Michelle

“Are you two engaged? We’d like to know!”

“Is it true you eloped in Las Vegas?”

“Y/n, let us get a glimpse of the rock!”

Michaels hand held yours tightly, his other hand firm on your waist as he guided you through the swarm of paparazzi towards the limousine.

Tonight had been the 30th annual Grammy awards. 5 nominations for his Bad album but not a single win, well, not a major win anyway. You could tell Michael was a bit disappointed, the way his hand loosened in your own, the way his jaw tighten just a bit. You were looking forward to the performance of the evening, the one that would be performed by your boyfriend and hopefully cheer him up.

That night was a night everyone would remember as something simple, a legendary performance, a robbed artist.

But for you, tonight was also the night you and Michael would go public with your engagement, the first night you would wear this beautiful, diamond ring on your finger for the cameras to see.

After the event, many had noticed the ring on your way out, and the paparazzi had definitely noticed.

Now you two were just focused on making it over to the car.

"C'mere honey" he guided you into the car, following in after you, and the door finally shut. The limo drove off, and Michael turned to you.

"Honey are you alright?" he asked, concerned.

"Yes baby. I just thought one of us was bound to have tripped." you laughed at the end of your sentence. "You think they saw?"

"Duh! they practically ripped the thing right off your finger. Im surprised we got past them in time.” He was practically smiling ear to ear as he pulled your legs over his lap. He looked over to find you already staring at him, he moved a hand over to yours, lacing your fingers together from the back of your hand, as you both sat in a comfortable silence on the way home.

Once you arrived, Michael helped you out of the car, carrying your bag and shoes in one hand. You bid your farewell to the driver, and made your way inside.

The door shut behind him as you walk in front towards the kitchen, mumbling on about some recipe you had wanted to try, your annoyance getting the better of you with your earring refusing to come off. The cool, white tiles felt like heaven beneath your feet, soothing the ache that comes with wearing heels for 10+ hours. But just as your turning around to face your fiancé, your feet loose feeling of the ground, your stomach dropping as your suddenly lifted up over Michael’s shoulder.

“Michael!! What are you doing!?” You yelled in a half scream.

“Look at you, how was I supposed to focus on anything tonight with you looking like this. Especially knowing you’re going to become my wife.” He spoke almost in relief, like he had been waiting to tell someone how he had been feeling. He made his way up the stairs, keeping you steady as to make you don’t fall over.

“Put me down!” You kicked your feet up, but it was useless. “Michael Joseph! You better set me down the moment we get upstairs.” You most sternly.

“Yeah, yeah.” He scoffed. Once upstairs, he made his way to the end of the hall where the master bedroom you both shared awaited your arrival. You were only able to tell he was at the edge of the bed from your view of the Tv in front of you, then you felt a pair of familiar hands grip your hips tightly and pull you from your position, resulting in you falling onto the soft, silk sheets of your shared bed.

“Are you done?” You say smirking, adjust the ruffled hair out do your face.

“Not even close.” He lifts a hand to brush the excess hair away from your shoulder, leaning down to place a light kiss on your collar bone.

“Michael…” your heart beats against your ribs as excitement slowly fills you.

“You’re gonna look so beautiful. You’ll be on the cover of every magazine, every newspaper." You smile grew, a breathy laugh escaped through your nose.

He lips trailed down, leaving sweet pecks that brought butterflies to your stomach. "Thats what this about? our wedding?" you questioned.

"No, no honey, not just our wedding, you. How you're gonna look when you walk down that aisle. When you marry me." His eyes were practically sparkling, his smile came uncontrollably along with the slight shade dark red that brushed across the apples of his cheeks.

Before you could think of a response, you felt his hands force their way under your back, gripping the edge of the zipper and pulling it down. "And I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything, but after that last award I was nominated for was gifted to that band, apart of me felt odd, had me questioning wether the album was good enough."

You lifted your hands to cup his face, stroking your thumbs against the smooth skin of his cheeks. He nuzzled into your palm slightly, giving a light kiss before continuing.

"But then you told me not to worry, that I would still get to perform and that everyone would love it. And when I looked down at the ring on your hand, the ring I've caught so many staring at tonight, I just couldn't help but feel so lucky, and so in love."

You swore you could feel the stinging grow behind your eyes. God, you were so in love with this man. "I love you, Michael."

"I love you too Angel, so much. You looked so beautiful tonight, especially with my ring on your finger. Please let me make love to you, please, please, pleaseee." Jesus, he looked so sweet when he begged. He was already messing with the fabric of your dress, desire taking over as you felt his hands pull down the fabric painfully slow.

You hands instinctively placed themselves over his own, helping him pull off the dress in a more efficient motion.

“Oh Michael, you know I always want you.” You smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from his face behind his ear.

He couldn’t contain himself anymore, once he got the dress off, he pushed himself up, hooking an arm under your waist in the process, and bringing you both to the center of the bed. He lowered his head to kiss and leave marks across your neck, his finger gently pulling at the edge of your underwear.

You gasped, your mouth immediately forming into a smile and then a soft laugh. His fingers brushed brushed against the edge of your folds, feeling and messing with the wetness that seeped through. God, you turned him on so much, he's barley touched you and you're already acting like this for him. You've barley done anything and he's already so hard for you. "You're so pretty, baby." he breathed against your mouth, kissing the corner of your lips.

"That's only because you love me so much." you said in an almost seductive tone, your voice low. His kissing descending down your neck. His fingered slowly moving up and down the your slit.

He said out a soft, breathy laugh before he spoke, "Nah, it's just you. You're radiant, you are a jewel." tingles filled your lower stomach as your hips involuntarily stuttered forward. his soft words filling your head, making you dizzy.

“Honey…” his fingers sunk into your soaked pussy, curling slowly at an angle, causing your body to jerk. “You’re really wet angel, god you drive me crazy.” His breath picked up as did yours. He pulled you onto his lap, his free hand resting on your waist. Your arms wrapped around his neck for balance, allowing your head to fall in the space that was the crook of his neck.

His fingers picked up their pace, feel and stimulating the moist flesh of your walls. Your moans grew, going straight into your fiancés ear. His eyes rolled back at the sound. The delicious sound of him pleasing his woman rang echos in his mind. He loved you so much, he couldn’t believe he was the one touching you—loving you—like this.

“M-Michael…” you whimpered. Your pussy contracting around his fingers as a gush of wetness trailed down to his palm.

A deep exhale left his breath, “oh angel…you feel so nice. You’re getting my hand all wet baby.” He let out a single breathy laugh at the last word, looking at your twisting, flushed face that made him even harder.

“Michael I-” you wanted more, you were chasing your high, your hips practically riding his hand. Harsh nails scratched at the skin where his neck ended and his back begun. Begging for any kind of release.

“It’s ok baby, I know. I’ll give you everything you want, I promise.” His words drew you closer and closer to the edge. The hot coil within you threatening to snap, his fingers picking up their pace, your vision turning white.

“C’mon honey…I know you can do it…” he voice low.

His sweet words drove you over the edge, drenching your fiancés hand as you came. Red lines revealed themselves on his back and the scratching eased, your moans slowly dying down.

You sniffled before saying anything, “God baby, I love the you make me feel.” You slowly lifted your head up to face him. He kissed you immediately, gently pushing you on your back before positioning himself on top of you.

“I love you. I just can’t explain it, I love you so much. I love touching, feeling you...” he whispered, his lips descending to place a soft kiss on the corner of your jaw.

You smiled. he was so sweet it made your heart melt. "I love you too honey."

Right. The Invincible album. It has been a success. Everyone loved it. But then again who didn’t love Michael.

“Alright I think everything’s good. Are you both ready?” The interviewer asked. You lightly touched your pants. Smoothing any noticeable wrinkles. “Yes we are.” You answered quickly.

Everyone in the room began to quiet, the director made his count down, and then the camera was rolling.

Things were going quite well. The questions consisted of the recording process, what’s next for Michael Jackson after the tour, the meaning behind some of the songs, etc. The interviewer was pretty nice and respectful compared to past ones you and your husband had to deal with. And then the questions you had been waiting for finally arrived, the questions regarding your favorite song.m of the album by far.

“If I may ask, what was the inspiration behind ‘You Rock My World’? It has the longest running music video of all the songs in the album and fans have been speculating that it may be about you and your wife?”

You smiled, you really couldn’t help yourself. Memories of the night you met Michael flooded your mind. Along with memories of the endless nights it took to help him come up with the script for the video and write the actual song. The song he dedicates to you.

Blush slowly bloomed across your face as you tucked the edges of your hair behind your ears.

“Yes, they’d be correct. It’s about the night we met, tho it was dramatized, of course, for the video.” As you finished Michael began to speak.

“Though, the night itself was pretty dramatic overall, the song was my favorite the make, especially since she helped me write it.” He smiled at the end of his sentence and intertwined his fingers with your own.

“Wow, that’s all very sweet to hear. Would you mind telling us a bit about the actual night itself that inspired this storyline?”

You beamed, looking towards Michael for approval. He smiled sweetly, urging you to go on. You couldn’t contain your bright smile, unconcerningly straining the apples of your cheeks.

“Wait, you should start. It starts off with you.” You suggested, he agreed and began with his side of the story.

“The funny thing is, is that I really was with Chris that night. He probably could tell you the story better than I could.” He started with a laugh. “It had been a while since I’d been out, you know, the press and such. Chris convinced me to go to this club in New York. It was really exclusive, and people didn’t bother us as much.”

Michael smiled at the memory, remembering the nice moment with one of his dearest friends.

“I can’t lie. We were checking out the women that would pass. It started with him but he got me into it. And I’ll never forget this moment, I was taking a sip of my drink, and Chris tapped my shoulder and said: ‘Michael look! Look at that girl!’ and when I had turned around, it was y/n and she was dancing around, capturing everyone’s attention of course.”

“Then Chris said that he thought I couldn’t get her, that she wouldn’t dance with me. I thought she was extremely beautiful and wanted to try and dance with her, get to know her, you know."

The smile on his face made your heart warm, you continued the story for him. "A little while later he had asked me to dance, some RnB song was playin. It was nice really. I love men that can dance and he was so good at it too. But the thing that got me was that he wasn't lying! he genuinely wanted to dance with me, he wasn't lying or just saying that to take me home later or anything of the sort, it was so much fun. The thing was is that, earlier that night, this guy was angry at me for not dancing with him. I really didn't want to pay him any mind, he didn't really care of dancing or talking to me or anything, so i didn't waste my time. I thought he had left but he made himself very known when he came up to Michael and I."

Michael spoke up, "Yeah he came in and was saying crazy stuff like: 'You're a bitch! You'll dance with this guy but you wont dance with me!' he was acting nuts!" he whisper-yelled his impression of the man, you and him laughing by the end of it.

