#loak fluff

lo'ak x fem human reader

"can I sleep with you tonight?" lo'ak hovers around behind you. his tail swishing against the back of your legs. "lo'ak i think it's better you sleep back at home" you let out, reaching for some shorts and a camisole to wear for the night. the na'vi scooches closer, bumping his elbow into your shoulder gently.

"...don't wanna go home. i don't wanna deal with my mom... and dad" he huffs out, making a funny noise, demanding that you give him attention. you sense his troubled state of mind. "...fine but as long as I don't get in trouble" you sigh out, swatting him away. actually happy that you get some company. it was lonely these days. you'd been struggling to sleep these past few days. the thought of lo'ak makes you feel warm and reassured. so you watch him saunter off to your room as you step out for a moment to change into your clothes.

⟢ pairing. lo’ak x fem!metkayina ⟢ summary. ever since lo'ak stepped into the lands of awa'atlu, he found himself falling for the olo'eyktan's daughter. and as it turns out, winning your heart was easier said than done. ⟢ wc. 2,2k ⟢ fluff. grumpy x sunshine. he fell first, he fell harder. lo’ak absolutely being head over heels. reader dislikes lo’ak. lo’ak trying to win you over. lo’ak flirting horribly. neteyam constantly teasing lo’ak.

the sully’s.

you’ve heard about them before - heard about the war, lead by the great toruk makto.

and now they’ve come.

they stood amongst your people, like a driftwood caught in a coral reef - unmistakably out of place.

for a moment, you stayed hidden, threaded through those around you, who stood with such curiosity as you were - before finally stepping forwards as you moved out of the weave of bodies.

with every step you took, your eyes traced every detail. their physique was nothing like yours. their tails, too thin to help balance in the ways you relied on; their arms, too slender to handle the movements and strength required.

you let your gaze drift, from one face to another, taking in their appearances.

it was then, that you caught his eye.

his gaze had found yours before you had found his.

almost immediately, his ears dipped, letting his eye drift downward, searching for anything to look at but you. he could feel the way his heart thundered in his chest, a rhythm unlike anything he had ever known.

he had never seen anyone so beautiful.

you were breathtaking.

weird, you thought. and from what you could guess, he was most likely the youngest of the brothers, seeing as he was more shorter than the one beside him.

it was not long after that your brother and roxto joined in, laughing and mocking them mercilessly. you let out an exasperated sigh as tsireya shot a sharp look towards them. “immatures” you muttered under your breath.

“hey,”

a voice spoke up.

you turned your head at the source of the sound, only to simply roll your eyes.

it was that boy again.

he had a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth - clearly a miserable attempt at charm. though you did not know his name (and you intended not to know) , you could already tell he’d be a nuisance later on.

with a final narrowed look, you slipped away towards your father and mother. and despite this, you could still feel the way his gaze practically bore into your skin.

if you thought having them to stay here was bad enough, having to teach them your ways definitely made it worse. as much as you would like to complain, you knew your father well enough not to.

accompanied by tsireya, the two of you lead the sully’s through the village paths, past countless of occupied maruis and over the glimmering tidal waters.

and as you walked, (unbeknownst to you) lo’ak was currently having a silent battle with himself - struggling to muster the courage to speak to you. “right. just ask her for her name, thats all. yeah - you can do this.” he mumbled. unfortunately, neteyam noticed this of course, and he was quick to catch on; a knowing smirk made its way to his lips.

“just talk to her, baby bro,” he said, patting lo’aks shoulder. “bro, lower your voice.” lo’ak whisper-shouted at neteyam, who only shook his head. lo’ak glanced your way again to make sure you hadn’t heard anything. thankfully, you were emerged into your conversation with tsireya.

“you make it too obvious.” neteyam chuckled, to which lo’ak rolled his eyes to. and after a few seconds of silent contemplation, a smirk slowly played on neteyam’s lips.

“you got this.”

and with that, he shoved lo’ak at your side (he almost bumped into you). his eyes widened in panic, before quickly clearing his throat. you eyed him suspiciously.

“hey,”

“what do you want?” you asked, not bothering to glance his way.

“well, i was - i mean, i didn’t catch your name earlier.”

“y/n.”

“pretty name,” he grinned; you fought back not to roll your eyes. “thank you.” was all you said. silence hung between the two of you, before he broke it.

“i’m lo’ak, by the way.”

neteyam winced at the poor sight.

you only nodded, and thank eywa - because fortunately you’ve arrived at your destination, leaving him no room to speak anymore further. and before he could open his mouth once more, you slipped away from his sight.

he sighed, watching your silhouette disappear. he never looked more defeated.

“that was pretty hard to watch.” neteyam muttered, using all his might not to laugh.

