#hwnig

Neteyam was irritated. Anyone who looked at him could tell he was practically steaming, his narrowed eyes glued to the ground, his firm steps carrying him somewhere far away from the clan before he did something he might regret—or something that would earn him a stern lecture (and punishment) from Jake later on.

Once again, the eldest Sully had seen Y/n being politely courted by one of the other boys in the clan. He chuckled bitterly to himself, almost scoffing. Of course, Y/n was being courted by every young Omaticaya in the hopes of making her their mate.

If this had been a few years ago, back when Neteyam wasn’t even aware of Y/n’s existence—too busy with training and missions assigned by his father—he wouldn’t have cared about her constantly being approached. But from the moment he truly noticed her, something inside him had shifted. And that something drove him to the brink of madness every time another boy approached her.

Of course, he couldn’t expect that not to happen. Y/n was, by far, the most beautiful young woman in the clan. But it wasn’t just that. It wasn’t only her perfectly amber eyes, designed so flawlessly by Eywa, or her long, dark hair that seemed to reflect all of Pandora’s natural light, or even her radiant smile that adorned her small, round face so perfectly. No, it was more than just her looks, though the entire clan—especially the young Omaticaya men—had to notice those things about her, too.

Still, Neteyam was utterly jealous. And furious. He couldn’t just hide Y/n away from everyone, keep her somewhere safe where only he could see her, appreciate her, talk to her. Maybe even touch her—if he didn’t combust from the thought alone.

Every time he interacted with Y/n, Neteyam’s heart would pound harder and faster, his face would flush, and his palms would sweat. When he first started feeling this way, the Omaticaya thought he was ill and grew concerned, which drew Jake’s attention. Eventually, Neteyam couldn’t keep it to himself and told his father what was bothering him.

Jake Sully had to fight back a laugh when his eldest said he was in love—though not in those exact words. Still, Jake kept a serious face to maintain his authority. Jake liked Y/n; she was a good girl. He had practically watched her grow up, just as he’d watched Neteyam grow up. But he didn’t like how much she was distracting his son. As a final piece of advice, the patriarch told his son to focus harder on his training until he felt ready to confess his feelings.

And so, until that day came, Neteyam settled for forming a friendship with the young woman. He poured himself into his training, trying harder every day to push those feelings away.

Neytiri, on the other hand, had noticed what was happening without needing a word from Neteyam. She saw how he acted whenever Y/n was nearby during any clan gathering. She saw his reactions as he struggled to hide his emotions, forget them, and behave naturally around the girl. Neytiri liked Y/n, too. She thought the young woman was beautiful, talented, and caring. If it was Eywa’s will, she would gladly welcome Y/n as a daughter when Neteyam finally woke up and claimed her as his mate.

But Neytiri thought that day might take a while—and she hoped it wouldn’t be too late by the time Neteyam finally confessed.

“Neteyam?” Y/n’s sweet, melodic voice called from behind him, breaking through his thoughts. He kept walking, his long, purposeful strides carrying him anywhere far from the girl who occupied his mind—and who was now standing right behind him.

Neteyam didn’t stop walking, but his ears, along with the stiffness in his tail and shoulders, betrayed that he had heard Y/n and was fully aware of her presence.

Y/n was confused but decided to follow him in silence. She trailed after the boy through paths filled with lush vegetation and small animals, eventually arriving at a breathtaking view of Pandora from the heights of one of the great trees. The girl smiled at the sight but quickly turned her attention to Neteyam, noticing how he stood quietly, avoiding her gaze, seemingly trying to calm himself.

“Did something happen?” Y/n asked softly, taking a careful step closer but keeping some distance between them.

Neteyam swallowed down the words that were forming like a lump in his throat—words like: You shouldn’t be accepting courtships when I’m around. But he couldn’t hold back the frustrated sigh that escaped his lips. “It’s nothing,” he replied simply and calmly. He would never burden her with his confusion or irritation. After all, it wasn’t her fault she was so beautiful and skilled.

“Nete, it doesn’t seem like nothing,” Y/n said with a small laugh. The moment the nickname left her lips, Neteyam’s heart jumped wildly in his chest.

Still, he remained silent, his face beginning to flush as he stood there, choosing to focus on the view of Pandora. The sun was already starting to set, making way for the night.

“Well... I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have meddled…” Y/n said softly after receiving no response, her tone a little embarrassed. She had known Neteyam for years and had never wanted to be a burden to him—quite the opposite.

The Omaticaya girl had always had her eyes on the eldest Sully, the first son of Toruk Mak'to, even before they had built their friendship. Of course, her feelings weren’t tied to his status as the son of a leader but rather to Neteyam’s gentle yet strong demeanor.

His sharp, observant eyes. His posture—one that had been largely shaped by Jake Sully’s expectations, yet which Neteyam carried with a natural grace. His careful, steady way of speaking, free of judgment. And, most of all, the way he would laugh wholeheartedly whenever he had to save Lo’ak from his own troubles.

"I... I didn’t mean to bother you, Neteyam. Sorry," Y/n said, clasping her hands together. Her ears lowered softly, and her tail stopped swaying slowly from side to side.

Before she could leave, though, the Omaticaya stopped her.

"No," Neteyam said quickly, finally meeting her eyes. He straightened himself, feeling the warmth on his face intensify, spreading to his ears, neck, and soon, he was sure, his chest. Taking an almost imperceptible deep breath, he added, "You're not a bother. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to." His voice was soft, and he moved closer to the edge of the tree, sitting down and letting his long legs dangle in the air. The last thing he wanted was for Y/n to think she was a nuisance.

The girl smiled slightly at his words, a bit of her earlier energy returning. Being near Neteyam was gratifying, and she loved it. She loved talking to him, feeling close to him in any way. With gentle steps, she moved to sit beside him, admiring the view.

"This is beautiful," Y/n said, her gaze fixed on the scenery—the setting sun casting its warm hues over Pandora.

Neteyam turned his eyes to her again, mesmerized by the golden light illuminating her face, enhancing her already stunning features.

"It really is," Neteyam replied calmly, though his gaze wasn’t on the scenery but on Y/n.

As soon as she looked at him, he quickly averted his eyes, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Is Jake being hard on you with training, Nete?" Y/n tried to start a conversation. "Is that why you were so upset?"

"A little..." Neteyam replied, avoiding her gaze. He wasn’t telling the full truth, but it wasn’t entirely a lie either. Jake always seemed to expect more and more from him. "I’m just a bit tired, that’s all."

"No days off, huh?" Y/n chuckled softly through her nose. "Jake just wants you to be perfect, Nete. You’re the leader’s son, Toruk Mak’to’s son. There are a lot of expectations for you to meet."

"And that doesn’t help me at all," the boy replied, eliciting laughter from the Omaticaya beside him. Neteyam allowed himself a small smile as he listened to her laugh, watching her face light up.

"The hunting ritual is coming up..." the girl pointed out, softly swinging her legs where they hung over the edge. "Maybe Jake will let you rest after that."

"I’m not so sure about that."

A comfortable silence settled between them. Y/n turned her gaze back to the breathtaking scenery, but Neteyam’s eyes stayed fixed on her, admiring her quietly. He loved moments like this—talking to Y/n, sitting in silence with Y/n. Everything about it felt natural. Like it was meant to be.

"You... you’ll have to make a big choice," Y/n began softly, her voice tinged with hesitation. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

Neteyam didn’t entirely understand her words but chose to remain quiet. Deep down, he knew he could listen to Y/n talk for hours—even if, perhaps, he didn’t fully grasp everything she said.

"Have you already chosen?" Y/n asked timidly, her eyes finally meeting his. Neteyam hadn’t taken his gaze off her.

"Chosen?" Neteyam echoed, a little confused, snapping out of the dreamy state her presence always seemed to put him in.

"I mean... your mate, of course," Y/n clarified, her voice quieter now, tinged with embarrassment.

The truth was, Y/n was scared of his answer. If Neteyam said yes, if he already had someone in mind to share his life with, it would crush any hope she had. But even so, she needed to know.

"Mate?" Neteyam repeated, slightly stunned. Her gaze bore into him, making him straighten his posture. He swallowed hard under her careful observation of his sharp, strong features. "No... I-I haven’t," he stammered, finally looking away. His ears twitched anxiously.

The truth was that Neteyam’s heart had already answered the question for him—loudly and undeniably. The moment Y/n mentioned "mate," his thoughts returned to the hunting ritual and the decision he would have to make afterward. And his mind landed firmly on Y/n.

Because it was her. It had always been her. Y/n was the one he wanted as his mate, the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, to share every moment with.

Neteyam grew nervous as he imagined Y/n waiting for him in their shared home, arms open, ready to embrace him, kiss him, and care for him just as he would care for her. And he would do it well—he was certain of that.

A small but happy smile flickered across Y/n’s lips upon hearing Neteyam’s response that he hadn’t chosen a mate yet.

“Have you… noticed any, um, approaches?” Y/n asked softly, her voice almost a purr, knowing this was her chance and determined not to let it slip away. Not when Neteyam stirred her heart in ways no one else could. Not when she longed to hear his voice or feel close to him.

Of course, just like Y/n, Neteyam was a target of attention. The difference, however, was that Omaticaya girls weren’t as aggressive in their advances toward him. Getting close to him without at least being friends with his siblings was no easy task. And even then, finding a moment to be near him during his rare free time was nearly impossible. Yet Y/n managed it every time.

If anyone hoped to be courted by Neteyam, they had to make their feelings and intentions clear due to his limited availability and the fact that he wasn’t exactly the most expressive Na’vi. Y/n had tried to make her interest obvious around him, but the boy didn’t seem to notice.

Eywa knows how many courting gifts Y/n had carefully declined, all the while hoping to receive one from a particular Na’vi—the eldest Sully. With the hunting ritual so close, perhaps it was finally time for her to be a bit more forward in showing her interest, though still delicately. She didn’t want Neteyam to think poorly of her—not that he could, even if he tried.

“No, I haven’t noticed,” Neteyam replied truthfully to her question. The fact was, he rarely paid attention to anything outside of his parents’ demands, Lo’ak’s troubles, his siblings’ safety, and, of course, every move Y/n made.

