened briefly.
A breath escaped him. Half laugh. Half disbelief. "Now our child will know their clan."
His eyes softened. "They will know where they came from."
Another small smile appeared. "They will know their ancestors."
His gaze returned to her. "And they will know their mother."
That smile grew. "I think that is the greatest blessing of all."
(Y/n) felt her eyes sting.
The warrior leaned forward and kissed her again. Longer this time. Savoring it.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead remained resting against hers.
His hand never left her stomach.
As though he could already feel the future waiting there.
And for the first time in many years, So'lek found himself looking forward to tomorrow.
The smile faded from (Y/n)'s face.
Because today, when he had been captured, she had been terrified she would have to bring their child into the world alone—that she would lose him, her person, her everything, the love of her life.
His thumb brushed gently across her cheek. "What troubles you?"
When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter. "As overjoyed as I am..."
Her hand found his. Holding it tightly. "I am worried."
So'lek's expression softened at once.
"What if something happens to you?" The words came out in a rush. As though she had been holding them back. "What if the RDA gets lucky one day?"
Her fingers tightened around his. "What if you go on patrol and don't come back?"
The warrior's heart sank. He knew where this fear came from.
(Y/n)'s eyes glistened. "Please." Her voice cracked. "You cannot leave me on my own."
"I can't do this without you."
So'lek stared at her .The fear she was trying so hard to hide. The fear beneath all the happiness.
Slowly he reached up. Both hands cradling her face. Forcing her to look at him.
"Ma yawne." His voice was steady. Gentle. "I have no intention of leaving you."
A tear slipped free despite her efforts.
The warrior brushed it away with his thumb.
"I know." She laughed weakly. "No one ever intends to leave... but they still do."
The words hit him like a blow. He could hear the pain still lingering behind them.
The old wounds. The old fears.
The fear of being left behind. Alone. Again.
So'lek leaned forward until their foreheads touched.
"You listen to me." His voice had grown firmer now. "I am going to be here."
"I am going to watch this child grow."
Another kiss against her forehead.
"I am going to teach them to hunt."
A kiss against her temple.
"I am going to tell them stories of the Trrong."
"I am going to adore them."
That earned the faintest laugh.
The warrior looked pleased with himself. "I am going to spoil them."
"And as they grow, I am going to tell them about their mother."
His eyes held hers. "I will tell them how brave she was."
"How she never stopped helping others even when she should have been resting."
(Y/n) sniffed. The tears were still there. But so was a smile.
The warrior gently pressed his forehead against hers once more.
"I cannot promise that nothing bad will ever happen."
The honesty hurt. But he would not lie to her. Not about this.
"I cannot promise that life will always be easy."
His hand squeezed hers. "But I can promise that I will fight for every sunrise."
The words settled heavily between them. "I fought to survive before because there was work left to do."
"Now I have something worth coming home to."
A wife. A child. A family.
"I will not leave willingly." His thumb brushed away another tear."And if I have any say in the matter, you are going to grow very tired of me."
A watery laugh escaped her.
The sound eased something inside him.
He would much rather hear that.
So'lek pulled her gently into his arms.
One hand resting against the back of her head.
The warrior simply held her.
His thumb moved slowly while he considered his next words.
This conversation felt different now. More serious. Because there were no longer just two lives involved.
There were three."(Y/n)."
The warrior waited until she met his eyes."If something like today ever happens again..."
His jaw tightened briefly. The memory of the trap was still fresh.
(Y/n)'s expression immediately fell. "So'lek—"
The warrior's gaze did not waver."You must flee from danger."
As though she could not imagine making any other choice.
"Do not worry about me." His hand rose to cup her cheek. "You know me."
A faint smile touched his lips. "I would fight like a demon to get back to you."
The image was not difficult to imagine. Because she had already seen it.
The way he had nearly torn an entire base apart trying to make sure she would get out safely.
"I do not need you risking your life for mine." His thumb brushed across her cheek. "I need you safe."
(Y/n)'s eyes stung. "So'lek..."
He shook his head. "If I am trapped, run."
"If I tell you to leave, leave."
Every word sounded painful for him to say. Because he knew exactly what he was asking. He was asking her to walk away from him.
