#avatar ff

Firstly I hope everyone has been doing well, staying safe, and taking care of yourselves.

Since I’ve been gone I’ve done lots of mental healing, focusing on my personal life and my spiritual journey and I believe I am in the right state to finally come back to tumblr.

I want it to be known that things will be a bit different on this blog. It is my wish that while I do continue to write for Avatar on occasion, that I am also able to create new and original works.

It is going to take some time for me to organize this blog as well as get new stories out, but please be patient with me. If there are any past stories of mine that you would like to see re-uploaded, please don’t hesitate to let me know, but aside from that, this is intended to be a fresh start☺️

I missed all of my mooties and readers so much and I am very eager to interact with everyone again🥹🖤

you don’t even remember what exactly happened after... that.

you just remember neteyam’s eyes going absolutely numb, almost glossed with doubt. you hit him where you wanted to. but now you’re not even sure if that was how you wanted to make him feel. it’s incredible how you used to feel that proudness and glory in your chest every time he almost cried because of something you said. were was that feeling now ? was it now buried, the same way that neteyam was buried in your mind ?

you almost felt bad, regretting immediately what you said, but at least hoping he would get angry or say something back to alleviate that feeling of deep guilt you were sensing. you knew that even though he doesn’t show it, he cares. yes, he does actually care about what you say, what you eat, who you hang out with. but how could you be so dumb ? why would he make fun of you and ao’nung if he didn’t give an absolute fuck ? but you don’t get it, is he jealous ? is he worried ?

what are you neteyam, what are you thinking about, since you know every single thought of mine from how deep you’re buried in my mind ? are we feeling the same things ?

every time you thought about the way his hand, that was on the back of your neck, slowly let go of it, almost like he was defeated, not knowing what to think. his hand trailed it’s way down your back, which gave you goosebumps, to your arm and then your hand. you were still confused, looking at him with your eyebrows furrowed, having no idea of what he was going to think or say or do. you just let him, you trusted him enough to do that.

he held your hand for a few seconds, looked at you with eyes that were veiled with tears. but those seconds, lasted years, almost leaving your hand burned from how thick the tension between y’all was. he left, leaving your hand dangling near your hip, and immediately went away. you don’t know where he was going, you didn’t see it. but that string that connected you and him, would tell you later. since you two started being mean and competitive with each other, this weird red string formed. you could have your eyes closed, but as soon as he enters the room...

your bones ignite.

“neteyam’s here”.

you want the one you can’t have, and it’s driving you mad, because it’s always all over your face.

do you even want him ? do you want him or the version of him you created in your mind ? the version that used to play with you, take care of you, make you laugh and cry ? were did all the years go. they just flew in front of your eyes, and the person that cared about the most slowly died, only leaving his moving body and those soulless eyes. maybe you outgrew each other, maybe you didn’t. maybe it’s just an excuse because you couldn’t be together in the first place, even as friends. and the options left were either stranger or enemy.

and you would both rather feel hate, than feel nothing for eachother.

your insults were just sweet words spat in his face, which in his opinion were always better than your silence and indifference. his rough hand, glued to you. everytime he hit you it felt like a kiss.

but this is exactly what you were scared of, his indifference.

you hoped he would’ve at least turned back to you to call you a skxawng or dumb, or whatever.

could at least fill his ego a bit. but he didn’t.

you were now contemplating whether to go to the beach to talk like you did every night, or to just stay in your tent and sleep. this was probably the first time you weren’t sure that he was going to be there, because this type of situation had never occurred.

you’re bad at keeping your emotions bubbled, you’re good at being perfect but together you two were good at being trouble. the only way your emotions resurfaced was picking on him, just to see that angry expression which you absolutely loved, for reasons you couldn’t talk about with lo’ak because it would’ve been weird to talk about him that way with his brother. the most you could do was cross your legs, that’s it.

you know what, fuck it if he’s not there you’ll just smoke alone and then go to sleep as usual.

you brought your cigarettes with you and the special lighter you only use when you’re with him, fucking hell. your organs would probably start eating each other if he isn’t there, but you can’t know if you don’t go first, right ?

you hyped yourself up, took your things and closed your tent. while walking to your usual spot, you happened to hear jake and neytiri talk in their tent. you kneeled and positioned yourself better to not get caught because this would be very awkward and weird to explain.

“i don’t know. i don’t think Eywa does things on accident, there’s no such thing as accidents with her. but it seems so weird. what happened to them ?” this was definitely neytiri’s voice, the last time she sounded this worried was when you and neteyam got lost in the forest when you were seven and eight years old, they then found you both sleeping next to a tree. him hugging you to keep you warm. the sharpest blade of all is nostalgia.

“i’m actually worried, if they had the chance they would kill each other. i have no idea of what to do, all the words and speeches seem absolutely useless. sometimes i think the only way to stop this fighting is to send him to a training camp so they won’t get distracted by their competitiveness.” that’s jake voice, almost cracking. your heart sinked.

they’re going to send neteyam away. you couldn’t stop a tear from cutting through your face only at the thought of not always having neteyam six feet away from you. you had to take matters into hand.

you immediately stood up, walking fast to get to the beach as soon as possible.

your mind just couldn’t shut up. what were you going to do ? who were you going to have next to you ? yes, you have lo’ak but it just wasn’t the same thing.

to your surprise, you notice neteyam was sat in his usual spot. you didn’t recognise him at first, his hair was tied up only leaving a few braids that framed his face. he always knows how to hit the right spot. not smoking, but he was still there alone. you walked on the sand feeling it under your feet, and sat next to him. he did notice you but it seemed like he just wanted to ignore you.

don’t panic, don’t panic, don’t panic.

you took a cig out of the pack and lit it up, positioning it on neteyam’s lips while still holding it. he breathed in some smoke, to then breath it out a few seconds after.

you smiled, and positioned it again on your lips, doing the same thing.

the only sound you two were hearing was the waves crashing on anything they found in front of them. everyone was sleeping, you two smoking without letting a thing out of your mouth that wasn’t smoke.