“Well… plenty of girls would love to be courted by you,” Y/n said sweetly, letting out a soft laugh as she leaned ever so slightly toward him, her tail moving lightly along the ground. Neteyam’s ears twitched at her words, his gaze drawn to her once more. His own tail began to shift, unconsciously seeking hers.

But then, the scene from earlier crept into his mind—a boy standing close to Y/n, talking to her, laughing as if there were no tomorrow, clearly thrilled to be near her. The memory made Neteyam’s brows knit slightly together, and he found himself looking away from her.

“Yeah. From what I’ve noticed, many are courting you,” Neteyam said, trying to manage the irritation bubbling up inside him. He’d almost forgotten it, but now it had resurfaced. A new thought struck him, making him feel both nervous and uneasy. “You… have you already chosen a mate?” he asked carefully, bringing his eyes back to her.

“No,” she answered simply.

“No? Why not? You…” He cleared his throat, fidgeting slightly. “You’re an incredible girl. I’ve seen what you do for everyone in the clan. You tend to the injured, help prepare for rituals, assist mothers with their children… you’ve even helped my mother.” Neteyam’s voice grew a little shaky, his ears flicking nervously, his tail moving restlessly behind him. He vividly remembered the day Lo’ak got himself into serious trouble, forcing him, Neytiri, and Jake to go and drag his brother back. In their absence, Y/n had kept Kiri and Tuk company, distracting them with her kindness and warmth.

Y/n smiled, realizing that Neteyam had noticed something about her. The boy steadied himself before speaking again.

“Why haven’t you chosen anyone?” Neteyam asked simply, his voice low, though his eyes stayed fixed on the girl beside him.

“I’m waiting…” Y/n began in the same tone, looking deeply at him. “…for someone to make me an offer.”

Neteyam averted his gaze, assuming Y/n was talking about a specific Omaticaya in the clan. His thoughts spiraled, imagining anyone but himself in her mind—something Y/n was trying to make obvious with her intent gaze and the subtle movements of her tail inching closer to his.

“Well…” Neteyam said, trying to swallow the frustration brewing inside him over whichever lucky Na’vi had managed to catch Y/n’s eyes and heart. Maybe he’d challenge him to a duel if he found out. “It shouldn’t take long,” he said simply, still not looking at her, his earlier sour mood returning.

“It could happen now,” Y/n suggested, tilting her head slightly, attempting to catch Neteyam’s gaze.

“Now?” Neteyam asked, looking around and confirming they were still alone. There wasn’t another Omaticaya in sight that he could aim his fists at.

“Yes, now,” Y/n replied, his attention now fully on her. She fluttered her eyelashes gracefully, hoping he would understand her meaning.

“How ‘now’? It’s just us here,” he muttered, confused, though his heart skipped a beat as he caught her beautiful lashes in motion, momentarily forgetting his impulse to pummel some imaginary rival.

Y/n sighed, realizing she needed to be more direct if she wanted him to understand what she meant.

“Nete…” She swallowed hard, steeling herself for what felt like an immense challenge. She placed her hand gently over his, watching his eyes slowly widen as his ears perked up in surprise. “…I see you,” Y/n confessed intensely, her breath quickening as her heart raced uncontrollably.

Neteyam, on the other hand, was frozen in place. His wide eyes and dilated pupils were locked on the girl in front of him, his body entirely still as he processed her words.

“It’s true that I was waiting for something from you,” the girl began, embarrassed, avoiding his gaze. “But... you don’t have to feel pressured by me. I know you’ll have other great options for a mate.” She let out a small, almost bitter laugh.

The Omaticaya boy snapped out of his stupor, blinking several times in quick succession, his pupils dilating greatly, his heart racing faster than ever before. As soon as Y/n pulled her hand from his, Neteyam quickly but gently grasped it, not wanting to startle her.

“Y/n,” the boy called softly, still surprised by her words. She wanted to be courted by him.

Even though Neteyam was consumed with happiness, staring at her intensely, the words were stuck in his throat. He wanted to say “I see you” like he had imagined so many times, but with his heart pounding and his shock overwhelming him, he could only open his lips several times, struggling to find the right words.

Y/n looked at him shyly, waiting for him to say something, while the boy still held her hand gently, preventing her from going anywhere. He traced her soft skin with his thumb, his gaze still locked on her, hoping she would understand him without words, because he certainly would stutter if he started to confess.

The girl looked down at their hands joined softly, gripping Neteyam’s hand firmly, but soon she lifted her gaze back to him, watching him swallow hard.

“Do you feel the same?” Y/n asked quietly, leaning in slightly, and the only thing Neteyam could do was nod—quickly, almost too fast, which made her smile even wider.

Even with his heart practically on fire, the boy swallowed hard and tightened his grip on the young woman beside him.

“Y/n, I see you,” Neteyam said as if making a promise, though it was whispered, it was intense. It was clear that his chest was rising and falling quickly, with a brief flush of purple creeping up his face, his ears, slowly descending to his neck.

Y/n smiled wider, the same color beginning to tint her cheeks. With her beautiful smile, Neteyam returned a smaller one, still immersed in emotions. His skin was showing his anxiety and mild embarrassment, and his palm was starting to grow warmer than usual.

The boy pulled back slightly from the girl, still looking at her, her eyes locked on him with curiosity. Neteyam began to undo one of his bracelets, tightly fastened to his forearm, and once the accessory was removed, he looked at Y/n with expectation.

The girl let out a happy sound, lifting her left forearm to Neteyam, who, with slightly trembling fingers, began to fasten the bracelet onto her. Now, anyone who saw Y/n wearing the accessory would immediately know that she was promised to Neteyam, as the Omaticaya wore the matching pair on his right forearm.

"In the hunting ritual..." Neteyam began softly as he adjusted the bracelet on Y/n. "I will bring the largest animal I find for the clan. And after that, I will come to you and ask if you would choose me as your mate in front of everyone." He continued, his voice still quiet, a little embarrassed but happy, watching the bracelet settle perfectly on the girl. "This is my first courting gift. But please, don't worry, I will give you more gifts so you can adorn yourself with them until the ritual. And also, after it." The boy smiled at her, making the girl laugh too, filled with happiness.

"And I will make your adornments," Y/n replied, thinking of the accessories she had already made for Neteyam, but never had the courage to gift him. However, from now on, she saw no problem in doing so.

The Omaticaya boy smiled at her, gently bringing their foreheads together, and she responded without hesitation, closing her eyes in delight and happiness. Neteyam turned his gaze back to the landscape in front of them, feeling Y/n settle close to his body, resting her head between his neck and shoulder. He accepted her presence gladly, holding her close as they both silently admired the beautiful, dusk-lit landscape of Pandora, content in their mutual affection.

Lo'ak was leading the way, with Kiri right behind him, holding Tuk’s hand tightly. Following the two girls was Neteyam. As he took slightly hurried steps, he kept glancing at the group ahead and then at the two small humans trailing after them: Y/n and Spider.

The laughter of the young ones echoed through the beautiful forests of Pandora. Four Na’vi led the path, and two humans followed, feeling just as delighted. Being on Pandora, running through its forests, feeling the wind and sun on their skin—it all gave them a sense of the purest, most unburdened freedom.

Neteyam certainly wished he could carry Y/n himself, place her on a strong piggyback ride as he ventured deeper into the forest—that would save him from the constant worry about her. But of course, she would never accept that. Not out of shame or fear, but because of the same feeling that burned in the hearts of all the other youth: exploring Pandora was far too incredible to let someone else do it for you.

As they crossed a tall root, Neteyam turned to Y/n and offered her his hand. She looked at him, smiling happily at the gesture, and accepted his brief help, noticing just how much larger his hand was compared to hers. The eldest Sully boy smiled softly as well, pleased to see her make it across with his help.

Still watching her from the other side of the root, Neteyam suddenly felt someone grab his hand. He quickly turned his gaze, realizing it was Spider—who, even though he didn’t need help, had taken his hand anyway just to hop over the exposed roots, flashing a cheeky grin at the older Sully.

"Thanks, my friend," the human boy said playfully, making Neteyam roll his eyes as he crossed the root himself. Ahead, Lo'ak, Kiri, Tuk, and Y/n laughed along with the two of them.

"Come on, guys," Lo'ak called out between chuckles as they continued on the trail.

Once Neteyam and Y/n caught up, the teasing was relentless. Lo'ak and Spider were the worst, constantly cracking jokes at Neteyam’s expense—especially when Y/n was nearby. Still, the eldest Sully didn’t mind too much, even if the boys were clearly trying to be annoying. Kiri, on the other hand, laughed like there was no tomorrow, always dragging Tuk along—if the youngest was close enough. And Tuk only laughed because she was swept up in her siblings' contagious joy.

The confession between Y/n and Neteyam had happened just a few weeks ago. They were in the courtyard outside the lab, where a few scientists were still tending to their avatar bodies—and of course, Spider, Lo’ak, and Kiri were hiding somewhere not too far from the couple.

Y/n had been complaining about not having an avatar of her own—about how annoying it was to always wear the breathing mask outside the complex, and how amazing it must be to be tall and agile like the Na’vi, so different from her small frame—especially when standing next to them or the avatars.

But Neteyam adored her. He loved how tiny she was compared to him. He thought she was adorable. And beautiful, of course. He had heard her say things like: “I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a deeper bond with plants and animals,” or “It sucks that humans don’t have a tswin,” or “Being a Na’vi… having a soul connection with an Ikran… I don’t even have words to describe how amazing that must be.”, “You’re lucky, Neteyam.”

And then, the eldest Sully let something slip.

"You’re perfect."

The words left his mouth before he could stop them, and he immediately fell silent, realizing what he had just said and feeling a sudden wave of embarrassment hit him. Even he hadn’t expected to say that out loud.

Y/n froze, her eyes fixed on him, a soft blush quickly blooming on her cheeks. She was flustered too, caught off guard. All the while, three eavesdroppers—Spider, Lo’ak, and Kiri—were trying hard not to laugh or make a sound, stifling their giggles from their hiding spot.

