finnie !!

top left: Final Neytiri Mangkwan costume concept — Weta Workshop

top right: Neytiri battle-costume concept — Keith Christensen

bottom left: Ikeyni costume concept — Weta Workshop

bottom right: Tarsem ceremonial costume concept — Weta Workshop

Author's Note: this one has even less of a plot ! just good vibes ! i hope you all enjoy it !! two longer fics are in the works ! including mdw 2; this time i swear it'll be out soon ! feel free to yell at me about it...

divider by @thecutestgrotto

Crystal clear water lapped at your ankles as you contentedly rested on the grassy river’s edge, keeping a watchful eye on the young children that played with Neteyam and Kiri in the shallow water.  Lo’ak slept soundly against your chest, thank Eywa, snug in the baby carrier that you had woven for his older brother. 

You nodded absentmindedly as the other parents chattered around you, enjoying the warmth of the sun on your skin and a moment of rest. The morning had been busy; splitting off with Jake after communion with Eywa and only briefly sitting with him at midday meal between his responsibilities. You were hoping your little ones would tire themselves out with all the playing and join their baby brother for a much needed hawtsyìp (nap).

Sudden screams broke you from your thoughts, making your spine straighten and head whip toward the children. You scanned the scene quickly, but spotted no danger as they splashed through the water to the bank, looking more excited than frightened. With a hand rested protectively on Lo’ak, your eyes followed Neteyam and Kiri as they made a mad dash and found your husband coming through the brush. 

“Olo’eyktan!” The children exclaimed as they gathered around him. The older ones greeted him respectfully, according to tradition, but the small ones simply rushed forward. Jake crouched to meet their eyes, the feathers of his mantle rustling as he lowered.

“Are there any strong warriors among you?” Jake asked and multiple hands shot up into the air. “Good, ‘cause I need help tracking something that’s very important to me,” he told them and the children spoke over each other in response. 

“Did you lose something?” one asked.  

“One time, I lost my pa’li (direhorse) toy, but my sa’nu (mom) found it,” another added. 

“What is it? What did you lose?” a small girl got in.   

Jake gestured the children closer with a curl of his finger. “It’s not a thing, it’s a person,” he explained. “She’s tall and beautiful, and has orange beads in her long hair.”

“That could be anyone!” the small girl exclaimed. 

“Well, Neteyam and Kiri are here, so she can’t be too far off,” Jake elaborated thoughtfully. “She just had a baby, too, and he’s always hanging around her. She says he looks like me.”

One of the older children looked in your direction with a puzzled expression before asking, “Your mate? Can you not see her?” 

Jake shook his head. “That’s why I need your help.”

One of the boys waved his hand in the air. “Oh, oh! Ma Olo’eyktan, I know where she is!” 

“Me too!” Another chimed in.

“Think you could lead me to her?” Jake asked hopefully.  

“Yeah!”

“A real hunter has to follow the trail,” one of the children pointed out, surveying the ground around them. “Look! The grass is flatter over there.” 

“Good eye.” Jake nodded in approval. “C’mon, let's go.”

He scooped up Neteyam and Kiri and followed the other children who were looking in the grass for clues of your whereabouts. Laughing to yourself, you sunk down and laid on your back to make their efforts a little more worthwhile.  

Eventually, you heard the other adults greet Jake as he neared, and in no time, sweet little faces appeared in the sky above you. The crowd of children gathered excitedly, pointing and waving Jake over as you playfully attempted to quiet them.

Your husband came into view at last, towering above them and you.  “You found her! I knew I could count on you,” Jake praised as Neteyam and Kiri babbled and wriggled in his grasp upon seeing you. 

“It was easy!” A proud child declared. 

“Yeah!” Another agreed. 

“Well, I couldn’t have done it without you,” Jake told them as you sat up. “You’d all make some great hunters one day.” 