"Michael told him off and told him to leave us alone, and to not bother me again. By this point a lot of people were staring and we had seen some manager looking guys in suits coming down the stairs, so he asked me if I wanted to leave before things got out of hand so he could give me a ride home. When we were walking out we heard some commotion, but we left it at that, thats when I met Chris." You laughed at the end of your sentence, finding humor in the memory of your first impression of Chris.

"When we had gotten to the car, Chris came up to us and hoped in the back and said 'Girl, look at all the trouble you caused!'" Michael started laughing.

"When we took her home, I walked her to her door and asked if I could see her again," You interrupted, "Of course I said yes." You smiled, dramatically putting your arms out saying: "And the rest is history!"

The interviewer laughed and took a breath before speaking, "Wow, I didn't expect such a...unorthodox meeting, especially with one of the most influential people in the world!"

You grabbed Michaels hand, intertwining your fingers before speaking.

"Almost as if he is a normal person who does normal things" you state in a half joking manor, "My husband likes to have fun and enjoy himself, just like you, just like everyone."

The interviewer looked slightly surprised until his face relaxed, "Of course" then, he took out a small book, filled with chicken scratched writing, and moves on to another question.

"shall we move on then..?"

You looked over to your husband, who was already looking at you with such admiration in his eyes, you squeezed his hand once before he turned his attention back to the interviewer infront of him.

Life was still peaceful then, you had never seen a sky person in your life, you were occupied by the ways of the water, and training to possibly become the next Tsahik. Your only duty was to fulfill the roles expected of you as the eldest daughter of the Olo'eyktan and Tsahik of the Metkayina.

But that all changed when the family of Toruk Makto arrived.

You and your siblings were appointed with he duty of teaching the Suli children your ways, which you were more than happy to do. it was a nice change of pace after all, and learning new faces from new cultures you had yet to learn about excited you.

Neteyam was the first of them to introduce himself to you, he was also the first one to notice you when you and you brother came to inspect the commotion happening on the shore. He was a soft spoken, kind boy, definitely traits his mother had taught him, and was eager to learn your ways. That day you had showed him the sea, the creatures, the way to move through the water. It was one of the most exciting days of you life.

Since then, you and Neteyam had been inseparable, becoming fast friends and spending all of your time together to the point where others teased. After about a year or two, your relationship became undoubtably more. lingering looks from across festivals, the nights you spent together starring at the stars, the way he held your hand on the few occasions he did.

It happened innocently. It was just after dark, you and him were older now, your families had eased up on what hour to come home. You were laughing about a memory of your brother, Ao'nung, and Lo'ak getting into it with each other, when you had leaned a little too close.

Your breath hitched, and you smiled and looked down in embarresment, Neteyam still smiling widley, grabbed your chin, forcing you to look up at him.

"Why do you shy away from me, sevin?" his voice was low, and you caught the way his eyes flickered down to your lips. A breathy laugh escaped from you in nervousness before your face relaxed. You didnt know what it was, but the way he stared at you gave you confirmation in a way, confirmation that you weren't the only one feeling this spark between you two.

Your faces were inches apart, and after a moment, his lips grazed yours, almost testing.

Then his hand settled itself on your jaw, holding you face gently, before pulling you in for a slow kiss.

Your arms had instinctivley wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. Finally giving into the feelings that had been brewing and building for months, possibly even years.

And the rest was history...

However, history usually has it's dilemma.

Your boyfriend had told you about the raid him and his family had experienced not long ago with the Mangkwan. You had heard stories about them, but never though they would venture out this far. The most recent news about them was that they had expanded their clan to the sky people, more specifically the sky people who were looking to kill Toruk Makto.

You had hoped the allience would end, that they would look and look and never find him, and that Neteyam and his family could stay and live in peace with your people. With you.

But the Great Mother had other plans.

They had found them, of course they did. They took the great Rider of Last Shadow away. Neteyam was devastated, he talked to you about his plan to go save his father. But by the time the conversation was over, you both had noticed Neytiri had already gone.

All you could do was wait.

And wait you did.

You waited for Neytiri, for Lo'ak. For the next step.

You waited for the next order, the next fight, and you knew Neteyam was doing the same, he had never been this quiet around you, not since you first met him. His hand was tight in yours, as you thought of his plan for his sisters.

For if his parents never came back.

You did the same. Your worry for your siblings grew, your mother was pregnant and still threatened to enter war.

What would these people do to your world?

After what seamed like hours, you saw Neytiri in the sky with Jake.

You saw Neteyam release a breath of what could only assume was relief. They hugged briefly before looking for your parents to discuss the next move.

War was coming.

Thats what led you to now. Standing next to Neytiri and her eldest son waiting in a large field, with thousands of warriors surrounding you. Neytiri was calm and smiling to herself.

"Mother tells me this is what it was like the first time, during the first battle, just before my birth." he said. It gave you hope, how the first time in question, most of those Na'vi didn't even know what they were heading into, and still won. Now we had practice, we had more warriors than ever. We had even more of a chance.

A loud screech tears from the sky, it makes you flinch, but Neteyam is their to reassure you. Last Shadow appears, bright skin and a very large frame ready to land just feet in front of you, and every instinct in your body is telling you to run. But you show no fear, looking up at Neytiri to see her facing the great beast of the sky, her eyes closed and face in pure bliss at the sound, and you're put at ease.

When he does land, you can see pride written on Neteyam's face. As you look up to see Toruk Makto in his element, confidence overwhelms you, there was no way they couldn't beat the sky people, not with Neytiri, not with these warriors, not with Toruk Makto.

The even comes soon enough, you were busy preparing packs for the villagers who are to evacuate. You couldn't find Neteyam though, he had went to speak with his parents and that was the last you had seen of him. After a while, the warriors were ready to be sent off, a familar sillohuette apeared before you. Neteyam. But he wasn't in his usual attire, he was dressed as...

Oh no...

Great mother, no.

Blue and yellow paint scattered his face, a bow on his back, and feathers decorated his tied hair.

He was a warrior.

"Neteyam..." you whispered, as he slowly approched you, almost reluctant. He didn’t speak. His face held a neutral expression as he approached. Once he was standing his tall stature over you, he smiled, not a real one, but one that was made in attempt to ease the great tension between you two.

“You…Neteyam, what is this.” Your face was stern, as your eyes scanned the armor and paint the decorated his skin.

His smile faded, he regulated his breath before he spoke. “Yawne, I will not stand by when this is what I have been trained for, when this is how I can protect you-” his hands had come up to steady you, to soothe you but you had interrupted his words with a scoff, pushing him arms away as you turned your head to control you emotions. “I will do whatever is necessary to keep you safe, you know this.” He continued, his voice more stern in attempt to force you to listen.

“This is not keeping me safe this is risking your life! And how will you protect me when they kill you. These people- these sky people do not care Neteyam! And what will I do if you do not return! I cannot live like that, I will not risk losing you!”

“And this is why I fight.” He came closer and said in a harsh whisper before continuing, “We cannot keep running forever, I will not let these people survive here. I will not let you live in a world where they are a constant threat to us. To you.”

Your vision focused in and out as it started to blur, a sting to sharp growing behind your eyes threatening to spread.

“But I-” your voice cracked, tears started to spill. Neteyam immediately went to wipe them away, caressing your face in the process. “Do not cry, my love. I will be just fine. And I will come back to you.”

You tried to blink away your tears, taking in a deep breath. “Neteyam, I beg you. Do not do this. Please…please.”

It was time. The warriors were on the move. War cries were being howled. You looked up in horror knowing he was one of them. Your hands gripped his shoulders in an effort to keep him here.

“I have to go now. I see you, and I love you. My heart is always with you, ma’yawntu.” He said as he gripped your hand tightly for a brief moment, kissing your forehead and the back of your hand before retreating.

Then he was gone.

And your heart was shattered.

"Neteyam..." your voice was barley above a whisper, and cracked little in a weak attempt to call his name.

You stared at him as he mounted his Ikran along with the others, he gave one last look at you before he took flight. You couldn't help but wonder if that was the last image of him you'd ever capture.

Hours had passed, and you were at the point of throwing up. You felt so sick at the thought of Neteyam being out there. Gunfire was distant but heavy, every explosion you pray your love wasn't victim too, and every flame you hope burns your enemy and stops them for good.

Night begins to fall, and the massive ship the sky people brought has began to sink. Some warriors return on the order of Toruk Makto, some return on account of their wounds.

Some don't return at all.

Neteyam hasn't come back, and neither has his family.

Have they been captured? Has Toruk Makto fallen? That couldn't be. Neytiri would never let that happen. You couldn't let that happen.

You wanted to go to him, to go find him, help him, but it would only bring more danger, if something were to happen to you, it would just put everyone at more risk.

So you decided to wait.

And wait...

and wait.

By now you were shaking. Your stomach felt upside down, tears stained your face. What if something had happened? what if they got to him and you weren't there to heal him? what if his was alone? You couldn't bare it. You wouldn't.

Then in the distance, you saw a few Ikran's coming your way.

There were three or maybe four, you weren't really in your right mind right now. As they came closer, you started to recognize one of them.

Sa'ata.

Neytiri's Ikran has returned, meaning Neytiri had returned. Hopefully the others were more of her family returning with her.

As she landed, you noticed Jake behind her; Lo'ak, Kiri, and Tuk were on the ikran next to them, but before you could wonder where Neteyam had been, Neytiri wailed.

"Help! Someone help my son please!" in that moment, Jake slid off the the ikran and lifted a body that seemed almost lifeless. Her son? Lo'ak was-

no.

Eywa no, please no.

You ran, your feet barley touching the ground, until you caught up to Jake who was holding the love of your life in his arms.

"What has happened! is- is he-?"

"Not yet. But he needs attention. Now."

Ronal had already appeared, quickly clearing the area and having her shadows bring her the proper equipment needed to save a life form a demon wound.

"Lay him down. Here." her voice was stern, her mind was focused, and even though you had been following her guide for years now, you couldn't risk getting in the way. Not with this. Not when Neteyam's life was at stake.

You moved your body closer to him, placing his head in your lap. You didn't look at anyone else, no one else mattered. You just needed to feel his face in your hands.

If this was the moment Eywa had chosen for your love to be with her, you wanted to be closest when you felt his pulse go.

But maybe, just maybe, if we were on time, and Ronal can bring him back from the near death those demons have given him, you needed to be here when his eyes opened, when he breathed in life again.

Either way, you just needed to be with Neteyam. You needed to be here with him, no matter what happenes.

As Ronal worked, your thumbs stroked the sided of his face and whispered prayers to him, and to yourself.

"Neteyam, my love. Come back to me, ma'paskalin. Please, I cannot be here without you. Please. Please ma'teyam.