"Well… I…" Neteyam tried to recover, clearly flustered and feeling his heart race. But it was hard—he had spoken the truth. And Neteyam always told the truth, no matter the moment or the place.

"Thank you," Y/n said quietly, her voice low, with a small, shy smile as she looked away from him.

Neteyam’s lips curved into a grin, and his own cheeks burned softly. He was relieved she didn’t seem uncomfortable, even if she was a little embarrassed. He scratched the back of his neck and cleared his throat, trying to break the tension.

Meanwhile, Lo’ak, Kiri, and Spider were still watching from behind their cover, barely holding in their laughter.

“Damn, I should’ve brought a camera,” Spider whispered, eyes locked on Y/n and Neteyam just ahead.

“Is it too late?” Lo’ak whispered back, just as eager.

"I don’t think so," Spider replied quietly, only to be met with a sharp “Shh!” from Kiri, who was trying to listen closely to what her older brother and best friend were saying.

"I'm being serious," Neteyam said after a few seconds of silence, drawing Y/n’s gaze back to him once more. "You don’t need to be taller, or have a tswin, or anything like that..." He took a deep breath to steady himself before finishing—his heart pounding hard in his chest. "You’re amazing just the way you are."

Y/n’s smile grew wider as she looked at him, and Neteyam smiled back, equally sincere. But before she could say anything in return, Neteyam’s ears twitched—catching the soft but telltale rustling nearby. The brief, hushed voice of Lo’ak reached his ears, and Neteyam immediately turned his head in the direction of the sound.

"Lo’ak, I heard you. Come out," he said calmly, as usual, but with a pointed firmness.

That was all it took for Lo’ak to step out from behind one of the lab’s concrete walls, grinning, with Spider and Kiri right behind him—also laughing.

"Neteyam and Y/n sitting under a tree..." Lo’ak began to sing in a teasing tone.

"And they’re K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Spider finished, giggling.

That was enough to send the three into fits of laughter. Y/n quickly clasped her hands together in front of her, trying to hide how embarrassed she felt. Neteyam flushed a bit deeper too, but didn’t move—knowing any reaction would just fuel their teasing.

Kiri, still laughing but a little more composed, noticed both Y/n’s flustered state and her brother’s mild frustration. She grabbed Lo’ak and Spider by the arms, pulling them away. "We’re leaving now..." she said, barely keeping her voice steady through her chuckles as she dragged the two boys, who were having the time of their lives. "We’ll stay around the lab, Teyam," she added, glancing back before disappearing around the corner with her troublemakers.

"Great Mother..." Y/n breathed, half-laughing, still visibly embarrassed.

"I’m... going to have a serious talk with Lo’ak," Neteyam sighed deeply, turning back to her.

"And I’ll be having a word with Spider," Y/n agreed, letting out a quiet laugh at the end. "But... putting that aside," she continued, glancing away quickly, "I admire you, Teyam." Her voice was simple, honest, a quiet return for his earlier words.

Neteyam let his smile settle again, warm and content. "And I admire you," he replied, still smiling the same way.

From that moment on, the two grew even closer—if that was even possible. Their feelings bloomed more and more each day. They cared for each other in the ways they could, listened to one another, supported one another, until there was no space left for discomfort or doubt.

Their first kiss was soft. Neteyam, after convincing Lo’ak to cover for him to get some extra time alone with Y/n, took her to one of Pandora’s beautiful—and safe—hidden spots. It was a natural pool lit by sunlight, not far from the scientists’ base.

If it had been entirely up to him, Neteyam would’ve brought her there at night, where Pandora’s breathtaking bioluminescence could reach her with just a touch. But it was a new place—Y/n had never seen it before—and Neteyam had found it by accident while wandering through a thick and overgrown part of the forest.

Watching her now, delighted, touching the glowing plants, laughing as she played with tiny animals and insects, Neteyam couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

"I know I look like a kid, but you don’t have to laugh," Y/n said, amused, but also a little self-conscious about how she was acting.

Being out in the forests of Pandora wasn’t something she got to do very often. Norm had to give his explicit approval—word for word—before she was allowed to leave the cage (as she lovingly called the base). And if, by any chance, she ever had to go out at night (which practically never happened), Norm’s avatar form would have to go with her. After Y/n’s mother passed away when she was only five, Norm took her in and raised her as his own. And even now, he couldn’t help but feel completely responsible for her safety.

"Sorry—I wasn’t laughing at you," Neteyam rushed to say, his face tensing with concern. The last thing he wanted was for Y/n to think, even for a second, that he saw her in a negative way.

"I was kidding," Y/n laughed, moving to stand beside him. "I loved it, Teyam. This place is beautiful." She glanced around once more, eyes full of wonder. "I bet it’s magnificent at night."

"I bet it is too," Neteyam replied simply. Like her, he wasn’t often free to wander the forest after dark—unless something urgent required it—so he hadn’t seen this place under the night sky either. "Someday, I’ll convince Norm to let me bring you here at night," he added with a teasing grin.

"I hope he does," Y/n replied with a soft laugh, mirroring his.

They began to walk through the area together, Y/n climbing onto a large fallen tree—clearly long since reclaimed by the forest, with much of its trunk sunken into the earth. Neteyam stayed close, walking alongside her, amused to see her finally reaching his eye level from her elevated spot.

She paused for a moment, eyes wide, taking in the stunning view below. The clearing sat on high ground, and the sunlight stretched far across the treetops, bathing everything in golden light.

"I’ll never forget this place," Y/n said softly, her voice full of awe as she admired the beauty of Pandora.

Neteyam remained beside her, smiling with quiet satisfaction. He loved impressing her—even if he tried not to make it obvious.

But just as Y/n took another step forward, her foot slipped on the bark. In a heartbeat, Neteyam reached out and caught her, wrapping his arms tightly around her to steady her on the log.

The sudden jolt made Y/n laugh breathlessly, her heart racing. Though, truthfully, not all of it was from the fall—being this close to Neteyam was its own kind of dizzying.

"Thank you," she said shakily, with a small laugh. She didn’t pull away—instead, her hands held onto his shoulders like a lifeline.

"I’d never let you fall, Y/n/n," Neteyam murmured, his voice low as his eyes locked with hers, watching her smile—soft, shy, and entirely for him.

"I know you wouldn’t, Teyam," the girl whispered, her gaze intense as it locked with his.

They stood there in silence, eyes fixed on each other, both glancing—dangerously—at the other’s lips. Y/n took a deep breath behind the mask that allowed her to breathe in Pandora’s open air, trembling slightly, her body aching for something more.

"Teyam..." she murmured, and the Na'vi’s ears twitched quickly, alert to whatever she was about to say.

"I want to do something... but I don’t know if you’ll like it." Her face flushed with warmth.

Neteyam’s eyes flicked back to her lips, and for a moment, he didn’t answer—caught in a trance. But her voice echoed in his mind, grounding him. There was nothing she could do that he wouldn’t welcome.

"I will," Neteyam said softly, meeting her gaze again.

Heart racing, Y/n nodded. She took in as much air as she could, then slowly unsealed her mask, her eyes never leaving his. Neteyam’s expression shifted to sudden alarm, not understanding why she was doing that. His hand gripped her arm firmly—ready to put the mask back on her in a second, even if he had to force it. That would be the only thing he'd ever do against her will.

"Y/n..." he said her name, voice laced with concern.

But she moved closer. Gently. And when Neteyam saw her face that near to his, something in him softened completely. He went quiet, his tail flicking anxiously behind him.

Y/n’s eyes dropped to his lips as she leaned in, inch by inch, until she finally pressed her mouth to his and closed her eyes. Neteyam’s eyes fluttered shut as well, her soft lips against his sending a shiver through his body. His ears twitched uncontrollably, and his tail gave one last flick before going still.

She pulled back slightly after that small kiss—but not far.

"Y/n," Neteyam whispered, voice tender as his hand moved gently to her cheek. He leaned in again, more sure this time, capturing her lips in a deeper, slower kiss. Careful. Gentle. He didn’t want his fangs to hurt her delicate skin. And in that kiss, he let her feel all the warmth, affection, and awe he held for her—every unspoken word passed between them in silence.

Y/n returned the kiss, feeling the warmth of the boy’s tongue gently enter her mouth, exploring carefully. With her free hand, she stroked Neteyam’s face, then slowly slid it down to the back of his neck, making him shiver at the touch of her delicate fingers on his skin.

They pulled apart once more, both holding their breath tightly. Y/n quickly replaced her mask, sealing it firmly and starting to breathe heavily. The very moment she took her first deep breath, Neteyam allowed himself to inhale just as sharply as she did.

With shy eyes, Y/n looked up at him. Neteyam blinked a few times before a smile slowly crept onto his lips, even as his cheeks flushed a faint purple. Seeing his smile, Y/n couldn’t help but smile back, feeling even more embarrassed by her boldness. Trying to hide it, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her cheek on his shoulder.

Neteyam chuckled softly, pleased, and returned her embrace.

The day had been perfect—the day he kissed Y/n for the first time. But it was a moment he wouldn’t allow to happen again. Not because of the kiss, but because letting her remove the mask—the only thing keeping her alive outside the compound—had been far too risky.

That day passed, just as it had begun: perfect. Y/n and Neteyam savored their time together in that hidden place before returning to the compound. Both still shy, but now more open to touches that went beyond mere friendship.

Lo’ak noticed something different as soon as the two returned to the lab but only spoke about it when he and Neteyam were walking home. The older brother lost in thought, his face softly flushed and a smile threatening to break through his lips, and the younger with narrowed eyes, clueless about what had really happened.

With Neteyam so distracted in his own thoughts, Lo’ak let it go. But Neytiri did not. And it wasn’t just that day. For some time now, she’d noticed the change in her son’s behavior—his mind drifting, a little absent—and she was piecing together exactly what was going on.

Her children spent a lot of time in the compound—something she didn’t like, but unfortunately, it was a part of their father. A part that, no matter how much she wanted to ignore, she simply couldn’t. And even if she wanted to, she wouldn’t deprive the boys of contact with the few humans left in the compound.

But seeing Kiri so close to Spider was a torment to her mind. Neytiri didn’t like the boy, and the whole family knew why. Neytiri didn’t like humans. However, the moment she set eyes on Y/n—the only time she had seen the girl when she was just fourteen—she knew more headaches were on the horizon.

