#older sibling

Chapter 2:

Tonight you had your date with Neteyam, earlier Yuna'te and Kiri had been fussing over your hair and outfit. They took out your braids, leaving your hair in soft curls that reached your waist. But when it came to your outfit a whole argument broke out.

"I am NOT wearing that Yuna'te," you said, lips curled in disgust at the top she dangled in front of you.

"Why not?" she pouted, "it's cute."

"It is too revealing you're acting as if we are mating before Eywa!"

"Who knows you might..." Kiri muttered, you turned to glare at her sharply, "isn't that the point though? If it is too revealing you will come off as strong and that will put him off surely."

You sighed contemplating, it was a bit out of your comfort zone but if it was going to do the job who were you to refuse?

Even Anuk contributed, putting his favourite little beads in your hair and giving you a bracelet which he made in school that day. Amidst, all the excitement you were feeling a queasy, it was your first date after all, albeit a fake one. Kiri, as if she sensed your anxiety, held your hands gently.

"Hey, it's just my brother he won't bite if it were Lo'ak I would be worried but this is Neteyam, he's responsible besides if he messes up just tell me okay?" she said, giving you a soft smile.

You nodded.

You sat on a rock near the lake where the two of you were scheduled to meet, the water glistened in the moonlight ripples forming as you dipped your fingers in whilst letting out a deep sigh. You thought back to the advice Kiri and Yuna'te gave you.

"Be rude, aggressive even, that will surely scare him off."

Your thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice.

"Yuna'te?"

You turned to face the figure behind you, eyes widening in shock.

You knew that he was attractive based on your observations from afar, many girls would fawn over him and you never fully understood why, but now you did. The Na'vi standing in front of you was too pretty up close. His hair was in neat braids which reached his well-toned shoulders, stripes mapped his neck down his stomach which was littered with scars from battle. Luminescent freckles scattered along his cheeks and upwards to the curve of his eyes, flickering with a warm shade of gold. You watched his long lashes flutter, his lips forming into a frown.

You realised you had been staring. You cleared your throat flicking your tail on his calf, which earned a surprised jilt from him.

"You are late," you said monotonously. He wasn't actually late, he was 30 minutes early like Kiri had predicted but you came earlier to make him look bad.

"I apologise I was caught up with-"

"I do not want to hear your lame excuses," you interrupted, turning away from him flicking his leg again with your tail, "Come."

You walked further into the forest, sensing he wasn't following you, you paused letting out a relieved sigh.

Well that was easy.

Before you could celebrate, you heard steady footsteps approach you.

You let out a hiss flicking his leg impatiently with your tail, "You are too slow," you walked further not even bothering to hear his response.

The both of you approached a clearing, where your ikran, Nil'ah, was waiting patiently. You nuzzled her face, patting her neck.

"Hello paskalin," you cooed, "I am sorry for making you wait."

You climbed up sitting on her back, before noticing that the Na'vi behind you was just standing there awkwardly.

"Where is your ikran?" you snapped.

It made sense that Neteyam didn't bring his ikran, you hadn't given any indication that were flying today beforehand. But you of course, just wanted another excuse to try his patience.

His mouth opened as he stared at you with flushed cheeks, attempting to form a response but you interjected, "Forget it, just get on."

He hesitantly got behind you, his earthy scent immediately entering your senses. He smelled too good, you were suddenly hyper aware of how close he was behind you, his breath ghosting your bare shoulders and his front pressing lightly against your back.

Oh Ewya help me.

You grabbed his hands placing them on your waist, ignoring the feeling that they belonged there.

"Hold on tight, it would be a shame if you fell to your death," you sneered, however you couldn't prevent the softness from creeping into your tone. You shook your head. You needed to make this the worst date possible.

Your ikran did flips, dives and loops in the night sky, as you encouraged her to fly as fast as possible. Any normal Na'vi would be sick by now. Keyword: normal.

When you briefly looked back at Neteyam he had a bright smile plastered on his face as he gripped your waist tighter. He had the nerve to look happy.

You tched, patting Nil'ah's neck whispering soothingly in her ear, "it's okay, go slow."

After a few minutes of flying slowly, admiring the stars which were dispersed across the night sky, Neteyam finally spoke up.