For a long moment you didn't know what was going on.

You just stared at him and prayed.

As minutes passed you began to wonder what you would do if he didn't wake up? How would you go on? Could you go on?

Movement

You immediately directed your gaze downward to his still form. His head still in your hands. You saw his arm shift a little, his chest attempt to take a breath. "Neteyam!" you whispered loudly. Again his chest rose, but this time released a harsh cough.

His eyes squeezed shut at the pain. the pain he felt. because he was alive!

As his lungs continued their assault on him, you couldn't help but feel tears beginning to stream down your face, pure relief filled your spirit and you couldn't help but be overwhelmed with thanks.

"Neteyam...ma'teyam!" you cried, tears beginning to pour. You steadied him and helped him take a breath before he continued to wake from his unconscience state. And as his eyes readjusted, he slowly looked up at you and began to smile that stupid he got whenever it came to you.

"You're here..." he said with a weak and winded voice.

"You're here" you replied, fixing a piece of his hair in the process.

His eyes squinted, his hand attempting to lift up to comfort you. "why you are you crying, yawne?" he asked with such genuine curiosity in his eyes.

You sniffled and took a breath before speaking once more, "I am just so happy to see you, my beloved." It was true, for the last few moments of your life you had thought Neteyam was going to die. The thought sickened you for hours and then here he comes being rushed back because someone had almost made that thought a reality. Any bit of life from him meant he was still here. with you.

After a while, the warriors had disbanded. The fight was over. For now at least. Ronal had returned to her post, but not before pestering Neteyam on how he felt and what herbs to consume for pain.

Now you both were sitting quietly on the beach. His head in your lap as you stared at the eclipse.

"whatever you did out there that nearly got you killed...don't ever do that again. I can't lose you"

He stared at you for a moment, taking in your words. "I promise."

You knew he couldn't promise that, that at any moment, at the right time someone could take him away from you. And as confident as he was he knew that too.

but he could still try, he could still promise you that he would do his best to be wary, do his best to come home to you each and every time he leaves to go defend his people. To defend you.

So it was enough.

Earlier tonight was the Tulkun festival, the dancers of the clan welcome the annual return of the beloved Tulkun with a festive dance. Held in the shallows of the water of course. You, being one of the best dancers of the Metkayina, led the group, and Neteyam had never seen such beauty. The new warriors, who had recently returned from battle, couldn't keep their eyes off you, and this gave him great pride.

Now the celebration was over, families retired to their home, couples turning in for the night.

But Neteyam was feeling restless.

"The glow made you look like Eywa herself, and watching the water drip down your breasts...I could hardly control myself." Now his finger tips traced the length of your arm up and down, sending a shiver across your body. You smiled, his words were getting to you, they always did. "Well, you have me all alone now. You don't have to control yourself now." You said low, as your tipped your head back to lean it on his shoulder.

His hands moved up and down, feeling the shape of skin and muscle that made your body. His hands moved up to feel the fatty tissue of your breasts, letting out a small whimper as your eyes closed in bliss. "You like when I touch you, yawne? It feels good?" he whispered, you nodded, his hands always felt good on you.

His hands moved to hold your waist, holding close. "So...would it be okay to admit how hard I get from the mere sight of you?" his words made your heart beat spike, a smile forming on your lips.

"You were so beautiful tonight my love. You have no idea how lucky I felt knowing you are mine. How lucky I feel every day." his hand was messaging your breast while his other toyed with the knot of your loincloth. You let out a soft moan before tilting your head to face him.

“Ma’Tayem…” your voice low, as your hand reach up to touch his face in attempt to bring him closer. The growing ache between your legs was becoming impossible to ignore, and you really didn’t want to either. Neteyam noticed this, the way your face formed in discomfort, not from his actions, but from the lack of attention he was giving you.

“I know love, I’ll take care of you. I always do, don’t I?” He said in a sweet voice, as he slowly turned you around, picked you up so your legs held onto his hips, and laid you down on the soft mat on the floor of your shared mauri.

Staring down at you, he brought his lips to yours and kissed you passionately, then eased into marking and kissing the flesh on your neck, while his hand explored the different areas of your body. “Let me see, yawne.” His voice was distant as his hands lowered to undo the ties of your loincloth. Once he disposed of the fabric, his hand grazed the skin of your inner thigh. Your excitement took over, the promised pleasure you knew Neteyam would give you and the view of him between your legs made your head spin.

His body knelt down, and his lips grazed the most inner part of your thigh, feeling the heat from your core radiating off of you, causing a small gasp to leave your throat. The sight of you before him was one he had seen before many, many times, however, it didn’t make the reveal of you any less exciting, or any less beautiful. He would spend his life between your legs if he could. It was one of his favorite tastes in the world after all.

His hands held your thighs open for him, as he stared down at your dripping cunt. You grew needier by the second, wanting to push your hips forward, but being restrained by him. “You’re so wet baby. You need me? You want me to make it better, yawne?” His eyes, closed at first, now started up at you. The valley of your breasts making his dick harder, if that was even possible. His nose nudged your clit, making you sigh loudly as your fingers knotted themselves in the roots of your hair, your body buzzing with need while your sexual frustration grew by the second. You didn’t even hear the question your mate asked you until he repeated himself.

“Tell me pretty girl, you want me to make you feel good, yes?” He said a bit louder, giving you a light kiss onto your clit, not yet breaking eye contact. You whimpered, eyes closed as you tried to calm yourself, you swallowed before you spoke. “Please, please Neteyam” but it came out in a strangled moan you couldn’t hold back, your attempts to regulate your body being unsuccessful.

Neteyam felt very proud of the state he had you in, the state he knew only he could put you in. He decided to quit his teasing you and give into the temptation. He wrapped his lips around your sensitive bud, sucking gently. You let out a loud whine, your hands fleeing to tangle themselves in his braids, he groaned at the taste of your sweetness on his tongue, sending vibrations through your pussy. A moaned escaped your throat, your thighs tightening around his head.

Your hands pulled at the roots of his hair, silently begging for more. His tongue escaping the confines of his mouth to lick up the entirety of your pussy. A broken gasp leaves you as your back arches up. The feeling of Neteyams tongue sending a million tingles through you, pleasuring the tense muscles of your body. His tongue continued its assault on your core, until it started to pierce its way through your entrance. Your thighs tightened hard around his head, leading him to force them open once more as higher-pitched moans left your lips. Your body squirmed at the intense feeling of his tongue fucking you, your vision started to blur, the hot coil in your core beginning to tighten.

“I- Neteyam!” You could barely hold a sentence, your mind going blank, solely focusing on the intense, white-hot pleasure coursing through your body. “I know baby, you’re almost there. I got you.” His words echoed through your ears. His voice adding to the pressure in your abdomen. The coil tightened more, as his tongue left your cunt to focus on your clit, his fingers seeking to replace the space inside of you. You felt two of his finger tips begin to enter you, already starting to sink in, making you gasp. After what felt like forever, both digits made a scissoring motion once knuckle deep, feeling the slick walls inside. A cry left your mouth at the feeling of Neteyams hand bringing you closer to your release. Your hands tightening harsher in the roots of his braids that would certainly need to be redone later on.

“I- Neteyam, I’m gonna-” you tried to speak, but you couldn’t pull the words from your thoughts. Your brain went foggy, your muscles tensing as your back arched. Neteyams fingers becoming soaked at the rush of fluids escaping your body. He moans louder at the feeling, sending harsher vibrations through your body.

That’s what pushes you over the edge.

The coil finally snapped. You clenched around his fingers as his name left your lips in high-pitched moans. Your vision going blurry as your eyes shut, your hips bucking into his hand a few times in an attempt to continue the pleasure. All your muscles tensing at once while your whimpers started to faint. Neteyam continued to finger you, with his thumb replacing his tongue while he stared up at you. Admiring his work

“That’s it baby, keep going” his voice low, he sat up now, his eyes able to look down at you while his hand continued to work at you. Your body shook, whines still falling from your lips as Neteyam fingers pumped in and out of you. Your muscles started to relax, your hips slowed and your breath was heavy while your heart beat began to soften as you came down from your high.

But Neteyams fingers didn’t stop.

You started to twitch as his fingered continue to go at you. “N-Neteyam, wait my love-” you spoke, but you were cut off by a broken sob that escaped from your throat. You tried to reach for his hand, but Neteyam gently grabbed it, effectively keeping it from reaching his own. “ ‘Tayem- baby, hold on-” but it was useless, he didn’t let up. The overstimulation weakening you and sending overwhelming tingles through your body. Tears pricked in the corners of your eyes as your broken sobs and gasps continued. Neteyam immediately moved his body to hover over yours, pressing his forehead to your own. “No ma’yawnetu, don’t cry. You know it’s gonna feel so nice, I promise.” Small tears slid down the flesh under your temple, and Neteyam leaned over to kiss them away. The uncomfortably began to subside, turning into pleasure. Your hips bucked the slightest bit, but he noticed, his fingers moved faster and your broken sobs and cries grew into moans.

His fingers curled inside you repeatedly until they found the familiar, spongy texture of your g-spot, making you gasp. You cried out, a hand coming up to grip his shoulder in attempt to steady yourself. “Was this where you needed to be touched? Right here baby?” His voice sounded sympathetic, you nodded of course, unable to form a coherent sentence. Your arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer while he kissed your face.

The familiar buzz echoing through your being once more. You hadn’t realized that your juices had been dripping from Neteyams hand, making his head spin. Your lips searched for him, and he kissed you softly, in contrast to what his hands were doing to you south of your body. When he pulled away, he scanned your face, your eyes were half lidded and glossy, your lips were puffy from being bitten constantly, and tear stains streaked the sides of your face. He buried his face into your neck, kissing the sensitive skin. “You look so pretty yawne. I love having you like this. You look so ruined, and it’s cause of me right baby?” He whispered. You could barley hear what was being said, your hearing becoming faint, but his sweet voice was enough to make your body pulse with need.

You were so beautiful.

He lifted his head up to kiss you more at your request, and before he was able to pull away, you kept him close, whispering pleas against his lips. “Please ma’teyam, please, please, please, please…” you continued, your voice broken and weak. He knew what you needed. His fingers curled harsher, moved faster. One of your hands moved to anchor itself on his back, leaving faint scratches in the process. His jaw clenched at the feeling as he lowered his head to kiss the spot below your ear, whispering sweet nothings. “You need to cum sevin? I think you do, look at how wet you are. You’ve made such a mess baby.” His eyes darted down the the dripping mess of fluids sliding down his hands, his lips still kissing down your neck. Your eyes rolled back at his words, bringing you over the edge.