When Neteyam brought Y/n on a visit, accompanied by Spider, for their usual games and playtime, he planted a thoughtful seed in his mother’s mind. Watching her eldest son take care of the human girl, Neytiri knew what was coming.

She watched Neteyam cautiously and intensely every time he returned home—every time she knew he had been with the human girl. And every single time, without fail, she saw something new in him… something growing stronger with each passing year. But she didn’t question it—yet. Neteyam was focused, and though his mother sensed something stirring within him, she had never seen him neglect his duties or his responsibilities. Maybe it was Jake’s insistence on raising the boys with an iron fist.

"For Eywa’s sake, you guys are slowpokes!" Lo’ak complained to the group trailing behind him in the forest. The boy was already high up on the tree—essentially the terrain they were crossing—watching Kiri climb while carrying Tuk piggyback, with Y/n following right behind the two. Spider and Neteyam came after.

"We don’t have the same leg length as you, Lo’ak," Spider grumbled, while Y/n and Kiri laughed.

"Shut up," Lo’ak snapped as he continued climbing along the trunk.

It didn’t take long before they were all high above the ground, lined up single file with Lo’ak leading, followed by Kiri and Tuk, then Spider, Y/n, and finally Neteyam.

“None of you have said where we’re going…” Y/n said, climbing up the tree trunk.

“It’s a lagoon, bigger than the one we went to two weeks ago, but we’ll have to walk a bit further,” Kiri said, glancing quickly at her friend.

“Nice! I can’t wait to drown Lo’ak again,” Spider joked, earning a few more laughs.

“Keep dreaming,” the boy leading the group replied.

“Admit it, Lo’ak, you’re no match for me,” Spider teased again as they moved along the path, skillfully navigating the terrain.

Y/n started laughing at the boys’ words, but her distraction proved costly. With laughter fading, the rustling of leaves and vegetation around them, and the occasional sounds of animals nearby, Y/n suddenly felt herself slip on the moss-covered trunk. A scream tore from her throat as she felt herself falling.

Can you tell if I’m cold? If I'm out of daydreams? If I lose what is loved, Will a new love awake me? I am touched by wonder When I'm blind in the dark

Neteyam shouted for Y/n, immediately trying to grab her arm before she actually fell from the tree—but it was too late. His hand only closed on empty air where her arm had been moments before.

The group froze, eyes wide, hearts pounding, as the echo of her scream reverberated in their minds. They all watched Y/n fall from a considerable height—enough to seriously hurt her, but not necessarily kill her from the fall alone.

Still, the sound of her body crashing through the leaves and branches before finally hitting the ground was painfully clear. Neteyam, pale as a ghost, climbed down faster than a rocket toward her.

The only thing running through his mind now was “the mask.” If the one thing allowing the girl to breathe was broken, everything would be over.

Kneeling beside the motionless girl on the ground, the Na’vi gently placed his hand on her slender shoulder, easing her back so she lay flat. With a shaky sigh, Neteyam saw that the mask was unharmed—but he began to gently shake Y/n, trying to wake her as the others quickly climbed down from the tree and gathered around.

Spider, now close by, pressed two fingers to the girl’s neck and let out a relieved breath upon feeling her pulse.

"She’s alive," the human said, glancing swiftly at their friends.

But Neteyam noticed the side of Y/n’s head—her hair plastered and wet. Running his fingers through, he saw the blood staining her skin, forcing him to swallow hard.

“We need to get her back. Now,” Spider said urgently, eyes wide at the sight of blood on Neteyam’s fingers.

But you drown me in daylight Don’t swim with me, darling I prefer the sound of you When you are away

Without waiting for anything else, the eldest Na’vi there scooped the girl into his arms and immediately began running back toward the compound, barely hearing Tuk start to cry in fright while Kiri said she would take the youngest home and return to the compound shortly after, nor noticing Spider struggling to keep up with his long, desperate strides.

As soon as he arrived with Y/n unconscious in his arms, Neteyam began trembling as he explained to Norm what had happened. Norm quickly took the girl from the Na’vi’s arms and laid her on one of the stretchers, while nurses and doctors already gathered around, starting to work urgently to save Y/n.

Spider and Lo’ak soon joined them, hearing Neteyam’s trembling words: “I should have held her. I couldn’t... I couldn’t do it. I wasn’t able to protect her.”

Norm, the only adult present among the youths—though scared and worried—tried to calm the eldest Na’vi, who was busy blaming himself for not stopping Y/n from falling. “I let her fall.”

Hours passed with Norm speaking to the doctors, Y/n receiving care, and Spider and Lo’ak watching Neteyam. He sat silently, anxious, his eyes lost and clouded by what he believed was his failure—to protect the one he cared about so deeply, the one so precious to him.

Finally, Norm approached after talking with the medical team. Neteyam stood quickly and moved toward the human, his eyes pleading for news—any good news.

“She’s stable,” Norm said with a sigh. “She hit her head hard in the fall, which explains the unconsciousness, the blood… and the concussion. But we don’t know when she’ll wake up.” His voice betrayed his worry.

Seeing Neteyam’s devastated face, Norm took a deep breath and placed a hand on the boy’s arm.

“Neteyam, it wasn’t your fault. Accidents like this… they happen.” Norm tried to soothe the younger one, who only swallowed hard and nodded, his shoulders and tail tense, eyes trying to hide the agony he felt inside. Whether it was an accident or not, whether it was his fault or not, he felt responsible. “So please… don’t blame yourself.” The human pleaded.

“Come on, brother, let’s go home,” Lo’ak said gently to Neteyam.

“I… want to know if she wakes up,” Neteyam whispered, looking at Norm, amber eyes begging.

With a nod, Norm stepped away to fetch a communicator and handed it to Neteyam.

“If you’re far away and she wakes, I’ll let you know.” Norm said after Neteyam took the device, who nodded with lowered eyes.

With that, the Na’vi left the compound, and Lo’ak waved once to Spider, who returned the gesture—both worried about Neteyam, and even more about Y/n.

If I am left with a rose in my hand, let it die It's the beauty in forgotten love And I don't care if you don't understand why I cry It's the beauty in forgotten love

On the way back, the air carried an almost funeral-like feeling, a deep silence. Neteyam, head bowed, gripped the communicator tightly, and Lo’ak, walking behind him, was worried about his brother and their friend. For Eywa’s sake, Y/n would be okay and wake up soon—that was what he hoped. But seeing Neteyam carrying a guilt that visibly weighed on his shoulders was alarming.

They met Kiri along the way, who, upon seeing the eldest, immediately feared the worst. Swallowing hard, her wide eyes turned to Lo’ak, silently asking for news, while Neteyam passed by her in a daze.

“Y/n is unconscious and has a concussion,” Lo’ak explained, and Kiri fell into step beside him.

With a relieved sigh at not hearing worse news, she looked toward Neteyam.

“And Teyam?” she asked softly. Lo’ak sighed.

“It almost looks like he’s the one who pushed her from the tree…” the boy said, worried, earning an elbow jab from Kiri.

“Don’t be insensitive…” Kiri said, concerned. “She’s important.”

“I know,” Lo’ak replied, his gaze fixed on Neteyam’s back just ahead. “I hope she wakes up soon.”

“Me too,” Kiri replied, and that was enough for the three of them to return home in silence.

When they arrived, Neytiri received Neteyam quietly, noticing her son’s slow gait, tense shoulders, still tail, and the shadow of guilt on his face. When she saw Kiri, she nearly started her usual lecture—but Jake, holding a sleeping Tuk in his arms, was quicker.

“Neteyam,” Sully’s father said, his eyes fixed on his eldest.

Jake and Neytiri learned what had happened after hearing Kiri’s alarmed account and Tuk’s loud crying as she sobbed, telling them what had happened to the human girl. Kiri added that Neteyam and Lo’ak stayed at the lab to provide support. Before Kiri could leave to return to the lab, Neytiri stopped her, trying to calm Tuk, and only after a long while did Kiri manage to sneak out of the house and meet her brothers along the way.

“Kiri and Tuk told me what happened,” Jake continued. “It’s not your fault.” He said it seriously, but gently, seeing the cloud of resentment on his son’s face, who only nodded and withdrew.

It wasn’t long before dinner was served, with a heavy atmosphere—especially around the young Na’vi. Neteyam sat with his family on the lined floor, the communicator clutched in one hand, unable to even raise his gaze. He tried to eat, but had a tight knot of fear, doubt, and guilt lodged in his throat.

When night fell, Neteyam found himself alone outside the house, and as he thought again about what had happened that day, tears filled his eyes. He bit his lips hard, trying to hold back any sound of crying so as not to alert his family nearby.

I forget how emotions dance when they aren’t inside of me I forget how the sun feels when she isn’t around me

Time passed, and Neteyam continued to fulfill his duties—perhaps not with the same perfection as before. His performance was declining, and this did not go unnoticed by Jake or Neytiri. Kiri and Lo’ak tried to help as best they could, redoing some of Neteyam’s tasks so he wouldn’t attract too much attention from their parents.

Every day, moments before sunset, Neteyam would head to the laboratory—sometimes alone—barely paying attention to the path. He was always greeted by Norm, who occasionally saw Neteyam accompanied by Lo’ak and Kiri, who also wanted to visit their friend.

The remaining scientists and doctors at the lab looked at Neteyam with compassion, but he barely noticed how people regarded him, trapped too deeply in his guilt.

And my dreams become sweeter when something is missing I’m in love with the hunt itself It makes me feel alive, alive

The young avatar sat in a chair near Y/n’s bedside, where she remained unconscious. She only seemed to be sleeping—a light, dreamless sleep—but the beeping of the machines monitoring her filled Neteyam with anxiety. At least, it did him. Seeing her motionless, lying there with devices attached to her, was almost as if she could leave at any moment. And he didn’t like that at all.

