⊹teymars⊹ 𝄐

“Asthy, you’re breaking my heart here,” Lo’ak squawked dramatically. “I’m way cooler than your boring old dad! Don’t you wanna hang with me? Your favourite uncle?” 

Head cushioned on her daddy’s chest, the two year old simply stared at him over the thumb in her mouth, a doll clutched under an elbow. She cracked a grin at her uncle’s silliness but still made no move to leave her father’s arms. 

Asthlyee had always been a clingy baby, and worse, whenever she was in Neteyam’s arms, there was no persuading her out of it. 

“Fine, fine… I still like you the same,” Lo’ak resigned, dropping his outstretched arms. “What are you doing, man? You’ve got your girls locked away so much they’re forgetting me.”

Neteyam wouldn’t lie, he loved the feeling every time his girls clung to him over anyone else. Enyu constantly told him to quit being so smug. He couldn’t help himself. 

“They were at you and O’tley’s just last week when Enyu and Rey were sick.”

Lo’ak waved him off. “You know my mate tends to hog them for herself.”

“Speaking of…” Neteyam continued as they strolled along the busy paths of their Omatikaya village. “I’ve been putting off bringing it up, but… what’s with you and the wife?”

“Me and O’tley?”

“You two have been… weird lately.”

Lo’ak sniffed, face gone drastically blank as though he were trying to hide his true emotions. “You’re probably seeing things, brother.”

“Look, feel free to tell me to mind my business and I will but… you two seem tense.” 

“You sound like Tiny. She making you ask these questions?”

Yes.

“No.”

“O’tt and I are fine, Neteyam. You can tell your wife to stop worrying.”

“Uh-huh…”

“Okay, what is it?”

Asthy, in her own little world, was jabbering to herself. Pointing at things she knew the words of. Broken Na’vi merged with broken English and toddler jiberish. 

“Just tell me, Neteyam.”

“Fine. It’s just… A while ago, my four year old asked me what a chicken was, because apparently that’s what Spider called you when you refused to give O’tley a baby?” 

“Shit… Heard that, did she?” 

“Dad was right. Kids are like sponges, they pick up on everything.” Neteyam observed his brother’s expression. He looked torn. “Are you two fighting or something?”

“Or something,” Lo’ak mumbled. 

“‘Orsie, daddy! Dada! Orsie!” Asthlyee squealed excitedly, trembling in glee. She almost planted herself out of his arms to point at the direhorses she’d spotted. 

They stopped at the fence of a direhorse pen where younglings were being taught how to ride. Neteyam propped his daughter on the wooden fence so she could watch- while keeping a secured arm around her. 

O’tley however, happened to be one of the riders teaching, and when she spotted them, she grinned and gave Asthy an enthusiastic wave. 

Lo’ak sighed heavily, eyes not leaving his mate. 

Meanwhile Asthy began to count. “One ‘orsie, two, tree ‘orsie… tree, five and ten!”

“Okay, look,” Lo’ak said, finally cracking. “We’re fine… We’re just in a bit of a prolonged disagreement over something she wants is all.” 

“Bro, we never win these things. Give her whatever it is she wants.”

“She’s ready for kids. She wants… a baby.”

Now what Elteyä had told him made sense, yet Neteyam was still left flat out confused. 

“But isn’t that great for you? You’ve been waiting for her to be ready-” Neteyam’s sentence cut off. His brow furrowed at Lo’ak’s expression as a meaningful silence played out between them. “I don’t get you, Lo’ak. You’ve wanted this for so long and now that-”

“Are you saying I can’t change my mind? Kids are a huge responsibility. You make it look fuc-freaking easy with three of them, but now that I’ve thought it through, I don’t-” Asthly’s doll fell from her grip and he was quick to pluck it from the ground and tuck it back in her arms. “I’m not cut out for it.”

“Lo’ak-” 

They both clammed up when they spotted O’tley coming towards them. Asthy’s little legs kicked in excitement and the Tipani Na’vi grinned at the sight, scooping up the two year old the second she was within reach. 

“Ugh, I love this feeling,” O'tley cooed, snuggling her cheek into Asthy’s. “I don’t even care that it’s only because she wants me to give her a ride on my direhorse.”

Neteyam chuckled as he watched his daughter chatter away and point at the children on the direhorses. 

“‘Orsie,” Asthlyee pointed again. Her sweet little face was all pleading as she looked up at her aunt. “Go on ‘orsie now? Me, peas?” 

“Do you mind?” she asked Neteyam who shook his head. 

“You two have fun.” 

“Yay!” O’tley cheered, lifting Asthlyee higher in celebration. “Let’s go, Asthy girl. Say bye, daddy, bye uncle Lo’ak!”

“Yes,” the little one nodded vigorously, attention completely stolen away and no longer interested in her father or uncle. 

Neteyam watched and waited until O’tley situated them on the beast and then started out in a slow trot, before he addressed his brother again. 

“You gonna lay it out for me to understand? Why all of a sudden you don’t think you’re cut out to be a father?”

“I went back to a dark place, that's all.” He flashed Neteyam his four fingered hand as if saying remember? 

“That’s what this is about?” 

“I was a freak growing up, Neteyam. You remember what it was like for me when we were kids. Do you not remember our visits to Awa’atlu? I don’t want that for my ki-”

“Oh fuck you, Lo’ak.” Neteyam’s jaw ticked as stared out at the field. 

“Brother-”

“I get it okay? I do. I was there and I took on those bastards right beside you when they tossed hurtful insults. They did the same thing to Kiri. Even tried it with Enyu and she’s not even half hum-” 

“You… could never understand, Neteyam.”

“Are you fucking serious right now?”

“Yes! This is just like when we were kids all over again. You're gonna tell me they were just dumb kids who were nothing but stupid bullies?”

“No.”

Lo’ak blinked.

“Lo’ak, I can’t tell you what to do, or how to feel. You’re an adult and it’s your decision with O'tley whether you want to have children or not. You’re right that I may not have always had the best response when we kids, but you’re wrong that I would never understand.” 

Lo’ak scoffed. 

“I’m serious. Or have you forgotten about Elteyä? My daughter? Your niece who looks up at you as if you hung the fucking moons yourself. Lo’ak she’s four, and proud as shit to have the same amount of fingers just like her uncle, aunt and grandfather.” 

“‘Teyam, I didn’t mean-”

“You better start thinking of a new excuse to tell her when she gets older and starts asking you for a cousin. Gonna tell her it’s because you didn’t want kids who might turn out just like her?” 

Lo’ak seemed rendered speechless. 

Neteyam glanced over at his daughter when he heard her gleeful squeal. O’tley’s direhorse began to gallop. 

“Mom and dad have fought hard to bring unity to our clan with the humans. And even with the other clans. Although it’s a different time, there will always be stupid people who say stupid things, I know. But it’ll be our job to protect our kids. To raise them strong for the times we may not be able to be there.”

“I don’t want to screw up,” Lo’ak rasped defeatedly. 

“Tough. You’re going to. Eywa knows how many times I haven’t gotten something right. We’re not perfect, but we try our best because we love them.”

“You’re right.” Lo’ak sighed, leaning forward on his forearms, eyes following his mate. “I’m just having a moment of panic I guess.”

Neteyam squeezed his shoulder. “If you do decide to have kids, you’ll be an amazing father, Lo’ak. Your kids are going to be so lucky.” 

“Thanks, ‘Teyam… Oh, fuck.” Lo’ak made a noise that sounded like a laugh mingled with pain. “I’m gonna turn into a psycho, overprotective schmuck like you did when Tiny was pregnant, aren't I?”

“Oh, definitely.” Neteyam nodded firmly. “It doesn’t go away once your kid is born either.” 

Lo’ak groaned.

After a long stretched moment of simply standing in silence, Neteyam broke it with another uncomfortable topic. 

“Hey… uh, have you heard that Tuk has a boyfriend?” 

“Boyfriend?” Standing straight and expression alarmed, Lo’ak was completely thrown off by that one. “She’s fourteen!” 

“That’s what I said!”

“Oh, fuck no.”

“Yeah, you and me both,” Neteyam spat, folding his arms. “Yet another thing I found out from my four year old.”

“Who the hell is this little prick sniffing around our baby sister?!”

“That. Is exactly what I intend to find out. Flower made me promise not to meddle, but…” he gave his brother a look.

“Well I made no such promises,” Lo’ak replied, catching on. He scoffed, head shaking in disbelief. “A boyfriend,” he repeated distastefully. 

“Why do you both look like you wanna murder someone?” asked an approaching voice. 

Spider joined them at the fence. He had his son in that odd, one armed carrying hold that Neteyam had taught him. It helped fussy little ones calm down quickly. 

“Apparently, Tuk has a boyfriend.”

“Ah…” Spider contemplated whether he should say anything. Then, “You know actually, the kid’s not all that bad, once you get to know him.”

Arms both folded, the Sully brother’s heads turned at the same time, eerily in sync with each other.

“Come again, cuz?” Lo’ak hissed.

“You’ve met him?!”

Spider cursed under his breath. He knew he messed up. “Well- yeah,” he confessed lamely. “Tuk’s always staying at our place, so he walks her home sometimes. Kiri invited him to stay for a meal a couple nights.”

The brothers glanced at each other, then back at Spider.

“How long exactly has this been going on?”

“I don’t know,” Spider shrugged, adjusting his hold when his son fussed. “Couple of months?”

“Months?!” The Sully men echoed simultaneously. 

“Look. She’s happy, alright? What’s it matter anyway? Lo’ak you were eleven when you had your first girlfriend.”

“We’re not talking about me though. We’re talking about Tuktirey, our baby sister who’s far too young and innocent to know any better.”

Neteyam nodded in agreement. “Furthermore, what I don’t get is why it seems like everyone knows except for Lo’ak and I!” 

Spider averted his eyes at that one. He was not about to rub salt in their wounds and tell them that Tuk had explicitly instructed him not to tell her brothers. 

“Well, shit,” Lo’ak sighed dramatically. “I think we need to have a talk with our parents, because honestly, what are they doing? See, shit like this would never have been happening if we hadn’t moved out.” 

“Damn right,” Neteyam agreed.

Spider winced. He did not want to be around when they both found out that Neytiri and Jake already knew as well. Tuk had her father wrapped around his little finger, and while he still hated the fact that she had a boyfriend at all, at the bat of her lashes, he let her get away with anything. 

And now things were about to get a lot worse for her. 