"When we were younger, me and Lo'ak used to sneak out in the night and go flying," he whispered, "He would always want to race and somehow we would get into some accident. I took the blame of course, like I usually do." You noticed the exhaustion in his tone as he said the last bit.

You tried to look disinterested, tried ignoring him but you couldn't help but feel empathy towards him, you knew how tiring looking after your siblings is, it's the whole reason why you were here.

So you let him ramble about his siblings for a while.

"I'm sorry that I made you wait, I had to deal with Lo'ak's mess before coming here he-"

"It's fine," you said curtly, ignoring the heat that crept onto your cheeks after hearing his soft, gentle tone. He was too nice, you almost felt bad for being rude to him earlier.

A few minutes of awkward silence passed between you both.

"Let's go eat something, I bet I can hunt better than you," you challenged, giving him a smug look.

"Oh really sevin?" he smirked, your brain short circuited at the nickname but shook your head quickly, telling Nil'ah to land.

You remembered your conversation with your younger sister and best friend earlier.

"You have to make sure you mess up when hunting," Yuna'te said.

"Why?" you replied, almost feeling insulted at the idea of making yourself look bad in one of your best talents.

"Because you need to look incompetent," Kiri chimed, "Neteyam hates arrogance, you need to act like you're one of the best hunters he has ever seen then screw up when the time comes."

"But I am one of the best hunters," you grumbled.

"Come on tsmuke," your sister giggled, "at least you won't have to lay a finger once it happens, he will do the work for you."

You sighed, your mind back to the present. You slouched your shoulders and loosened your grip on your bow as you aimed, internally cringing at how awful your form was. You didn't even notice Neteyam come up behind you his hands brushing against your shoulders gently.

"You're doing it wrong," he whispered, his breath hot against your ear.

He slowly corrected your form, angling your muscles and stance towards your target and you couldn't help but feel flustered at how intimate this all felt.

You shook your head, letting the arrow go on purpose, missing.

You turned around to face him hissing, "You made me miss."

He didn't obviously.

He looked at you, surprised at your sudden outburst, "I-"

"Forget it," you snapped, "Since you are such a great hunter, go hunt yourself and get us food,"

You shoved your bow in his hands and stormed off, internally cringing at your actions, but it was necessary. Surely, his patience would snap by now.

It didn't.

He came back later with some fresh meat and presented it to you with an almost shy look.

"I thought you would like this," he murmured timidly.

You examined the meat, it was a clean cut, perfect, but you couldn't tell him that. Instead you gave him a side glance.

"It is good enough, now go cook it," you demanded.

He didn't even look surprised at this point, as if already used to your behaviour.

As he prepared the food you couldn't help but admire the muscles contouring his back.

Oh Ewya help my dirty mind you thought quickly wiping the drool of your mouth, as he turned to face you with a sheepish smile handing you some food.

You gobbled it down, making sure to look like an absolute slob. Yuna'te said guys hate it when girls eat too much.

He frowned as you finished your food in a matter of seconds.

You smirked internally, thinking that he had had enough of you by now.

But all he did was reach out and wipe some crumbs off the corner of your mouth.

"You should eat slowly, or else you may get sick," he advised.

He was too nice, if you were here without any ulterior motive you may have just fallen in love, but unfortunately you weren't. Him, this date, the entire possibility of being his mate, was a problem for both your sister and you.

You scowled slapping his hand off, "Do not tell me what to do."

He sighed, as if he anticipated your reaction and stood up.

"I think we are done here," he reached his hand out to yours, "I will walk you home."

You snarled slapping his hand away again, "I can walk by myself, I do not need your help."

Before he could say anything you got up, flicking his leg with your tail in annoyance and strode off.

"And that's it?" Yuna'te asked in confusion. You, Kiri and her had been sitting in your room where you told the two of them how your date went.

"Yes," you sighed, "I feel really mean, he was too nice Kiri you should've warned me otherwise I wouldn't have such a guilty conscience."

Kiri raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps, but it wouldn't have made much of a difference. Besides, like I said he has to go on one date with every one of his potentials from the list Grandmother made he's probably forgotten by now."

Your mother burst into the room, looking at Yuna'te with a proud smile.

"He has requested a second date!"