Neteyam spoke to her—especially after learning from Norm that Y/n might be able to hear him. Sometimes he would tell her about his day, about how Jake’s eyes followed him wherever he went. Other times, he recounted stories he had learned from the Na’vi elders, occasionally retelling one of Y/n’s favorite tales. There were moments when he fell silent but braided a bracelet for the girl beside him. And at other times, with his eyes on her, hoping she’d wake, he softly sang to her.

Neteyam also brought things for Y/n, as did Kiri. Most were accessories, objects lovingly made by Y/n’s friends, each telling the anxious days spent crafting them. The eldest Na’vi always wanted to brighten that cold, dull bedside with something different, more colorful and vivid. The last time, having that thought, Neteyam decided to gift Y/n a rose he had found along one of his forest paths.

The boy carefully dug the rose from the soil, braiding fibers around its roots so it would last as long as possible away from its natural habitat. Norm allowed the flower to be placed near Y/n’s bed, since Grace had previously studied the species and published in one of her books that it was harmless to humans.

If I am left with a rose in my hand, let it die It's the beauty in forgotten love And I don't care if you don't understand why I cry It's the beauty in forgotten love

Another one of countless days, Neteyam returned to the laboratory. He nodded to those passing by until he finally reached the infirmary area. As soon as he arrived, the first thing his eyes did—just like every other day he had been there—was fixate on Y/n.

And once again, as during all these days that had passed, Neteyam’s heart tightened seeing Y/n as motionless as before. He stood there almost like a statue, staring at the girl, silently begging for her to wake up. He just wanted to hear her voice again, just wanted to know she was awake, but every time she greeted him with unconscious silence.

With silent steps, Neteyam approached the bed, his trembling hands resting on the cold rails, and he mourned again. He thought he should have held her. Or better yet, should have carried her in his arms and made the entire journey for her to that lagoon where the young Na’vi were so eager to bring their human friends.

Calmly, Neteyam sat carefully on the bed, in the empty space beside the girl, his eyes still fixed on her. The boy took her small, fragile, cold hand.

“Y/n/n…” Neteyam called almost in a whisper, while holding Y/n’s hand firmly but gently. “Please…” He pleaded once more in a breathy voice for her to come back. To come back to life, to everyone. To come back to him, because truth be told, Neteyam was in trouble. Nothing else seemed interesting anymore, the sun no longer shone like before, food lost its flavor, the air felt heavier. His body felt heavier.

With a shaky sigh, the Na’vi turned his gaze to the narrow table beside the machines monitoring Y/n, and he finally saw the rose he had brought her—now wilted, near death. The vibrant pink and red colors that once adorned the long petals delicately decorated with asymmetrical patterns lay pale atop the polished white table, concrete proof that days had passed without any response from Y/n.

Neteyam couldn’t help it. In the cold silence of the room, echoed only by the beeping machines, tears welled up in his eyes, and with his throat tight in a knot, he let them fall—careful not to alarm anyone or let Y/n hear his sorrow.

Reslianna Faresu Hongah firlessiranna Faressu hongah Firelessinanire suranna Rukire rukire Resilanna faresu Hungah Firelessina firelessina firelessina

A week. Another entire week passed like this, and Neteyam carried the communicator with him through each of his tasks, almost as if it were a ritual. He would wake up, eat breakfast as best as he could—which wasn’t much, while Neytiri complained about him not eating properly—go to his duties, complete them, and by late afternoon, he would go to see Y/n.

Today was no different. There was Neteyam, the communicator strapped to his arm, caring for some Palulukan in the clan. He was silent, eyes on the animals as he fed them, accompanied by other Na’vi who were also helping with the animals’ care. After finishing his chores quietly, Neteyam headed to the hut where Mo’at was, to whom he had earlier requested a set of healing herbs to help Y/n in some way.

As he arrived, he entered the place and saw some clan members nursing light injuries from their daily activities, Mo’at in the middle of them, and his mother, Neytiri, who looked at him with narrowed eyes. She knew Neteyam had asked Mo’at for help but chose to remain silent about it.

However, before Neteyam could say anything, the communicator buzzed with someone calling his name.

“Neteyam?” Norm’s voice sounded from the bracelet, and the young Na’vi quickly brought it to his ear, eyes wide, ears alert, heart pounding with every beat.

“N-Norm?” the boy stammered.

“Y/n woke up. You can come anytime! She’s fine, just a bit confused…” Norm began to say, and Neteyam felt relief wash over him.

The visible weight that had accompanied him every day—slouching his shoulders and hardening his worried expression—lifted in that moment. The boy forgot all the suffering he had endured during the time without Y/n. But as he took a step toward the exit, Neytiri stopped his hurried steps.

“Neteyam, we need you here,” Neytiri said while preparing some medicine to assist Mo’at, who was treating the arm wound of a hunter.

“Mother, but Y/n…” Neteyam started, approaching Neytiri, visibly anxious.

“She’s fine,” Neytiri said, pushing a small pot of herbs toward him. “Stay and help.”

Neteyam looked at the pot he was holding and at his mother, fighting the urge to throw it aside and run out, ignoring what Neytiri said. But he stayed quiet, took a deep breath, and nodded, sitting beside his mother to help grind and prepare medicines.

The boy glanced toward the exit countless times; his mother kept handing him herbs to crush, and more people entered the clan’s healing area. The day passed slowly until nightfall, while Neteyam’s anxiety only seemed to grow.

I release my body and there is no ghost of you inside my mind I am moving on and thank God you let me try

Neytiri didn’t allow Neteyam to leave the clan, since it was already night, which frustrated him, but he obeyed silently. He began to wish time would pass faster, but it seemed as if nature itself was mocking him. As expected, during the night, Neteyam couldn’t close his eyes, restless to see Y/n again, tossing and turning, trying to find sleep — but it eluded him effortlessly.

When dawn finally arrived, Neteyam devoured his breakfast like a rocket, and the very first thing he did—breaking his usual routine—was head straight to the laboratory. Kiri, Lo’ak, and Tuk had learned the news from Neteyam himself during dinner the night before, but seeing their older brother sprint off like a Palulukan, they decided to wait until late to visit their friend.

Neteyam barely noticed how the trees and plants blurred past as he raced toward the complex. Once inside, he almost forgot the mask necessary for breathing in the facility—just like on the day he brought Y/n in unconscious.

With quick steps, he made his way through the corridors leading to the infirmary wing. On the way, he bumped into Spider, who was the only one to nod since Neteyam’s arrival. The human wanted to stop him for a moment, but before he could, Norm appeared faster, stepping into the corridor with his hands raised, now in his human form.

“Neteyam, wait…” Norm began to say, but Neteyam was already anxious.

“Excuse me, Norm.” Neteyam said, dodging past him quickly, and was soon standing in front of the infirmary doors, Norm taking a deep breath behind him.

As the young Na’vi saw Y/n sitting on the bed, awake and apparently well, gazing at the bracelet fastened on her wrist—one of the ones Neteyam had made for her while she was unconscious—he swallowed hard and approached swiftly, placing his warm, large hands gently on the girl’s face, pulling her closer as he let out a shaky sigh.

“Y/n/n…” he whispered, his thumbs softly caressing her small, soft, warm cheeks.

Neteyam was completely relieved, finally seeing her conscious, her eyes wide and shining, cheeks flushed pink, breathing softly. But even so, something felt different. It didn’t matter — as long as she was alright.

You are the reason I can dance within a fire of goodbyes, of goodbyes I can lie in a dark room without the feeling that I’m lonely Oh, oh, oh, oh, ah 

Y/n, looking at the boy, feeling his large hands caressing her face and seeing the amber eyes with dilated pupils beginning to fill with tears. She saw the boy release a happy and relieved smile, heard him call her so softly.

But something was wrong.

“Who are you?” Y/n’s voice sounded calm and low, but no less confused, and that made Neteyam furrow his brows, his smile fading to join the boy’s pained and puzzled expression.

The girl’s words echoed painfully in his mind. And there, before Y/n, Neteyam realized that the reunion he had long awaited might have become his greatest farewell.

It’s the beauty in forgotten love

Mortified. Disoriented. Shocked. Stunned. Devastated.

Y/n could list these and thousands of other words to describe her current state. The girl walked with heavy, deep steps toward her cabin, unintentionally ignoring some people who greeted her along the way. Her eyes were fixed on the ground, her face completely red, and the color even reached her ears.

"Worst. Day. Ever." Y/n thought, gritting her teeth in embarrassment as soon as her feet crossed the threshold of the cabin, slamming the door behind her without even noticing, drawing the attention of some of her siblings who were nearby.

The dark-haired girl marched to her bed and threw herself face down, screaming into the pillow as she thrashed on the mattress, angry, reliving the scene and becoming even more embarrassed.

The other children of Apollo who were in the cabin watched the scene with question marks above their heads, seeing Y/n bang her arms and legs on the bed while her face was buried in the pillow, muffling her scream. Anyone who saw her would think she was just angry and dissipating the feeling instead of hitting someone and getting a punishment from Chiron. But we know what was really happening.

As soon as Y/n stopped thrashing on the bed, she let out a muffled sigh and let her limbs collapse onto the mattress, while her mind replayed the scene over and over again.

"Y/n?" Grace, the girl with caramel-golden skin and eyes that blended green and amber, approached, sitting on her sister's bed. "What happened?" She finally asked, and with the silence in the cabin, you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone there wanted to know the reason for the commotion since Y/n wasn't usually like this. She rarely fought, and if she had to settle some scores, she'd do it in Capture the Flag. But everyone thought, "Finally, something got Y/n really upset?"

"Grace..." Y/n muttered, muffled, embarrassed, and almost on the verge of tears. "Grace, I’m mortified. I’ll never leave this cabin. Never."

Grace let out a nasal laugh and adjusted Y/n’s thick dark hair, which was slightly wavy from all the mess until she reached the cabin. "What happened that’s so bad?" She asked again, adjusting her sister's hair as she lay face down on the bed.

Grace's touch was so gentle and warm that Y/n felt a little calmer, and the gold-decorated nails on Grace’s fingers—since she had been playing with Emma and a gold pen—seemed to reflect all the girl's shine and the surrounding atmosphere.

Y/n lifted her head slightly and saw her closed diary on the bed, a little further away from Grace, and that was enough for her to mumble and bury her face back into the pillow, crying. Grace noticed Y/n's look and raised an eyebrow.