“bro, shut up.” lo’ak’s ears must’ve turned red, because not soon after, neteyam wouldn’t stop teasing his brother about it.

“ah, you should’ve seen his face!” neteyam laughed along with kiri and tuk, and lo’ak swore he would prove them wrong. that he was capable of winning your heart.

and so came the day after - the day you dreaded of.

you practically begged ao’nung to switch - to let him teach lo’ak instead, but being the infuriating brother he is, he of course rejected that offer.

“and why would i teach him? that freak obviously took a liking to—”

“shut up, will you?”

with a groan, you made your way towards lo’ak, ignoring the snickers that came from ao’nung. you were going to kill him.

the second lo’ak saw you approaching him, his face lit up in an instant, a spark of excitement danced in his eyes. his ears perked up, unable to contain the grin on his face.

“guess you’re stuck with me,” he said, feigning nonchalance. “unfortunately.” you mumbled more to yourself than to him. you turned, calling for the ilu’s to come by.

slowly, an ilu swam its way toward you and lo’ak. its smooth, streamlined body cutting through the water with effortless grace. “this is an ilu,” you said, caressing its smooth skin. “ilu.. got it.” he replied, as he, too, caressed the ilu, mirroring your movements.

you stepped back slightly as he began to carefully climb onto its back. once he made tsaheylu, you started, “feel him. feel his breath, his heart.” he took a deep breath, allowing himself to become one.

“hold here,” you instructed, guiding his arms along the back of its head. his stomach twisted and turned at your touch. “go slowly, a lot of people do not get it on their first try.” you said.

“guess we’re about to find out,” he replied, voice dripping with such confidence. he was determined to impress you.

you could only bit back a scoff. “go on then, forest boy.” you breathed, eyes glimmering with anticipation for the scene to unfold. you were almost a hundred percent sure he wouldn’t even last ten seconds.

he took a deep breath.

either he impresses you,

or

he simply makes a fool out of himself.

either way, he doesn’t plan on it being a choice.

and with that, he was off.

the ilu surged forward beneath him as he left your side - for a good five seconds, that is. you snorted. he looked absolutely ridiculous. and while you were almost a hundred percent sure he wouldn’t last, there was a part of you where you had actually believed him.

not far from the place you two once stood, lo’ak huffed, ears flared crimson as it fell, mentally cursing himself at his stupidity. is this seriously the way he portrays himself in front of you? he thought.

“nice try.” you called out, a soft laugh escaping your lips. you were grinning from ear to ear now, clearly pleased - and, amused at the sight.

his ears perked up at the sound.

you were smiling - laughing, even.

and he couldn’t help but reflect your actions. his chest swelled, and for a moment, he had completely forgotten about his foolish incident. “come on, don’t tell me i didn’t do good for someone who never rode an ilu.” he grinned as he threw his hands up. “you barely lasted for five seconds - even tuk could do better than you, skxwang.” you shook your head, and his grin only grew wider - which infuriated you in ways you couldn’t describe.

and now, came the breathing exercise.

you, along with your brother, roxto, and the four sully kids - that annoying forest boy included - circled near the shores by the rocks, with neteyam and lo’ak by your side.

oh, he just would never leave you alone. you tried. once, twice, hell you tried to avoid him countless times but he always found a way back to you. it was, without a doubt, the most frustrating thing to ever happen.

“breathe from here,” tsireya instructed, placing her palm right below her ribcage right where her diaphragm was. you, too set out an example for them, demonstrating the correct way to breathe. one by one, they tried this themselves, and eywa, did not one soul had done it right.

you breathed a heavy sigh as you watched neteyam’s horrible attempt. “you are still breathing from here,” you placed your palm against his chest. “breathe here.” you finished, sliding down your hand as it found its way to his stomach. neteyam nodded, before taking a deep breath for another attempt.

this scene obviously made lo’ak’s skin crawl. he rolled his eyes.

but then,

and an idea popped up.

a stupid one, actually.

“yes. just like that,” you said, at last retreating your arms from neteyam. you saw that roxto was helping kiri and tuk, who seemed to catch on pretty quickly themselves. you were quite pleased. however, that was until you saw how poorly lo’ak was following along.

you clicked your tongue in annoyance. “skxwang. breathe from here,” you said, pressing your hand lightly on his abdomen. his breath hitched at the contact. heart hammering in his chest - so loud, that he was sure you could hear how fast his heart beat for you.

he couldn’t take his eyes off of you - couldn’t focus on anything - i mean, how could he when you’re this close?

“try to breathe in slowly from your—”

you hit his head.

“did you hear anything i just said?”

“what? oh, yeah. yeah, of course. you said to suck my stomach in as hard as poss—”

“you are impossible.”

snickers and stifled laughter rippled around as you let out an exasperated sigh. they all exchanged knowing looks with each other. neteyam nudged ao’nung, who smirked in acknowledgment.