“you know...” you started, finally catching his attention. he turned to you, taking the cig out of your hand, lightly touching it. without even realising it, you held your breath, goosebumps spreading all over your body. why were you suddenly so nervous, what happened ?

don’t panic.

“... i’m stronger that all my men, except for you neteyam.

i didn’t genuinely think that my comment was going to hurt you, that wasn’t my intention. “

you finished your sentence, almost whispering, feeling your heart about to jump out of your ribcage, this was the first time you ever seriously apologised to him. probably the reason why you feel your legs shaking like there’s no tomorrow. you just stayed there, silent not knowing what else you could possibly say to him. you have never been good with words. at the end of the day, your love language was physical touch. you just couldn’t find the words to express how sorry you felt, you could only do that by physically touching them. hugging, touching, caressing.

but things were way too awkward with neteyam to even lightly touch him. you felt this invisible barrier between the both of you, that neither of you dared to break, or even look on the other side. maybe because you were afraid of knowing what was going on the other side of the fence, maybe because you already know. only your consciousness knows the thin difference.

“i always get this anxious feeling,

but it always goes away when i’m with you breathing.”

two things caught you off guard in that moment. first of all, the fact that he was speaking to you, and second, what he said. you would’ve never thought in your whole life that you would ever hear him say anything to you, that wasn’t insulting or teasing. your brain can’t even process what he said, but your body already did. you could feel this weird warm, not hot, feeling in your stomach lingering there. your lips wanted one thing and one thing only, craving the presence of something, almost tingling, that you’re still not sure you will ever admit to yourself. to make things worse, neteyam slowly dropped his eyes to your lips, making you gulp. he looked at them for a second, only to then place the cigarette on your lips slightly parting them, while still holding it.

you hesitated at first, but then breathed in some smoke, taking over your lungs, filling them. neteyam smiled while looking at you breathe out, to then position his lips on the filter, exactly where yours were. you both silently decided to stay quiet, and enjoy each other’s presence.

both of you craving to do something, say something, since this was the only alone time you two had before going back to hate each other, which was something you silently decided mutually. you didn’t want to ask questions, but why did you have to do all this ? because you both know you’re not that jealous. maybe fear of commitment ? but fear of committing to what ? a simple fucking friendship ? maybe you both knew you could never be just friends. maybe you could, but you didn’t want to only be friends. who knows ?

you chuckled, catching his attention.

“you know we could argue right now, and no one would hear or see us ?”

you would never in a thousand years expected this. he neared his smirking face to yours, making your heart skip a beat, but without making it noticeable.

“we could do anything right now,

and nobody would see us. anything.”

and then proceeded to blow smoke in your face, making you cough while you both were chuckling.

he better thank god that you love his mom, because Eywa knows you wouldn’t have held back.

he then proceed to stand up, giving you a hand. you got up and he immediately pulled you in a hug. you hesitated again, but gave in. you hugged him tightly, letting all of his worries flow into you. he kissed the back of your ear, just like you did with ao’nung. sorry neytiri, but that motherfucker. you could literally fall to your knees right now. but you didn’t. you wanted to know.

how far can things get ?

he hesitated, and kissed you again on the same spot. he took it even further and trailed with his kissed to your cheek. kiss after kiss. letting his hands trail from your back to your lower waist, holding it tight like you could escape at any moment.

kissing, from the back of your ear, to your cheek. from your cheek to you jaw. with his hand positioned on your chin, he lifted it up, go give him more space to work on, making you hold your breath, clinging more and more to him. he moved from your jaw, to your neck. weakest spot of ours. and he knew, he fucking knew. you made a mental note to not tell to lo’ak anything about you anymore, because he was going to spill everything to neteyam. and for what c’mon ?

your thoughts were interrupted by his mouth kissing every inch of your neck, sometimes even biting on the sensible skin. you felt the need to cross your legs, to relief even if only a little bit the stress that and nervousness that he was causing you. almost as if he read your mind, he placed his knee in between your legs, but without making any contact.

“fuck you” you thought, without having the energy, the tongue or even the mind to say it out loud, you just felt him smirk against you neck. he knew, again. where did he get all of this experience ? well it wasn’t like you could act like he wasn’t handsome. very handsome. he must have girls like this every night, while you’re feeling special and excited for something he probably has already done a thousand times with a thousand people. you felt embarrassed, humiliated almost. but why does he have such difficulty finding a mate then ? you can hear the girls of the village, talk about him, his arms, his grin, his neck, his legs, his waist, something that is positioned a lil lower than his waist. you couldn’t understand ?

can’t he have the girl he wants ? is she that offlimit ?

that must be why him and jake were arguing the other day, neteyam saying that the only person he wanted was already taken by someone. he loved her, but she wasn’t his.

you feel the same exact way, but talking about mates with him was more offlimit than the girl he wanted. that would’ve been way too awkward. your thoughts were once again stopped by neteyam, who was dragging his hand way too low your waist, it’s not like you didn’t want him to, but still... you were afraid. even if you let him, would’ve that been it ? the end of it ?

a useless hook up, and then going to back to hating eachother ? but you knew. you already knew that if you two crossed that line, you could’ve never gone back to hating him. keeping him distant was the only thing that worked. were you so afraid to love him ? were you afraid he wasn’t going to love you ? were you afraid to love ? were you afraid of not knowing how to love or were you afraid of knowing too much, but with the wrong person ? but well if not him, then who ? for all you know, this could be the last time someone touches you this way. you must stop him, but how could you ?