‘Poor Tuk,’ he thought sympathetically. 

~

Fragrant smoke billowed from the boiling pot in front of Enyu as she stirred it. Crouched on her haunches, she resumed her task of peeling and dicing starchy vegetables, hands moving with efficiency. 

A hiccup pulled her attention to her little Rey’lu who was snuggled against her chest in a netted carrier. The baby gurgled and made soft cooing noises as she tried to steer uncoordinated fingers towards her face, mouth opening wide as she slobbered all over her tiny fist. 

She blinked up in surprise at her mother when she kissed her on the nose, drooling lips tugging upwards in a sweet smile that showed off the hint of a tiny tooth.

“But why not, daddy? Pleeease can I go on date night?”

Enyu looked up at the sound of her daughter’s sad tone. From her spot she had a clear view of the rest of the tent’s main room. Lips curling into her mouth in amusement, she took in the scene before her. 

Her mate had been tidying up, along with the assistance of his favorite little helpers who really made his tasks take twice as long and didn’t do all that much helping in the first place. 

Folded laundry piles were tucked away, fishing gear were returned to their rightful corner, sticky spills were wiped clean and scattered wooden toys that were supposed to be put away by little girls were instead done by him. 

And all the while Neteyam moved around the area of the tent, he had two little shadows following his every step. 

“Date night is for mommies and daddies only, baby girl,” Neteyam answered whilst shaking out a woven mat from the threshold. He crossed the room to return it to its place and with every single one of his measured strides, poor Asthy took four quick steps in order to keep up. 

Elteyä dashed behind him as well, arms laden with items he’d asked her to put away that she had yet to do- too involved in their present conversation. 

What had started out as her yammering on about anything and everything had turned into a pleading session when she found out her parents were going on date night. 

The entire back and forth had Enyu chuckling. Her daughters looked like little hatchlings toddlering after their father. 

Asthy was dragging her doll behind her- the thing was almost half her size, and Enyu grimaced thinking that it was about that time again that it needed a thorough wash. What a struggle with the two year old that would be. 

Ears still trained in the current conversation, Enyu returned to her vegetables. Dinner was going to be a simple hearty stew that she knew even her pickiest of eaters- Asthy, would enjoy. 

“Oh…” El thought for a moment. “Well, what do you and mommy do on date night then?”

It was an innocent question of course, but one that stumped Neteyam for some reason. 

“El-”

“Dada! Up! Up, peas!” Asthy it seemed had had enough fighting to keep up. With a little demanding stomp of her foot, she lifted her arms with grabby hands, begging to be held. 

Neteyam didn’t bat an eye, and the second he scooped the two year old into his arms, Enyu didn’t miss the overly pleased look on Asthy’s face as she settled into her daddy’s side. And at the point of her finger, and little grunt, Neteyam was picking up her dropped doll and handing it to her. 

They were so spoiled. Her husband had all his girls wrapped around his tail. 

Although now one handed, it didn’t slow him down from trying to finish his tasks. He crossed the length of the tent and began plucking clean laundry from their indoor wash line. 

“Daddy?” El asked again, still waiting for an answer.

“Um.” Neteyam glanced over at his wife who looked entirely amused by his struggle. “Why don’t you go ask your mama.”

Elteyä tumbled over to her mother. “Mommy? What do you and daddy do on date night?” 

Enyu tossed in the last of her vegetables into the pot then smiled at her daughter who pressed up against her side. Rey, stretched out a hand, curious eyes focused on one of the many interesting items in her sister’s arms. 

“Well… we do lots of fun things, like flying or exploring. Sometimes we have a picnic or go swimming.” 

“I like all those things too. So why can’t I go?”

“Sweetheart, your daddy and I go on date nights to spend time together… alone.”

“Why?” 

“Because. We- we miss each other.” 

“Don’t you miss me?” 

“Baby girl, of course we do,” Neteyam assured, coming to crouch in front of them. 

Feeling a little jealous that both of her sisters were all cuddled up with their mother, Asthy squirmed out of her daddy’s hold, and wormed her way onto her mother’s lap. A frown appeared on her sweet face when she realized Rey’lu was in her way. 

“But your mama and I are mates,” Neteyam continued. “And we love each other, so we like to go on date nights to make sure we- Asthy!” he reprimanded.

Enyu was faster than him however and managed to infiltrate the little finger that tried to poke poor Rey’lu in the eye. 

Asthy’s face scrunched up as she gave a fake cry, but she instantly stopped when she realized her parents weren’t giving into her theatrics. She settled for returning to Neteyam’s arms, and stuck her thumb in her mouth as her brows puckered grumpily. 

“Elly, don’t you want to have fun with your grandma and grandpa tonight?” Enyu asked excitedly, running a finger down a soft chubby cheek. “They’re very excited to come spend time with you and your sisters.”

“Well… yes. Grandpaw tells us funny stories and grawnmama ‘Tiri sings the best songs… but- but I just thought der was no more date nights anymore.”

Neteyam glanced in his mate’s direction. Concern played at her brows and she shrugged slightly- unsure just like him where this was coming from. 

“Why would you think that, sweetheart?” 

“Because- because you didn’t go on date nights anymore. Why are you going now again?”

Understanding washed over him. It was true that he and his mate hadn’t had a proper night to themselves in months. That was mostly because Enyu was pregnant and constantly sick nearing the end of her pregnancy. 

But Rey was finally at an age that they were comfortable enough to leave her for a few hours and thus… date night. He could understand his daughter’s confusion now and the sight of El’s pout was enough to make him consider throwing all plans out the window. 

“Elly, come here, sweetheart.” He hugged her with his free arm and she clung to him, dropping her armful of items- a wood-carved ikran, two half shriveled flowers she’d collected earlier in the week and Norii the doll- it’s poor tail hanging by a thread and in need of a mend. 

“I don’t like when you and mommy leave without tucking me in.” 

“Eya?” Asthy’s head cocked as she observed her sister- a concerned frown on her lips, clearly attuned to El’s crisis. The two year old babbled a mix of unintelligible words along with a couple odd ones she did know like- yes, and mama, and h’ped- short for hexeped. Then, “You sad, Eya?”

“Yeah, Asthy.” They held hands. “I am sad.” 

‘They are so sweet,’ Enyu mouthed to her mate. ‘Should we stay?’

“No.” Neteyam had said this out loud unfortunately. As much as he loved his girls, he and his Flower hadn’t had a single spear moment with each other in weeks. 

“El, we’re not going to be gone for long.” Which was true. They had a short window of time before Rey’lu would need to be nursed. “Tonight we’ll be back just in time to tuck you in.” 

El’s pout twisted. “Promise?” 

“I promise.” 

~

Lemme know what you think, loves.

P.s. I've tagged those of you who asked when the series was ongoing. Please feel free to let me know if you want to be removed from future posts like this :)

Zyden shuffled around his family’s home a tad bleary eyed. After cleaning himself up, taming down his sleep twisted braids and chewing on a sprig of van’eela bark, he fixed a quick meal from his family’s stash and sat down to eat it. 

“Hey, Sprout,” Neteyam greeted, walking in after a ‘graveyard shift’ of patrol duty. 

Although he tried not to take up too many shifts during that hour, it was mating season for pulkatans and so it was all hands on deck for protecting the clan when they were most susceptible to threats. 

“Morning, dad,” Zyden voiced, scarfing another mouthful of food in his mouth. He squinted as he chewed, watching his father shuck off his riding gear and weapons. “Mom threw up earlier- twice. I held her hair back.” 

Neteyam sighed, glancing at the partition he knew his mate was behind. “Is she up?”

“No, she fell back asleep after having tea. Hys snuck in with her at some point last night. He still has that cough. Hope it’s okay that I gave him a little of the g’in root tonic mom’s been giving him.”

Ruffling his son’s hair affectionately, Neteyam pressed a kiss to the crown of his head. “Thanks for taking care of them for me.” 

“Course.” Zyden sprang up to hurriedly rinse out his bowl.

“Where are you heading off to so early anyway?” 

“Grandpa Jxo said L’eo and I can help him and his team with the repairs on the northern border. I wanna finally try out that old drill uncle Norm fixed up for me. L’eo’s probably already waiting for me, I said I’d meet him at his tent.” 

Neteyam nodded. “Alright have fun. Remember your rules?”

Zyden rolled his eyes, cracking a smile despite his mild annoyance. “Yeesss, dad.”

“And what are they?” 

“Do I really have to do this every time?”

“Sure do.”

“Ugh, dad.”

“Hey, the longer you take to say them, the longer you take to leave. Now come on, what are they?”

“Fine… Be respectful to anyone I see. Keep my wits about me. Don’t go past the boundaries without your permission and always be home by curfew. Can I go now?”

“Got your knife?” 

Zyden huffed. “Dad!” He laughed. “You can clearly see it on my hip!” 

“Alright, alright. Get out of here. I’ll see you later!”

He watched from the threshold as Zyden ran down the pathway until he disappeared. Only at the sound of a feminine chuckle behind him, did he turn around. 

Biting down on his bottom lip and head tilting ever so slightly to the side, his eyes roamed over his wife appreciatively.

Even though it had been years, the sight of her never ceased to amaze him. She was sleep rumpled- all squinty eyes, mused hair and sleep lines from whatever pillow she’d been laying her cheek on. 

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured in greeting. 

Xilä’s nose wrinkled at the compliment yet she couldn’t help the fond smile that escaped her. “I’m a mess.”

He shrugged as he closed the distance between them, swooping downward to steal a kiss. “A beautiful mess then,” he teased, making her giggle happily. 

“Sure,” she laughed in denial, patting his chest in thanks anyway. 

“Zyden said you were sick again?”

“Mhm.” Xi sighed contentedly, leaning into her mate’s soothing touch. “I don’t remember it being this bad with either of our boys.” 

Neteyam rocked them side to side slowly, one hand running up and down her spine, the other splayed on her little bump that had only begun to show. 

“Maybe it’s a girl this time,” he joked. 

It was an old wives tale that terrible morning sickness meant the baby would be a girl. 

“Maybe,” she hummed, playing along. 

“Should I brew you some tea? I made sure to get that weird coral stuff from Awa’atlu that Ronal recommended when you were pregnant with Zyden.”

Xi smiled up at him. “You spoil me, you know that?” 

“Always.”

“Mama?” 

They both turned at the same time to see a coughing Hysik coming towards them. 

Although the little one clearly had his sights set on his mother, Neteyam scooped him up before Xi could. 