“breathe from here, baby bro.” neteyam teased, laying a hand on lo’ak’s stomach, only for him to immediately swat it away. “get off.” he grumbled, clearly not in the mood. “ah, come on, it was just a joke.” neteyam defended, throwing his arms up; neteyam’s voice blurred in the background as he shoved past him and stepped out of the marui.

three moons had passed, and yet, neteyam wouldn’t stop pestering his brother about it.

in all honesty, he didn’t know where he was heading, letting his legs carry him wherever they wanted. he thought that for a moment, up until he saw a silhouette he knew too well down the shoreline.

you.

“shit,” he mumbled as you suddenly turned your head his way. quickly, he hid behind a nearby tree - almost slipping on a fruit skin. he definitely did not want you to think of him as some sort of creepy stalker. the last thing he wanted was to pile on another reason for you to dislike him.

he peeked behind from behind the tree. “okay - just act casual.” he told himself before he stepped out, making his way toward you.

“hey,” a voice rang out from behind. you knew that voice. and just when you thought you could get a peaceful night.

“do you ever say anything else other than hey?” you said, finally turning around to face him. “come on, it’s a cool word.” he replied with that irritating shit-eating grin. you turned, resuming your hunt for seashells - your back now facing him.

“so, how long have you been standing behind that tree?”

his heart dropped.

“whaat? i don’t know what you’re talking about.” he said, his voice rising a little higher than usual. “do not lie to me. you were being painfully obvious.” you said, turning to face him once more.

his cheeks flushed and he ran a hand through his hair nervously. his ears twitched. “okay - maybe i was? listen, i was only there for five seconds, come on - i swear!” he defended, arms raised up in surrender.

you raised a brow.

“sure you were, stalker.” you said, followed by a light chuckle. you shifted your focus back to the sand, crouching down as you continued to search for seashells, like nothing had happened. he followed suit not long after, eyeing you as you carefully picked up a beautiful white shell.

“that’s a pretty shell,” he said. you simply hummed. “not as pretty as you, though.” he said, grinning sheepishly - that grin immediately faded as you hit his forearm. heat crept up your neck. and you most definitely did not like it.

“ow, that hurt!”

“skxwang.”

“what, i’m speaking facts-”

you raised your arm once more, threatening to smack him again. he dodged. “okay, okay! i’ll stop.” he breathed, laughing it off. you lowered your hand, eyes narrowed at him.

“if you say one more word, i swear, lo’ak - i will not hesitate to leave you to be fed to the akula.” you hissed. “right. got it.” he grinned.

thank eywa nightfall had settled over you, as its shadows mercifully hid the blooming color on your cheeks.

one shot

lo'ak sully x fem!metkayina!reader

summary: lo'ak says something he shouldn't have, do you forgive him?

tags: sfw , hurt , comfort

a/n: we all need some angst in our lives. IM SO BUSY WITH WORK UGH I JUST WANNA WRITE

theme: little talks

Lo'ak let out a loud groan and pulled himself free of his father's grip. His tears were now spilling freely from his eyes, he didn't care who saw them. You bit your lip, contemplating your next move, before ultimately deciding to follow quickly after him. From what you overheard, Lo'ak's father, Jake, had said some pretty degrading things to him.

Lo'ak stormed off the beach, his tail lashing behind him violently. The night waves crashed harder than usual, as if Eywa herself felt the storm inside him. "Lo'ak," you called softly when you caught up.

He spun around, eyes red-rimmed. "What do you want? To tell me I'm a screw-up too? That I should've stayed out of it? That I'm not worth the air I breathe?"

His words hit like a slap, sharper than anything Jake had said. You flinched but didn't retreat. "No. I just... I wanted to make sure you were alright. I want to be here." Your face expressed one of worry.

Lo'ak scoffed. "Here for what? To watch me fall apart? To pity me?" He stepped closer, towering in his anger. "You don't get it. None of you do. He looks at me and sees a mistake. A disappointment. And maybe he's right."

You grabbed his hand in yours, "No, Lo'ak-"

"Stop." His voice cracked, yanking his hand free from your gentle touch. "Just... stop pretending like you care. Everyone pretends until they realize I'm not Neteyam. I'm not the golden son. I'm the one who gets people hurt." His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Maybe you should go back to your perfect little life. Leave me alone."

The hurt in his tone twisted into something uglier. "Go! Before I say something worse." The guilt consumed him the second the words left his tongue. He wanted to take it back, tell you he didn't mean it, that he was sorry. But he made his bed, and now he has to lie in it.

