#ex rda!reader

English is not my native language, so please excuse any mistakes!

⟾ Mine And Yours. Ours

Synopsis 𓄼 That day could have been different, none of that could have happened if you hadn't been so stubborn.

Words 𓄼 1 742

Attention 𓄼 free, mention of past anguish, pregnancy, light romance, tension, comfort

Dictionary 𓄼 tsahìk - spiritual leader 》ikran - mountain banshee 》palulukan - thanator 》Zuke - unwavering 》irayo - thank you 》oeru meuia - “it was an honor for me” 》ma yawnto - my love/beloved 》ma munye - my sweet/my dear

You watched the little being sleeping peacefully in the basket in front of you.

Its chest rose and fell slowly, its eyes closed as if it had nothing to fear from the outside world. You still couldn't imagine that this little thing had come from you, or rather, from your avatar.

But there it was, your son.

So soft.

So serene.

And yet, still too small.

Your avatar body had given birth too soon.

Your son wasn't supposed to be born that day, but in a month, even for a na'vi pregnancy. Dr. Cortez said that the hectic periods at HQ, the excessive work everyone had to reorganize things, and all the stress from the war against the RDA contributed to it happening.

So'lek, your companion, even knowing that you still had a soldier's mindset firmly rooted in your mind even after deserting the RDA a few years ago, didn't like you taking so many risks, and with the pregnancy, it became worse.

But he was a warrior too, and he had his obligations, he couldn't keep an eye on you all the time.

Unfortunately, your avatar started having contractions at the wrong time, during one of the many field missions the Resistance was conducting around the facility. You were already bored of being inside HQ under the supervision not only of So'lek but also of the team and the sarentu children, with whom you had developed a great affinity. You were used to the movement, and being locked inside the human camp wasn't really your thing and was already getting irritating.

That day, So'lek had to leave early, receiving a call from Tsahìk Etuwa, something to do with strange movements near the aranahe Hometree.

Somehow you managed to convince Priya to send you on a mission, however simple it might be. Perhaps she took pity on you and agreed to send you along with two other allied na'vi warriors on a reconnaissance mission east of the Cloudy Forest region. Tamtey volunteered to go too when he noticed you starting to pack your things with the excuse that they had nothing to do either, which you knew was just a lie so they could keep an eye on you while the trr'ong was gone.

And you would also pretend you didn't see them quietly chatting with Ri'nela and Teylan in a corner before they left. Your stomach was already visibly swollen, the human clothes in na'vi size were already a little uncomfortable, but that didn't prevent you from performing your duties.

You took flight along with Tamtey's ikran, since you didn't have your own mount, accompanied by the two other warriors on their banshees towards the eastern side of the territory.

It was supposed to be a simple task, a quick job. Just to check an area already known on the Resistance's map in the Cloud Forest to see if there was any unusual movement. The mounts were left a little far from the exact mapped location to minimize risks as you advanced.

Walking a little ahead of the others, leading the way, you saw them before you noticed them. You crouched down to touch the damp marks still on the ground with recent cracks, large and small footprints making a suspicious path through the forest. Their shapes were quite familiar to you. Humans and AMPs.

RDA presence.

Your first move was to turn around to warn the others.

Too late.

The only thing you remembered was an explosion very close to your body and then an intense exchange of gunfire between your allies and a group of RDA soldiers who shouldn't have been there.

You heard Tamtey and the others calling your name, but they seemed further and further away as you lost consciousness. And then everything simply went dark.

– You haven’t said anything since we arrived.

That was the first thing So’lek said as he approached. He had just checked on Ìley before letting the ikran go to rest in the vicinity of the lonely camp on the floating mountain.

You had traveled together on the banshee through the Kinglor Forest, a few hours after the baby was born, to reach the camp that had gradually become a home for both of you. As much as So’lek had a certain affinity for the Residence, he was very skeptical about leaving the baby in the care of HQ, his son deserved to be in contact with a na’vi home first and foremost.

Dr. Cortez had said it had been a miracle that you had managed to firmly maintain the connection with your na’vi body, even though your avatar had suffered enough damage for a forced shutdown. The explosion had caused severe damage to the avatar, and now, after remaining connected long enough to give birth, the body would have to rest in the lab for a while to recover.