The hot pressure that had been building in your body began to break for a second time tonight. Your nails pressed half moon crescents into his shoulder blades, making him hiss out in pleasure. Your eyes squeezed shut as your breath let out broken gasps into his ear. “Come on baby, I know you need it. Cum on my fingers paskalin.” His words were the final straw. Your back arched and harsh moans fell from your lips directly into his ear. Buzzing tingles cascaded throughout your body in waves, overwhelming your nerves in the best possible way. Your hips that were once rolling themselves into Neteyams hand, now slowed. Your hands that had left red lines and scratches over his skin, had eased their assault. A hand reached down between you both to keep his wrist still this time, luckily, Neteyam had decided to give you mercy. His hand slowly, reluctantly withdrew from you, leaving long ropes off your release stringing between his fingers.

It took a moment for you two to regulate your breathing before Neteyam spoke again, “You are incredible my love” he said as his breath returned, staring down at the aftermath of wetness between your legs.

“Well, my husband is a very skilled man” you said with a sigh as you adjusted yourself to lay on your side, still exhausted. A hand reach out for Neteyam to grab, once he did, you pulled him down beside you, wrapping your arms around his neck before kissing him. He kissed you back of course, more passionate as if it was a game. An arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you closer. His nose nuzzled yours before speaking, “Come, yawne.” and before you could question his motive, or even reply, he was scooping you up to carry you out of the mauri.

“Ma’teyam?? Where are you taking me?” You asked, confused and skeptical.

“The springs. I got you all worked up, I need to relax you, don’t I?” As he finished his statement he started down at you, your arms tightening around his neck.

“I suppose…” you began to smile as you arrived to the closest hot spring by your living space, away from public eyes. He places you in as you swam out of his arms, the intense heat of the water calming your nerves as you dipped your hair into the pool.

Neteyam followed your movements. He always did. His hands found your hips, guiding your legs to wrap around his waist as you both floated around playfully in the water. He started up at you, at the way the water soaked your hair, the sparkling bioluminescent freckles that lived across your face, your beautiful smile that only lit up like that for him. He felt so lucky.

He shifted his feet, picking himself up to get closer to you. His arms wrapped around yours, pulling you into him as he fell back slowly into the water. Your laugh filled the silence as he peppered kisses onto your face.

“I love you so much, sevin.” He whispered, spinning you both around in slow circles. Your laugh became louder. Your smile bigger. “I love you too.”

Over time you had begun to enjoy your time with Jake, like really enjoy it. He was so fun and full of joy. He constantly took you to places across the forest to show you new things he had learned, and it was sweet. Really sweet. You couldn't help but feel constant happiness when around him, after a few weeks with this feeling you realized that this was a more than platonic, it was romantic. This was the way you should feel with someone else. Anyone else.

But Eywa had other plans.

Now you were so conflicted, how were you supposed to handle these feelings for him? They didn't make any sense?

"Hey, y/n" he said, his voice low. It had still startled you.

"Oh! hello, Jake" you placed a hand over your heart, catching a breath.

He smiled, and it made your heart flutter. "Come on, you look bored" he grabbed your hand, and pulled you along through the festival. You two walked for a while, talking about anything, walking around joining conversations with the others. Eventually you two, unknowingly, parted from the rest of the group and walked along a trail in the forest.

Little did you know that tonight Jake was planning on confessing his feelings towards you. Since he had met you all those months ago he had always thought you were beautiful, but after learning with you, growing with you, he started falling in love with you too.

After a minute of walking alone, he quietly grabbed your hand. He didn't look at you, just kept staring forward. You were a bit surprised, but his hand felt heavy and warm in yours, and a part of the gesture felt slightly romantic, so you kept quiet and enjoyed it before it was gone.

"Um...so y/n, there was actually something I wanted to ask you..."

Your pointed ears pricked up. "Yes, Jake?"

He took a breath, "So, I- um. If I liked someone, in a...romantic way. How would that play out? Like how would I tell them?"

Oh...Oh! Wait no, this couldn't be what this was. Jake wouldn't- he couldn't feel this way for you? Or worse, what if this advice was for some other woman, but then again why would he hold your hand like this. Why would he be so nervous to asked you this?

"Well, you would have to ask to court her. This is typically done with gifts, or sometimes actions. If she says yes, then you court her for a few weeks or months. And then you mate before Eywa and make tsaheylu."

He squeezed your hand and stepped in front of you.

"Y/n, I want- I made this...for you." He pulled an armband from his forearm. The band itself was two distinct colors, green and brown, the colors were woven together in a traditional Omatikaya pattern. In the center, where the colors meet, is a bead that holds in its place a long white and brown feather. It was beautiful. No one had ever made you anything like this before, with such care.

"You made this?" you said as you looked up at him, curiosity in your eyes.

"Y-yes, yeah I did." he chuckled nervously.

"It is beautiful, Jake. This gift...this is a courting gift?" You said your words carfully.

He swallowed, "Yes."

You paused for a moment, thinking, thinking of anything to make sense of this situation.

"Jake..." but he was already stopping you.

"Listen I know I'm not crazy. I've seen you looking at me before, I've seen you smile around me, I've seen that you don't let go when I hold your hand..." At that he grabbed you hand again, demonstrating your reluctance to pull away.

"Jake, it is more than that. Things must go a certain way for my status in my clan. I do enjoy my time with you, but this...you are not Omatikaya-

"I will be. I will be and once I am, I will be one of the people, one of you."

Now his hands were holding you arms, not tightly, but steadily, keeping you where you are. You knew you should tell him it wasn't enough, and that you both would still get disapproving looks and that the clan would most likely still not support it.

But you couldn't. Not with him. Not when he held you so gently, when you took the time to learn your ways, your people, when he took the time to learn you. To see you.

Eywa had kept him for a reason. And maybe or maybe not, this was it.

You took a breath and sighed, then smiled. "You skxawng. Do you not know what they will do to me? What they will do to you? You are a fool."

"I'll be that. If it means I can have you." He whispered as he smiled, then his hands found your waist and pulled you closer, resting his forehead on yours.

"I will protect you, and I don't even care what they say or do to me now. It's pretty worth it." He whispered the last part against your lips, and then connected them. His kiss was slow and passionate, like he had been waiting forever. His lips were soft and warm, and they made your heart race the fastest it ever had.

Lo'ak stared at the water, observing, remembering, remembering that Payakan was out there alone, and that he might never hear from him again. It grew quieter, the noise around him. That was util he heard distant, quiet footsteps quietly approach him.

It was Tsireya. The girl who held his heart with care, the one who gave him any sort of peace. As she came closer, he held his hand out to keep her steady, to which she gladly took, as she sat beside him, not letting go.

"Let me see." He said quietly, as he gently took her chin in his hand, moving her head a bit off to the side. She smiled.

"It looks nice, I like this on you" she let out a breath of relief she didn't realize she had been holding, "Come to the festival." she expressed as she tried to pull him up.

"No, no, no, later." he dismissed.

"Then I will just stay here with you."

He blushed and gave a shy smile as he looked away, she always had a way of making his heart leap. When he looked up at her again, she was so beautiful, the bioluminescent freckles scattered across her face, her dimples peaking through her smile. Her hair was different too, much more soft and lacked water, it was one of those rare times her hair was fully dry, it had been hours since her hair was wet from the sea which was very uncommon for their way of life.

He had to say something, anything to let her know how much he appreciated this moment with her, something to help her understand the overwhelming feelings he held in his heart for her. At least just a little.

His grip tightened as he moved closer to her.

"I just...I want to sit here with you, alone. I don't want to worry about anyone else right now." He moved a hand to rest on her knee, respectfully of course, and the other to intertwine their fingers together.

Tsireya swallowed nervously, "I like to be alone with you as well, Lo'ak."

He stared at her a bit longer before speaking again, "You look really beautiful tonight, is it selfish of me to want you her for myself?" he questioned as he tucked a loose curl behind her ear.

"You wanting is not selfish, Lo'ak" she took a breath before she continued, "I find myself at times wanting to spend time with you, away from your siblings and mine...sometimes, I even become frustrated whenever Ao'nung interrupts us. I guess I haven't realized that I have been wanting you to only myself as well." she looked away, embarrassed at her confession.

Lo'ak lifted his hand and guided her to look back to him, "Well then, we can be selfish together, that doesn't sound to bad, right?" he smirked.

She laughed at his words, "No, that does not." He pulled her closer into him, she laid her head on his shoulder as his hand tightened on her own, and his arm rested across her shoulders, holding her. She remembered something then, something her spirit sister had mentioned to her about Payakan, something Lo'ak, a brother of Tulkun, must know.

"Lo'ak," she said quietly as she lifted up her head to look into his eyes, "My spirit sister has been hearing Payakan's song, his is searching for his birth clan."

His eyes widened and his ears picked up, "What? she did? where is he?"

She let out a sigh, nervous that she may have gotten his hopes up. "Tulkun's song can travel very far Lo'ak, for all we know he could already be far beyond the reef."

Lo'ak sat up, on alert now. "But she can still hear him, that means he is still out there, I can go find him!"

"Lo'ak..." she sighed, ears pinning back.

"Please, Tsireya" he inched closer, enclosing her hand in both of his, "Please, you are the only one who can help me do this. I need to find him, and I know it is going against your ways and your parents but...he is the only brother I have left now. I cannot lose him."

He placed a hand on her cheek, his other hand still hanging on tightly to hers. "Please." Her breath hitched, in her heart she knew he was right, she knew Payakan didn't deserve this treatment and she wanted to help. So she decided she would, the way Lo'ak always did. If he could defy order to do the right thing, even if he would be punished for it, then she knew she could too. So she looked into his eye's and spoke.

"...we must go now, calf communion is in five days we cannot waste a moment." Lo'ak eye's lit up at this.

"I promise to repay this debt, ma'Tsireya. Thank you." he leaned in and gave her a quick, promising peck on the lips, turning her cheeks a deep shade of purple.

Lo'ak called for his ilu, and it took Tsireya a moment to call for her's since she had to come back to reality from Lo'ak's kiss. As they mounted their ilu's and headed back to the maruis to collect food and supplies, Tsireya spoke.

"This could be dangerous Lo'ak, you must understand this." She said softly as she touched his arm and looked into his eye's. Somewhere in the teal hue of her eye's Lo'ak saw something uncommon in her, in his Tsireya. He saw fear, maybe it was fear of the consequences once they came back, or maybe the fear from never having done such a thing to disobey her parent s before. Whatever is was, his answer was all the same.

He stepped closer, placing both of his hands on either sides of her face. His own eye's switching between hers.

"I will protect you." he promised.

And she didn't doubt that he would, and that was enough.