You throat tightened. You felt the tears build up in your eyes, and you tried your best to bite them back. You wanted to reach for him, wrap him in your arms and ensure him that he was more than enough, and you loved him the way he was.

You didn't cry until you were far enough that the waves drowned the sound. The tears came hot and fast then. Not just from the sting of his words, but from how clearly you saw the hurt behind them. The hurt that made him lash out instead of lean in. You loved him too much to force your way through to him, so you let the distance grow.

Your days followed with a dull ache.

You threw yourself into village duties: tending to the ilu, harvesting sea grapes with your friends, practicing new knotting techniques till your hands cramped. When you noticed Lo'ak, you avoided him like a sickness, fleeing any interaction that might happen. He needed his space, and so did you. His words cut you like a dagger, and you weren't so sure you could forgive him easily.

He suffered in his own way. Putting on a face for others, showing up when needed, and hiding in the ocean with his brother, Payakan. Each time you avoided his gaze, or completely disregarded his presence, it felt like a large crack splitting right in the middle of his heart. He replayed the look on your face endlessly: the way your ears flattened, how your eyes turned glassy with each hopeless blink. He'd wish he'd done better, run out and catch your hand, beg on his knees right in front of you that he didn't mean it.

But this was his doing. And he had to face those consequences.

Tsireya questioned why you hadn't been with Lo'ak as much recently. "Where is Lo'ak?" She asked when she saw you alone doing your favourite thing: diving the reef to search for shells. You always loved Lo'ak's company during your favourite pastime. He flowered you with compliments each time you commented on a pretty shell, reminding you that you were the real treasure.

"He's... dealing with things," you said quietly, hiding your face. "Family things."

"Lo'ak has not been the same since that night on the beach. He dives alone now, or with Payakan." She trailed off, ears lowering a fraction. "He misses you. More than he says."

The words stung. You looked down at the rippling surface, watching your reflection. "He told me to leave him alone. Said I should go back to my 'perfect little life.' Like I was just another person pretending he mattered." Your hands curled into fists, although you weren't angry.

Tsireya reached out, touching your arm lightly. "He didn't mean it. You know that. The hurt in him speaks louder than his heart sometimes." You nodded, throat tight. She squeezed your arm once before letting go. She swam off after that, leaving you with the quiet hum of the reef.

Tonight the bay glowed brighter than usual, as if Eywa had lit her own lanterns especially for you. You sat and stared out into the vast horizon, unsure where the sea ended and the skyline started. Your knees were drawn up, arms wrapped around them, staring at the glowing waves the tide drew in.

Soft footsteps approached, hesitant, familiar. You didn't look up, but your ears flicked toward the sound. Lo'ak stopped several steps away, tail low, ears flattened in shame. He looked smaller somehow, stripped of the anger that had armored him before.

"I know I don't deserve to be here," he said quietly.. "I know I hurt you. Badly. And I... I can't take it back."

Silence answered him, thick and expectant.

"The second you walked away, I wanted to chase after you. Tell you I didn't mean any of it. That you're the only one who ever makes me feel like I'm not just... broken spare parts." His breath hitched. "But I was scared. Scared you'd see exactly what my dad sees. Scared if I let you in, I'd ruin you too."

You finally turned your head, eyes meeting his. They were glassy, rimmed with exhaustion and remorse. Your own eyes were filled to the brim with tears that threatened to spill over.

Your expression pained his own. He hated to see how his actions continued to hurt others.

He swallowed hard. "I miss you. Every second without you feels wrong."

You hugged your legs tighter to your chest, and turned away again, dipping your head in the space between your arms. "There's a voice in my head that keeps telling me to stay strong and ignore you." You said, voice on the verge of cracking.

"Well tell her that I miss our little talks."

You kept your face buried between your arms for a long moment, breathing in the salt and the glow, trying to steady the tremor in your chest. His words felt heavy as they left his mouth. They weren't grand declarations or excuses. Just the truth, the way the two of you used to speak when no one else mattered. When you'd float together above the reef, pointing out tiny glowing creatures and trading stories until the stars came out.

You let out a shaky breath, uncurling just a bit. "You really hurt me, Lo'ak. You made me feel like... like I was nothing. Like my care was just pity."

"I know. I know I did. And I hate that I did it to you. You were one of the only people who never viewed me less than I was." He dropped to his knees in the sand beside you, close enough that his shadow merged with yours. "I was drowning in my own head. My dad's voice... it got so loud. And instead of letting you help, I pushed you away. Because if I let you see how badly I ruin things, maybe you'd finally agree with him."

You turned fully toward him then, searching his face. His eyes looked tired, heavy, exhausted possibly from crying too much.

His heart pinched at your teary eyes, glassy and puffy. He just wanted to wrap you in his arms and give you the tightest hug and never let you go. It killed him to see how badly his actions hurt you.