Something neither of them wanted.
The interruption was gentle. Absolute.
"If something happens to me..."
His voice caught briefly. "Then I will spend every remaining breath trying to return to you."
Because now there was a wife waiting for him. A child waiting for him.
A future waiting for him. And he intended to claw his way through hell itself if that was what it took to get back to them.
"But if something happens to you..."
His eyes closed for a moment. The words clearly hurt. "If something happens to you, then I lose everything."
(Y/n) felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
The warrior leaned forward and pressed a kiss against her forehead. Long. Lingering. Tender.
A kiss against her temple. "I can survive injury."
Another against her cheek. "I can survive hardship."
His hand tightened around hers. "But I cannot survive losing my family."
So'lek rested his forehead against hers once more. Golden eyes meeting hers. Softening.
"You are my first priority now."
Then finally, a faint smile appeared. "And after both of you are safe, then I can begin worrying about myself."
"Please." His voice softened. "Please trust that I will do everything in my power to come home to you."
His hand slipped from her cheek to cover hers. Holding it against his chest. Against the steady beat of his heart."I promise you that."
A small smile touched his lips."I know that sounds strange coming from me."
That earned the faintest laugh from her. "You think?"
The corner of his mouth twitched."But things are different now."
"Before, if I died, I died."
The simplicity of the statement made her heart ache."There was no one waiting for me."
His hand squeezed hers gently."There is our child."
A long breath left him."And there are mornings I have not seen yet."
His eyes softened. "I want to see you become a mother."
"I want to hold our child."
Then So'lek reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"You have given me something I thought I had lost forever."
His voice dropped lower."A future."
The warrior looked at her for a long moment. Taking in every detail. The woman he loved. The woman carrying his child. The woman who had broken into an RDA base because she refused to leave him behind.
A fierce tenderness crossed his face.
"I intend to spend the rest of my life with you."
His forehead rested against hers once more. "So trust me."
A kiss against her brow. "I will fight."
Another against her temple. "I will survive."
A final kiss against her lips. "And I will come home."
(Y/n) reached up and cupped his cheek. The corners of her mouth lifted into a small smile. "I'll hold you to that."
The warrior looked entirely untroubled by the threat. In fact, he seemed almost pleased. "As you should."
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "I am serious."
(Y/n) studied him for a moment.
The man who had spent the last hour looking at her as though she might disappear if he blinked.
The man who already had one hand resting protectively over their child whenever he got the chance.
A soft laugh escaped her. "You are impossible."
A faint smile appeared. "You have mentioned that before."
(Y/n) leaned forward and kissed him.
When she pulled back she was smiling again.
That seemed to satisfy him.
His arm immediately slipped around her waist and pulled her closer.
The warrior lowered his head and pressed a kiss into her hair.
Then simply rested his cheek against the top of her head.
"Now what was that you were saying about bed rest?" he asked, voice low but unmistakably pointed.
(Y/n) narrowed her eyes at him and huffed softly. "That I do not need that much."
He gave her a look. One that said he was not convinced in the slightest.
She held his gaze for a moment longer before her shoulders dropped in a quiet sigh. "It may be best if I take a few days off," she admitted, reluctant but honest. "Eat and drink a lot… and minimal exertion."
So'lek's expression softened immediately.
"I am glad," he said simply.
He hesitated for only a moment before speaking again, voice gentler now.
(Y/n) blinked up at him, then gave a small nod. "Yes. I am not that badly injured."
That was all the permission he needed.
So'lek slid one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back, lifting her with careful ease as . He adjusted his hold instinctively, making sure she was secure, his grip firm but mindful of her injuries.
(Y/n) let out a soft breath, settling against him without protest.
He glanced down at her briefly, checking her expression.
So'lek carried her inside the cavern, one arm beneath her knees and the other supporting her back, careful not to jostle the fresh stitches along her side.
The hammock swayed gently as he lowered her into it.
She settled back with a tired breath.
He had only taken a step away when gentle fingers closed around his wrist.
He turned back immediately.