“There’s, my boy.” 

Hys broke out into giggles when his sides were tickled and a loud raspberry was blown into his cheek. 

“Did you sleep well, my love?” Xi cooed as she brushed away askew strands of hair away from his face.

“Yep! But- but I wake up and you went gone mama. That’s not very nice,” the three year old said in all seriousness, making his parents chuckle. “I missed you when I was sleeping.”

“Aw. I’m sorry, baby.”

Xi frowned when Hysik released another wet, rattling cough. She reached up and felt his forehead, then under his neck, relieved to find him cool to the touch. 

“I don’t like how long his cough is taking to dry up.”

“Me too,” Xi echoed. “I know it’s just a cold, but just to be safe I think I’ll take him to see your grandmother today.”

As his parents planned their day, Hys took the opportunity to stretch forward with intent, one tiny hand clutching the fabric of Xi’s top, little face smooshed into her neck when she settled him against her hip.

“He’s getting too big for you to carry around now. You’re not supposed to be straining yourself.” 

“I know, but just let me baby him a little longer.” And for emphasis she hugged him closer and attacked his small palm with a noisy kiss. 

“I- I not a baby, mama.” Hys sounded entirely offended.

Neteyam snorted and Xi pouted. 

“Yes, you’re my baby.” 

“No.” His head lifted and his hand patted his mama’s cheek as if trying to make her understand. “I a big boy. Like Zyden. An- and L’eo. And Js’avi. And- and-”

Neteyam pointed at himself, mouthing, “me” at his son. 

“And daddy!” 

~

After breakfast, Neteyam, Xilä and Hys slowly made their way through camp towards the  Tsahìk’s tent. 

Despite his little legs, Hysik’s fast steps zigzagged ahead of them, then fell a little behind when he got distracted by an insect at first, then an interesting rock- only to be hailed by his parents.

He waved hello to almost every person they met on the way and practiced his “good mornings,” with a confidence Xilä wished she’d had when she first arrived at Home Camp.

“Sprout’s been asking a lot of questions about our trading system lately.” 

Xi grinned. “He takes after you and his grandfather for sure. I overheard him giving Jake suggestions on how to improve things.” 

“They’re good too,” Neteyam said proudly. “I know he’s only ten, but dad and I were thinking of creating a little roll for him. Get him involved in the process somehow.”

“I love that. I think Zyden will too.” 

“Next shipment I’ll see what I can come with then.”

“Oh…”

“What?”

“It’s just- that’s two weeks away.”

Neteyam’s brows furrowed. “Well, yeah. Why?”

“Nothing. I figured Leati or Gwuyle or even your father would be handling shipments while you were gone.” Xi nibbled on her bottom lip, glancing up to see the obvious shift in her mate’s disposition. “I take it you haven’t given any more thought about your trip then?”

Tense from subject change, Neteyam tried to keep his tail limp. It tended to give way his emotions before it could reach his face- his wife’s words, not his. 

“Baby, we’ve been over this-”

“I know, I know. I’m only checking again,” Xi assured, lightly squeezing his fingers where they were linked with hers. “And you’re sure?”

Her mate didn’t answer. 

“‘Teyam… I know you hate when I say it, but… it’s been years now.”

“You can come with me,” he suggested, as if he hadn’t done so many times in the last three weeks, deflecting what she was trying to get to. “You and the boys.”

“Neteyam, I don’t-”

“Gwran’mama ‘Tiri!” 

Hysik squealed happily at the sight of Neytiri who lit up at the sound of her grandson’s voice. She instantly attacked him with affection the second he landed in her arms, showing him off to the Na’vi women she’d been talking to. 

Xilä sighed when her husband sped up to go greet his mother.

She guessed their conversation would have to wait. 

~

Hysik was a little “chatterbox” as his grandpa Jake had nicknamed him. 

Throughout his entire checkup, Hys talked and talked and talked. Telling the Tsahìk every little detail of a very elaborate dream he’d had. 

And of course, being a doting great-grandmother, Mo’at hung on to every word, all while she expertly handled the toddler’s squirming and fidgeting and whining when it was time for her to inspect his tail. 

“Warm marllow root tea with a little raw nectar and he’ll be fine in no time,” Mo’at announced after she’d completed her checks. 

“And there’s no infection?” Xi asked, letting her son crawl out her lap and boldly fling himself into his father’s instead. 

“No, infection.”

“What about his lungs?” Neteyam asked this time, unfazed as Hys used him as his own personal climbing wall- little knees and elbows digging into his muscle, small feet pinching his thighs and stomach. 

Cases of the purple fever had begun to pop up again, and its effects were known to have damaging effects on the lungs. 

“Fine too. It’s a cold, not the purple fever, thankfully. To be safe, no school time tomorrow and I suggest you keep using the g’in root for another week.”

Xilä’s shoulders slumped in relief. Logically she knew all of this, but hearing it from Mo’at made all the difference.

“Thank you, grandmother… I swear, one would certainly think I’m no healer. But when it comes to my children, I panic and I forget everything you’ve taught me.”

Mo’at clicked her tongue in amusement. “Never mind that, dear. Our children tend to have that effect on us.”

“Gwran’mama?” Hys interrupted shyly. 

He hadn’t quite gotten names down just yet, and so Sal, Neytiri and Mo’at were all called gwran’mama, while Jake and Jxo were gwran’papa.

It was honestly cute, and thankfully none of the grandparents seemed to mind his mix ups. 

“Yes, my dear boy?”

“I was really good. Can I have a treat now?”

“Please,” Neteyam prompted.

Hys nodded, little palms stretching out as his tail waved excitedly. “Yes, please, gwran’mama?”

With two sweet treats secured, Hysik was quietly occupied as he sat in his father’s lap. 

Mo’at decided she wanted to check over Xi as well, since she was already here- gentle hands poking and prodding the little baby bump while she asked question after question. 

The Tsahìk was the only one besides their son Zyden, who officially knew they were expecting. 

Xilä and Neteyam had had an extremely difficult time conceiving their Hysik. To Xi, he was their little miracle baby. She’d cried for almost two days straight out of pure joy when she found out she’d be a mother for the second time.

And so, suffice to say, this time around both she and Neteyam had been shocked- pleasantly surprised of course, that Xi’s “stomach bug” turned out to be morning sickness.

“Are you still sick in the mornings?”

“Not all the-”

“Yes she is. Every morning for the last month, and after lunch on most days too,” Neteyam answered. “She’s barely able to keep anything in her for long.”

“Hm… It’s still early, and you haven’t lost that much weight for us to be worried yet. So we’ll monitor it for now, yes? Keep drinking your soothing teas and maybe stick to fruit and well-cured meats for a few days.” 

Xilä smiled gratefully when Mo’at patted her hand. 

~

“Theeen, I finally hit every target at practice- even the furthest ones I could never get perfectly, and I beat Pk’osh at a wrestling match. He’s the biggest in our class and no one’s ever beaten him before- I did that new technique that grandpa Jake taught me and L’eo- you know one like-” Zyden made an exaggerated jerk to demonstrate.

“Zyden,” his mother chided from where she was hunched behind him- fingers in his hair as she braided neat plaits. 

“Sorry, ma,” he apologized quickly, sitting still once more. “Oh and, dad! Our trainer said that I am seriously fierce for my age. He said that if I put in the hard work, I’d be a great warrior. I want to be perfect at all my tests though. So I have an advantage for my Iknimaya rites.”

“My love, you don’t have to worry about your Iknimaya for at least another couple of years.”

“I know, mom but it never hurts to be prepared. Right, dad?”

Sprawled out on the massive hammock in his and Xi’s room, Neteyam was all wide smiles as he listened to his son speak.

“He’s right,” Neteyam agreed as he Xi shared meaningful grins over the top of Zyden’s head.

Xilä rolled her eyes fondly. Her son sounded just like his father.

“L'eya's the best in our class with the bow, and since we started spear practice, L’eo’s been the best, but I’m definitely better at sparring and knife throwing.”

“I’m incredibly proud of you, Sprout,” Neteyam praised. 

“And me!” Hysik piped in, wanting to be included. He pointed at his chest as he sat up on his knees to face his father. “I a warrior too, daddy!” 

Neteyam chuckled and tickled his pudgy tummy. “I’m very proud of you too, Hys.”

The three year old beamed, awfully pleased with himself before focusing on the little carved ikran he’d been flying around. Making screeching sounds, he waved it in the air then dramatically landed it on his daddy’s propped up knee. 

When Xilä finished with the final braid, she hugged Zyden round his shoulders and kissed his temple. Most days she couldn’t believe that he was almost eleven already- and almost as tall as her. 

Both he and Hysik were the splitting image of Neteyam. Zyden had her eyes and more prominent pointed ears while Hys only had a mildly darker hue of her dusty blue complexion. Everything else was all his father.

Continuing to chat with Neteyam, Sprout curled up on his mother’s side of the hammock. And by the time Xi tidied away a few things, and quickly spoke with Kah’lee who’d stopped by to drop off a borrowed basket, Hys was sprawled half asleep on his daddy’s chest. 

“Alright, my loves,” Xi called. “Bedtime.” 

“No- no bedtime, mama,” Hys whined as he tiredly rubbed his eyes. 

“Come on, Hys,” Neteyam encouraged, rubbing the little ones back. “We have to listen to your mama.”

“Dad, can you tell us a story first?”

“Sure, which one do you want to hear?”

Xi crawled in beside Zyden and Hysik instantly reached out for her. He was at that weird toddler stage where he wanted to be a “big boy” most days, but still enjoyed being babied.

Cheek settled against her chest, Xi ran her fingers through his hair. Immediately his eyelids fluttered closed and his little tail curled up contentedly. 

“How about the one about mom’s Iknimaya rites,” Zyden decided, “and how she used the ul’nic that Na’raline’s sa'nok gave her?”

“Oh that’s a good one… Hmm. Alright, so first, did you know your mother was terrified of heights?”

Zyden giggled. Of course he knew, yet every time his father told this story, it still made him laugh. 

Xilä smiled happily as she drank in the sight of her boys.

Nights like these, when it was just the four of them, were her favorite.

~

“So, wife. Are you going to put me to bed now?” Neteyam teased when he returned from getting the boys settled in their rooms.

Her back was turned to him as she stood rubbing oil along her stomach. “Now why does that sound so naughty, husband?” 

“Cause it’s meant to be,” he murmured, pressing up against her. His lips brushed her ear while his hands went around to join hers- large palms splayed, making her little baby bump disappear. 