"Lo'ak." You said, scoffing. "You are everything to me and more." You uncurled yourself fully, body facing him fully. "I don't care what anyone else thinks of you. I care only about you and nothing else. What matters now is who you want to be. What they tell you you are, or who I see when I look at you." A teardrop rolled down your cheek, falling into the sand.

Lo'ak's ears lifted slightly, the first small sign of hope breaking through the shame that had weighed them down for days. He opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and opened it again. Thick tears welled in his eyes, and a sob tore through him. His head hung low as he tried to fight the feeling.

Your ears flattened at his reaction, instinctively pulling him into your arms. You held him just as tightly, one hand cradling the back of his head, the other wrapped around his shoulders, rocking him ever so slightly the way your mother used to when you were small and the ocean felt too big.

His face buried itself below your collarbone, and he hugged your lower waist tightly. Lo'ak clung to you like you were the only solid thing left in his world. His shoulders shook with each muffled sob against your skin. He spewed out "I'm sorry's" and other incoherent words you really couldn't understand.

"It's killing me to see you this way..." You mumbled, your own voice becoming wobbly.

"I hate that I made you cry. I hate that I made you think you weren't enough. You're everything. You're more than I deserve." His voice was small, just above a whisper.

"Don't say that." You shook your head. "You deserve more than you think." You stroked his back lightly, reassuring him.

"I don’t know how to believe that yet," he admitted, voice barely carrying over the tide. "But I want to. For you. Because you keep saying it… and you keep staying."

You brushed a stray braid from his face, tucking it behind his ear. "Then let me keep saying it," you murmured. "Until it drowns out everything else. Until it's louder than your dad's voice, louder than everything bad. I'm not going anywhere, Lo'ak. Not unless you tell me, with your whole heart, that you really want me gone."

He let out a shaky exhale. "Never. Not again. I was an idiot. A stupid-" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "I won't." His hand found yours in the sand, fingers threading together slowly, like he was re-learning how the touch was supposed to feel. Safe. Wanted. Loved.

taglist: @queefmasterr @naveaian @thel0v3hashira143 @ynniksslirg @yumyumyumsworld @akaakari @ivarasite @simpingoveredmundbrb @sleepygirl-inc @bunnyredgirl @zzma-rs @starmylife4ever @pinkdestinytaco @scenic236 @hiyik @haunted-haven

ily lo'ak don't listen to them

hii I didn't have anything in mind for Lo'ak yet so thank you for this request! 🫡 hope you like it

🌊⋆｡⋆˚࿔°.🐚⋆❀˖°⋆˚࿔

She is mine

Pairing: Lo'ak Sully x Omatikaya!reader (ft. Kiri, Spider, Neteyam)

Warning: angst, slow burn, protective possessive Lo’ak, hurt/comfort, “Touch her and you die” energy.

Summary: one unwanted kiss is all it takes to shatter your (and Lo'ak's) peace.

Everyone knew. It was impossible not to. When Lo’ak wasn’t causing trouble with Spider, he was attached to your side. You were his anchor and he was your favorite headache. While the Tsahìk and the Olo'eyktan had given their silent approval, you were enjoying the courting phase, the quiet swims, and the shared fruit under the bioluminescence forest.

Between dates and stolen kisses, your relationship grew stronger. One day, Lo’ak took you to a hidden ledge behind the High Camp waterfalls, a place where the spray turned into a shimmering mist.

༄࿐ Aonung "𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞."

༄࿐ Neteyam "𝐖𝐡𝐨'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫? 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧, 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐭."

༄࿐ Lo'ak "𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡, 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡!"

༄࿐ Quaritch "𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭."

ミ★Lo'ak x Omaticaya Reader᯾

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 : Arriving with the Sully family in the Metkayina village was supposed to be a fresh start. But when Lo’ak seems a little too comfortable around Tsireya, an unfamiliar feeling begins to grow in your chest. Maybe the ocean isn’t the only thing new here.

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 : jealousy, insecurity, fluff ending

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 : ~𝟏,𝟔𝐤

__________✧𖦹✧__________

The journey had been long.

When the mountains finally gave way to the endless blue, your breath caught in your throat. The ocean stretched as far as the eye could see, shining beneath the sun. The Metkayina were already there, lined up on the beach, straight and silent.

You were standing beside Lo’ak.

You always had been, actually.

The Sullys had decided to let you come with them. Because you were part of their lives.

Because Lo’ak couldn’t imagine being without you. And neither could you.

“Are you okay?” he murmured, tilting his head slightly toward you.

“Yes,” you replied. “It’s just… different.”

He nodded, then briefly placed his hand against yours. A small gesture. Quiet. Reassuring.

But your attention was drawn elsewhere.