“neteyam, stop.” you harshly grab his arm, taking him by surprise, but successfully stopping him. he chuckled leaving his head in the crook of your neck, his hands suddenly become distant and cold even though they still were on your body.

“i knew it.” he distanced himself from you, only for him to walk away still facing you for a bit and then stopping, still keeping you confused and doubtful. he continued.

“i fucking knew it.”

➜ @xoxobabe @marcswife21 @arminsgfloll @rubysworld96 @klarolinefanatic @giftfromthemoon @k4tsukiis @rainehatepage @neteyamsbbgfr @miapanticc @iixyia @famousbagelhandspurse @astablacksword @ghoulfac3 @buttercake2234 @potseluymenya @mashiromochi  @avatarslut0

Despite his injuries, Jake managed to make his way back to the village, where he was greeted with cheers and relief from the members of his clan. They immediately sprang into action, tending to his wounds with the skill and expertise that had been passed down through generations.

As he lay there, Jake felt a sense of gratitude and awe wash over him. This was his home now, and these were his people. He had come to understand their ways and their values, and he had learned to respect and cherish them all.

As the healer of the clan, you swiftly received news of an almost fully successful hunt. While some might argue that it was completely successful since everyone would have food, it was difficult to call it a success when it had resulted in injuries.

After gathering the necessary supplies, you hastened to assist whoever required your aid. Upon arriving at the location, you had to shoo away others to be able to work effectively. It came as no surprise to you when you discovered that the injured party was none other than Jake himself. "You seem to enjoy getting hurt, don't you?" You remarked.

Jake rose to his feet, wincing slightly from the pain in his wounds. He turned to you and gestured for you to follow him to his tent, a serious expression on his face. You fell into step beside him, feeling your heart race with anticipation and concern for his well-being.

As you entered the tent, Jake motioned for you to take a seat on a nearby stool. He then proceeded to recount the story of his latest hunting excursion, during which he had been attacked by a fierce palulukan. He described how the creature had ambushed him from behind, raking its sharp claws across his back and leaving him with several deep wounds. "It was a fierce battle, but I managed to take it down. Unfortunately, it managed to get in a few good hits before I did. Its claws are razor-sharp, and I couldn't dodge them all. It's nothing too serious," he added, though the pain etched on his face suggested otherwise. "I've had worse."

It was clear that Jake was a skilled hunter, but even the best could fall victim to the dangers of the forest.

As he finished recounting the details of the attack, Jake turned to face you and asked if you would be willing to help treat his wounds.

You sat with your arms crossed, listening to an unnecessary story that you had never asked for. As you heard him out, your tail began to move restlessly, reflecting your growing impatience. "Considering how senseless your question was, I might as well leave you to deal with it alone," you retorted, tapping your fingers against your arm in frustration. Letting out a deep sigh, you stood up and approached the injured person to inspect their wounds more closely.

Jake sat on his cot, his back facing you, revealing the deep wounds left by the palulukan. You could see that the scratches were still fresh and bleeding, and it was clear that the hunt had been a difficult and dangerous one.

The palulukan, a fierce and formidable predator, had put up a fierce fight, and its razor-sharp claws had left a trail of deep, jagged wounds across Jake's back. The cuts were long and deep, some of them still bleeding and oozing pus, and it was clear that they would need careful attention if Jake was to make a full recovery.

You touched the wound gently, thinking carefully about your next steps. Fortunately, this wasn't your first time dealing with such a situation; in fact, it had happened more often than not. "Stupid," you muttered under your breath, flicking Jake's ear lightly. "So skilled, yet so stupid and reckless," shaking your head, you began your work by cleaning the wounds first. “A carefree rascal. Nì’eveng!”

Jake winced as you gently touched his wounds, his body still sore from the recent attack. You could feel the heat radiating off his skin, and you knew that he was in a great deal of pain. But despite the discomfort, Jake remained stoic and silent, determined to tough it out. "Look, I'm not stupid," Jake said, turning his head to look at you over his shoulder. "I know that even the best hunters can't always see an attack coming from behind." He winced as you applied pressure to one of his wounds, but he continued speaking. "That palulukan was faster than I expected, and I paid the price for it." He let out a deep breath and clenched his jaw as you worked on another wound. "But I'll be back on my feet in no time. I'm not going to let a little thing like this keep me down for too long."

You looked straight into his eyes and hissed at him, turning his head away from you to make it easier to focus. "If you're going to be back on your feet in no time, then why am I even here? I have more important things to do," you snapped.

Your skilled fingers worked swiftly on the wounds, ensuring that he wouldn't bleed out and would make a full recovery. Your anger towards him wasn't due to hate, but rather worry. He had a tendency to get injured more frequently than others, and for some reason, you cared about him deeply, which made you anxious.

Jake expressed his frustration at having let his guard down, as he prided himself on being a vigilant and cautious hunter. You could see the pain etched on his face as he spoke, both from his physical wounds and the wound to his pride as a warrior. 

As you continued to tend to his wounds, he softened his tone and thanked you for your care and attention.  "I knew Mo'at made the right choice in accepting you as a healer," Jake said, looking at you again with gratitude in his eyes. "Your skill and care have helped me tremendously, and I am thankful to have you among the people."

Frowning, you flicked his ear once again, this time much harder in an attempt to shut him up, and turned his head away from you once more. "You sure like to talk, Sully. Maybe you got so hurt because you tried to talk the palulukan to death?" You quipped.

After finishing the cleaning and ensuring it was done correctly, you carefully began to apply ointment on the wounds.