“I still can’t believe we’re going to have another one.” 

Neteyam’s chin perched on her shoulder as he caressed her bump, watching how perfect his palms fit around it. “Me neither… We’re going to be outnumbered now.” 

Xi chuckled, slotting her fingers into the spaces between each of his fingers. “Don’t pretend like you don’t love it.”

“You’re right. I love it,” he admitted, nibbling a little on her jaw. “But don’t worry, baby. We’ll stick together…”

“What?” she ask when he made a thoughtful sound.

“It’s just… three is such an odd number. Don’t you think?”

“‘Teyam, this baby isn’t even born yet. Are you really advocating for a fourth right now?” Xi laughed.

He pouted against her cheek. “I’m just saying…”

This man.

“When do you think we should tell the family? Sal’s going to go crazy and Kiri will be relieved since mom’s been dropping not so subtle comments at her and Tasam.”

“Um… Maybe when you get back from your trip.”

A sigh escaped Neteyam as he stood tall again- arms falling away from her body. He tugged on her tail lightly before stepping away to fling himself into their hammock, tossing out a couple of the cushions that took up too much space. 

“Baby, I’m not going on that trip.” 

Xilä could tell her husband was frustrated with her and actively trying not to show it. But at this point she didn’t care. He kept brushing her off whenever she brought up the subject.

“‘Teyam, we need to talk about this. Please?”

“Come to bed, Xi. We’re just going to fight if we do this tonight.”

“Then let’s fight.”

He blinked. “You want to fight?”

“If that’s what it's going to take for us to clear this up, then yes.”

“Now?” 

“No! Next year,” she snapped sarcastically. “Yes, now.” 

His brows jumped at her tone, and he quickly sat up. “O-okay. Then let’s.” 

Xilä approached the edge of their bed, but didn’t sit. “Jake said that this trip is a huge opportunity- that it will be a major factor to help prove you’re more than capable to lead our clan.”

“There will be other chances-”

“But this one is right here!” 

“Xilä-”

“Why don’t you want to go?” she asked frankly. She had an inkling but wondered if he’d actually say it out loud.

“What? I- Xi, I’m not going to leave my sons and my pregnant wife for a one month trip to the Wetlands that I’m perfectly sure my dad and Tasam- who I’m sending instead, can handle.” 

Xilä planted her hands on her hips. 

“You are supposed to be meeting with the chief of the Hulanta clan- as future chief yourself, Neteyam! Tasam was supposed to go with you either way, as your future second. I’m barely four months along and perfectly capable of taking care of our sons. I have a whole support system if I need help… Those are all poor excuses you gave and you know it.” 

Neteyam’s jaw clenched tight. He pinched the bridge of his nose as though in pain, then leveled his mate with an expression full of exasperation. 

“I don’t understand why you’re pushing this, Xilä. Why won’t you take me saying that I just don’t want to go, as an answer?”

“Because when Jake first brought this up, you were so excited about it! You came home and spent over an entire afternoon telling me everything you planned to either implement or suggest to the Hulanta chief-”

Neteyam tried to interject but Xilä silenced him with a flashing glare, one knee coming up to rest on the hammock. She didn’t back down, not even at the sight of his tail thrashing furiously. 

“And the second you found out that the boys and I couldn’t come on the trip with you, you shut it all down.” 

“I changed my mind, okay? I had my reasons.”

“You had your reasons?” Xi frowned. 

“It’s a month long trip. Yes. I had my reasons.” 

“The same type of reasons that left you unable to go on any trip no matter how long or how short in the last ten years, right?” Xi pushed. “Trips that me and the boys weren't able to make with you because it was either dangerous or just plain unnecessary?”

“Drop it, Xi. I’m done for tonight.” 

“Drop it?! For Eywa sake! Neteyam that’s all I’ve been doing for the last ten years. Every time I try to bring up this conversation you’ve told me to drop it and I have! I don’t want to do it anymore!” 

“I don’t see the problem here! I’m prioritizing my family. Why are you so adamant on getting rid of me?!” 

“Getting rid of you? You think that’s what I’m trying to do?” 

“Sure seems that way, sweetheart,” he snapped. 

“Well what it seems to me, is that you're running away from what the actual issue is and I don’t understand why you won’t just be honest with yourself about it.” 

“I don’t know what you’re on about, but I am telling you for the last time. I am not going on that goddamn trip.”

“WHY?”

“Fucking hell, Xilä-”

“Why won’t you go on the trip?”

“Because the last time I left for a trip without you, you were fucking kidnapped, beaten and traded as if you were fucking cattle! You were left in the clutches of a lunatic who wanted to claim you! And I- I almost lost you, Xilä! Do you know what that did to me?! How could you possibly think I could leave you again? And worse yet- for an entire fucking month?!” 

There it was. 

Neteyam abruptly stood and made a beeline for the partition that separated their room from the rest of the tent- hair flying behind him. “I need a minute. Don’t follow me out.” 

Ears burning hot from the intensity of the moment, Xilä stared at where her husband had disappeared and began to silently count- a tactic she’d learnt from Mo’at over the years to aid with her anxiety. 

She’d barely gotten to one hundred when he returned- far more calmer and looking a whole lot guilty after his outburst. 

“Come here,” he said gently. 

Folding her into an all consuming embrace, he whispered a series of apologies against her forehead. He rarely ever lost his temper with her and the boys. It wasn’t him at all. 

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not. It’s not okay, Xi. I’m sorry.”

“I’m the one that pushed yo-”

“Hey,” he said, cutting her off, holding both sides of her face and staring at her with a seriousness that made her go quiet. “Let’s not play the self blaming game, okay?” 

In one swoop, he lifted her off the ground and carried them over to the hammock. With Xilä straddling his lap, there was no more escaping this conversation. He was ready to face it head on and get it over with.

Neteyam’s eyes traced over his wife, taking in her features. 

Her hair was short again- shoulder length like the time she’d gotten it cut when she’d first come to Home Camp. Pointed ears twitching in concern, her brows creased, moon colored eyes focused completely on him- and damn if he always got lost in them. He hated how sad they looked tonight. 

Cupping her cheek, his thumb brushed across the thin, faded scar that held the reminder of what he feared. 

They had talked about it- the incident- years ago when it first happened. They’d talked and wrapped it up, moved on, and never brought it up again. 

And while Xilä steadily tended to her mental wounds with the help of Mo’at, Neteyam still had a deep scar that unknowingly festered over the years. 

“So-” He blew out some air. “I know it’s been years but-” he shrugged, “guess I’m not entirely over that situation.” 

Xilä cupped his cheeks, leaning forward to give him a chase kiss. “And that’s okay… I don’t think shoving the past behind us and never looking back was the healthiest way to go. I know this is tough for you, but we can work on it. Together.” 

“How?”

“By talking… We don’t have to go that deep into it tonight, but eventually we will. And eventually you’ll open up. You’ll heal and be able to let go.”

“Okay,” he rasped, palms rubbing her thighs as though trying to comfort himself. 

“For now though, what would you say I can do to make you comfortable enough to go on the trip?”

Neteyam thought about it for a moment. 

“Maybe you can stay with my parents? You and the boys... Jxo and Sal are great but- I think having my parents closer would be a little more assuring for me.”

Xi nodded. She’d dare not bring up the fact that his parents lived only a few tents away from them. “We can do that.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhm. They have more than enough room and I’ll still have help whenever I need it. Tuk I’m sure would be delighted to have the boys to fuss over and boss around.” 

“That too,” he said, cracking a smile. 

“Anything else?”

“I want to talk to you every day- even if it’s just for two minutes to simply hear your voice.” 

Xilä didn’t think it was possible to fall even more in love with her husband. 

Yet here he was.

Proving her wrong. 

“Maybe you can bribe Norm to let me borrow one of those handy communication things so I don’t have to walk to the labs every day.”

“That, I can definitely do, sweetheart.” 

Xi fiddled with one of his hands- a habit she’d never broken out of over the years.

“I’m truly not trying to get rid of you.”

“I know- shit. I just said that in the moment. I don’t really think that, Xi.”

She gave him a wry smile. “The truth is- and as creepy as this might sound, if it were possible, I’d crawl into your skin and never leave you.”

Neteyam laughed. He knew what she meant. Sometimes he felt the same way.

“But in the same breath, I don’t want you to live in fear because of me. It’s hampering your dreams, ‘Teyam. Your goals... Jake is getting ready to step down in a couple of years, and you’re going to be Olo'eyktan.”

She pressed a palm to his chest. 

“I am your wife. And I will stand by your side even when we disagree. But this is one thing I won’t let you slip up on. Okay?” 

“How in Eywa’s name did I get so lucky? Where did I find you?” 

Xi shrugged playfully. “In the forest screaming my head off. You killed the palulukan who was chasing after me, then whisked me away and took me to your home.”

He laughed again but this time it ended in a groan. His head fell into her neck. “A month is way too long to be away from you, baby. It takes a week alone by ikran to get to Hulanta.”

“You can ask Stevan to join the trip earlier than planned? Go by jet instead?” 

One of the main reasons for the trip anyway was to check out a massive, old RDA base that had been set up near a Hulanta village. There was apparently an entire fleet of abandoned aircrafts waiting to be fixed up and used. 

“True,” he agreed.

“So it’s settled then? You’ll go and delegate your butt off and make me and your parents and our boys proud of you?”

Neteyam nodded against her skin. “Yeah, baby. I’ll go.” He ran a thumb along the side of her stomach. “You still wanna wait till I get back to tell everyone?” 

“Mmm. I can get away with hiding my bump by wearing my longer tops and higher skirts, but if I’m going to be staying with your parents for a month, they’re bound to pick up on my morning sickness.” 

“I bet you’d want to tell your mom and sister first.”

“Yeah,” Xi confirmed.

“Are we done fighting?” Neteyam wondered after they agreed to tell their families the good news a week before he had to leave. 

“Yes,” Xi grinned, knowing why he was asking. 

She squealed when he flipped them around, sighing as his lips pressed against her neck and he slipped a knee between her thighs. 

Sometimes good things come from a fight. 

Like improved communication…

The validation of feelings… 

And mind blowing make-up sex.

~

~

On his third day at the Hulanta clan while he and Tiaru- the clan’s chief were in deep discussion as they made rounds near the tree of souls, a familiar shade of blue caught his eye. 

Neteyam blinked to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. But… he wasn’t. And in seeing the Na’vi all the more clearly, he inhaled sharply.