She took a breath before looking back up to him. "Okay." He smiled when his gaze fell to her lips, eyebrows furrowing, then he leaned in again and kissed her, this time it was a real kiss. It was soft and calm, but expressed a thousand feelings at once. They pulled away not before leaving their foreheads to rest against each other for a moment longer. After they officially pulled away, they refocussed their minds on the task ahead.

"Let's go find him before he gets too far." Tsireya stated as she mounted her ilu. Lo'ak nodded and climbed onto his own.

In an instant they swam off into the sea on the search for an outcast. No one knew they had gone, they wouldn't know for hours. Until then they had a mission to focus on. One that neither of them could do alone.

Sempul = Father

Palulukan = Thanator (Pandoran Panther)

Tsaheylu = Bond

Skxawng = Idiot/Moron

Muntxate = Wife

.ೀ.ೀ.ೀ.ೀ.ೀ.ೀ.ೀ

I never thought Eywa would have me spare a dream walker from death. I did not like it, not one bit, but who am I to question her will.

That is how I ended up here, finding my way home with this stupid mutt following me around. Was it not enough that I have already saved his life, he must make mine miserable. They had already taken enough with their mere existence, the plant life near their base was hardly habitable anymore. They had taken enough when the nearby trees were being torn down by their heavy metaled machines. And they had taken far, far too much when they killed Sylwanin.

I wanted nothing to do with them and their ways. I simply followed Eywa's will and was now on my way home. So why was I being punished for it?

"Hey! Wait up!" I kept moving, hoping he would realize I am no help, and would turn away.

"Thank you for killing those things, I would-"

Thank?! How dare he! How dare he feel thankful for such an event such as death!? I swung my bow at him, effectively throwing him off his balance.

"Thank!? Thank for what? This is sad, very sad they did not need to die for this. For you."

"Sad? They were trying to-"

"Quiet! You know nothing of anything!" I press the sharp tip of my bow to the base of his neck.

"Okay! okay. I'm sorry alright?"

I turn on my heel to leave, effortlessly pulling myself up the sturdy, thick branch of a very large tree, I had done this many times by now.

As I walk, I hear grunting and twigs snapping and leaves breaking. I turn and see him barley hanging on while struggling to clime up.

This was pathetic. Truly.

I keep walking, blocking out whatever noise this tawtute was producing. As I look up, I see them. Atokirina'. What has peaked their interest tonight? And why have they come here?

They slowly descend, and I stand very still. They are coming to me! What could this mean, what have I done to have been blessed by such a creature.

As they fall to their destination I close my eyes, awaiting the sensation on my skin.

Only it never came.

I open my eyes to find no Atokirina' around me at all. Confused, I look to where they have gone. Only to find the most alarming sight I have ever seen in front of me.

The Atokirina' were perched not on me, but him!

How could this be right!?

On cue he started to smack away the spirits.

"Kehe!" I place my arm over his in effort to keep his hands still.

Until he does it again.

"No!" my eyes are widened now, he seems to listen the second time.

"What are these things?" he asked after a moment, looking around.

"Seeds of the Sacred Tree, very pure spirits" I tell above a whisper.

And just as quickly as the came to us, they started to float off. Away to something kinder perhaps. I look at him, the dream walker. Eywa has me spare him his death once, now pure spirts graze his skin as if deserving of it. It makes no sense. I do not understand. Never in my life have I ever been so puzzled by the Great Mothers decisions until now.

But of course. If Eywa allows it, then it is her will.

This was too much, too much for me to decipher alone.

This is Mothers job.

I look up once more at the man before I make my decision.

"Come" I immediately start my pace.

"what-"

"Will you come or not?" I say with a hiss in my throat. That seems to be what gets in moving.

⏾

Once arrived, the people look our way in shock, and some in fear. Of course they would, they have the right.

I bring him to the place where we held most of our gatherings and almost as if my mind was read, the Olo'eyktan descends from the stairs.

"Oel ngati Kameie ma'ite" he lifts his hand to the center of his forehead, middle finger touching the skin, before extending his arm out to me.

"Oel ngati kameie sempul" I do the same to him.

"My daughter, what has made you bring this dream walker to this place. You know they are forbidden." he states sternly.

"I know father. I was going to kill him. But Eywa has sent a message, twice, to spare his life."

Before we could continue the conversation, Mother came down and announced her presence.

"What is going on?" she says as she looks up to see the new face. "Who is this dream walker?"

Immediately, the tawtute whispers something beside me. "Who is she?"

"That is Mother. She is Tsahik."

Mother then walks up to him slowly, observing his stance and posture.

"What are you called?"

His eyes widen, more than likely because he is surprised to see someone other than myself speak English.

"Jake Sully"

"And what are you? What do you want?"

"To learn. I was a Marine uh- a warrior on earth. And I have come to learn your ways."

A warrior!? my eywa he could barley climb!

Mother looks into his eyes, really looks. Then took her knife and quickly poked a vein on his neck, licking the blood off the tip.

"Ow!"

She turns to me, returning her voice to our mother tongue.

"My daughter, you will teach him our ways. To speak and walk as we do."

No. This could not be happening I only sought to bring him here, not to be stuck with him!

"But mother why me? this is not fair, you know-"

"Enough." I dismissed me sternly.

I yell out in annoyance. Why did she have to do this to me? I have been nothing but a good, respectable daughter.

"It is decided, my daughter will teach you our ways. Learn well, Jake Suli. Then we will see if your insanity can be cured."

⏾

If the forest does not kill him soon, I certainly will.

"Again" I say after I take a breath.

"Nary"

"Nari"

"Narri" putting much more emphasis on the R than needed.

"Nari!"

"Narii" and he still gets it wrong, so I smack across the head.

"Ow!" his tail flicks.

"Is it so hard you skxawng? Can you not repeat what you hear?

"It's tough alright! Im not used to moving my mouth this way."

"Well learn!" I say, my tail flicking in irritation.

This is pointless, what use could this bring to anyone? He can barley say such a simple word! How could attempting to teach a human give us any sort of advantage. We known they can't, or simply are not capable, of learning.

But mother has assigned me this task, so I must fulfill it. No matter how stupid it may be.

I take a breath, and go back to my spot in front of him.

"Okay" I sigh. "listen closely, tawtute"

"What's that mean?"

"Tawtute?" I questioned. He nodded.

"Human"

"Ooh" finally realizing what I have been addressing him as this entire time. "Taw-tu-te" he tests the word on his tongue. This surprises me, this is the closest he has gotten to proper pronunciation all day.

"Say it again. Slower."

"Taw-tu-te..."

And for the first time in days, I am not completely annoyed.

"Again."

"Tawtute"

"Very well" I keep my expression neutral but he is overjoyed my the accomplishment. Smile growing bigger.

"Do not celebrate we still have many more to cover."

On cue, his grin drops as he realizes that this is far from over.

⏾

"You must hurry!" I yell to Jake as I start to see him slow down. My feet move and grip with urgency, I predict which branches to jump on before I jump. Bow and arrows in my hands as I look behind me.

Jake hastily trying to catch up, while also clearly not trying to fall.

I stop and this irritates me.

"Jake, you will fall if you keep worrying about falling"

"Easy for you to say, you've been doing this since you were a kid!"

To be fair, he had improved. He was faster know, and spoke our words more properly. He could climb well, at least well enough. He had been getting stronger from all the exercise I assume, which means I must be doing something right. He just couldn't get over his paranoia.

"Hey um, I don't think I ever caught your name?"

He hadn't. He never needed too. I had always sought him out in order to not be scolded by mother or father about my "lack of will." I was always around him if needed and he was always around if I needed to tell him something important. He had never had a use to call out to me before.

"Rina'li Te Tskaha Mo'at'ite." I state. I climb the large tree before, reaching for a push fruit.

"Um, again? maybe a whole lot slower?"

I sigh, too tired to argue as I take a bite of the fruit, the sweet taste refreshing my mind.

"Rina'li"

"Rina'li" he tests the name before smiling at me. "Well, it's nice to meet you Rina'li"

⏾

Later that night, when the clans member were off to sleep, I slipped passed and made my way towards the main forest. I wanted to see the fan lizards, they were one of my favorite animals and I hadnt had the chance to see them in weeks.

Thats when I remembered Jake. Leaving Jake wasn't the problem, it was my parents. If they had found out I left Jake alone to wonder off by myself I would never hear the end of it, also who knows what they would have me do as punishment.

But maybe I could take him with me, it would keep my parents at bay. Then also, maybe it will show him a different side of these lands, not ones of just hunting and surviving, but the beauty of what it all means.

He was leaning against a tree when I found him.

"Hi Rina'li"

I nodded my head a bit in acknowledgment. "Would you like to see something wonderful?"

He nodded.

"Come"

When we arrived, it was dark, very dark and I could tell that Jake was contemplating if I had just lured him into a trap.

We moved slowly, through the grass, the bushes, until we found a family of fan lizards. I looked over at him and grabbed his hand with both of mine gently, bringing it to the lizards back.

"Now, graze it's back very carefully." I say in a hushed whisper as I retreat my hands.

I see his breath hold as he follows my intructions.

Thats when it happened, the lizards started to fly. It's one circular wing expanding in a colorful glow as it shoots up into the air.

Jake lets out a small laugh and I repeat his action.

I then reach out my hands to do the same and ignite the rest of the lizard family members.

They all fly now, endless colors glow around our faces. As they dance around us, I can't help but smile. They are so wonderful, such beautiful creatures.

I look up at Jake, and watch his smile only brighten as the colors dance across his face. He looks back at me laughing.

"This is incredible!"

"I know!" I laugh back.

Most people on these lands had seen these lizards before, but this kind of life was normal, so no one had ever really cared for them as much as I have. Most life had glowed, but to me, these guys were different, they kept to themselves and looks almost boring. completely colorless. That was, until, they flew and proved any of those thoughts wrong. It had almost been inspiring to me since I was a child.

But Jake had never seen something like this, or anything like this. His eyes were fresh to the beauty I tried so hard to show others. It was nice to be able to show off something I found so beautiful.

As the lizards made their descend, the color slowly faded and Jake turned to me fully now.

"Thank you Rina'li, I've never seen something so beautiful, ever!"

I couldn't help it, I smiled uncontrollably. Then I felt a blush creep across my face, and I was suddenly very thankful of how dark it was.

"You are welcome, Jake"

For the first time in a long while, I didn't feel shame for what he was, and I was not irritated or upset by his lack of knowledge. I found it almost endearing. I started to think of more things to show him in the near future.

⏾

The ground was wet from the rain early today. Which was perfect because it gave me the opportunity to show Jake creatures.

After rain had settles, the Palulukan watch over their pups as they play in left over puddles. It still is one of the sweetest sights to see and I was excited to show him.

"Stay low" I whispered, and we approached the bushes.