Everyone in the cabin knew about Y/n's diaries. It wasn't just one. Over the years, the girl had accumulated more and more, and the pages of the notebooks always seemed to run out too quickly, even though she had never torn a single page.

"It looks perfectly fine to me," Grace said, observing the notebook but not touching it. An unspoken rule about the Apollo cabin was: don’t touch other people’s things without permission, and the demigods there took it seriously, except for the younger or newer ones who sometimes broke the "silent rule"—but nothing a simple conversation couldn’t fix afterward. "Let me guess. Did someone read your diary?" Grace asked, hearing another scream from Y/n, who tried to bury herself even further into the mattress, causing the other girl to laugh.

Grace looked at the other siblings, waving them off gently. She’d be the one to calm Y/n down. The rest of the children of Apollo went back to what they were doing without any fuss.

"Was it that bad?" Grace asked.

"Bad?" Y/n sat up from the bed clumsily, her face still red. "Grace, it was horrible! Gods! I can never leave this cabin again. Never, got it? Damn, why did it happen like this?" Y/n said, crying and embarrassed, covering her face with her hands.

"Can I see?" Grace asked, even though she thought her request would be denied. But after a sigh, Y/n nodded silently.

That was enough for Grace to carefully pick up the notebook and open it, discreetly so the others wouldn't see what she was looking at. After flipping past just the first blank page, she finally understood why Y/n was almost as red as a tomato.

"Oh..." Grace said, surprised, flipping through the notebook, which made Y/n mutter. "Okay. Who saw this? The Aphrodite cabin or Ares? Gods, I don’t even know which is worse."

"Clarisse herself," Y/n said quietly, which left Grace even more surprised. "And two of her brothers."

"Oh!" Grace said, closing the notebook, earning a disgruntled and embarrassed murmur from her sister.

"I know..." Y/n said tiredly, still feeling flushed, and hugged her pillow. "I can't believe this is happening," she said, crying.

"It’s still no reason to lock yourself in here," Grace laughed, leaving the notebook aside on the bed, still smiling. "Since when...?"

"Honestly? I don’t know. It was just one day I started drawing her, and in the end... I just didn’t stop." Y/n said, feeling guilty, not looking at her sister.

"You know what this is, right?" Grace asked with an even bigger smile, catching the attention of the other girl, who was still punishing herself. Without words, the girl with the gold-painted nails and fingers made a heart shape with her index fingers in the air.

"Grace, it’s not funny."

"It’s not meant to be funny. Well, maybe just a little..."

"Seriously, by now, everyone at camp must know." Y/n said, hugging her legs and the pillow. "How embarrassing..."

"Don’t feel that way. I bet this will be an episode that won’t spread." Grace tried to ease Y/n’s worries. "Clarisse will take care of anyone who starts talking, so relax. She’d never let her own siblings tease her. But then again, maybe it’s not just you." The girl said thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?"

"Clarisse has been giving you some glances." Grace traced her finger around Y/n’s face with a smile.

"Grace!" Y/n rolled her eyes. "No way."

"I’m serious, even the Aphrodite cabin has noticed. But we’re all keeping quiet for our own good, of course." The girl let out a little laugh. "Who would've thought..."

"Don’t get carried away."

"Not my fault." Grace raised her hands in surrender, still laughing softly. "Don’t take it too seriously, Y/n/n. Lie down and rest until dinner." Her words earned a grumble from Y/n, which made Grace laugh and pat her sister’s shoulder as she got up to finish her own things.

On the other hand, Alec and Darius had been giving Clarisse mischievous and amused glances from the moment they started heading to the Hephaestus workshop until they returned to their cabin. However, before they could enter, Clarisse blocked the door, her death stare aimed at both brothers.

"If you open your mouths..." The girl said, irritated, pointing at each of them, who barely managed to hold back their laughter.

"Relax, Clari." Darius said, unable to control his chuckle for much longer.

"Nothing’s coming out of my mouth." Alec said in response, slightly better at keeping his excitement in check.

"Try anything and you’ll be dead by morning." Clarisse said, storming into the cabin like a hurricane, throwing herself onto the couch in the strategy area, ignoring the others who were around.

One of her sisters, unaware of what had just happened, joined Clarisse to plan for the upcoming Capture the Flag game, as Clarisse was the one who practically designed all the strategies. However, even though she tried, the girl wasn’t paying attention to what her sister was saying. Every now and then, she simply nodded silently, her mind drifting back to what had happened earlier that morning.

Clarisse didn’t want to admit it. Maybe she never would, not even in death, but she had enjoyed looking at the drawings in Y/n’s diary. As soon as her eyes landed on the lines that curved and outlined her own face on the white pages, she felt the world stop for a brief moment while her heart raced like never before.

"Damn." The daughter of Ares thought, feeling her heart beat a little faster as she remembered the image of herself above faceless bodies, holding her spear high, adorned with a beautiful armor. May the gods not hear her, but she wanted that drawing for herself. "What am I thinking?"

"Clarisse?" Joscelin asked, bringing Clarisse’s attention back, her cheeks slightly flushed. "What do you think?"

Clarisse swallowed imperceptibly, furrowing her brows and adjusting herself on the couch, nodding. "Sure." The daughter of Ares agreed without even hearing what the other had said.

Then, Joscelin spoke again, but Clarisse’s thoughts drifted back to what had happened. The girl remembered the pressed and dried rose that was on one of the pages, the same page with her drawing, smiling gently, with the same rose in her hair.

Clarisse suppressed a breath. "Was that flower meant for me?" She wondered internally, feeling something strange in her stomach. That sensation only grew stronger when she thought that she wanted that flower for herself. After that last thought, the daughter of Ares stood up quickly, heading straight for the door and making her way to the camp’s training area, even as she heard Joscelin call out, "Clarisse?!"

"What’s with her?" Joscelin asked, looking at the others, who had finally noticed how quickly Clarisse had left the cabin. Some shrugged and didn’t care, but Darius and Alec exchanged mischievous looks. Reading each other’s minds. "Dumb and Dumber, what do you know about this?" Joscelin asked the two.

"It’s a secret." Darius said, not bothered by his sister’s joke, which made Alec laugh even more.

"Spill it." Joscelin said.

"Not even dead, literally. Clarisse would kill us." Alec replied, laughing even more, and soon Darius joined in. As the two left to do their own thing, still chuckling, Joscelin rolled her eyes and pushed it aside, hoping that whatever it was, it hadn't messed with Clarisse's mind for the Capture the Flag game.

Clarisse, nervously caught up in her own thoughts, hurried with quick steps to the camp's training area, quickly donning the mandatory safety gear and grabbing a random sword just to start delivering fast and strong strikes to her usual training dummy.

The girl tried to focus only on her task of hitting the poor dummy, but her thoughts always returned to the same place. To the same memory. And each time it happened—which was many—her strikes grew faster and more powerful.

The demigods passing by and training nearby watched with some concern, but of course, none were brave enough to say anything to Clarisse. Some even chose to cut their training short, not wanting to be the next target of the daughter of Ares.

After several minutes of trying to shake her thoughts, Clarisse sighed and set aside her strikes, glaring at the dummy in frustration. She was finally thinking about the beginning. Since Y/n’s arrival at camp and how Clarisse had never been so aggressive or petulant with her "jokes."

Her heart raced as she noticed things about herself connected to Y/n. Finally, everything made sense; it was even clearer now. "Do I like Apollo on mute?" The girl thought, a crease forming between her brows.

With that question ringing in her mind, she scanned the area with little interest, trying to find answers, until she saw a small group of Apollo’s children heading somewhere, and Clarisse tried to spot Y/n among them.

A snap happened in her curly-haired head as she blinked a few times, remembering she’d been looking for Y/n in the camp pavilion, just like she used to look for her by the celebratory bonfires. She remembered herself tracing the contours of Y/n with her eyes, noting how she blended into the surroundings and how she seemed to shine under the sunlight, covered by her less colorful features. She recalled that whenever she saw Y/n, she would go up to her and pour out her weird jokes, each one becoming less teasing and rude than the last, unlike how she treated other demigods.

Clarisse didn’t know when this had started, but she knew it had happened. "I like Apollo on mute," she thought.

The girl didn’t know how to react. She wasn’t angry, but she wasn’t happy either. It was a new feeling, a bit uncomfortable, her stomach felt strange. Clarisse had heard about what it was like to like someone, and before, she’d felt those same sensations, only for battle, the taste of future victory. Clarisse, like all other children of Ares, had been in love with the fight, but now, she was in love with one of Apollo’s daughters.

"How ironic." Clarisse chuckled to herself, but without showing a smile.

Noticing the day had finally turned dark, Clarisse took off her gear and placed it in its rightful place, heading toward the pavilion while thinking that she should do something about this.

When she arrived, she saw the usual gathering of demigods, most of them already sitting, while others prepared their food. As always, her eyes quickly scanned the room, looking for the presence of a certain someone, and it didn't take long before her eyes landed on who she was looking for. Y/n.

The daughter of Apollo was looking around the pavilion like a frightened animal, tapping her foot on the ground as she grabbed her food from the buffet beside some of her siblings. As soon as their eyes met, Y/n gasped and widened her eyes, quickly moving away from the buffet area and squeezing into her siblings to make her offering, doing so quickly to avoid giving Clarisse the chance to move from her spot.

"Hey!" Brandon complained, holding his plate tightly before Y/n nearly knocked it over in her haste, but he was ignored.

"Sorry, Dad, this will be quick." Y/n said, making her offering, burning part of her food in the fire before almost running to her cabin’s table.

Before Clarisse could make her way to the Apollo table, her attention was diverted.

"Clari, grab your plate and come on!" Olivia, one of her sisters, said as she passed by.

Reluctantly, the daughter of Ares did as she was told, seeing that everyone in her cabin was eager about the upcoming Capture the Flag game, and any place was good enough for them to talk about it. Even in the crowded pavilion, just to put fear into the other demigods.

Her eyes stayed on Y/n, who quickly averted her gaze from Clarisse and nervously tried to start a conversation with her siblings. The daughter of Ares thought to herself, "Not today, but tomorrow you won't escape."