A Metkayina girl stepped forward.

Tsireya.

Smiling. Calm. Beautiful in a way that almost didn’t seem real.

“Welcome to our home,” she said softly.

And Lo’ak smiled.

Not a polite smile.

Not an awkward one.

A real smile.

The kind he usually saved for you.

Your stomach twisted, and you didn’t really understand why.

“Hey,” Lo’ak replied. “This place is… incredible.”

“You’ll see,” Tsireya said. “The ocean always finds a way to calm you.”

Her gaze lingered on him—attentive, kind.

Too kind.

You shifted slightly without even realizing it.

“Y/n,” Kiri called behind you, “are you coming?”

“Yes,” you answered a little too quickly.

You watched Lo’ak from the corner of your eye. He was listening to Tsireya, laughing softly at something she said. He looked comfortable. Natural.

Like he already belonged here.

And you…

You suddenly felt like you didn’t.

Later, when you were settled near the marui, Lo’ak came to find you.

“You disappeared,” he said. “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” you replied, avoiding his gaze. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

He frowned slightly.

“You’ve been acting weird.”

“I’m tired, Lo’ak.”

A lie.

In the distance, Tsireya was laughing with Ao’nung.

And Lo’ak turned his head toward her.

Again.

Your chest tightened.

Why did it hurt so much?

“Hey,” he said softly, stepping closer.

“Look at me.”

You finally did.

“It’s just the beginning,” he murmured. “We’re here together, remember?”

You nodded.

But your eyes drifted back toward Tsireya despite yourself.

And Lo’ak saw it.

His smile faded slightly.

“Oh…” he breathed.

He had just understood.

__________𓆉__________

Night fell over the village.

Torches dimly lit the walkways, and the sound of the waves almost drowned out the voices. You were sitting near the water, your knees pulled against your chest, your gaze lost in the ocean.

You hadn’t moved for a while.

“Y/n.”

Lo’ak’s voice.

You didn’t answer right away.

He approached slowly and sat beside you, leaving a space between you.

Too much space.

On purpose.

“You’re jealous,” he said eventually.

Direct. No hesitation.

Typical Lo’ak.

You clenched your jaw.

“No.”

“Yes.”

You finally turned toward him.

“Why do you smile like that with her?” you blurted. “Why do you look at her like… like I’m not even there?”

He blinked, surprised.

“Tsireya? She’s just nice.”

“Too nice.”

“Y/n…”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“I didn’t realize it affected you like that.”

“Because you didn’t even notice,” you shot back. “And that hurts even more.”

He moved closer then, closing the space between you.

“Look at me.”

You hesitated, then obeyed.

“I did smile,” he admitted. “Because everything is new here. Because I’m stressed. But do you know who I think about when everything feels too different?”

He gently placed his hand over yours.

“You.”

Your heart skipped a beat.

“Do you seriously think I could replace you?”

“I don’t know,” you whispered.

“Everything is new here. Even you.”

He frowned, then shook his head with a nervous smile.

“Then listen to me carefully,” he said. “I like Tsireya. But I love you.”

Silence.

“And if you ever doubt that,” he continued more softly, “tell me. Don’t make me guess.”

He rested his forehead against yours.

“Because I’ve never doubted us.”

Your eyes burned slightly.

“I was just scared of losing you.”

“Impossible,” he replied without hesitation.

He pressed a slow, sincere kiss to your forehead.

Behind you, a figure stopped.

Tsireya.

She watched for a moment, understood everything… then quietly looked away with a small, respectful smile.

Lo’ak didn’t see her.

But you did.

And for the first time since arriving, you finally felt like you belonged again.

__________𓆉__________

The next day, the village was lively.

The Metkayina gathered along the beach. Some trained in the water while others laughed near the huts. You walked beside Kiri, trying to enjoy the moment… but your gaze kept drifting back to Lo’ak.

He was with Ao’nung.

And Tsireya.

They were all laughing together. Nothing wrong. Nothing inappropriate.

But your heart still tightened.

“You know,” Kiri said softly, “when Lo’ak loves someone, it shows. And right now… it shows very clearly.”

“What do you mean?” you asked.

She smiled mischievously.

“Look.”

As if he had heard you, Lo’ak turned his head. His eyes found yours immediately.

His smile changed.

Softer. Realer.

He left Ao’nung without even excusing himself and walked over to you.

“Come,” he said simply, taking your hand.

“I want to show you something.”

“Hey!” Ao’nung protested. “We were in the middle of a conversation!”

“Later,” Lo’ak replied without turning around.

Tsireya watched the scene, then smiled too.

“Good luck,” she said calmly.

You followed Lo’ak to a quieter part of the lagoon. The water was clear and peaceful.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, stopping. “A lot.”