“What is it?” Tiaru asked, alerted by the shock on his face.

And although Neteyam was sure who she might be, he still asked…

“Who is that Li’onan woman?” 

~

Hehe... I had to throw in a little bit of a fight there. I love a good healthy communication moment honestly.

And, gasp. Who IS that Li'onan woman???

Also, you guys, Zyden is growing up? And what do we think of sweet little Hysik?

Anywhoo, see y'all in my next one! 💛

~

Neteyam stared at his friend in disbelief. He blinked slowly before his head snapped over to where Ayelýn sat a few feet away, then back to Aonung as if trying to understand. 

All the while the wheels turned in his head, Lo’ak sat back with a smug smirk, enjoying every second of Aonung’s annoyance toward him. 

Lo’ak had slipped up- and Neteyam being no idiot had pried, causing them to have to tell him the truth. 

“Nope. No.” Neteyam shook his head. “You’re both fucking with me.” He looked at his brother as if asking for confirmation, and at Lo’ak’s nod, he scoffed in bewilderment. “It’s all an act? You and her? All fake? She- Ayelýn isn’t-”

“Like I said, it’s all part of a plan.”

“Mm.” Neteyam clicked his tongue and Aonung felt an uncomfortable stab of guilt at the disappointment shining in the man’s eyes. “And when’s this plan of yours ending exactly?”

Aonung’s brow crinkled. “We agreed after the celebration of Lo’ak and Tsireya’s bonding ceremony.”

“That’s less than two weeks away.”

“I know.”

“Whatever happened to what we talked about? I leave and you what- just jump at this moron’s reckless idea?” he asked, gesturing to his younger brother.

“Hey- I’ll have you know it’s a full proof plan, alright?” Lo’ak defended. “If anything, Fishlips here should be thanking me.”

“Thanking you? For what exactly? Lo’ak if anyone finds out, Aonung could-”

“Relax, bro- sheesh.” He rolled his eyes. “Definitely didn’t miss this,” he muttered under his breath. “Look, ‘Teyam, if I didn’t come up with this plan, our poor sorry assed friend here would have never met his one and only Gorgeous Lýn and fallen in lo-”

“I met her before the plan,” Aonung interrupted. He knew what Lo’ak was going to say, and he really wasn’t in the mood for this conversation. “What does that matter though? Can we just talk about something else?” he snapped.

Lo’ak groaned into the palm of his hand. “Brother, do you see what I have had to put up with? I wish he’d wise up already. I'm getting tired of his shit. I should just go over there and tell Lýn-”

“Would you shut the fuck up!”

Neteyam bit the inside of his cheek as he observed the metkayina male. Aonung glanced over at Ayelýn as if making sure she hadn’t heard his outburst. 

“You’re in love with her,” he stated, ignoring Aonung’s attempt at a scoff of indignation and continuing with, “Tell me you’re not sleeping with her.”

Aonung didn’t answer and that was all the clarification Neteyam needed. 

“You’re an idiot, you know that? I’ve been here all of two days and I know for sure that if you let that woman go, it’s going to be the biggest regret of your life.”

“We have an agreement, Neteyam,” Aonung mumbled, not even putting up a fight. “...She doesn’t feel the same way.”

Lo’ak snickered, and through a fake cough he muttered a rude remark that earned him a deadly glare. Thankfully his brother interrupted whatever Aonung’s retaliation would have been. 

“She doesn’t?” Neteyam stared at him as if he was mad. “Cause from what I’ve seen- it sure doesn’t seem that way… You two sure fooled everyone- including each other… Have you even talked to Ayelýn? Have you told her?”

“No… But just last week she screamed her head off telling me she couldn’t wait for this to finally be over.”

“Right. Now was that before or after you did something stupid?”

The skxawng couldn’t even hide it. He snorted at the memory of Lýn’s fiery gaze as she yelled at him for the stupid prank he, Kaii and Khalhan had pulled on her. 

“Would you quit pissing off the woman you love? No wonder she can’t wait to get away from you.”

“Don’t think I could if I wanted to. Brother, every time she gets mad, her face morphs into the prettiest scowl I’ve ever seen, and then after that I just want to fuck her to make up for being an dick.”

Lo’ak snorted.

“So you are in love with her then.”

Aonung paused, only just registering Neteyam’s love comment. “I’m n- I don’t know,” he lied.

“You don’t know...” Neteyam shifted on his haunches and pointed over to where Ayelýn sat. “Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t love that woman over there.” 

Lýn sat a few feet down the beach, chatting with a large group of women. Perched between Tsireya and a breastfeeding Xilä, she was all smiles at whatever the conversation was.  

Aonung’s eyes tracked Lýn’s movement. 

And as if she could feel his stare, she glanced over at him. Brow raising, she and Aonung proceeded to have some sort of unspoken conversation that only the two of them could understand.  

Lýn’s head tilted in silent question and Aonung responded in turn, cunning gaze and quirked lips making the metkayina woman roll her eyes in faux annoyance. She was fighting a smile but it broke through right before she returned her attention to the women surrounding her. 

Neteyam and Lo’ak who had watched the entire thing unfold, shared a knowing look. 

“Yeah, alright…  Totally not in love with each other… Got it,” Neteyam said sarcastically as Lo’ak smothered his laughter. “What do your parents think of her? Have they caught on?”

“My father hasn’t- thank, Eywa… but I’m pretty sure my mother has her suspicions. They both like her though- my mother especially.”

“Huh… Thought she hated everyone.”

“Nope… She dragged Ayelýn around yesterday, officially introducing her to our council as her daughter-in-law. And she’s even meddling. The woman went and offered Lýn a new role here at Awa’atlu. A mender’s apprentice.” 

“That’s good though. Lýn would be closer to you now, no?” 

“If she takes it, then yeah.” 

“I don’t understand.” 

“He’s being stupid again,” Lo’ak chimed in. “Tell him what you did, idiot.”

Aonung shifted. “Lýn asked me whether I think she should accept the role or not… I told her I’d think about it.”

Neteyam groaned as if in pain. “Oh you poor, stupid soul. All she heard you say was don’t take it.”

“And then what, ‘Teyam? I’ll have to see her around here all the time and I won’t have any claim to her! Honestly, the fact that she wasn’t taken before baffles the fuck out of me. I have eyes- I see men watching her when they don’t think I’m looking. The second we’re through they’ll swoop right in! I mean have you seen her?!” Aonung was losing it now.

“She is very pretty, yes,” Neteyam agreed with an amused smile. 

“She’s stunning. She’s sweetheart when she’s ready, but she’s also got this little attitude that just makes me fucking crazy… And she’s so stubborn and she works herself tired everyday and all I want-”

“All you want?” his friend pressed and this time Lo’ak had no snide comment- this time he stared at his friend with true concern. 

“All I want is to take care of her, alright,” he snapped. 

Neteyam smiled. “…Alright… So, what are you going to do to make that happen?” 

~

Strolling along wet sand, Lýn’s mind plagued her. 

She had but a handful of days left with Aonung. With desperate measures, she tried to formulate a plan for how she’d handle the separation. 

Her heartbreak was not the only one she worried over. As a consequence of her own actions, she knew the news would also be hard on her family.

Her parents had grown fond of Aonung- her father even called him son. Kaiiff would take it the hardest of course- Ayelýn knew he looked up to Aonung. 

Thankfully, a gleeful shriek and excited squeal pulled Lýn from her thoughts.

Her attention drifted to Zyden- Neteyam and Xilä’s son- the baby walking on slightly wobbly legs as his uncle Lo’ak held one of his hands- helping him stomp and splash at the gentle waves rolling on shore. 

She smiled at the little one’s baby talk, jumbled babbles filled with the few words he knew- mamas and dadas and fishies in an odd but cute mixture of both English and Na’vi.

The Sully family were amazing people. 

Her time spent with them had been surprisingly wonderful, and while they were the ones visiting her home, she felt very much welcomed by them. 

Accompanying the Sullys were Neteyam’s in-laws. 

There were Xilä’s parents- Jxo, who Lýn found to be extremely intimidating- even when he held his grandchildren and Sal- her mother, who looked as if she’d give Slwen good competition for who could be the rowdiest. 

D’avi- Xi’s sister, who had a little baby bump sprouting, was hilarious in her own way. She teased Lýn constantly about Aonung once she found out they were courting. Thankfully Yalnïk- D’avi’s husband rescued her countless times by interrupting- bringing their children along- the most adorable twins Lýn had ever met. 

Xilä was who she especially had become fast friends with however.

Lýn had friends, but very few of them made her feel the way Xi did. Xi had an energy that made just about anyone love her instantly. 

As the days went on, Lýn stuck close with D’avi, Kiri, Xi and Tuk throughout the different ceremonies- each one more elaborate than the next. 

Guests from all over Pandora arrived at different times- some visiting for a feast or two, whilst others stayed for it all- each of them bearing grand gifts for the soon to be mated pair. 

Lýn had no idea that the celebrations would be this big, but when she really thought about it- of course it would be. 

It was the union of the offspring of two esteemed Olo'eyktans; Jake Sully- the legendary Toruk Makto and Tonowari- leader of fifty villages- the largest clan spanning the seas. 

~

A few days later, as night crept slowly, Lýn approached Aonung and the small group he sat with on the beach.

With a friendly, “Hi,” she tried to crouch next to Aonung, but he scooped her up instead, seating her between his propped thighs. 

He was pleased that she didn’t mind this and instead settled comfortably against his chest without a fuss. 

“Zyden is adorable,” she complimented Neteyam and Xilä, smiling at the baby who was currently rather entertained with the sand. 

Little toes and tail wiggling excitedly, he was grabbing tiny handfuls and dropping them into Lo’ak’s waiting palm. The two of them had been inseparable since the Sully’s arrival. 

“Thank you,” Neteyam replied, and Xilä smiled in thanks from where she was leaning on her husband. “Are you and Aonung planning to wait long after your ceremony to start trying?”

Ayelýn frowned, not understanding, whilst Aonung gave Neteyam the dirtiest glare he could muster over the top of Lýn’s head. 

“Children,” Neteyam confirmed. “Having your own little ones, I meant.” 

“Oh. Oh.” Ayelýn’s cheeks bloomed bright. “Um-”

“Aonung told me he was hoping to have at least five the last time we visited.”