Her eyes had settled on his hands. The skin across his knuckles was raw. Split. Dried blood had mixed with dirt and grime, the wounds torn open again each time he had struck the walls of his cage.
She carefully turned one of his hands over in both of hers.
"So'lek..." Her thumb brushed lightly across the torn skin. "Your knuckles."
She looked back down at them again, her expression tightening.
"Did you do this..." Her voice caught."...trying to get to me?"
His free hand rose and gently cupped her cheek.
He didn't answer. He didn't need to.
"Get me the jar on the shelf." She pointed toward the back of the cavern.
"The cloth and water jug."
She looked at him in a way that made arguing seem pointless.
"Not up for discussion." The firmness in her voice made the corner of his mouth lift.
A quiet chuckle escaped him. "As you command."
He returned a moment later carrying everything she'd asked for.
Without a word he knelt in front of the hammock and held both hands out to her.
(Y/n) dipped the cloth into the cool water before gently wiping away the dirt.
The dried blood softened beneath careful strokes.
She cleaned each scrape as though afraid of causing him even the slightest discomfort.
His hands looked enormous inside hers. Scarred. Calloused.
Yet she held them with extraordinary care.
When they were finally clean, she lifted one of them.
Turned it over. Then pressed a gentle kiss into his palm.
(Y/n) opened the small jar and scooped out a little of the salve. Her fingertips worked it carefully into every split knuckle. Every torn patch of skin.
He barely noticed the sting.
When she finished the first hand, she wrapped fresh bandages around it before moving to the second.
Again she spread the salve. Again she wound clean bandages neatly around his hand.
Then she lifted it once more.
This time across his knuckles.
He leaned forward and brushed his forehead gently against hers.
"I take care of wounded animals." Her thumb brushed lightly over one of the bandages. "I suppose I should take care of my wounded mate too."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Satisfied, So'lek gathered the salve and bandages and returned them to their place on the shelf.
So'lek watched her for another moment before carefully climbing into the hammock beside her.
Mindful of the stitches, he eased one arm around her waist and gathered her gently against his chest.
She melted into him immediately.
He let out a long, content breath before lowering his head to press a lingering kiss into her hair.
The headache that had plagued him since the moment his stress had begun had finally begun to ease.
For the first time since that trap had snapped shut around him... He believed she truly was.
She shifted slightly in his arms, settling more comfortably against him. His hand drifted down to rest over her belly, his thumb tracing slow, absent circles across it. He pressed another soft kiss to her hair, lingering there for a moment.
This generous, kind woman… she had given him everything. Her love. A place to belong. She'd made his lonely camp a home. And now… she was giving him a family.
His chest tightened with something deeper than gratitude.
He wondered, quietly, what he had ever done to deserve her.
A while later, So’lek stirred beneath the gentle tap against his cheek.
He looked down to find his mate watching him.
“Yes, yawne?” he asked, his voice still thick with sleep.
“Could you get me something to eat, please?”
Her hand rested unconsciously over her stomach.
He sat up immediately, careful not to jostle the stitches along her side as the hammock shifted beneath them.
His hand rose to cup her cheek. “What do you feel like eating?” he asked.
She thought for only a moment. “A roast.”
A small smile tugged at her lips.
“And some slices of fruit on the side.”
She looked almost apologetic. “I know.”
“It does. So can you please make it for me?"
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
“I shall return shortly.”
She watched him head over to the cooking station and get a fire going, already setting some meat to cook, her stomach growling at the thought of food.
It was not long before he returned carrying a wooden platter piled with roasted meat alongside freshly sliced fruit.
The smell alone made her mouth water.
He climbed carefully back into the hammock and handed it to her before settling beside her once more.
She immediately leaned against him.
Without thinking, one of his arms wrapped comfortably around her waist while she began eating.
She was hungry. Far hungrier than he had ever seen her.
The roast disappeared surprisingly quickly.
She barely slowed between bites.
So’lek watched quietly, his expression calm, though inside his heart gave another flutter.
She was eating for two now.
If she asked him to cook an entire Sturmbeast, he would not hesitate.
He found himself mentally planning tomorrow’s hunt. More fruit. More vegetables.
She would have every meal she desired. Every comfort he could provide.