Clarisse grabbed her food, made her offering, and sat at her cabin's table, listening to her siblings talk and occasionally joining in the conversations, with her eyes always drifting back to the Apollo cabin's table.

♡

"Tomorrow," Clarisse thought angrily, eyeing her spear as she donned her vest for Capture-the-Flag. "Tomorrow, you won't escape." She mimicked her thoughts from weeks ago in a low, sharp voice, almost rolling her eyes, still irritated.

"What’s this, Clarisse? Talking to yourself?" Liam asked, lightly amused, still inside the cabin along with a few other Ares kids who were getting ready for Capture-the-Flag, which was about an hour away.

"None of your business," Clarisse grumbled.

"Hey, take it easy!" Liam replied with a grin. "Me and the others are heading out. Whatever’s been on your mind all this time, shake it off—we’ve got a flag to catch today." Liam said as he left the cabin, followed by three other siblings who continued chatting among themselves, causing Clarisse to roll her eyes.

Clarisse couldn't help but recall Y/n avoiding her like a camper avoiding an unexpected mission. The daughter of Apollo seemed to have adjusted her entire schedule to avoid bumping into Clarisse, from combat training to history lessons. But Clarisse was waiting for the moment to approach—when she would find Y/n walking through camp, carefree.

It had happened a few times, of course. But whenever Y/n made eye contact with Clarisse, she did one of the following: 1) She would sprint off like a madwoman, disappearing after just a few seconds. Clarisse remembered how fast Y/n was after their physical training sessions together, and now she found herself cursing Y/n's agility. 2) She would latch onto any nearby demigod and start talking nonsense, pulling them away from Clarisse. Y/n was good at starting and maintaining conversations, even though she wasn’t surrounded by friends. And of course, all of this was getting under Clarisse’s skin.

Irritated, Clarisse got out of bed and marched toward the field where they usually prepared for Capture-the-Flag. Only a few demigods were around, and those who were kept their distance, sensing the stormy mood of Clarisse.

However, it wasn't until she passed one of the cabins that she glanced to the side and saw someone else also heading to the field—it was Y/n, distracted as she examined her bow, her divine gift.

Clarisse quickened her pace silently, closing the distance until she reached Y/n and grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the nearest cabin, hearing the surprised murmur from the daughter of Apollo.

As soon as the daughter of Ares pinned Y/n against the wall, Y/n’s eyes widened in shock.

"C-Clarisse?" Y/n asked nervously, her cheeks starting to heat up as she remembered that earlier in the day, she had picked up her diary again just to doodle something. But before she knew it, her hand had sketched Clarisse, stunned with the notebook in her hands. And once again, she recalled what had happened weeks before.

"No. Apollo, I’m going to pull the sun out of my pocket." Clarisse responded sarcastically. "Why are you avoiding me?"

"Avoiding?" Y/n asked. "I’m not avoiding you… what are you talking about?" The daughter of Apollo laughed nervously, swallowing hard, not meeting Clarisse's gaze.

Clarisse looked at her seriously, causing Y/n to feel flustered and shyly glance at her, starting to feel embarrassed.

"The diary," Clarisse began after a brief pause, and that was enough to make Y/n almost jump out of her skin.

"Forget about it. I—I didn’t want you to see that, it was a secret... but even if it wasn't, you..." Y/n started nervously, trying to fix what had happened, but her words were enough to make Clarisse slam her hand against the wood behind Y/n, close to her head, causing the daughter of Apollo to shrink back.

"Let me speak?" Clarisse said, annoyed. "I see the damn diary and then you run off like... I don’t know, a satyr running from a flood?" Her narrowed eyes were locked on Y/n’s, who swallowed hard.

"Sorry," Y/n muttered softly, which earned a sarcastic, nasal laugh from Clarisse.

"You gave me one hell of a headache, girl."

"It wasn't... my intention," Y/n whispered, avoiding the girl in front of her, who was still slightly leaning against the wood that Y/n's back was pressed against. "Clarisse, just... forget it, okay?" Y/n said, preparing to walk back to where all the demigods were already gathered, waiting for the game to begin.

"You’re not going anywhere until I’m done talking." Clarisse said seriously, pushing Y/n back into place with her finger on her shoulder. "What? You think you can sketch all these things about me and not face me?" This made Y/n mutter under her breath.

"I didn’t want you to see!" Y/n grumbled, a little irritated, but still embarrassed, and Clarisse let out a nasal, sarcastic laugh at the pink tint of the girl’s cheeks, along with her slight irritation. "Besides, you shouldn’t care about what I draw in my diaries." Y/n swallowed hard, trying to maintain a confident and unshaken pose.

"Concern isn’t exactly what I’m feeling." Clarisse shrugged, her sharp, penetrating gaze locked on Y/n’s. "But you have a reason for it. Why am I in your diary? And don’t tell me I’m just a model because that won’t fly."

"A-a... Well... y-you..." Y/n tried to respond, glancing nervously at Clarisse, anxious and embarrassed. She soon remembered Grace making a heart with her fingers, feeling her face burn even hotter as her heart raced in her chest. "Argh, it was a mistake. Forget it."

Y/n tried to move away from Clarisse once more, but the other girl simply pressed her other hand against the wooden wall—still holding her spear firmly in her fist, trapping Y/n between her arms.

"C-Clarisse... the game," Y/n tried to remind the girl, looking at her arms on either side of her body.

"You’re not convincing me," Clarisse said, acting as if the proximity didn’t affect her, but in truth, her heart was pounding. Having Y/n so close made the butterflies in her stomach feel stronger, and the soft scent of Y/n's perfume was very pleasing. "And besides, I told you, you're not leaving until I’m done talking."

Y/n swallowed hard, breathing shakily with Clarisse’s closeness. Her heart was also racing, and the girl clenched her fists tightly—one of them wrapped around her bow with the same intensity, trying to keep Clarisse from noticing just how much more nervous she was.

"I’m waiting. Why am I in your diary?" Clarisse asked softly, with a nearly feline tone, trying to prove her point.

Y/n swallowed hard, taking in every detail of the close Clarisse, still trapped between her arms, knowing her mind would store all the details of this moment to draw in her diary. Once more. Perhaps one last time.

The daughter of Apollo lowered her gaze to Clarisse’s lips, which were close but still far enough. The same lips now curled into a small smile, perhaps a playful one this time, but with a touch less malice than when she was ready to tease some demigod.

Y/n thought, trembling and out of breath, finally confirming to herself why Clarisse had appeared in so many pages of her diaries: I like Clarisse.

"Cat got your tongue?" Clarisse asked, tilting her head, trying to catch Y/n’s eyes with her own. She was enjoying pulling these reactions from the daughter of Apollo.

"I like you," Y/n blurted out quickly, holding her breath and closing her eyes, afraid of what she might see next. But Clarisse smiled wider this time, satisfied—yet still entertained. "A-and I know it’s not mutual, so let’s just ignore this and move on—"

Before Y/n could nervously continue speaking, with her eyes tightly shut, Clarisse interrupted by placing one of her free hands on the heated, red face of the girl, silencing her with a simple, soft kiss.

Y/n’s eyes widened as she felt Clarisse’s soft lips against hers, and her face turned an even deeper shade of red, if that was even possible. With her free hand, the daughter of Apollo held the other girl’s forearm, closing her eyes and kissing her back, still trembling and anxious.

Clarisse was being gentle, knowing how easily Y/n got scared of things—this was proven by all her escapes over the past weeks. So, the girl kept the kiss soft and slow, gently stroking Y/n's face with her thumb before releasing her, easing away. Gentle and careful—two things Clarisse never thought she’d act like with anyone. But here she was, with the daughter of the sun, who more and more lit her up with her inner sunlight.

The daughter of Ares pulled away, her face slightly flushed, as she watched Y/n open her eyes and take a deep breath, swallowing hard, which made Clarisse chuckle softly, a smug grin on her face.

"Sorry," Clarisse began to say, and her words made Y/n tilt her head in confusion, not understanding why Clarisse was apologizing or how that word even left her lips—since it was so unlike her. "But I’m not going to lose the Capture the Flag just because you’re on the opposing team. Next time, I want you on mine." Clarisse said with that same cocky smile, stepping away from Y/n and looking her up and down, which made the daughter of Apollo feel even more embarrassed. "I’ll see you after the game, Apollo on mute, I want to take a second look at your diary. And don’t even think about running away from me again."

With that, the daughter of Ares turned her back and started making her way back to the playing field, leaving behind a breathless and embarrassed Y/n, her mind racing at full speed, knowing that her diary would soon have page after page dedicated to Clarisse.

Because the daughter of Apollo couldn't keep the daughter of Ares out of it.

Y/n wasn’t like any other child of Apollo. She stood out from the more predominant characteristics of all her siblings. The truth was that she often felt like an ugly duckling, with no hope of turning into a beautiful swan.

Amidst her siblings—blond, red-haired, or light-brown, with eyes ranging from honey to the brightest green—Y/n stood out, but not because she radiated more light than the others. Her beauty was cold. While the others resembled a beautiful morning sunbeam, Y/n kept her rays hidden behind layers of clouds—enough to light the day, but not enough to make it vibrant.

Her dark eyes and hair, along with her lightly tanned skin—barely touched by the sun—set her apart from the other children of Apollo, who seemed to be lovingly kissed by sunlight, vibrant, vivid, golden. These features enhanced Y/n’s cold beauty, making her impossible to go unnoticed. Some even claimed she couldn’t be a child of Apollo if the god himself hadn’t claimed her.

Despite her strong and contrasting characteristics in her cabin, Y/n’s abilities proved her to be a legitimate child of the sun god. In training and combat, her bow was her strongest point, always hitting its mark regardless of whether the target was stationary or in motion. She was also a good healer, like most of her siblings, and helped in the infirmary during tough times—especially after Capture the Flag.

What truly made her stand out, however, were her artistic talents: writing, singing, and drawing. Y/n excelled at everything related to art but insisted on keeping it to herself, even among her talented siblings. This was another distinctive trait: unlike most children of Apollo, she wasn’t a social butterfly. She didn’t flaunt her talents or surround herself with friends like her siblings. Y/n was more introspective but could be a great friend when she wanted to.