You nodded in agreement as the group of children bristled with excitement and pleasure. Their giggles and the admiration on their faces as they looked up at your husband made your heart ache with fondness. 

“Thank you for helping my mate find me,” you smiled. “You are free to play now. You have earned it.” 

The children splashed back into the water and Jake lowered to the ground with a grunt, stretching out his legs before him. He freed Kiri and Neteyam from his hold and they settled in the grass between you both.

You reached up and ran your fingers over Jake’s headpiece, admiring it and the lines of the handsome face it adorned. 

“Hello, muntxatan (husband),” you greeted softly. “That was very sweet. I am glad you found me.” 

Jake grinned and you ghosted your thumb over the endearing indent of his dimple. “So am I,” he laughed. 

Having been inspired by Jake, the children played as hunters and aytalioang (sturmbeests) in the river, which made for an entertaining spectacle. You and Jake watched as you chatted aimlessly about this and that. 

Jake patted a slow rhythm against Neteyam’s back even long after the boy had drifted off. Your oldest son napped curled up on Jake’s lap while Kiri was happy to lay on the grass, falling asleep on the soft ground.

Your husband was updating you about the Olangi clan when Lo’ak stirred, blinking up at you with unfocused eyes. You gently unwrapped the prrsmung (baby carrier) and held Lo’ak in your arms as he woke. 

“Ma Lo’ak,” you cooed as he smiled up at you. “My sweet boy, did you sleep well? Look, who is here. It is Sempu.” 

“Hey, buddy,” Jake greeted Lo’ak, leaning over. Lo’ak reached out to his father and you lifted him closer to your husband. Jake chucked the baby playfully under his chin and gently poked his small nose. 

“Sempu was just telling me about Akwey,” you informed Lo’ak. “We should pay him a visit soon, do you not think so, my child?” 

You continued the conversation about the Olangi clan’s integration into yours with Jake as you nursed Lo’ak. But after he was done, you brought him up and nuzzled against his cheek, kissing and pretending to munch on the roundest part of his face. 

The faintest wisp of a laugh made you stop cold and pull back. Lo’ak’s eyes were crinkled and his lips were parted in a smile. 

“Jake! Listen!” You called to your mate, despite knowing he had already been, before trying again.

You were rewarded with the sweetest sound one could ever hear. You could not help but laugh alongside Lo’ak, completely in awe and giddy with excitement. His laughter was a recent development, and up until this very moment, Lo’ak would only laugh for his father. Something Jake took great pride in. 

Wanting to hear more of it, you kissed all over Lo’ak’s little face, trailing down his arm to his hand and pretending to bite his supple skin along the way. Lo’ak’s giggle filled the air and filled your heart until it felt like it might burst.

You pulled away to give the poor boy a chance to breathe and glanced over at Jake with a grin.

“I did it!” you celebrated. 

“Yeah, you did, baby.” His voice was laced with his own laughter, eyes soft and smile unrestrained. 

Jake’s teasing and gloating seemed to have been forgotten, replaced by a joint elation. You hugged Lo’ak close, resting your cheek against his head as your eyes trailed over your family.

It was hard to explain the joy when it welled up inside you like this. So overwhelming that it almost made every trial and every hardship up until this point worth it.

You were blessed to share these moments with Jake; who you knew felt the same rush of delight and wonder when witnessing the enchanting laughter of a child you brought into the world together. One who was made with love, and somehow inspired more of it within you every day. 

Never in your life had you known a love so true.  

masterlist thank you so much for reading!

Author's Note: #needthat !! just a little something about jake being head over heels for his mate. it was fun to write about tsaheylu and imagine what it might feel like ! i hope you enjoy hehehe !!

Jake was a simple man. He didn’t need much. Just a meal to fill his stomach, the rush of a successful hunt or a ride on his ikran, and, most of all, you.

Jake loved the feeling of you. There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t indulge in you, his mate. Your skin was so soft against his when he held you, and he delighted in the small sounds he could coax out of you, each a reward for his efforts. 