“That’s rare,” you teased with a small smile.

“Very funny.”

He took a deep breath and looked straight into your eyes.

“Here, everyone looks at me like I’m someone new. Like I could become someone else.”

Your heart pounded.

“But me,” he continued, “when everything around me changes… you’re the one I look for.”

He cupped your face in his hands.

“I don’t want you to doubt. Not here. Not anywhere.”

“Lo’ak…”

“It’s you, Y/n. Always.”

And this time he didn’t let you answer.

He kissed you.

A real kiss. Confident. Not rushed, but certain.

His hands stayed against your cheeks, grounding you there with him. You kissed him back without hesitation, forgetting everything else.

When you finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against yours.

“If anyone has a problem with that,” he said softly, “they’ll have to go through me.”

You laughed, your heart light.

“You’re such an idiot.”

“Yeah,” he smiled. “But I’m your idiot.”

In the distance, Ao’nung made an exaggerated noise.

“OKAY! MESSAGE RECEIVED! NO NEED TO DO THAT IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE VILLAGE!”

Tsireya laughed softly beside him.

And for the first time since your arrival, you weren’t jealous anymore.

You were sure.

Because Lo’ak was there.

With you.

And he had never been clearer.

__________✧𖦹✧__________

A/N: My heartt🥹!! Thank you so much for requesting.

I really hope this meets your expectations, I enjoyed bringing your idea to light!!

Still breathing — Lo’ak x Reader

⤷ Lo’ak x Fem!reader, Angst with a happy ending, mentions of blood, injury aftercare, oneshot, rescue, protector Lo'ak, sfw!!

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Group bonding, that’s what you all called it.

The parents never really had an issue with it—at least you were out together, getting along.

Riding ilus, hunting, swimming until your lungs burned, listening to the songs of your tulkun brothers and sisters echo through the water.

It was routine. Familiar. Safe.

Or at least, it always had been.

Today, the sea is calm—but not kind.

Sunlight slips through the water in sections, breaking apart as it reaches the reef, and the deeper you swim, the quieter everything becomes.

Lo’ak glides ahead of you, effortless as always, twisting through coral like the sea's answer to him alone.

He slows just enough to glance back.

“You keeping up, skxawng?” he signs, a crooked grin tugging at his mouth before he darts ahead again.

One of the others laughs, nudging your shoulder as they pass, and Lo’ak immediately takes that as permission.

“Careful,” he signs again, teasing now. “Don’t get lost.”

He circles back, flicking his tail just close enough to splash your face, then points at you—then toward the reef ahead—like he’s daring you to try harder.

The water shifts.

Not suddenly. Not violently. Just… curiously.

The reef grows darker, coral rising taller around you, shadows stretching into places where the sunlight no longer reaches.

The sounds of the group fade, laughter wears down until it’s nothing but distant echoes.

You don’t realize how far you’ve drifted until something curls around your ankle.

The current tightens.

And begins to pull.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Your first instinct is to not panic—after all

your whole life you’ve trained for situations like this.

You try to remember what you’ve learned.

Breathe. Deep breaths.

As you search for a way out, those three words loop in your mind.

Breathe. Deep breaths.

The water pressure is changing, you can tell by how hard it is to breathe now.

A pressure coming down your lungs.

You’re drifting just a little too far, following the shimmer of sunlight , when the water around you feels… heavier.

Not the current. Something else. Something watching.

A shadow flickers beneath you. Quick. Sharp.

Your heart stutters. You kick harder, but the water resists.

Another shadow—larger this time. Something fast. Something hungry.

Your arms flail, claws of fins grazing your shoulders. Sharp teeth flash in the murk. The first reef predator comes at you, snapping at your leg.

You twist, narrowly avoiding its bite, heart hammering so hard it hurts.

And then another—another—joining the first.

The predators circle. You kick, swipe, twist. But the more you struggle, the more the current and the shadows work together, pulling you down.

You swim away as fast as your body would let you—hiding in a corner small enough the reef predators won’t be able

to reach from.

You look at it, really look.

Everything about it is dark, teeth sharper than knives, the way it’s just waiting there—waiting for you.

It’s tracking you with its eyes. After a while it turns away, like it was about to leave.

Escape. Escape. Escape.

But how?

You find a hole, maybe a way out. You slowly start inching towards the exit.

You’re running out of air. Gagging as you try and move forward.

Your leg gets stuck.

Now you’re panicking, you’re running out of oxygen.

You finally managed to get your leg out, tearing the skin. Blood flows out slowly.

But then, everything starts to blur. The water presses against your chest, your lungs screaming, your vision fading at the edges.

You’re sinking. Slowly. Unstoppable.

Your body is giving up.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

“Guys, where’s y/n?” His eyes wide. Focused. Fear carved into every line of his face.