The HQ didn't have the infrastructure to treat an avatar like that, so it could take weeks or even months for the body to be one hundred percent again.

A heavy sigh escaped his chest, slightly blurring the exopack strapped to his face, a dull pain building up.

– I'm just... seeing him.

Another sigh, and this time it wasn't yours.

– Priya said the RDA was hunting the palulukan for some kind of experiment they're doing on them. Tomorrow, the others and I will check the place, find out more about what they're plotting, and disable any and all traps they try to set. Don't worry about it.

You heard him speak in his deep, comforting voice, but you didn't really listen. Your mind was still absorbed in your own thoughts.

Your right arm rose, your fingers automatically reaching for the small, blue, covered being.

And to think you almost lost him because of your recklessness.

He might not be here now.

If it weren't for you-

His hand recoiled as if afraid of hurting him with just a single touch. He didn't deserve that.

– I almost lost him.

His voice came out muffled by the mask, and by something that had settled deeper inside.

– I should have listened to you. I shouldn't have left HQ and risked going out there.

A strong hand touched his shoulder, the feeling of its weight there bringing the stability you didn't even know needed at that moment.

– But he's here now.

He said with a mixture of affection and firmness. A cruel thought crossed his mind.

– By a hair's breadth.

Very close.

If the explosion had happened closer, if Tamtey and the others hadn't rescued him in time, if his body hadn't withstood the avatar's connection throughout the whole process, what would have happened?

A warm breath brushed against the top of your head; you barely noticed when So'lek had gotten so close.

– But he's here.

Those words echoed again, slowly taking shape.

Your hand rested on top of his, on your shoulder. Yes, the worst was over, and your little baby was now there in front of you, safe and secure in his home. He was there, and that was what should matter now.

Later, as night fell, your companion sat down in front of the newly lit campfire inside the camp, pulling your small body to sit with him. Before settling behind you, he took the newborn from the makeshift crib and placed him in his lap.

– Even though he wasn’t born from this body, he’s still your son. A gift from the Great Mother that came from you as much as it came from me.

His voice was soft as he spoke and sat behind you, keeping your body warm both by him and by the fire in front.

– A part of both of us, forever.

Your chest warmed with each word.

– Mine and yours.

He whispered close to your ear, stretching his large hand to the small bundle curled up in your arms, his three fingers caressing the beginnings of fine hairs on your eyebrows before moving on to the baby’s hair.

– Our little Zuke.

Zuke. A name that you two had chosen long ago in case a boy was born, even before the pregnancy, in one of the brief moments of peace you had during the missions. When you shared and planned a peaceful and happy future under the stars of Pandora's vast sky when all that damned war was over.

– Zuke…

A strong name, but one that sounded so sweet. The baby seemed to wake slightly from his deep sleep, his little ears trying to reach the sound of your voice and his tail wagging subtly before he seemed to relax again. Your right hand rose to touch your son's serene face only to be gently grasped by Zuke's small hand, his five little fingers holding your finger as if he didn't want you to move away. Your heart warmed in a different way, a kind of love completely different from anything you had ever felt before rising and hitting you hard in the chest.

It was a new feeling that you would never let go of.

Your strong little boy.

Your firstborn son.

Unwavering.

So'lek allowed himself a little laugh, the front of his body vibrating against your back, thinking that the newborn had already chosen a favorite among the parents in such a short time in this world.

You looked away from the small bundle in your lap to look towards your partner.

– Irayo, ma yawntu (thank you, my love).

The Na'vi language wasn't yet widely used by you, even though you had been on the same side as the natives for several years. For your soldier's mind, it was still difficult to absorb and pronounce them naturally, as they seemed wrong, even when you were in your avatar body.

But it would be worth the effort.

For them, it would always be worth it.

So'lek raised his hand, as if to wipe away a solitary tear that trickled unnoticed down his face, before pressing his forehead against hers, having forgotten for a brief moment the glass wall that separated your world from his.

– Oeru meuia, ma munye (It was an honor for me, my dear).

You knew that sooner or later you would have to return to HQ to reassure the Sarentu children and apologize to Priya, who felt as guilty as you for sending you on that mission, but now you were going to enjoy this unique moment that was being afforded to you.

An order for So’lek! It took me a while, but it arrived ˙ᴗ˙