Y/n’s cold beauty set her apart from all the other children of Apollo. She didn’t go unnoticed—least of all by Clarisse.

The daughter of Ares had seen Y/n’s arrival at camp, skittish like a scalded black cat. Like everyone else at camp, Clarisse had initially thought, So Hades had a daughter? But the truth came out shortly after the rumors spread. Y/n was a daughter of the sun.

Clarisse, already a standout in her cabin, with her group well-established, “welcomed” the new daughter of Apollo to camp. From then on, whenever Clarisse saw Y/n, it was impossible not to make jokes about her appearance.

“Oh my gods, are you sure you’re Apollo’s kid?”

“If the sun had a cold, dull version, that’d be you.”

“Hey, Winter Apollo, ready to brighten our day? On second thought, don’t—the day might get even worse.”

“I always thought Apollo’s kids were lively and full of energy. But you? You seem to be on night mode all the time.”

Many such remarks were made by Clarisse and her group over the years. Sometimes, Y/n even laughed along—not to appease the children of Ares or ingratiate herself, but because the jokes were genuinely creative. The first time Y/n laughed, it only fueled sharper, slightly more biting remarks.

Clarisse vividly remembered the day. The sun was setting, giving way to night, and Y/n was returning to her cabin after a long day of training. Clarisse and her group were heading to their own cabin, inevitably crossing paths with Y/n.

Y/n looked at the group ahead, her expression neutral. As she moved to step aside and let them pass—hopefully without interaction—she was stopped.

“Well, well, the daughter of Apollo. If that’s really who you are. What’s this? Stole the essence of the sun but forgot to bring it to camp?” Clarisse teased, stopping briefly in her path, scanning Y/n from head to toe with an amused grin as her siblings laughed at her comment.

To the children of Ares’ surprise—especially Clarisse’s—Y/n let out a small laugh. The sound echoed in Clarisse’s ears, her eyes locked onto Y/n. “There’s the glow,” Clarisse thought, captivated by Y/n’s smile.

When Clarisse finally shook off the thoughts and the sound of Y/n’s laugh, her siblings were already piling on more jokes, sharper than before. She quickly snapped back to the present, slipping her hands into her pockets.

“Gods, with the way you are, Apollo might be rethinking his parenthood,” one of Clarisse’s brothers said, gesturing dismissively toward Y/n. This time, the comment didn’t amuse her as much, though the other children of Ares—Clarisse excluded—found it funny.

“Come on, leave our little sunblocked alone. Or she might start crying,” Clarisse said with a playful grin, eliciting more laughter from her brothers as they moved on toward their cabin.

As they walked away, Clarisse’s gaze briefly returned to Y/n, who took a deep breath and resumed her own path, glancing back at the Ares group and briefly meeting Clarisse’s eyes.

From that point on, Y/n wasn’t often seen near the Ares children. Camp was full of demigods, and Y/n would inevitably cross paths with others—or so Clarisse thought. But Y/n mainly appeared in training, the dining pavilion and during Capture the Flag.

Wherever Y/n was, if Clarisse was nearby, her eyes seemed magnetically drawn to the daughter of Apollo. Whether it was a crowded space or an open field, Clarisse couldn’t help but look, even if just for a few moments.

The first time Clarisse’s eyes were locked for more than a few seconds and she couldn’t look away from Y/n was in the dining hall at night, where the daughter of Apollo was talking with her siblings, wearing a beautiful smile and laughing softly with them.

The embers of the flames from the dining hall’s pyre made her dark hair shimmer with red and golden highlights, and her skin reflected the flames almost like a mirror, becoming subtly flushed from the heat and glow of the firelight. Her dark eyes and a smile just a bit wider than usual seemed to brighten the surroundings. Clarisse swallowed hard upon noticing all this and forced her attention back to her own group.

The daughter of Ares tried not to think about the daughter of Apollo over the years, but Y/n had already carved out a place in Clarisse’s curly-haired head. So, every time she spotted Y/n from a distance, Clarisse allowed herself a few seconds to look at her, just enough to take her in, before quickly turning her attention back to her group, pushing thoughts of the daughter of Apollo away.

Those thoughts, however, were about how Clarisse would like to see Y/n more often, how she hoped to talk to her more often... maybe without the sarcastic remarks. But Clarisse’s brain had already made a list of jokes, each one less rude and intimidating than the last, but a little funnier, unconsciously hoping to make Y/n laugh at one of them again.

Until one day, Clarisse, accompanied by two of her group members, was on her way to Hephaestus’s forge. Alec, one of Clarisse’s brothers, had left his sword there to refine its blade since the Capture-the-Flag game was at the end of the month. As they walked across the open lawn where a path led to the forge, Clarisse’s eyes fell on someone sitting in the grass with a notebook and pencil in hand, facing a bird perched on a rock.

The daughter of Ares chuckled through her nose, catching the attention of her brothers, who were casually chatting about a few strategies and how they hoped to defeat the children of Athena in the upcoming Capture-the-Flag. Alec and Darius smiled, amused, as they followed Clarisse across the lawn.

“Look at that, it’s ‘Apollo on mute,’” Clarisse said as they got close enough, causing the bird on the rock to quickly fly away and Y/n to look up at her, squinting slightly against the brightness of the day. Alec and Darius’s laughter was audible. Clarisse glanced at the open notebook in Y/n’s hands, which contained a few sketches: on one page was the landscape of the field, and on the other, the startled bird. “What do we have here?” Clarisse said, snatching the notebook from the other girl, who jumped up immediately.

“Clarisse, give it back!” Y/n said loudly, nervous, stepping closer, but Alec and Darius were quicker, positioning themselves in front of her to prevent her from reaching Clarisse, who held the notebook in her hands.

"Ah, what’s the matter?" Clarisse said with an amused laugh, and Y/n looked at her nervously, casting the same uneasy glances at Alec and Darius, who were thoroughly enjoying the daughter of Apollo’s reaction. "You’re not half bad at drawing, Ray-less." The daughter of Ares turned her attention back to the notebook, flipping a page and finding a drawing of a rose with many thorns curling across both sheets, along with some scattered phrases, some in Ancient Greek and others in English. Fragments of what seemed to be thoughts. "Oh... look what we have here... is this a diary?" Clarisse said, laughing, as she turned another page to see what else was inside.

"Clarisse, this isn’t funny. Give it back. Now!" Y/n said in a louder tone, reaching her hand out quickly, demanding that the daughter of Ares return her notebook.

"Chill, girl," Clarisse said nonchalantly, looking at the page she had turned to. "Why the rush, Y/n? Did you write down who your crush is in here?" The daughter of Ares laughed, and that was enough for Y/n to try pushing past Alec and Darius, who were standing right in front of her, to snatch the notebook from Clarisse herself.

"Hold it, overcast sky," Alec said with a sarcastic smirk, stopping Y/n from getting any closer.

"Clarisse!" Y/n called out loudly, her eyes fixed on the girl, who had just flipped another page in the notebook.

As soon as Y/n saw Clarisse’s eyes widen slightly and her lips part softly, her heart skipped a beat, and she swallowed hard. "Shit." The daughter of Apollo thought, swallowing again.

"C-Clarisse. Give it back!" Y/n pleaded, her voice trembling, her face starting to turn red, but Clarisse’s eyes remained fixed on the notebook as she turned more pages.

The daughter of Ares’s brothers grew curious, and that was enough for them to move closer to their sister, one on each shoulder, peering at the pages in the hands of a practically frozen Clarisse.

"IT’S YOU!" Darius shouted in delight, and Alec burst into laughter while the two girls stood there, almost like statues.

Some drawings were heroic, worthy of one of those paintings of the Greek gods: Clarisse with her spear, battle clothes, hair and parts of her attire flowing in the wind, claiming her victory over faceless enemy bodies. Clarisse shouting and warring, accompanied by her own army of faceless people.

Other drawings? Something simpler, calm… gentle, perhaps a side of Clarisse she didn’t let many see: Clarisse smiling with her siblings—not a sarcastic or amused smile, the one she always gives after tormenting another poor soul at camp. No, not that one. It was an open, carefree, and relaxed smile. Clarisse with her piercing eyes and long lashes, looking straight at whoever's eyes were on the page. Clarisse with a small smile, just like she had during one of the past campfires, except this time with a flower in her hair. A real flower, pressed between the pages of the same drawing.

Y/n cleared her throat while Alec and Darius laughed beside a frozen Clarisse, who was staring at the drawings.

"Had your fun?" Y/n said, steadying the tremble in her voice, stepping forward and snatching her notebook back quickly. She closed it and started walking back to her cabin. Even though Y/n tried to appear unshaken, the undertone of her voice betrayed her mortification.

Clarisse finally snapped out of it when she heard the firm steps on the dirt fading away. She turned, watching Y/n moving away as fast as she could, while her brothers still laughed beside her.

"Wow, she did more than just write down who her crush was," Alec said, chuckling.

"Congrats, Clarisse, you’ve got yourself a fan," Darius said, laughing even harder, leaning on his sister’s shoulder.

Clarisse brushed Darius’s hand off her, and although her face was flushed, her brows were furrowed, and the glare she shot Darius was far from friendly.

"Shut up, idiot," Clarisse snapped at Darius, irritated, shoving him hard enough to send him to the ground. When she turned to Alec with the same fiery glare, he shut his lips and raised his hands, trying to compose himself. "I swear to the gods," the daughter of Ares muttered angrily, trying to pull herself together.

"Just one question..." Darius said as he got up, catching his breath. "Why’s your face so red?" He smirked, teasing his sister, while Alec struggled not to laugh.

"It’s the sun, idiot." Clarisse said curtly, blaming something else as she started walking again toward Hephaestus's forge, refusing to think about what had just happened.

Alec and Darius followed a few steps behind her, stifling their laughter, while Clarisse stomped forward, determined to keep her thoughts far from Y/n’s notebook. Far from Y/n.

"'Apollo on mute' has her glow," Alec whispered to Darius, who stifled another laugh as they trailed behind Clarisse. "Clari, wait up!" Alec called out, still laughing.