Jake felt a sharp pain as you tended to his wounds, and he had to fight back a hiss. He tried to stay quiet, not wanting to show any signs of weakness or discomfort. He knew that the Omaticaya valued strength and resilience, and he didn't want to appear weak in front of you. He took a deep breath and focused on keeping his composure as you continued to work on his wounds. Despite the pain, Jake couldn't help but feel a growing sense of attraction towards you. He had been drawn to you ever since he first met you, and he couldn't deny the chemistry between the two of you, at least it was what he hoped for. But he knew that his duty as Olo'eyktan came first, and he had to stay focused on leading the Omaticaya clan. "Ha-ha, how funny you are, Y/N."

"Who said I was joking?" you asked with a smile as you pressed on one of the wounds, knowing it would elicit a reaction from him.

Of course, you were fully aware of how to do this without causing him any additional pain, but just to give him a little shock.

Jake grunted with pain as you pressed down too hard on one of his wounds. He tried to stay quiet, but a hiss escaped his lips. He gave you a brief glance, showing his fangs as well. "Nìktungzup!"

You didn't hold back from baring your teeth in return, but you soon gave him a mocking grin. "What? Did I hurt our big and mighty Sully? I thought you were tougher," you taunted.

"Behave, Y/N," Jake hissed in a stern voice, his eyes locking onto yours. "I'm tough when I need to be."

You hissed back and laughed softly, mocking him slightly. "I'll behave. It's just that I have a fussy hunter on my hands."

Jake rolled his eyes, not bothering himself with commenting on your words.

With a smile, you continued your work. After properly cleaning and applying ointment to his injuries, you proceeded to wrap them to ensure they were secure.

After his wounds were treated, Jake's expression relaxed and he breathed a sigh of relief. As the Olo'eyktan, he knew the importance of having skilled members in the tribe, and he expressed his gratitude for your presence. "Thank you for your help," Jake said with a smile, as you finished treating his wounds. "I think some of the other hunters might need your assistance as well. It was a fierce battle out there." He standed up from his cot, wincing slightly at the pain spreading all over his body but still looking determined.

After patting his shoulder, you added, "You should rest for a few days. It won't make you look weak if you lie down."

Then you left the room to attend to others.

The next day, not having heard from him, you decided to check on Sully. Knowing him, he probably wouldn't heed any of your words, and the last thing you wanted was for him to bleed out.

You made your way to his tent, humming softly.

Jake stood at the edge of the High Camp, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger. He heard the sound of footsteps approaching and turned to see a group of young trackers returning to base. "What happened out there?" Jake demanded, his voice stern.

One of the young trackers stepped forward and began to explain, but Jake cut him off. "I don't want to hear excuses. You were supposed to be back hours ago. If you can't keep up with the pace, you have no business being out here."

The young trackers hung their heads, looking ashamed. Jake walked over to them, his expression softening. "Listen, I know it's tough out here. But we have a responsibility to the clan. We have to keep them safe, no matter what, and RDA is acting up again."

He looked each of them in the eye, his gaze firm but kind. "You need to rest and heal your wounds. But tomorrow, you get back out there and do better. Our people are counting on us."

His ears perked up and he turned his head around to see you walking towards them. "Y/N, oel ngati kameie."

You nodded, looking right at him. "Stubborn as always, I said to stay down for a bit and you didn't follow. But it seems you're doing well despite your wounds." Crossing your arms over your chest, you tapped your feet against the ground, not out of anger, but out of a mix of amusement and mild frustration.

As you finished speaking, one of the young trackers smirked and muttered something under his breath. 

Jake's keen hearing picked up on it, and he turned to face the tracker with a scowl. "Is something funny?" He asked, his voice low and dangerous.

The young boy's smirk disappeared, replaced with a look of fear. "No, sir," he stammered.

Jake gave a nod. "You're dismissed."

After approaching you, he let out a deep grunt. "Listen, I know I should be resting, but I can't afford to stay in bed right now," Jake explained to you. "As the Olo'eyktan, I have a responsibility to keep the clan safe. I can't do that from my cot. There are threats out there that we need to stay vigilant against. Omaticaya have a strong connection to Eywa, but that doesn't mean we can let our guard down. The RDA is still out there, and they're always looking for a way to exploit our weaknesses."

You gave a little smile and waved to the others before returning to pestering Jake once more. "Trust me, I'm well aware of all that," you said, shrugging. "My point is, I took the time to patch you up, and I don't want you to mess it up by not being able to sit down for two days."

He growled at your words. "Aren't you a little too dramatic?"

"You know me, always the drama queen," you said with a smirk as you followed Jake to his tent. "But in all seriousness, I just want to make sure you're healing properly. Let me take a look at those bandages." You stepped inside  and began to inspect his wounds, making sure everything was as it should be.

Jake let out another grunt of annoyance. "I'm fine, you don't need to check upon me," he told you.

"I'm afraid I do have to check on you. I need to ensure your injuries are healing properly."

Jake took the garb off his shoulders, revealing his muscular arms and chest. He let out a deep breath and stretched his arms, feeling the cool air against his skin. He looked over at you and smiled, the tension from earlier melting away. He folded the garb carefully and set it aside before sitting down on his cot.

You couldn't help but appreciate his physique for a moment, but you kept your expression neutral so as not to give him any satisfaction. "Thank you," you nodded, approaching him. "So, how do you feel? Any pain other than your injuries?"

He fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then he turned to you with a serious expression. "Does emotional pain count?"

"It depends," you replied, sitting down and beginning to carefully unwrap the bandages to examine his wounds. "Care to tell me more about it?"

He looked at you intently, as if trying to convey the weight of his responsibility. "I know I could be tough to deal with sometimes," he said. "But I took my responsibilities as Olo'eyktan very seriously. The safety of my people was always on my mind, and sometimes that meant I had to make hard decisions. I hope you understood that."

You gave him a gentle tug on his ear and said, "First of all, those are also my people. I live among them and I help them however I can. Second, I understand that, but the truth is that a dead Olo'eyktan is good for nothing, so you need to remember this as well."

Jake smirked more to himself than to you. "There's a great truth in your words."