When she’d finally finished, she handed him the empty platter with a content little smile.
He set the platter aside before reaching behind him for a small comb and fresh cord.
She immediately understood.
Turning around, she shuffled until she was sitting between his legs with her back resting lightly against his chest.
Her kuru fell over one shoulder as he gently gathered it into his hands.
His fingers moved with practiced care, separating each strand before combing through them slowly.
Whenever he found a small tangle, he worked patiently until it came free instead of pulling.
His fingers were gentle. Unhurried. Every touch seemed intended simply to make her comfortable.
Once he was satisfied, he began rebraiding her kuru, securing it neatly before smoothing a few loose strands back into place.
She reached back to feel it.
“You always do it better than I do.”
“And yet your hands are steadier than mine.”
“Or do you just like me doing your hair?”
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
She leaned back against him again, letting her full weight rest comfortably against his chest.
He shifted lower into the hammock, stretching his legs out beneath them before gathering her back into his arms.
One arm wrapped securely around her waist. The other drifted down until his broad hand rested lightly against her stomach.
His thumb traced slow, absent circles across it..
The cavern settled into comfortable silence.
(Y/n) let out a long, content sigh and relaxed completely against him.
The sound made the corners of So’lek’s mouth lift.
His mate and his future child were both within reach, held safely in his arms.
Not long after, her breathing had slowed into the deep, steady rhythm of sleep or someone just beginning to drift off
He smiled to himself. His mate had never been particularly good at staying awake once she became comfortable. Especially when she was wrapped securely in his arms.
She stirred after a while, shifting slightly as if trying to find a better position. A faint hiss slipped from her lips as she rolled, the movement clearly pulling at the wounds. She winced, then carefully turned onto her side, tucking herself closer against him.
“Mmm…” she mumbled, voice thick with sleep. “Will you make me a hammock… so I can nap outside… in the shade?”
Her fingers curled lightly against him as she settled again.
"I want some cushions too," she mumbles.
"You can have whatever you want."
Another soft yawn followed, her words trailing off as sleep pulled her back under.
His arm rested comfortably around her shoulders.
Still half asleep, she reached up and gently took hold of his forearm.
Without opening her eyes, she guided it lower until her head rested against the firm curve of his bicep instead.
A long, content breath escaped her.
Apparently satisfied with that, one sleepy hand began patting around .
She finally found his other arm.
She tugged it across herself until she was securely wrapped in both of them.
Only then did she seem content.
Another yawn escaped her.
So'lek couldn't help the quiet chuckle that rumbled in his chest.
His mate truly did treat him like her own personal blanket.
She nestled deeper against him.
Her head turned slightly.
Then she pressed a sleepy kiss against his bicep.
Another yawn interrupted her.
The words were little more than a mumble.
Yet they struck him with far more force than she could possibly have intended.
He lowered his head and kissed the top of hers.
She gave the tiniest nod against him. Already drifting again.
So'lek settled a little lower in the hammock until he could comfortably rest his face in the crook of her neck.
From there he could hear every slow breath she took.
He stayed awake for several more minutes, making certain she was completely comfortable before allowing himself to relax.
Only when he was certain she was sleeping soundly did he finally close his own eyes.
The day had tested him in ways he never wished to experience again.
And both of them were asleep in his arms.
With that quiet thought, sleep finally claimed him as well, leaving the weight of the day behind until morning.
@whos-nin1 @lvlypinkesworld @loaf-with-jam @deepangelpartykid @itsfrenchxfrxes @quietlydecafinated @angeliquecho @lizzy91768 @bxxbeaxxb @twentysomethingwereyote @jillxty @rinitoshi13 @gvyknkj @nikomenom @intervitadatura @buckybluebarnes @theatregeek-247 @valinat @rinitoshi13 @sunshinescubagear @7leo7 @eeorrrr @layingintheloam @poppyw4 @marija4674 @miniverse-zen @ur-juno @sleepisfortheweakpooh @akamenaruto14 @pinkglittertaco @annoyingasexual @grcsbluepen @deepwaterdreams @cantaloupesoda @justhereiguess2 @idkmanimjstired @yaaraz @user153639937 @danilewis