First we saw the mother, strong and mighty appear out of a cave. Jakes breath hitched and he slowly started to pull at the base of the arrow at his bow string.

"Kehe" I whispered in shock, and pushed the bow back down. "I did not bring you here to hunt, Tawtute, I have brought you here to watch."

He looked at me confusingly, until he heard a noise, the small patters of feet. The Palulukan pups emerged from the cave, running in excitement, through the puddles around them, one of them ran into the other. I smiled at the joy. I felt Jakes eyes on me then, and when I turned to him, I could see his smile grow on his face as he smiled at the animals.

"Yes, we do hunt, but it is important not to stop the flow of life and energy. The Omatikaya do not typically hunt the Palulukan, but if we do, we would never kill in front of their children, you see?"

"That would be cruel." he said in a distant tone.

I started at him for a moment, and had a small feeling of hope for him. "yes, very."

After we had retreated, I brought him to one of the many leaf pitcher plants, and brought the end of a leaf to my lips. The water was cool and refreshing, but before I could continue, I stepped back after taking enough. Jake did the same.

"You do not take more than what you need. Ever. You only take enough for yourself or your family, and if there is not enough for you and the other creatures of this forest, then you take nothing at all."

His ears pinned back a bit and he nodded.

"All energy is only borrowed and one day you must give it back."

"This applies to all life in this world, everything is so different, but they all help each other in some way. We are all the same." I had hope that Jake was starting to understand our ways, why we lived the way we do. Even if he did not, he seemed compliment with my words.

"Only when you truly understand, will I allow you to kill."

I expected him to scoff, to tell me he knew to well how to take life.

But instead he just nodded, accepting my criticism.

⏾

The drums were loud, the bonfire was blazing and everywhere there was someone dancing. Tonight was a common celebration, celebrating the upcoming warriors to join the clan and be accepted as one of The People.

Today, Jake had made his first kill, it was calm and clean. His breath was slow, and he showed no fear. Immediately after striking the animal he sprinted forward to get to it as quick as possible and I followed.

He thanked it for its sacrifice, acknowledged it as his brother. Then he tore his knife on the vital area of its neck, taking its life instantly. I could not help but noticed the way his arms moved at the action, his shoulders and back muscled tense, his eyes focused, his hands forgiving.

He finished the prayer, and if I did not know any better, if I had not known who was or who he worked for, and if I had not looked at him too closely, I would have thought he was true Omatikaya.

"A clean kill. You are ready now."

Now, Jake was by my side, weaving poorly as I tried to show him a traditional Omatikaya style of bracelet.

"Show me again, I'll get it this time"

"I have shown you three times already, skxawng!" I say with a laugh.

It has been much easier with him as of lately, he has been learning the culture well. He looks so happy to learn something new everyday. It has been very nice to teach him, especially since his care-free spirit is a comforting break from my own duties as tsakarem.

Interrupting the happy moment was my betrothed, Tsu'tey.

"What is this supposed to be? a bracelet?" he said as he knelt down to pick up Jake's creation.

I stood up, grabbing the bracelet back before speaking.

"Enough Tsu'tey. Yes, now go." I demanded sternly.

He looked from my eyes to Jake's, and then back to mine.

"Won't you come dance with me? Ma muntxate?"

My ears pinned back, I hated when he called me that and I hated when others heard him call me that even more. I was promised to him, that is true, but I still would like to live in the delusion that I am free while I still can.

Jake shifted uncomfortably, "Muntxate?"

"Yes"

"No"

I spoke first, "I am no such thing"

"Not right now, but soon" he then looked over at Jake, "We are to be mated, we will keep this clan strong. Is that a problem for you?"

"Tsu'tey enough!" I say trying to push him back. What was he doing!? Why would Jake care about any of this, his didn't need to know. Jakes ears pinned back a bit before coming back up.

"No not at all, why would it be?"

After enough pushing, Tsu'tey finally understood and walked away. I sat down and replayed the words Jake had just spoken moments ago. My stomach drops a bit and I'm not sure why, I did not expect Jake to say anything at all, so his admitting out loud that my betrothal hadn't bothered him only made my feelings more confusing.

He didn't care. Okay? why did I feel all weird about it. What did I want him to say?

It didn't matter, so I pushed the feeling down and handed the bracelet back to Jake, who looks visibly disappointed by Tsu'teys comment. I couldn't help but feel horrible.

I scooted closer to him and placed a hand on his.

"I think the bracelet looks wonderful, it is wonderful."

He lifted his head to look at me, his face lit up by firelight as he gave me a handsome smile, "Thank you, Rina'li"

My heart sped up, but I ignored it and smiled, suddenly realizing his warm hands were still touching mine.

"It is time for sleep, you have a very big day tomorrow" Tomorrow was his Iknimaya and he needed all the rest he could get to focus properly and not die at the hands of an Ikran.

⏾

The morning light came and wakes me from my slumber.

Today was it, it was Jake's time to prove himself to the clan, to prove that the sky people can change. The sky people were ruthless and I still didn't trust them one bit, but maybe there were a few kind ones, ones that really did love our way and the forest as much as we did. If that is true, I am glad that Jake is one of them.

At first I was annoyed and almost angry with him everyday, his was so full of himself, thinking he new everything, but when it came to me teaching him something he was clueless. It was irritating to say the least, and those first few weeks I was secretly hoping my parents would assign someone else to teach him. After a while I knew nothing was going to change, and that I was stuck with him for the next few months at least.

But then he started to learn.

He started to get the words right, learning basic sentences and answering questions. He understand what it meant to hunt, not to just take life but to understand it. He used his body more and more everyday, he ran faster until he could keep up with me, climbing, swimming and all.

My favorite moments with him were the animals. I took it upon myself to show him the different ways each and every animal in the forest lived. I needed him to know we weren't all powerful beings the way humans thought of themselves as. So I showed him families, I showed him how this creatures were when no one was watching, when they were just being. I really think he understands now. Now he walks with caution, he speaks with care and kindness. I admire this about him, his ability to change, to adapt, to learn

Lately he has been talking to me much more, whether we were training or not. I did not mind, he has been very good company, but Tsu'tey was not to pleased to learn this. He told me that it was inappropriate for me to be spending so much time with a man not my betrothed. I didn't listen to him. I never did. It was moments like that where I wondered how we would ever be able to lead this clan as a couple.

Jake was my friend, and now soon to be one of The People.

Tsu'tey was just going to have to get used to that.

I climb down from my hammock and make my way over to Jake and the other soon to be warriors. "Hello, tawtute. Are you ready for your challenge today?" I say with a smile on my face.

"More than ready, I got this, Im practically one of The People already" he said enthusiastically.

"Not yet, but we will see." I take a small bowl of orange paint from nearby and dip two of my fingers into it. "Sit" I demand and he obey's. I start with a small oval shaped dot in the space between his eyebrows, then I spread more paint in the center of his nose until it creates a much larger, circular dot, last, I drag a finger from a either sides of the circle, grazing the points at where his eyebrows began and crossing his forehead diagonally, so both lines form a wing-like shape. This image is meant to represent the Ikran, it is what all Omatikaya must where for their Iknimaya. His gaze was intense on mine as I finished the last touches I was making to the paint. I began to feel nervous.

"Why are you staring at me?"

"I can't stare?" he said, and I noticed his tail swaying side to side playfully.

"People only stare when there is reason to, so what is your reason, tawtute?" I felt hot under his gaze, this nervousness felt odd and I needed to know why so I could get myself under control.

"The ceremony paint looks nice on you." He said in a lower tone, not wanting the others to hear. I, however, froze. His comment made my heart feel warm and start to pick up pace. Tsu'tey had never said anything about my appearance before, the only time anyone did was when I was younger, when my mother used to tell me it would be so easy to find a mate for me because I was so beautiful. I had never really thought about my what I looked like besides that, it was never relevant to anything important.

But now Jake is telling me I look nice. He is odd, I assume he is still becoming used to the different attire of our clan, but his staring still makes me feel warm, and I start to feel blush creep up my neck.

I step back, signaling to him that I am done, and whatever he was doing must be over with now. "You may go, follow Tsu'tey, and I will meet you there." He smiled at me and I smiled back, even though it was small, I very much enjoyed this small interaction between us.

I turned and walked towards the trees, using a click call to call Zakar over for our ride to Ayram Alusing.

The ride is short but steep, Zakar must fly at an angle to get to these hights, which requires me holding on. Zakar was the best Ikran, a sweet girl that I am forever grateful for, she was beautiful to admire as well, her skin obtained many different colors, but the dominant ones were blue and purple. She was very pretty to look at, and I liked to think she compliment me.

As we flew in, Zakar slowed down and perched herself on the edge of the cliff letting out a banshee cry. I swing my leg over to slide off, dragging my hand against Zakar's skin as I walk to her head, petting her gently.

"Good girl, Zakar" I smile at her and tap her head letting her know she is free to go. She lets out a soft sigh before leaning back and diving off the cliff.

When I turn Tsu'tey greets me, "Oel ngati kameie" I tap my forehead and extend my arm, "Oel ngati kameie" I say softly. I see Jake off to the side, eyes widened slightly as he starts to smile and nods once in acknowledgment to my presence. Tsu'tey looks between us and speaks.

"Jake Suli will go first" to this Jake rolls his eyes and begins to walk in front of everyone, I follow him next as I eye Tsu'tey harshly. We begin to walk in the narrow ledge leading to the colony of Ikran. We approche the narrow ledges end and he stops, observing to animals in front of him.

I place a hand on his arm in an effort to keep him focused. "Alright, now it is time to choose your Ikran, this you must feel in here," I place my hand over his heart, "when he chooses you, remember to move quick. You will have one chance Jake." He swallows and looks up once more at the creatures in his sight.

"How will I know if you chooses me?"

"He will try to kill you" I say calmly.

"Wonderful."

He moves forward, walking carefully and I trail behind him. Many Ikran screech at him but he shoo's them away. After a few moments of walking, we approach an Ikran that does not shy away, but in fact moves closer to screech at Jake.

We have found him.

Jake tilts his head and smiles, and then lets out a threatening hiss.

I smile excitedly at that and back away in preparation for what's coming. Jake waits until the Ikran goes in to bite him, thats when he takes his chance. He wraps his string of rope around the Ikran's beak, and hops on it's back. Immediately the Ikran flaps his wings in attempt to get Jake off. Behind me I hear Tsu'tey laughing with the others, calling him stupid and this infuriates me.

"Quiet!" I yell at him and make my way closer to Jake and the Ikran.

"Make the bond, Jake!"

In his attempt to grab his kuru, the Ikran throws its head back and hits Jake in the head. Hard. He falls off and is only saved by his hands catching on the vines on the side of the mountain.

"Jake!" I yell, as I run to the side of the mountain. "Get up, Jake! Come on!"