"You seem to forget that I have a healer's duty to keep you alive," you said with a playful smirk, checking his wound. Your fingers deftly probed the edges of the injury to ensure it was healing properly. You were relieved to find that everything seemed to be in order. Although you tried to hide it, your tail gave away your happiness at his recovery. "Looks like you're going to make it. For now, at least."

Jake noticed your tail wagging back and forth. He couldn't help but feel amused by the sight. "Looks like someone's excited," he commented with a chuckle.

You lightly tapped his shoulder. "I'm not excited, just relieved that you'll be okay. It's a normal reaction. I still think you're foolish and impulsive, just a reckless child."

Jake got up from his cot, stretching his muscles as he stood. Jake walked over to you and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. You could feel his warmth and the solidness of his body against yours. He nuzzled his face into your neck, his breath hot against your skin. "How long will we pretend, hmm?"

You huffed in annoyance and nuzzled him, wrapping your arms around him. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Sully," you replied with a playful grin, your expression lightening.

Without saying a word, he leaned in and brushed his lips against yours, the kiss gentle and tender.

You pulled away from him, a growl escaping your lips. "Oh, I hate you so much, Jake," you muttered before leaning in to kiss him properly this time.

For a moment, everything else faded away and it was just the two of you, lost in the sensation of the kiss. Jake felt as though he could stay like this forever, wrapped in your arms and lost in the kiss. He murmured softly in your mouth, enjoying the sweetness of your lips.

Once again, you pulled away from him and observed his face with a mocking grin. "Well, well, well. Our mighty Olo'eyktan falling for a healer. How the mighty have fallen," you teased.

Jake took a deep breath and looked into your eyes, his expression serious. "I need to tell you something," he said. "I know I can be a bit difficult to read sometimes, but I want you to know that I care about you deeply."

He took your hand in his and squeezed it tightly. "I know we've been through a lot together, and I just want you to know that I'm here for you, always. I want to be more than just your friend, if you'll have me."

You wrapped your arms around his neck. "You can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but you're easy to read. I saw everything you did and heard everything you said. I just decided not to let you win me over so easily."

"I didn't know you felt the same way," Jake said, his frown deepening. He seemed surprised by your confession, and you could see the emotions playing across his face. "But I'm glad you told me," he continued, a small smile breaking through. "I've had feelings for you for a long time, but I wasn't sure if you felt the same way." He pulled you into a tight embrace, holding you close. "I don't want to hide my feelings for you anymore," he whispered in your ear. "I want everyone to know that you're mine and that I'm yours."

You let out a soft chuckle before gently holding Jake's cheeks and turning his face to look at you. "Just so you know, I care about you deeply," you said with a small smile. "But that doesn't change the fact that, to me, you are reckless."

Jake scoffed, his expression turning sceptical. "You can't be serious," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Chuckling, you nodded and gave him a playful tap on the nose. "I know you're serious, but that doesn't change the fact that I like you a lot too."

As soon as Jake spotted Mo'at approaching, he moved away in a slight move. 

As she entered the tent, Jake stepped aside, giving her space. He had great respect for the Tsahìk and always made sure to defer to her wisdom.

Mo'at looked around the tent, her sharp eyes taking in everything. Jake waited quietly, his posture relaxed but respectful. When she finally turned her gaze to him, he met her stare without flinching, his expression open and honest. "I somehow knew I would find you here, Y/N," said Mo'at, fixing her yellowish eyes on your face.

You turned to her and gave a soft smile. "Is everything okay? I just had to make sure that our stubborn Olo'eyktan lives to see another day."

Mo'at gave you a significant glance as she reminded you that others required your assistance.

You apologised to Jake and gave him a quick look before telling him quietly that you would be back later. After that, you left to attend to your duties, not wanting to neglect them any further and bringing Mo'at's anger on your soul.

The evening came quickly, taking his busy schedule.

He made his way back to his tent, feeling a sense of relief wash over him as he stepped inside. The air was cool and quiet, a welcome respite from the chaos of the day. Jake quickly shed his gear and settled onto his cot, stretching out his tired muscles. 

As he lay there, he could hear the distant sounds of the Na'vi speaking as the eclipse was approaching. He closed his eyes, imagining the sight that would soon unfold: the sun disappearing behind Polyphemus, the sky darkening, the world falling silent.

You decided to surprise him by sneaking into his tent. Standing at the entrance, you rested your hand on your hips and looked straight at him. "Oh, look at that. My most stubborn hunter is finally lying down. I think I need to thank Eywa for this miracle."

"So, what brings you here?" Jake asked, raising his eyebrow slowly. "Not that I'm complaining, of course. I'm always happy to see you, but it's hard for me to believe you came just to check upon my wounds for you've done it earlier."

You raised an eyebrow and let out a short scoff. "I came to check up on you, but if my presence is bothersome, then I'll leave."

When you finished, he gave you a warm smile. "Oh, come on, where is your sense of humour?"

You playfully hissed and let out a deep sigh. "I'm just tired, Jake. Sorry."

He cocked his eyebrow, listening to you. "A lot of work, huh?"

"Yes, not only injured but sick as well, especially kids," you nodded, rubbing your eyes. "Am I bothering you? After all, I promised to be back."

"You're not a bother," he said, his voice calm and warm. "I'm always happy to spend time with you. I enjoy your company," he added, his eyes meeting yours. "So please, never hesitate to come see me."

You nodded once more and took a comfortable seat next to him. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing fine," Jake said with a small smile. "It's been tough, but I'm getting through it. How about you?"

You gently examined his injury and let out a relieved sigh. "I'm glad to hear that, but don't push yourself too hard. Rest is important for healing."