Ayelýn coughed, choking on air as she knocked her chest. Aonung fussed over her in serious worry, rubbing her back whilst Lo’ak laughed his ass off- even little Zyden joined in as if it were the funniest thing in the world, despite not understanding. 

“You’ve gone and traumatized the poor girl, handsome,” Xilä murmured to her grinning mate, chiding him lightly yet unable to hide her own amusement. 

“Sorry…” Lýn cleared her throat, patting Aonung’s thigh in reassurance that she was okay. “We um- haven’t talked about children yet.” 

“Gorgeous, he’s just messing with you,” Aonung said, soothing his hands down her arms, and then to Neteyam he mouthed, “Fuck off!”

Thank Eywa the conversation changed after that.

~

As the night wore on, their little group grew.

Rotxo arrived first, followed by Tsireya who instantly cuddled up with Lo’ak. Kiri and Spider joined soon after, then a couple others Lýn hadn’t had much interactions with; W’aote and three other men who were all part of Lo’ak’s patrol team back at Home Camp, and Tasam- Kiri’s courting partner. 

Little Zyden was all tuckered out and slept sprawled on his father’s chest- sleeping deep enough that the noise around him didn’t seem to be a bother. 

It was a fun, rowdy group. They talked about everything, from stupid, silly stories to serious conversation on matters that concern their clans. 

“You’ve gone quiet,” Aonung whispered to her, tugging her hair to the side to kiss her exposed neck.  

She shivered from his touch. 

“Are you ready to head back home?” 

Home. 

Aonung probably hadn’t realized what he was saying Lýn thought, but she’d picked up on his words over the past week and some. 

Everything he said hurt her just a little bit- our bed, our home, our hideaway, our, our, our.

“Lýn.”

“Hmm?” She blinked away her thoughts, head tilting to catch his gaze, not surprised when he kissed her the second her lips were within reach. 

“Ready to head home?”

She wanted to… more than anything. But they were two days away from the end of their plan. They were supposed to be distancing themselves- in a fight. 

“I shouldn’t,” she whispered back. “The plan-”

“Shh,” he kissed her again, palm cupping her cheek. “Not tonight. Please just stay.”

And of course, no matter how many times she’d said no to him, she always gave in. 

“Okay.” 

~

Two days later, on the morning of the final blessing ceremony, before Lo’ak and Tsireya’s mated bonding, as Ronal led the congregation in harmonic chant… Lýn cried. 

~

Ambling around Aonung’s little marui, Ayelýn collected her things, item by item. She did so with a heavy heart however, knowing that the end had come for her and Aonung. 

They’d put it off time and time again, but this round was different. This round was the end.

While she shoved a simple tweng into her satchel, Aonung entered and stopped short at the sight of her- stomach instantly sinking in dread. 

At a quick glance around, most of her things were already missing. He hated it already- his home looked empty without her things mingled with his. 

“What are you doing?”

“Oh- hey,” she greeted, unable to turn around and face him. Her throat burned and eyes stung. “I’m packing.” 

“I see that… Why?”

“What do you mean why? This was the plan,” she said, trying to keep the bite from her tone. Lýn walked over and knelt on his messy sleeping mats, lifting and feeling around as she searched. “Have you seen my shell necklace?”

“Lýn.”

“Could have sworn I took it off before falling asleep last night,” she mumbled. Giving up, she stood and resumed the packing of her bag.  

“Lýn-”

“How do you want to stage the fight, by the way?” 

Aonung rubbed his temple and fought to keep his irritation at bay. “Fight? What fight?”

“Mm. The argument you suggested? Don’t tell me you forgot. We’ve had this planned for months now, Aonung. I’m supposed to break your heart, remember?”

“Ayelýn-”

“And of course you’ve forgotten, but come on Aonung, this was your plan.”

In truth, it was her fault for not bringing it up last night- her fault for not asking him to clarify the plan for today.

Instead she had selfishly basked in everything that was him- fucking away her sadness and clinging on to the little time she had left with him.

“Ayelýn!” he yelled. “Look at me.”

Fingers clenched tightly around the handle of her satchel, she released it and turned. Slowly. Keeping her expression as closed off as possible. 

“You want to stage the fight? That’s what you want?” he asked, eyes tracking every inch of her face for a telling lie. 

“It’s what we planned to-”

“I didn’t ask you that, Ayelýn.”

She blew out a frustrated breath. “What do you want from me, Aonung? I don’t understand why you’re asking me that?” 

He clicked his tongue. “I think you should take that role my mother offered you.”

Ayelýn blinked. She shook her head in confusion, feeling a distinct feeling of whiplash. 

Why was he bringing that up now?!  

“Um… Are you sure? You didn’t seem pleased about it when I first brought it up.”

“I wasn’t.”

“...Can I ask why?”

“Because at the time I was being selfish to protect myself. Because if you did, then that would mean I’d have no choice but to see you everyday after this- after we ended.”

Lýn looked away, pretending his words didn’t hurt. She failed to keep the bitterness out of her tone when she asked, “What changed your mind then?” 

“I found out something quite interesting,” he replied as he approached her slowly.

“Did you?”

“You’re in love with me.”

Lýn’s jaw fell open, then snapped with an audible click of her teeth while a sense of dread that he’d found out, flooded her. 

“I’m no-”

“You aren’t?” 

“Aonung-”

“Tell me something, Lýn... What am I going to do if you fall in love with someone else one day?”

She folded her arms with a scoff. “I think you’ll survive,” she snarked. Her walls were all the way up and she hated that he was still able to rile her up this easily.

“I won’t.” He shrugged, still creeping towards her. “What about you? Hm? What are you going to do if I fall in love with someone else one day?”

She said nothing to this, expression confused as she tried to keep up with the conversation.

“Will you really be okay pretending you never cared about me at all?”

She froze, not only at the question, but realizing how close he’d gotten to her, had her panicked.

“Admit it. Tell me you love me.” 

“Where is this even coming from? I don’t love you.”

“Liar.”

“Aonung-”

“I heard you, Ayelýn. I heard you and Xilä talking a few nights ago.”

‘Fuck.’ 

“It was just talk, part of the act,” she mumbled.

“I don’t believe you.” 

Lýn’s face scrunched as she prepared for rejection. She wasn’t even given a second to think because he was talking again, and this time his words had her head spinning. 

“Maybe you’ll admit it to me then, if I said it first?” 

She inhaled sharply. 

“Will that work for you, gorgeous? If I said it first?” 

“You- you don’t love me.”

“I don’t?”

“Do you?”

His gaze was intense and Lýn felt annoyance bubble in her chest from the sight of the stupid smirk playing at his lips. 

This was probably some big joke to him. 

“It doesn’t matter,” she said, turning her back on him to add the last of her things in her satchel. 

That was not the reaction he was expecting. 

“It doesn’t matter?” His brows narrowed in upset. “The fuck does that mean, Ayelýn?” 

“No… Because then what?!” She rounded on him, eyes fiery and full with hurt. “I’m not so naive to think that you actually- ! The whole point of me pretending to court you was-”

“Are you serious?” He stood straighter, disbelief and distress radiating off of him. “Look I’m not sure at what point exactly that things officially changed, but be honest with yourself, Ayelýn. Did any of that feel like pretending to you?!”

“Aonung-”

“I want you.”

“N-”

“I want you, Lýn. No pretense. All real. Everyday. Forever.” 

Ayelýn was not a crier, but his words hit her so powerful, everything inside of her crumbled.

Hesitating, she took the bait. 

“Including courtship? For real.” 

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes. I’m not a stupid plaything.”

“You aren’t,” he agreed gently, forcing himself to not push her too fast- hope still there. "Courting gifts?” he asked in slight teasing. 

“Yes… you never did actually get me any.”

He bit down a smile. “Meeting of the families?”

“Yes.”

“Those long overbearing, traditional bonding ceremonies?”

“Yes.”

“...Mating? Tsaheylu mating?”

Lýn bit her lip, trying not to crack a smile. She failed. “Is there any other kind of mating?”

“Hey. I’m only trying to be clear with your demands over here.”

A breathy laugh escaped her at that. “Then yes, tsaheylu mating.”

“Okay.”

“Just like that…? You’re going to give me everything?”

“Just like that, gorgeous.” He stepped into her space. “But you have to agree first.” 

It was that tone again. The one that confused her to pieces sometimes.

“Aonung. I’m not playing a game right now.”

“That’s good, cause neither am I.” He was a hair's breadth away from her now, fingers coming up to tangle in her hair- thumb tracing her jaw. 

“You’re annoyingly difficult to stay away from, you know that?”

His forehead fell onto hers. “Then don’t make it difficult. Tell me you want me forever and I’m yours. Tell me you love me and I swear, I’ll do my best to be the best mate I could be. I won't be perfect..”

Lýn swallowed.

“But I’ll take care of you, and you can boss me around like wives normally do sometimes- kind of like what you already do when you tell me I’m being stupid whenever I get in my head and start behaving like an ass.” 

“Aonung-”

“And I’ll keep you, Lýn.”

She sniffled. 

“You say it all the time- as a joke, I know… But I’m dead serious right now... I’ll keep you and love you. And I’ll take care of your family- and Keftxo.” 

He swiped away her tears. 

“I'm a good man now because of you.” 

“Hush… You’ve always been a good man,” she croaked. 

“Better now, I should say.” 

Aonung cupped her face with both hands, lifting his head to see all of her. 

“I love you, Ayelýn. Pretty sure I have since the first moment we met when I found you kicking and cursing at that damn deathtrap of yours.” 

“Canoe,” she corrected through a teary laugh, eyes swimming in adoration for the man before her. 

He chuckled too, a tad choked up himself. “I love you and I want you forever, Lýn.” 

Index finger hooking and tugging him down by the cord around his neck Lýn nodded- a sweet smile playing on her lips- the action causing their noses to brush. 

 “...I love you, Aonung. Every part of you, inside out. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” 

Aonung’s face split into a wide grin. In one fell swoop, he scooped her up by the thighs, lifting her high up his waist as her legs and arms wrapped around him. 

“You want me?”

She laughed as he nipped her lips playfully. 

“Yes.”

“I’m half expecting you to tell me you have rules,” he teased. 

“Ohh I do. I am telling you right now, I am not popping out five babies.”

He cackled at that, head tossed back in pure glee.  

“Fair enough,” he agreed. “Hey, Lýn,” he called.

“Hmm?” she hummed, pecking that little birthmark on the corner of his mouth.

“Say it again… Tell me you want me.”