He pulls himself up and runs to the Ikran again and tackles its neck. He wraps the rope around its beak again. He is wasting time.

"Tsaheylu, Jake! Hurry!"

He puts his legs around the beak, effectively hold its head down. He then grabs his and the Ikran's kuru, bringing them together and makes the bond. The Ikran stops moving and Jake gently unwraps the rope from its beak, the Ikran sits up straight, as does Jake on its back. I run over to them both.

"You must go now. The first flight seals the bond. Now think: Fly!"

"Fly?" he says and yells as his Ikran jumps off the side of the cliff. I look over the mountain and he them soaring down...very uncoordinatedly. "Figure it out, Jake, come on" I whisper to myself.

And after he almost fully crashes into a mountain, the banshee soars down again, before eventually leveling out and flying smoothly.

"Yes!" I run another edge of the cliff while calling Zakar. She glides down from the skies and uses her talons to hang on the side of the mountain, I run up to her, swinging myself on her back and pulling her back to dive down to Jake's level. Once I've caught up, I cry out to call to him. He turns and smiles, "Hey!" he yells.

He's riding an Ikran. He is really doing it! I look at him now, and I see how happy he looks. His happiness warms my heart, I am very proud of him.

This joy is interrupted when, all of a sudden, it is dark. I giant shadow hover over us both. Oh no. I look up and loose my breath. Toruk.

He dives in for us and I yell, "Dive!"

Me and Jake have our Ikran's dive towards the forest down below and once we reach it, our banshee's soar through the tree's in an effort to find an escape. "Follow me!" Jake yell's, and I do without question. We turn to the right and fly through this enormous vines, big enough for us to get through, but much too small for Toruk.

Our Ikran's find refuge on a large tree, hanging on and trying to catch their breath, as were we.

"Mawey, Zakar...Mawey" I steady my breath and look to Jake, worry on my face. "Jake? are you alright?" he looks at me and starts to grin, and then starts to laugh. Laugh? How can he laugh, we almost died!? but when I looked up at him again to ask, he was still laughing. And I guess I did notice that he looked very handsome when he did, this made me smile, and then I started to laugh at how ridiculous I sounded to myself, and also at how relived I am to be alive. with Jake.

"We almost died!" he said loudly, smile still plastered on his face.

"and then you saved us" I say breathlessly. "Thank you, Jake"

His smile falters and he looks me up and down. "I got you."

I relax at the statement, it calms me for some reason, I enjoyed it.

"Rina'li?" he calls.

"Yes, Jake?"

"Why did you save me that night, from the thanator's? Why didn't you just let them kill me?"

I thought for a moment, ears pinned back as shame rises in my chest from my previous feelings of Jake, he questioned this because of my unmasked anger for him the first few weeks of knowing him. This made me feel regretful of how I had been treating him before.

"You showed no fear, that is admirable." I say, keeping my tone neutral before continuing on, "No fear means a strong heart."

He smiled at my words, and my heart quickened its pace knowing my words gave him joy.

⏾

The ceremony was beautiful, father gave his speech, announcing him as one of The People and Jake was accepted as Omatikaya.

Now it was time, to show him our most sacred place. Tsu'tey offered to show him, but I insisted that I would.

I lead him through the bioluminescent forest, when we arrive I slow down to let him admire the pink, glowing tendrils that hang from the tree's. He reaches for something I do not see, only to realize that they are fan lizards, as they fly up into the air around us. I laugh out of joy and smile at him.

I walk over to him, not breaking eye contact, while grab both his arms with my hands and pulling him with me, "Come, you must see, Jake." He looks down at me and picks up his pace to walk beside me, freeing one of his arms to wrap it around my waist. I blush at the new contact, and start to feel a bit dizzy, but I don't push him away. It felt too nice. After walking for a moment, practically hand in hand, we reach it, Utraya Mokri.

"What is this place?" he asks, letting go of me slightly.

"This is Utraya Mokri, The Tree of Voices." I say as I walk over to the pink tendrils.

"This is place where our ancestors live on. You can hear them." I say quietly as I bring the end of my kuru to the tree and allow it to connect. When they do, I hear them, their laughter, their songs. I open my eyes and motion for Jake to do this same. When he finally does, his pupils dialate and and turns to me.

"I- I can hear them." he says breathlessly.

"They live on, Jake. Through Eywa." I smile at the last word.

I disconnect from the tree and Jake follows my action, then carefully walks over to me. "Rina'li" he says quietly, "yes?" I say as I stare up at him, not wanting to look away.

"One of the Omatikaya men that I was speaking with told me something, he told me that once I become one of you that- well that I would have to choose a mate. Is that true?"

The thought bothered me, Jake having a mate. It twisted something in my stomach, why did I feel like this, it's not like it matters, I am betrothed already. I should not care for Jake's love life?

"Yes, you must choose a woman. But do not worry about this, we have many wonderful women to choose from." I sighed.

"But I don't- what if none of them want me? I'm still a freak, still tawtute remember? I don't think that's exactly a turn on."

I would not let him believe he is unworthy, not after everything he has accomplished. I walk over to him and place my hands on both sides of his face. "Jake, you are Omatikaya now, that is not something we just give out, you are kind and capable; you will make a wonderful mate, and I know not every woman here is blind.

We were very close now, his hands were resting on my hips and they felt so, very warm. My heart felt like it was trying to break its cage, I felt my tail flicker in nervousness, and when I look up at Jake again I caught his eyes staring at my lips before looking back up to me.

Oh no.

What was this? When did we start acting like this? Was this why I had been feeling this way the last few weeks? Had Jake been feeling it too? No, this shouldn't happen, this cannot happen.

I look down, and pull my arms back to grab his hands and push them away. I step back, losing a bit of breath.

"What's wrong?" he whispers as he steps forward, concerned.

"We cannot do things like that, Jake." I tried to say sternly, but failed.

"Do what?"

"Be near each other like this, I- I am to be mated."

His ears pinned back and a dark, annoyed expression grew on his face. "Yeah, I heard." and then he looks almost nervous again and speaks, "You have chosen him?" he asked.

"No, our parents believe this is the best match for the clan. So it is set."

He steps closer to and puts his hands on both sides of my face. "You do not want this? To be with him?" I looked at him, I knew what he would be asking next. I had to leave before I let him consume me.

"Jake, I want to do what is best for my people." I take his hands and pull them down. I try to slip away but before I set my pace he grabs my arm gently, but maintaining a firm grasp to keep me from going.

"Jake."

"I've seen how you get, when they so many things of you. How much they expect of you, and most of all, how unhappy you look around them."

"You do not know what goes on inside my head, you do not know if I am unhappy or not." I say firmly, trying to pull my hand from his grasp.

"I know you are unhappy with him than to when you are with me. I've seen you smile, and it is so beautiful, baby." he whispered softly.

My breath hitched, I have never been at such a loss for words. I had to stop this now.

"No, Jake" I said. "I am already someone else's, this cannot be, I am sorry."

"Why not?" I demanded. "Why can we not be together?"

Why was he making this so hard. "My duty comes first Jake, there are many more women, much more you have in common with than you think. Nanti is a wonderful dancer, she is adventurous and funny, and you would love her!"

"I don't want her! I don't think about her, I don't even know her and I don't want to! How could I love her? I can't love her when I love you."

He loved me?

After a moment, I reminded myself to take a breath since I had stopped breathing entirely. I heard ringing in my ears and barley knew what was happening anymore.

"You...you love me?" I whispered.

His hand came up to my cheek, while the other rested on my waist.

"I see you, Rina'li"

I thought about my clan, my duty, my parents, my betrothed. And I realized that I could not live that way forever, maybe for a while, but not forever. Not with a person I cannot truly love. I needed someone to see me, to accept me, to love me, and I to them.

And that person was not Tsu'tey.

I couldn't contain myself, and I didn't care, and I really enjoyed not having to care. The only person I could do that with was Jake.

"Jake."

"Yes?"

"I see you."

He smiled at this, that handsome smile that made my heart beat. He pulled me in my waist, stealing a breathy laugh from me. He leaned down and lightly pressed his lips to mine. Nothing could describe this feeling, nothing could come close. My body felt warm all over, I felt his warm hands on me and melted as he continued. His lips felt consuming and loving and soft as they moved with mine and I have never felt safer. We pulled apart for a moment for air and I took the opportunity to speak.

"Ma'Jake..." I whispered against his lips.

"Yes, baby?"

"I am scared" I admitted.

He pulled back a bit to see my face, his eyebrow's furrowed. "Why? Tell me."

I looked down at his hands, holding them in mine. Five fingers. His is still an avatar, he may be Omatikaya now but what will this make the clan think of me. The future tsahik is now with what used to be an outsider. What will be the result of this?

"Tell me, please baby." his human accent was thick to my ears, but his voice still sounded like msuic.

"I am scared...for what the will happen, what will they do once they find out. I do not want them to shun you, what if keep you from me or worse, revoke your status of Omatikaya for keeping me from my duties." I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let them take him away.

He thought for a while, a long while, before speaking again.

"Well, I can think of one thing...that they can't deny, no matter what."

Tsaheylu. He was talking about tsaheylu. He was right, once the mating bond was sealed no one can deny its existence, no one. Not even Eywa herself, as long as they have chosen each other.

"Jake, this is is sacred. This is for life." I whispered cautiously, staring into his golden eyes.

"I've already chosen, I've chosen since you smacked me across the head when I couldn't pronounce a single word in Na'vi." he whispered, and I laughed at the memory, it seems so long ago now.

"But this woman that I've chosen must also choose me." he said with an intense gaze.

I looked down at his lips, then to the side, suddenly feeling shy. I smiled before looking back up into his eye's.

"She already has." I whispered.

I immediately felt his hands tighten on my on waist, pulling me into him. This time he kisses me with passion, and I let him. My arms instinctively wrap around his neck, pulling him closer. After a while, when my lips start to feel swollen, I felt his lips leave mine to kiss the corner of my mouth, then my jaw, then my neck. This felt like heaven, his arms around my body, his lips devouring my skin.

"Jake" I moan breathlessly, unsure of how to react.

"You look so beautiful, baby. god I've wanted you for so long." I said into the skin just below my ear. His confession made smile. Suddenly I felt his body lowering and pulling mine down with him. He sat on the ground and pulled my hips down onto his lap. He kissed my collarbone and tried to make his way further down, and as much as I hated to do it, I pushed him slightly away. He groaned at this.

"Rina'li, please." his eyeborw's furrowed in discomfort as he looked up at me. "Please, baby." he whispered once more.