Jake got up from his cot and letting out a contented sigh, he walked over to the small table in the corner of his tent. There was a bowl of fruit sitting there, and he picked up one and took a bite. He chewed thoughtfully, savouring the sweetness, looking at you, pointing at the bowl. "Would you like some?"

"Well, I was starting to think you'd never offer. I was afraid I'd have to die here before you'd bring it up. Yes, please. I would love one."

He walked to you, his hand outstretched with the fruit resting in his palm. "Here," he said, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "It's one of the best fruits on Pandora, but I'm sure you know that."

“Irayo.” You took a bite of the fruit and your eyes widened in surprise. The sweetness exploded in your mouth, and you felt a burst of energy flow through your body. You couldn't help but let out a small moan of pleasure. You quickly finished the fruit, savouring every last bit, and couldn't believe you felt refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to take on anything that came your way.

Jake smirked at you as he stood by the entrance to his tent, watching the hustle and bustle of the village. He looked relaxed and content, as if he was enjoying the simple pleasures of life on Pandora. "It's a beautiful sight, isn't it?" He said, turning to you with a smile. "There's something so peaceful about watching the village like this. It's like everything else fades away and you're just left with the present moment."

"That's true," you said, walking up to him and wrapping your arms around his waist from behind to give him a hug. "These moments are priceless and so peaceful. I hope we can continue to enjoy them together."

Jake's body tensed for a moment, but then he relaxed into your embrace, tilting his head slightly to the side to rest it against yours. He took a deep breath, savouring the feel of your arms around him.

You teased him, squeezing his waist, "Someone tensed up here for a moment. Am I making you nervous?"

As you hugged Jake from behind, he turned to face you and wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you close to him. You could feel the warmth of his body and the strength of his embrace. Jake let out a contented sigh, enjoying the feeling of your touch. His hand caressed your back as he held you close, savouring the moment. "Kxawm. Or maybe not."

Your hands curiously moved up and down his belly, exploring every inch of his skin and every strong muscle beneath. "Oh, really? That's why you got so tense when I touched you?"

Jake closed his arms around you, holding you tightly as if he never wanted to let go.

With a smile on your face, you snuggled up to him, feeling pleased with your teasing attempt. "Oh, didn't you like that?"

His strong, yet gentle hands moved up and down your spine, loosening the knots that had formed there. "You okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face. Jake continued to rub your back for a few more minutes, and you felt your muscles begin to relax under his touch. Eventually, he stopped and gave you a reassuring smile. "Better?" He asked.

You relaxed, leaning comfortably against him as you let out a soft purr. His touch was indeed making you feel better, easing the tension in your sore muscles. "It seems like you can do more than just get hurt," you told him, looking up in his eyes.

Glossary:

talioang - sturmbeest

palulukan - thanator

nì’eveng - like a child

nìktungzup - carefully

oel ngati kameie - I see you

kxawm - maybe

When the Sully children left, Neteyam considered staying back and waiting some more, but Lo'ak called for him, "Bro, do you need an invitation or what?" Neteyam took that as his sign to simply go along and ask Tsireya in case you weren't there. At the beach, they greeted you and your sister. Tuk squeezed between Tsireya and Lo'ak to show her the new bracelet. Kiri had already gone towards the water, while Neteyam approached you. "Hey, uhm did you want to go now? Or later? Or... do you want to go today at all?" Neteyam finally voiced his questions. You were slightly caught by surprise: "I actually didn't think this through. Uhm, do you want to go now? I mean, we can go now! Uhm, should we bring them something? Do we need something?" Taken aback by your questions, Neteyam considered "Then we go now. We could bring them some treats like fish, but usually the ikrans fend for themselves, so we don't have to feed them. But if you want to learn something with your ikran, it might be helpful. We can bring some snacks for ourselves as well. I mean, it could take some time. Do you have your ikran's saddle?" You smiled brightly, mesmerizing him. He returned your smile but snapped out of it when you yanked his arm and began walking and pulling him toward the village. "Then let's go! I believe we still have some dried fish at home and there are some snacks we can easily take. My ikran still has her saddle on. The ones who lived nearby the clan kept them on, I believe." Neteyam quickly found his footing again and followed closely behind you. At your family's marui, you pulled Neteyam into the living area before you wandered off. He patiently waited for you until he heard you mumble something under your breath before crossing the room. "Ao'nung, where are the snacks? There were still plenty when I looked yesterday. Where are they?" Walking out of the room, Ao'nung tried to avoid you. "I don't know, I didn't take them! Why do you need them now anyways?" His eyes meet Neteyam. "And what is he doing here?" Neteyem set his jaw at Ao'nung's hostile tone. "Don't change the subject! And as I said yesterday, Neteyam offered to teach me more about my ikran, now where are they?!" Ao'nung's gaze went from confused to upset before he averted his gaze from Neteyam back to you, saying, "Oh, yeah, right... well, I still don't know. Ask mom!" With that, Ronal walked into the room, her eyes briefly wandering over Neteyam before focusing on both of her children. "What is the matter with you both? Ao'nung, shouldn't you be with your father? Y/N, didn't you want to spend time with your ikran?" With a sigh, Ao'nung wandered off: "Yes, I am already on my way, mother." Having her full attention now, you asked your mother the same thing as your brother before. Ronal went back into the room she came from, grabbed a bag, and packed it with the snacks before coming back out and handing it to you. She smiled kindly at you before wishing you much fun.

The way to the clearing outside the village was quiet. Once you reached your destination, you expectantly looked up at Neteyam. "Now you call your ikran and maybe tell me what troubles you." You nodded in agreement and then let out a loud call. "Right, so I think there is something with the way I fly. For a while, it seems alright, but after some time, it gets rather uncomfortable, and I feel that my ikran isn't feeling well either, but I can't figure out the problem. Also, we sometimes have trouble communicating, I guess. Well, what I mean is that she doesn't listen to me."