Lýn kissed him first. A feverish kind filled with a dose of desperation that came from raw and excessive longing. The kind that was long overdue- the kind that released all the pent up energy that came from avoiding their true feelings. 

“I want you, you skxawng.”

“I want you too, gorgeous.”

~

And that's it folks!

Thank you for reading, commenting and liking! Thank you for your patience and a special thank you to @iwannabeapinkaesthetic for the inspo for this fic to come to life!

It was a joy writing my very first Aonung story, and so much fun creating Lýn.

As always, please let me know what you think and I hope to see you in my next one.

💛💛💛.

~

The deep rumble of Aonung’s grunt of annoyance sent a rippling vibration through Ayelýn’s body.

With another warning, he pushed her hand away. 

“It’s not- ngh!” A strangled whine broke from her lips as his thrusts sped up. Lýn tried yet again to reach a hand between them- to where they were joined, but the skxawng snatched her hand away. Again!

“Stop, Lýn,” he said firmly, pinning her wrist above her head. 

“It’s not going to work,” she snapped, fixing him with the sternest glare she could muster. It was difficult… especially because her entire body was thrumming with pleasure. 

Like an annoying sneeze that refused to come, Lýn felt her impending orgasm lingering- right there on the cusp. It was so close, she could just about taste it. All she needed was the slightest hint of attention on her poor clit. She couldn’t come without the stimulation of it- she’d never had. 

But Aonung, like a stubborn man on mission, was adamant that she didn’t need it- that he could make her come alone from his ‘oh so wondrous co-’

Lýn gasped when he suddenly pulled out of her. 

Feeling empty as her walls pulsed around nothing, he manhandled her into another position. And with a yelp, she was flipped onto her stomach. Hips drawn up to bring her to her knees, in one swift thrust, she was filled again. 

They moaned in unison as they adjusted to the new angle.

He was so far in- it was as though she forgot how to breathe. So deep it felt as if he were in her lungs- her throat. And when he began to move, she saw stars. 

Fingers tightening in her hair, he yanked her head back and mouthed along the span of her exposed neck.

“You feel amazing, gorgeous. Soo, fucking tight and-” he grunted when she clamped around him. 

Hips setting a ruthless pace against hers, Lýn whined and keened- barely able to hold herself up as her fingers clenched into fits around the material of the mats beneath them. She quaked at the tug of her tail and was so far gone, all thoughts from her mind were wiped clean. 

Breasts shaking with every jerk, on one particular thrust, Aonung hit something inside of her that made her cry out. Her back bowed as she ached into it and- Eywa. 

“Ayelýn,” he growled into her skin. He could feel her fluttering around him, squeezing him so tight he damn near came. 

When he reared up onto his knees, he slipped out for a fraction of a second despite her mewling protest. He pumped himself once, twice, before lining up and slamming back into her with a powerful thrust, using her hips as leverage.

Lýn’s arms gave out as white hot pleasure wrecked her- face hiding in the crook of her arm. 

Near delirious as she came, the tides didn’t stop- she felt it from the tingling of her scalp- hair fisted in Aonung’s hand- to the ends of her toes and the tip of her tail. 

And all the while her body spasmed, Aonung talked her through it- drawing out her climax with languid thrusts, murmuring sweet words of praise in her ear. 

Not long after that, he spilled into her, releasing a deep, satisfied sigh as if coming home from a long journey. 

~

“Told you I could make you come like that,” he gloated, nipping her hip bone. He smothered his chuckle into her tummy when Lýn smacked him with her tail. 

Sprawled on her back, her chest was still heaving as she recovered. Aonung had slipped one of her legs over his shoulder when he’d settled between her thighs, chin perched on the same spot he’d just kissed as he peered up at her. 

A hint of light broke through the hideaway, signaling that morning was near, yet neither of them hustled to right themselves- both secretly wanting to stay in their little bubble just a while longer. 

Since their heated encounter a few weeks ago, there was an undeniable change between the two of them. Subtle at first, it had flickered into a maddening and almost uncontrollable fire. 

When it started, Lýn had made halfhearted objections, reminding him of her rules- despite the fact that they’d already been broken on multiple occasions.

But Aonung was ridiculously persuasive and she just about folded every time he promised it’d be, “the last time.” 

Oh the liar.

It began…

With kissing.

Needy, frantic kisses- all for show of course- when a very persistent Ezly kept trying to get Aonung’s attention at another feast they’d attended- despite the fact that it was well known by now that he and Lýn were in “a secure courtship.”

Followed then by soft goodbye pecks that Lýn would try to shy away from, only for Aonung to claim her lips entirely and have her caving in seconds. 

Then there were the kisses that came naturally, almost as if there was no thought to it- fleeting little things that happened in the blink of an eye- her, bringing him a drink of water while he and his team were sweat soaked from working on rebuilding a Keftxo pier- and him, ducking to brush his lips over hers in thanks. 

They happened so often now that Lýn found herself leaning in expectantly in moments she thought he’d kiss her- even freezing once or twice in embarrassment when she’d read the moment wrong. Aonung read her all too clearly however- his grin would be so wild and wicked while she feebly denied her intentions- words quieting as he gladly silenced her with his lips. 

Gradually, their public displays of affection continued in private, with a feverish intimacy that confused them both when they eventually went their separate ways.

Aonung’s hideaway had become a secret haven for them- one that was put to good use in the past couple weeks. 

Any excuse was used to end up at the little shack, and although they skirted around each other, playing with fire in an odd sort of foreplay that turned bickering into flirting- without fail they collided- exploring each other's bodies with a passionate intensity. 

It wasn’t always passionate though.

Sometimes it was playful and sweet, others simply exploratory, where they taught each other what they liked. There were of course the moments where it was pure animalist fucking- raw and savage that left them with bites and bruises. 

And then there was the type that they both secretly liked the most- the one that didn’t feel like fucking. It was the type of fuck that felt like making love…

But no matter the kind, after each time, while they basked in the afterglow, they talked. 

Some nights they’d whisper and giggle as they swapped childhood stories. Some mornings, on the brink of sleep and wake, they’d revealed hidden fears- him, not knowing if he was good enough to be Olo'eyktan, and her- worried about the unknown, about her future. 

There were also the rare occasions their tongues slipped up- admitting things they’d buried deep inside of them- 

I want you to keep me forever.

And... 

I wish you were mine.

- all said when they were both delirious and reeling from multiple orgasms- sweat slicked skin, roaming hands and mouths playing between hovering and fused as though trying to steal each other's last breaths. 

Today however, they were content to just be. 

Aonung drew shapes along her skin with his fingers, the digits trailing up the side of her thigh and over her flat stomach- circling her belly button.

It was quiet and calm- comfortable, and like always, they didn’t acknowledge what they’d just done. 

Lýn smiled lazily- the kind of blissful smile she usually gave him after a thorough fuck. She cupped his cheek and ran a thumb across his bottom lip. 

“You’re beautiful,” she murmured, staring at him. 

He kissed her palm in thanks, doing a terrible job at not blushing. 

He didn’t fucking blush.

And when he peered back at her- she had to look away- heart beating with a little bit of excitement, a little bit of fear.

It was that look again.

The one that spoke deep meaning.

The one she mistook for love…

After collecting her thoughts, she was the first to make a move. Aonung groaned grumpily, but let her untangle herself from him. 

“It’s still early,” he complained, sprawling onto his back without a shred of modesty. 

“I’ve been late twice already this week,” she said, reaching for her discarded tweng. “Slwen’s known for her hash warnings and you know she’s not quiet when she speaks. I think she’s on to me.” 

“Slwen likes me- just tell her you’ve been with me.”

Lýn laughed. “And be given another lecture like the one my mother gave us? Yeah, no way.” 

Tweng secured low on her waist, she scanned the mat covered floor in search of her top while her hands desperately tried to tame her wild hair. 

Aonung covertly tucked her top a little more under him with a smirk, enjoying the view of her pacing. Her pretty little breasts had love bites scattered all over them. It was the only place she let him leave his marks. 

“Have you seen my top?” 

“No,” he lied. 

Lýn zeroed in on him and held out her hand expectantly. It was not the first time he’d tried this. 

“Aonung, come on, we have duties to get to today. I already have a long swim ahead of me.” 

He obliged and got to his feet. “Let me drop you off, my skimwing will be faster.”

“You can’t,” she said, turning her back to him when he gestured for her to, and lifting her hair as he helped her with the ties of her top. “You have trainees to meet with this morning, remember?”

“They can wait,” he mumbled, pressing a kiss to her nape as he hugged her from behind- one hand sneaking up to fondle a breast. 

“Be nice to them, today.”

His face screwed up at that and before he could talk, she was speaking again. 

“They’re just kids and they look up to you.”

“They’re not kids- and also, did they seriously tell on me?!” 

They had. 

Lýn had thought it quite amusing, yet adorable when the teenagers had shyly approached her to say hello during one of her visits to the main village.

Mid conversation- Anoung’s overly strict tendencies had come up, and though to the trainees she supported their leader’s choices, she still found herself speaking on their behalf.

She turned in Aonung’s arms to smile at him. “That’s not important. Just be a smidge nicer, yeah?” She moved to walk away, but Aonung pulled her back to him with a firm tug on her tail. 

One large palm sinking into the strands at her nape, he gave her a firm kiss.

And when he pulled away, his face was a mask of seriousness. “We need to talk later,” he said without releasing her from his hold. 

She licked her lips with a frown. “About?”

“I heard you had a visitor a few days ago. Why didn’t you tell me?” 

Lýn rolled her eyes. “Who told you? Kaii? My mother?” 

“No, your father actually.” 

She snickered. “I swear, you two are such terrible gossips.” 

But Aonung was not laughing. “Why didn’t you tell me Ezly visited you?” 

Trying to deflect, she glanced downward at the appendage currently poking her. “Can you put that thing away if you insist on talking about this?” 

Aonung sighed and let her go.

In the few seconds it took him to find his tweng and cover himself up, Lýn inconspicuously tried to sneak out. Before she could cross the threshold however, Aonung was quickly snagging her around the waist and tutting in disappointment. 

He kept her pinned with his body against a bamboo beam. “We’re not done talking, Lýn. You still haven’t told me why-”

“Because of this,” she pointed at him. “You always get so worked up-”

“Ayelýn.”

“Almighty Eywa!” she hissed. “Nothing terrible happened, alright? Erzo-”

“Ezly.”