Lo’ak dives back down, he can’t find you.

You’re sinking.

Not fast. Not dramatic.

Just enough that fighting feels pointless.

The pressure in your chest dulls, the panic thinning into something quiet, something heavy.

And then—movement.

A shape cutting through the blue like it refuses to lose you.

He’s cutting through the water, straight toward you. Arms out, fingers brushing your arm as he fights through the predators.

Tulkun fins slicing through the current. A guardian appears from nowhere, massive, protective. The predators scatter.

Lo’ak grabs your wrist, pulling you up, up, gasping as the sea roars around you.

Your lungs scream for air, your chest heaving.

Finally, you reach the surface.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Salt stings your eyes, your hair floats in a halo of sea and sunlight, and Lo’ak holds you tight, just long enough for both of you to realize—you’re alive.

He doesn’t tease. Not now. Only worry.

“What the fuck y/n—why would you ever go that far down,” he whispers, brushing water from your face.

He doesn’t let go as he hauls you onto the Ilu, muscles tense, jaw tight. His hands hover over your leg, inspecting the gash.

“Breathe,” he mutters, voice low but firm. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

You wince as he gently presses a hand to slow the bleeding. His touch is careful, deliberate, but every movement radiates urgency.

“You could’ve died, y/n,” he says, eyes dark with worry. “Do you know what would’ve happened if I hadn’t found you?”

You try to explain, but the words catch in your throat. He huffs, exasperated, like he’s both relieved and furious.

“If you wanted to go that far down, you tell me next time. I would’ve gone with you. I would’ve protected you.” His voice softens slightly, lips brushing your temple as he adjusts your position so he can properly analyze your leg.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

When you guys reach the island again, Lo’ak is restless, muscles tense, jaw tight.

His eyes flick between your face and the gash on your leg, heart hammering.

“Stay with me,” he mutters, voice low but firm. “I’m not letting anything happen to you.”

Before you can protest, he’s off the Ilu, sprinting toward the Tsahik’s mauri in the village. His movements are quick, almost frantic, yet deliberate.

You watch, chest still heaving, as he grabs clean cloth, the

Tsahik’s herbs, and bandages. Every second he’s gone feels like an eternity.

When he returns, the worry on his face has deepened, jaw set, eyes sharp and focused.

He kneels beside you, hands already inspecting your leg, pressing gently to assess the bleeding.

“Stop moving around. You’ll only make it worse,” he mutters, dipping a cloth into the antiseptic herbs and pressing it carefully against your wound.

His hands shake, but he pauses to steady them for a moment.

You flinch at the sting, but he doesn’t hesitate, wrapping the clean cloth and bandages around the gash with precise hands.

Every movement is protective, gentle, his thumb brushing your skin lightly to reassure you.

“Careful,” he whispers, almost softer now, voice thick with relief, “you can’t keep doing this. You’re reckless.”

He finishes wrapping your leg, hands lingering a fraction too long as if checking you again.

His jaw is tight, but there’s a flicker in his eyes—relief, frustration, something softer.

“Don’t scare me like that again,” he mutters, voice low but trying to sound stern.

He taps the bandage with a finger, then looks away, pretending not to watch your reaction.

He stands, brushing water from his hair, and crouches beside you.

Lo’ak snaps his gaze to you, eyes dark and flashing with exasperation.

“Can you stand?” he asks, voice low, controlled—but you catch the edge of worry in it. “If it’s too much, I’ll carry you.”

You straighten, teeth gritted. “Lo’ak no, I can—”

Your legs tremble almost immediately. The moment you try to shift your weight, your knees buckle, and you slump back into the sand.

Lo’ak bursts out laughing, the sound breaking the tension like a wave. “You’re so stubborn," he mutters, shaking his head with that crooked grin you know all too well.

You groan, cheeks burning, but he’s already there, hands under your arms, lifting you carefully.

He wraps an arm securely around your waist, holding you close against his chest.

“Lean on me,” he says, voice low, almost a whisper. “I’ve got you,” his tone is soft, full of affection and relief.

You rest your head against him, letting your breath settle, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

His other hand supports your legs, careful not to mess with the bandage.

“Promise me you won’t try any warrior stunts alone again, I need you back to me in one piece.” He murmurs, carrying you effortlessly.

You smirk, teasing despite yourself. “No promises,” you whisper.

Lo’ak huffs a laugh, shaking his head. “Then you’ll just have to deal with me breathing down your neck the whole time,” he mutters, fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from your face as he carries you back toward the village.

Summary:

Lo’ak has always felt like he doesn’t belong. Neither do you. When the two of you keep finding each other at the edge of the reef, something deeper than friendship starts to form something steady, brave, and real.

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