You explain while looking uneasy at Neteyam. All things considered, Neteyam thinks that it is unlikely that he could help you from the ground without seeing you interact in the air, but he wants to see your reactions to each other regardless. When your ikran arrives, you gently pet her and feed her some fish. Your body language is very open and friendly. Your ikran also seems very comfortable and trusting around you, so that's not it. "Hm, you seem to be trusting each other, so I think it would be best to see your behavior in the air." Neteyam calls for his ikran while watching you get up on yours. You swing yourself up and make Tsaheylu. Neteyam notices that you are sitting rather close to her neck. Neteyam's ikran arrives, and after feeding him some fish too, he mounts his as well, signing you to take off. Following your lead, Neteyam focuses on the way you fly, your movements, your behavior, and your ikran's reactions to it. After about half an hour of flying, Neteyam notices a change in your ikran's flying. Looking closely, he can see what the main issue seems to be. Your ikran gets restless, and he can see that you are uncomfortable too. Motioning for you to land, he follows your descent, landing next to you before getting off.

He gently thanks his ikran and goes over to you. You are about to get down as well, but Neteyam quickly stops you: "No wait, I think it's better if you stay there, then I can show you better." Nodding in understanding, you pat your ikran, trying to ease her distress. "Ok, you see, when you got up, I noticed that you hold yourself very close to your ikran. That alone is not a problem, but doing so is very, well, exhausting because it takes more strength than it should. Therefore, you become uncomfortable when flying. You clutch her like she's an ilu, but she isn't. You are uncomfortable because you behave like you are in the water and not the air. Your problems getting along might also come from the fact that your body language is telling her something different than your words. It's like saying you want to go right but then walking left. Your posture is also the reason she gets anxious after a while. Since the pose is uncomfortable for you, your body subconsciously tries to find an easier way to stabilize you, leading to your feet pressing down differently than they should, trying to aid your thighs. As a result, your saddle presses up against her lungs more. It's like having someone squeeze your chest when you try to run. She is simply not getting as much air as she would like." You look at Neteyam, speechless, astounished by his explanation but also sorry for your ikran. "So I hurt her?" you ask him with a scared undertone. Panic rises in Neteyam—that was not what he wanted!

"No! I mean well..., like you said, she is uncomfortable, but it shouldn't be hurting. I think." Now unsure, but trying to fix things, Neteyam intervenes. A determined look comes over your face. "How do I fix it?" Relieved Neteyam smiles "Well try to put more weight on the front of your foot and bend your knees. Her neck may be long but there is no need to stretch along it, simply sit down, especially for longer travels. Use your saddle, relax, and give her space. Keep your body upright. You don't have to become part of your ikran because the flow is not as strong in the air as it is in the water." Listening to his advice, you lean back and separate your upper body from your ikran's neck. It felt unusual, so you looked at Neteyam for feedback. He smiled a little and said: "Yes, that's a lot better. Your legs are still very tense. Try to relax them a little and adjust your feet like I said." Looking down, you turned your feet, unsure of what exactly he wanted. A small frown formed on Neteyam's face. "No wait." He gently pushed your calf into position while grabbing your thigh and pulling it back so you rest more weight on your backside than your legs. Now satisfied, he looks at you only to see your face slightly purple and flustered with your eyes locked on your leg. He followed your gaze to his hand, which was still lightly grabbing the middle of your thigh. Embarrassed, he quickly takes his hands off while trying to fight the heat creeping up his cheeks. His attempts fail miserably. "Um, yeah, like this is better." He concluds while he avoids to look at you.

You seemed to squirm, catching his attention. You looked straight ahead with an uncomfortable look on your face. Neteyam was about to apologize for making you uncomfortable when you voiced your distress: "It feels weird like this. It's very different from an ilu. I'm so used to, well, melting into the ilu that sitting so far away seems wrong." Neteyam chuckles, thinking about how it's the exact opposite for his family. Being used to ikrans, they struggle more with the close hold on the ilus. "You will get used to it, trust me. It was the same for my siblings and me when we first rode an ilu. It will take some time, and you will have to concentrate on your posture for a while, but it will become a habit in no time." Grateful for his reassuring words, you nodded at him with a small smile. "So...do you wanna try it again? Flying, I mean. It should feel different now that you are in a proper position." You nodded, and while waiting for Neteyam to get on his ikran, you fed yours another piece of fish to thank her for her patience with you.

Neteyam immediately sees how much your form has improved. Your ikran is also flying more confidently and seems to struggle a lot less. Even after half an hour, nothing changes, and you both glide delightedly through the air.

Back on the ground, you hop off of your ikran, throwing her some fish after caressing her neck gently. Turning towards Neteyam with a bright smile, you approach him, saying, "That was amazing! I could feel how much better she felt. Everything was so different! She was so fast!" Infected by your happiness, Neteyam gave his ikran some fish as well before following you to a small tree, where you sat down under its shadow to enjoy the snacks you brought. "You see, it's much better already! You are a natural, really!" Blushing at his praise, you compliment him: "Well, I couldn't have done it without you. How did you see all of that so fast?" Receiving your praise had Neteyam blushing once again. He bashfully told you that it wasn't that hard to see from the outside and that mistakes like that are harder to see yourself. You two drift off into retelling your flight and explaining the movements you made with your hands. You kept talking until both of you noticed that it was time to head back to the village.

Once in the village, you headed towards your maruis. Reaching the point where your ways would part you once again thanked Neteyam for his help. He was about to play it down once more when you pulled him into a tight hug. Overwhelmed, he carefully hugged you back while stuttering out how glad he was that he could help and that you can always ask him for more help, if you need it. A soft purr was trying to fight its way out of his chest, but he managed to contain it and save himself from further embarrassment.

Unbeknownst to both of you, the sweet moment did not go unnoticed by a pair of curious onlookers.