"Ma'Jake" I say, capturing his attention. "We must focus. Tsaheylu, remember?" I say, and this seemed to bring him back from whatever state he was in. "Right." he sighed, I leaned back to give us enough space, reaching for my kuru behind my neck, Jake followed this action with care. As I brought the end up to reveal to him, he grabbed my unoccupied hand, squeezing it gently in reassurance. His brought his kuru to mine. And tsaheylu was made.

It felt as if seeing the world from new eyes, I saw everything from Jake's eye's. I felt as if our minds had become one. I squeezed his hand for stability as if felt like thunder cracked across my body. Jake took a long breath to calm himself, and I did the same.

"Woah" he breathed.

"It is exciting, isn't it?" I said as I placed my arms around him.

"Very" he whispered and I felt both of his arms wrap around my body pulling me closer to kiss him. I holds my back this one hand and gently lifts my body before I feel my back lie against the soft moss. I gasp at the sudden action and look up at Jake.

"What do you think you are doing?" I question playfully at him.

"Why? You want me to stop?"

I observe the scene above me, his handsome face staring longingly at me, his arms. His shoulders, the shoulders of a warrior. No, I did not want him to stop at all, I wanted him for myself.

"No, I do not want you to stop."

He smirked a bit before speaking, "We are going to have an exciting day tomorrow with the others."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow. I have no intention of ending this anytime soon." With that he kissed me again, and it felt warm and real. And even though tomorrow would bring eywa knows what, I knew that I would not be alone, because I would have him.

Dancing with the other well trained dancers in the center of the village. This wasn't unusual for him, staring at you as you performed. You simply thought he just admired the art.

But for Neteyam is was so much more than that.

Of course he enjoyed the art of dance, it was Na'vi tradition after all, but it was about you dancing that set his heart a flame. He found you beautiful, ethereal. There was no way that you hadn't noticed what you did to him these past few months. And now as we watched you in your element, he knew that it was you that he wanted, he watched the way your feet repeatedly hit the ground, the way your hips swayed and how your arms told a story, a legend long before either of you.

As the night deepened, the ceremonial dances came to a conclusion. You had spoken with your family and friends already, and as you looked up at the lingering people before you, your eyes locked with Neteyam's.

Eywa he was so handsome.

It wasn't exactly a secret how you felt about Neteyam, at least not to your close friends. But you did refrain from speaking on your feeling about him outwardly, knowing the elders would not be so supportive of this growing affection for the Omatikaya boy. Neteyam was your friend, a very close friend. You two shared a bond that was not like anything you both have ever felt before. On some level you both had a mutual understanding of this, and you very much enjoyed this relationship you had with him. Others had realized too, longer before you ever did, that you and Neteyam were different around each other, different in a way friends never were. It wasn't until recently you have noticed the way your heart picks up when you feel the heat of his skin on yours, or how when he teases you your blush deepens a bit more.

As your eyes linger on him you smile. Your genuine, sweet smile that he adored oh so dearly. A smile that he would fight a thousand wars against the sky people just to see once more.

"Hello, sevin" he said calmly as he approached you. Eywa why did he always have to call you that.

"Hi" you said, smiling sweetly. "I saw you watching, did you enjoy the show?" you asked teasingly. "I did very much, I had no idea a little pearl like you could be so vibrant." I give a small laugh as I start to slowly walk off towards the water. "How you flatter me" he simply smirked at that and walked up to walk by my side. "We have not spent time together this entire week, I feel almost odd that I have not been annoyed in so long" annoyed! oh please you would be bored without me. And that is only because you have completed all of your basic training and your sibling still need to catch up, so there is no need for me to teach you one on one." You didn't notice, but he frowned a bit, missing the quality time you both would spend together. He looked around and made sure no one was closely looking or paying any mind to him or you. "Come."He grabbed your hand and led you down the beach to the cave you and him had found while looking for seashells together.

"You are lucky I trust you, now why are we here?" you stated as you looked around at the rocky walls around you, enamored with bioluminescent plant life.

"I don't know, just missed you I guess" this made your heart rate spike, eywa he always says things like this. "well, I am right here" you stated as you sat next to his place on the sand.

He looked at you, and you were breathtaking.

Tonight you wore your shiny top, decorated with pearls and shells from the depths of the ocean, it made you glow, he thought. And your hair, starting from base of your hairline were four braids, weaving back across your scalp to the very crown of your head, there the braids ended and were sealed by small pieces of gold and from then on your hair was free. Curls out and wild that spiral all the way down to your lower back. He really needed to remind himself to keep breathing.

"What? is there something wrong with my hair?"

Why was he staring at you? "Nothing ma sevin, you look beautiful tonight" he said as he smiled easily. Your ears pinned back a bit, and blush started to creep across your cheeks. He has called you sevin a million times but he has never once called you ma sevin. You looked up into his eyes "you think so?" He took a piece of hair that obstructed his view of your face, tucking it behind your ear. His eyes lingered on yours, and then on your lips for just a moment too long. The tension got thicker, you felt it, and you knew he felt it too, but it was comfortable, things were always comfortable with him.

"And if I said, you were the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on" he answered barley above a whisper.

"What would you say ma yawne?"

His eyes were locked onto yours, almost daring you to look away. Neteyam's words were bleeding across the line, whatever imaginary line that neither one of you had ever paid any attention too that kept you steady and kept you both from taking that step too far.

You keep your demeanor calm, "Neteyam...if you are just saying these things-"

"I am not."

"You find me beautiful, Neteyam." you said just above a whisper as you stared into his golden eye's, your face resting as the weight of the circumstance consumed you. It wasn't a question, it was a statement, a statement that you needed to clarify before you let this continue any further.

"I find you much more than just beautiful, ma y/n"

You smiled softly, heart beating in your ears. For months you thought this was just Neteyam's character, the charming son of Toruk Makto, that this was just who he was, a flirt. But after a while you realized he didn't talk to any other Na'vi woman they way he spoke to you, he didn't stare too long or leave lingering touches or call them any of the things he called you.

But here he was now, letting sweet names slip past his lips into the night, names that are only spoken between lovers and mates. His finger tips grazing the nape of your neck and collarbone, your shoulders, arms, hands as he lowers his arm. And you let him, because you craved him, desired him, felt safe with him.

"How is it that you have yet to find a lover? I am sure there are many who yearn to be your betrothed."

It was true, as of recent, your parents have thrown around the idea of your acquiring a mate, insisting they help in choosing the best, most honorable suitor for their beloved daughter. However, you really weren't interested, not because you did not like the men of your clan, but because you did not want you love to be chosen for you, you wanted to choose your own path in this life and wanted someone to truly I love you for who you were. To see you.

And you also found many other Na'vi men to lack your type of humor. Many have asked to court you, few have asked you to your face, and the ones that did barley knew anything about you, just your skills and role in the clan.

But Neteyam never felt like that. No he was more, so much more, he was kind with you, listened to you, laughed with you, and cared for you deeply, you felt it. He was your best friend, and treated you with he upmost happiness and care. He was someone you respected so deeply, not because he was a warrior, or because he was Toruk Makto's son, or the descendent of many Olo'eyktan's, but because he has earned it. He has showed you who he is and who he strives to be, and who he is with you. You see him.

"I suppose you are right, there are many warriors do much for my hand. At least thats what my mother tell me." you laugh at the last part.

"I never see you with any of these so-called warriors, I assume these noble men do not meet your standards?" he questioned cautiously.

"No" you dragged the word out as you looked down at your hands, worried he might think you are picky, "they do not and I do not want someone to be chosen for me, or choose me simply for the offers I can provide as a mate."

He looked down, almost nervous, and then back up at you, admiring the small, bioluminescent freckles scattered across your face, and then at your eyes that held all the beauty of the ocean-

"Neteyam?"

His thoughts were cut short

"Yes?"

"You are staring again"

He took a breath, gathering up a bit of courage.

"I just wanted to know if- do you think- um..."

Thats when you realized that Neteyam was nervous, nervous of how to ask whatever it was he wanted to ask you, nervous about your reaction, nervous because of you.

You scooted closer to him, shoulders touching. If you both turned your heads to fully face each other, you would be able to feel each others breath.

"Ask me, Neteyam. I will not shy away from you" eywa you would never shy away from him.

He swallowed and finally looked you in the eye.

"If it were me, would I...do I meet...your standards"

Your breath hitched, you tried to find an appropriate, neutral answer to his question, but he wanted to know, and he wouldn't ask unless he wanted the truth. So thats what you gave him.

You looked down, embarressed.

"...yes, yes. You do"

"Y/n"

"Yes" you responded almost too quickly.

"I- um, I-"

Neteyam didn't know exactly what to say to ask you his question, but he knew telling you how he felt about you would probably be a good start.

"I find you very graceful and kind, I see how you help everyone around the village when they are in need, how your face lights up when you are dancing, how you stand up for my siblings and I when Ao'nung picks on us. Whenever you find seashells that carry your favorite colors on them you smile, and it warms my heart when you do. You are so incredibly smart it almost takes my breath away when you so effortlessly come up with ways to outsmart the sky peoples. You are strong, you have the strongest heart I know. You are all of my thoughts, my desires, I feel at peace when you are near me, when you touch me I feel my skin ignite. Lately whenever you speak, I have to keep myself focused on your words because I am so distracted by your beauty" He placed a hand gently on your cheek "My heart soars when you say my name and I find myself suffocating at the thought of losing you."

You hadn't blinked, your eyes were glassy as you started in Neteyam's

"I want you, I have unknowingly devoted myself to you and only you."

"Let me court you."

You could have died right there and you would have died immensely happy.

"Let me show you- show you how I would be as your mate. If you would have me-"

"yes"

You both smiled so brightly.

"yes, ma Teyam"

He couldn't contain himself anymore, he leaned in and kissed you, your lips were soft and demanding as you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His hand found the small of your back, pulling your body close, while the other remained on your cheek. the kiss itself was loving and kind to you, it felt like you had finally been able to breath after being trapped under water for so long, and by the feel of it, Neteyam had felt the same. After what felt like forever, you two pulled away. You needed to ask him one more thing, and you hoped it would not change his mind.

"Ma Teyam...you know, the village will talk."

"I know"

"The elders might give you dirty looks from time to time, they might even mutter hurtful things under their breath."

His shoulders tensed, but still without any hesitation he said,

"I know"

"I don't want us- or me to cause your family any more problems"

He leaned in, grazing my lips and whispered "I know ma yawntu"

"No, Neteyam" I pushed him back slightly so he could see my face. "They will stare, they will call us odd, it will give them more reason to target your family, I wouldn't want-"

"Let them." he said sternly. "Let them talk, let them say whatever they want, I do not care. I only care for you. You are my priority now."

Your eyes widneded.

"I see you" he said softly.

"I see you, ma Teyam"

He leaned in once more, stealing your breath in the process, and kissed you passionatley.