Why you chose a skxawng (idiot) like him, he would never know, but he was grateful that you did. Grateful for the new life you gave him, one where he finally felt whole. 

You were always on his mind. Even as he went from tree to tree during the evening patrol. He couldn’t wait to get back to the village where you were waiting up for him, and he all but ran home.

He padded quietly into your shared kelku (home), abandoning his gear by the door and securing the flap for the night. The room fell into an almost complete darkness, but he could still see the glow of your skin where you laid on the hammock. 

Your ears twitched toward the familiar sounds of your mate as he shuffled around the room, quickly washing the day away and taking off his accessories. You rolled onto your side when Jake finally climbed into the hammock, his weight making the woven mat dip. He slotted himself behind you, your bodies fitting together like Eywa crafted you from the same stone. 

Sighing contentedly, Jake hooked his chin over your shoulder and slid his hand up the softness of your stomach to rest over your heart.  

“Hi, baby,” he mumbled, breath fanning over the skin of your neck. “You tired?”

“A little,” you answered, laying a hand on top of his. “Welcome back.” 

He hummed, pressing light kisses wherever he could. You turned your head to give him better access and he trailed his lips up the side of your throat. 

“Baby,” he murmured as he nuzzled against your jaw.

“Hmm?”

“Can we…?”

You opened your eyes to find him looking up at you, with your own tanhi reflected in his gaze. You brought a hand up to trace over the cluster of bioluminescent freckles (tanhi) on his cheek. His brow was lifted high in expectancy, looking far too innocent for what you knew he wanted to do.

But you nodded and Jake grinned, taking his warm hand from your chest to prop himself up. You watched as he gently took your twsin (queue/braid) in his hand and brought it towards his own. Glowing, the tendrils wove together as if by Eywa’s own hand. 

You gasped at the sudden shift, feeling him everywhere, like he flowed through your veins. Jake’s eyes closed and he exhaled heavily, holding the connection in his hand. 

His locs brushed your cheeks as he leaned down to kiss you. Sweetly at first as if in greeting, but then he took your bottom lip between your teeth and tugged gently. You gripped his biceps, digging your nails into the flexed muscle. He smoothed over your lip with his tongue before reattaching his mouth to yours. 

You let him in when he sought to go deeper, kissing you just the way you liked it until you did not know where Jake began and where you ended. Pleasure coursed through you and his heart beat rapidly in your chest but it could have just as easily been your own. 

Jake pulled back and your brow furrowed at the loss of his touch. He smoothed the creased skin with the pad of his thumb, feeling your disappointment as if it was his. But it was short lived, dispelled by his fond expression and the feeling of all his affection welling up in you. You smiled at each other for a moment, basking in the overwhelming warmth of your love. 

Jake suddenly dropped on top of you, letting his full weight press against your body. Smothered, you huffed and almost laughed as he hastily wrapped his arms around you. He squeezed until you were breathless. 

“Jake.” You managed, with more fondness than rebuke. 

He turned, resting his forehead against your temple. “God, I love you,” He breathed.  

Tsaheylu (the bond) told you all that you needed, but it was always nice to hear the words aloud. You pulled your arms out of his tight grasp and draped them over his wide shoulders. 

“I love you more.” 

Jake shook his head. “No shot.” 

How could you when coming back to you each day, and waking up to you each morning was more than he could have ever dreamed of? To be wrapped in your soft embrace, when all he had known was the folding cot, the hard ground of the bush, and a small, lonely apartment? 

That was a lifetime ago, far away and bleak. And yet the memory of it only made him more grateful. Grateful that he had said “yes” to those men in suits. Grateful that you found him that fateful night in the forest. Grateful he came back, that you still loved him and fought beside him after all he had done. 

He felt your contentment as you drifted off into sleep and he smiled against your skin. 

Jake was finally where he belonged.

masterlist thank you for reading !