You let go of one another, both of you slighty blushing, as you quietly wondered "Do you think we could maybe do this again? I mean, you've already helped me a lot but you also mentioned that it's more of a habit and I can't change that habit without practice. But I wouldn't notice if I was doing it right, so..." trailing off, you looked at Neteyam with pleading eyes. How could he ever say no to that? "Yeah sure. I mean, we can and, uhm, we can also, like, fly together just for fun every now and then if you like. So- so yeah, why not?" Scratching his neck while looking around nervously, the boy noticed your delighted giggle "Yes! And I could also help you swim with the ilus. I wouldn't want you to miss out on that because of me!" Looking at your eyes once more, Neteyam nodded at you in agreement with a dopey smile on his lips. "Great! So goodbye, Neteyam! I'll see you tomorrow!" Slightly waving at one another, Neteyam kept slowly walking back. "Yea. Bye—uh, see you" with one last smile you both turned around in your respective directions and started walking.

On his way, Neteyam realized he would do whatever you would ask if that meant he would get to see you smile as brightly as you did that day. Arriving at the Sully's marui, Neteyam tried to contain his happiness to not have it ruined by his siblings. To his surprise, they weren't back yet. Only his parents were there when he walked in. Neytiri and Jake took one look at their son, seeing his dopey smile, the purple cheeks, and his tail swaying behind him in a light rhythm, they knew that he must have had quite the day. "Had fun?" Startled by his father, Neteyam looked at his parents like a deer caught in the headlights. "Yea! No! I guess... uh, it was alright, I suppose," he blushed again, making his parents chuckle with delight over their adorable son. "Well good. Dinner will be soon. Get cleaned up. Your siblings should be back any minute as well." Nodding his head, Neteyam walked off to do as he was asked.

"Like a lovesick puppy." Jake joked. "Don't tease him, ma Jake. He reminds me a lot of you, actually. Be happy for your son." Slightly insulted by his wife's accusations, Jake threw back. "I was not!" But a look from Neytiri was enough to stop the discussion. "Ok well... I am happy for him, but that doesn't mean I will let him down so easily. Remember your dad wanted to kill me when I first met him." Neytiri sighed amusingly at her mate's behavior. Before they could discuss the topic any further, their other children stumbled in giggling with each other. After greeting their parents, they also went to clean up.

During dinner, all three of his siblings kept glancing at Neteyan now and then, giggling when doing so. Lost in his thoughts, Neteyam didn't even acknowledge them until Kiri started talking to him. "So, brother, how was your day? Did anything fun happen?" His smile had faded, leaving him with a neutral expression. "We went flying just like we said. It was nice, the weather was good for flying.'' Neteyam tried to remain as calm as possible to not give his siblings any more reason to tease him. Kiri rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, you are so full of shit!" "Kiri!" Neytiri intervened. Poking Tuk in the ribs, Kiri encouraged her "tell them!" Tuk happily obliged: "We saw them, Mama! They were hugging, and Neteyem got all purple, and then he was so weird. He kept touching his neck, then he almost fell over his feet, and he couldn't talk normal, only a few words at a time. He was so weird. And Y/N was very pretty, and she was also a little purple in her face, but not as purple as Neteyam!" Embarrassed by his siblings' obvious observations, Neteyam blushed once again, trying to think of a way to escape the situation. "Yes, just like that! Although he was even more purple then." Tuk analyzed her brother's current state. The rest of the Sullys smirked in amusement. Neytiri tried to save her son by changing the subject. "And what did you do today, Tuktirey?" Happily telling her mother about everything she did that day, the attention shifted off of Neteyam. Thankful for his mother's help, he glanced up at her, giving her a small smile, which she returned.

Around chief's family, dinner was quieter, but the family also noticed their oldest child's mental absence. "So..." Tonowari started, ".. how was your day? Did flying go well?" Always the curious father, Tonowari was eager to hear about his daughter's newest interest. Startled, you looked up at him. "Oh, yeah, it was nice. Neteyam helped me a lot, actually. He is a great teacher. We talked about flying more often. To improve my skills, of course." The blush covering your cheeks did not go unnoticed by your parents. "Of course. You could teach him our ways as well. See if he is as good a student as he is a teacher." Tonowari was aware that he was teasing you, but if both of his daughters suddenly started being interested in boys, he needed to have at least a little fun. He was aware that it would happen at some point. While he was worried, like every father would be, he was happy that both you and your sister seemed interested in such brave young men. There was no doubt they were Toruk Makto's sons. Though he would prefer that they stay out of trouble a bit more. Ronal wasn't blind either, she saw her daughters' interest in the Omatikaya boys. She was wary of their demon blood, but Toruk Makto is their father and they are adapting well, so she could accept that. As long as her girls were happy, she would accept their decisions. On the other hand, Ao'nung was everything but happy. He wanted to tease both you and Tsireya for blushing so easily when around the Sully boys, but he simply couldn't understand how you could be interested in these weirdos. It was bad enough that Tsireya kept going on and on about how well they are all adapting to their new lives, always mentioning Lo'ak specifically. But now you were also praising these skxawngs endlessly. Tsireya smiled at you, having also witnessed the hug you and Neteyam shared. It pleased her greatly how calm you were that evening, since it was not unusual for you to banter with Ao'nung during dinner. Both of your siblings talked about their days. Ao'nung was visibly happier now that he could spend time with his friends again. Tonowari mentioned that Toruk Makto was progressing similarly to his children and that he was looking forward to your lesson tomorrow. At that point, you froze. You had totally forgotten that you were supposed to learn how to ride a tsurak tomorrow. Since your swimming got better again, your father expected that of you. You were not looking forward to it. While they were useful for skilled warriors, taming one required a long journey, and more often than not, a lot of bruises along the way.