She rolled her eyes again. “Her, yes... She came by all rude and huffy, telling me that it was only a matter of time before you ended things- that you’d grow bored of me- which is nothing I haven’t heard before- but this was much more worse than your other little heartbroken women- you’d swear she owned you! I told her she might as well just peed on you like a stupid dorado verde trying to keep predators away from its pilfered carcasses with how she was behaving.” 

Aonung snorted. “You told her that?”

Lýn shrugged. “Well yeah… and-” she mumbled something that didn’t quite reach his ears.

“I didn’t get that last part, gorgeous,” he said, shaking his head. 

“I might’ve- sort of… made her cry- just a little!”

He blinked- lips curling into a wry smile. “You made… Ezly… cry?”

She showed him her index fingers- fingertips inches away from each other. “Just a little,” she admitted with a pout.

Aonung released a breathy laugh and pecked her jutting bottom lip. “What am I going to do with you?”

‘Keep me,’ she wanted to say. So she did, keeping her tone light. “Keep me.”

“Fine by me,” he answered, lifting her in his arms. 

She sank further into his embrace. “You owe me by the way… Elzra and I had a serious conversation. I know for sure she wasn’t pleased, but I believe she’s gotten the message now… I don’t think she’ll be bothering you anymore.”

“Thank Eywa for you, gorgeous,” he said before covering her mouth with his.

Fuck. 

She was definitely going to be late again. 

~

Awa’atlu was the busiest Lýn had ever seen. 

They were after all preparing for an event that rivaled all others. 

Visitors from not only from the Omaticaya clan were all traveling to Awa’atlu to celebrate the official union of Lo’ak and Tsireya. 

Fishing expeditions occurred in grand fanfare as fleets returned with double the amount of their usual hauls.

Harvest gatherers and land hunters, stockpiled the village’s cashes and many worked overtime on the more time consuming matters- meat and fish smoked or salted, grains ground into flour and nectar painstakingly collected from pods. 

The beach and sea were combed for any hint of debris. Torches and fire pits- including a massive bonfire in the center of their communal area were constructed, and extravagant designs- tapestries, painted fabrics and flora arrangements were scattered in harmonic decor. 

A multitude of temporary mauri pods along the northern sealine were also constructed in preparation for the influx of guests the village was expecting, whilst drums and flutes were tweaked and tuned- their melody flowing through as songs were practiced. 

Fermented and brewed ales and wines were dug up from their resting place and Lýn spotted many with busy hands as they put finishing touches on their garmented designs. 

The Sully family in particular were arriving a few days before the designated festivities were to begin- expected to land in the early hours of tomorrow morning, and Lýn, to both her and Aonung’s surprise, had been asked by Ronal to be present at the greeting party. 

Not only that but the Tsahìk also expected Lýn to be part of all the traditional festivities and ceremonies spreading across the next two weeks… something Lýn was quite nervous about. 

One of these ceremonies included the official meeting of the two families- something that was traditionally done in the earlier stages of a couple’s courtship, but allowances had been made because of the evident distance.

It was also a tradition that was strictly practiced by the couples family. 

Lýn wasn’t family.

~

When night came, she made her way to the pod she had been directed to.

Aonung’s private mauri was small but cozy and far more homey than the shack on his little island. 

Tossing her overstuffed satchel of things onto his table, Lýn spun in a slow circle, taking in his space for the first time. 

He had a couple collections of odd knick-knacks, a plethora of weapons and fishing gear and surprisingly, even a few hanging plants that appeared to be well kept. 

His sleep mats- although untidy, looked inviting. Lýn wasn’t tired, yet she wanted nothing more than to sink into them- she bet they smelled like Aonung. 

Instead, she perched behind his little table and waited for him whilst fiddling with the odd human-made device she’d seen him use to communicate with other clans. 

At the sight of her when he finally entered a while later, he grinned like a child given a treat and Lýn couldn’t help the stupid giggle that bubbled at her chest. 

“What are you so happy about?” she asked, twisting to face him. 

“I have lured the Ayelýn Te Azuei Lou'ite into my home. What man wouldn’t be happy?” he half joked as he hung up the towel that had been resting around his shoulders and the soap pouch dangling from his fingers.  

“Oh shush! I’m still not sure how you managed to convinced me of this. I can still go home, you know? It’s not even that late. I’m sure I’ll get here on time tomorrow and I don’t see why I need to stay for all two weeks.” 

He huffed as if saying, “Not this argument again.” 

Placing a palm dramatically over his chest, he approached her. “Why must you always wound me with your words?” His hands reached for her expectantly, and she allowed him to pull her to her feet. “You’re always trying to leave me.” 

“Am I?” she whispered, eyes closing when his clean scent washed over her.

A soft sigh escaped her as she let him kiss her- head tilting to the left as he went to the right. 

Threading his fingers through her hair, he claimed control of her movement, bending her to his will as her palms trailed up his chest- one resting flat over his heartbeat while other reached high to cup his neck- fingertips toying with hair strands she found there.

Nothing between them felt like pretending anymore.

“Aonung,” she murmured as he forged a path down her throat. Something in her core tightened and Lýn knew she was seconds away from making another terrible decision- one that would make things harder when it came time to end them. 

After selfishly stealing a couple more kisses, she reluctantly broke their connection. “We should sleep.”

He swallowed and gave a shaky nod, failing to mask his disappointment. “Sleep… Right.” 

“Mhm. We have a busy day tomorrow. An early one too.”

It was why Aonung suggested Lýn stay with him from that night on, so that she didn’t have to wake at an unreasonable hour to make the journey over. She’d found it logical yes- but didn’t think it was a good idea for them to share a space… much less for her to stay the entirety of the two week celebration. 

But of course, and to no surprise, she folded. 

Ayelýn wasn’t even surprised that the man was also able to get her parents to agree to it as well- even promising her brother he’d craft him his very own official spear since he would be stealing Lýn away for so long. 

Soon enough, Ayelýn was settling in and making herself comfortable in Aonung’s sleep mats. And she was right… they did smell like him. 

Aonung sat near the edge of the fabric. He pulled her feet into his lap and tickled the underside of one foot, gaining a playful kick to the chest in retaliation. 

Crashing waves in the distance echoed comfortingly and a cool breeze blew into the marui. 

For Ayelýn, it all felt rather domestic. She’d already eaten dinner with him and his family that evening. Now here she was, curled on her side, observing him as his fingers released his hair from its usual tidy bun. 

“Should I be worried about meeting Toruk Makto and his family tomorrow?” 

“No, why?”

“Aonung, I’m not family, and I know your mother was the one to invite me but-”

“I want you there tomorrow,” he said firmly. “I want you to meet the Sullys. I want you to meet Neteyam and Xilä, and their son.” His hands abandoned his hair to squeeze around her ankle, one palm running up her calf. “When you start to feel that stupid feeling like you don’t belong there with us, just know that I want you there. Yeah?”

“…Yeah.”

Lýn hid her blush under the pretense of adjusting herself into a more comfortable position. Once settled, she nibbled on the tip of her thumb and squinted at the man before her. 

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, gorgeous,” he said as he continued with the twists to the front of his hair. 

“What’s the real reason you don’t want a mate?” 

“Who said I don’t want a mate?”

“Um, you did? When you asked me to help you with this elaborate plan of yours.” 

Aonung shook out his loose hair with a sigh, digits combing through the strands. He looked good like this, she thought. His curls were long and shiny and she was itching to run her fingers through them. 

“I want a mate. I want a wife.”

Lýn swallowed. “Then why-”

“It’s difficult to explain.” 

“Try,” she whispered.

He held her gaze for a long minute- expression soft and one of vulnerability. 

“Being who I am, sometimes I can’t tell when women are-” His brows scrunched, and he shook his head. “They don’t see me. They see, son of Tonowari. The chief's son. Future Olo'eyktan… And I know I am those things- there’s no escaping it... But I'm tired of being casted in my father’s shadow.”

His hands found her foot again whilst he spoke. Fingers tracing her ankle, thumb pressing into the ball of her foot. 

“I liked this one girl when I was dumb teenager. Thought I’d ask her to court once I completed my rites… but thankfully I didn’t since I overheard her and her friends gushing that she'd managed to nab the chief’s son and what it meant for her- her title. Her status. Her, her, her. ” 

Aonung snorted self-deprecatingly. “I wasn’t Aonung. I was a goal to her. A fucking thing to win… Anyway, from then on I found that women tend to only want me because of my title. It gets them attention. Other men are suddenly interested in them- because they’re seen with me.”

He rolled his eyes. “And sure, maybe it wasn’t all of them, but they began to blur, and it was hard to tell who was being genuine… So over time, of it happening over and over again, and getting hurt- I leaned into it. I lowered my expectations and gave no fucks.”

His thumb rubbed along the space above her heel, and Lýn had to bite back a moan. His fingers felt sinful and it wasn’t appropriate for her to, given that he was currently opening up to her. 

“So yeah, it’s not that I don’t want a mate. I do. But I don’t want a loveless match… I don’t want to have children and spend an eternity with someone I only bonded with out of honor and duty. My parents did it and were lucky to eventually find love… But I can’t. I’ve seen the unlucky ones with my own eyes. I don’t want that.”

“Aonung,” Lýn whispered, as though feeling his pain. “Thank you for telling me,” she said gratefully. “I understand… and I hate that for you. You deserve love to find that love you’re looking for.” 

He gave her a sincere smile of appreciation. “What about you?”

“Me?” she asked, shifting onto her back and nudging her other foot into his hands, sighing in relief when he began to massage it. 

“Mhm,” he hummed, eyes trailing up her body, from the feet in his lap to her slightly parted thighs, to her chest that was barely covered by a strip of cloth, patched with tiny seashells, to then finally landing on her face- eyes closing as she enjoyed his working fingers. 

“Why’s no man managed to grab you up yet?” 

Lýn snorted at his wording but since he was so open with her she decided to be honest too.

“Actually, a couple months before we met, I thought I was going to be.”

Aonung swallowed but managed to keep his tone leveled. “Who was he?”

“He’s a patroller from the Malti village. We met at a clan gathering and he was sweet and attentive. He had a way with words and he made me think that we really did have a future… I mean it wasn’t love but…” 

“What happened?”

“Keftxo, I think? He ended it after saying that it was too far a journey to make each time to see me… that the courting phase would never last.”

“That’s the poorest fucking excuse I’ve ever heard. Awa’atlu is farther than Multi is to Kefto and I make the journey out almost everyday!” 

“I know,” Lýn said gently. “Seeing that had me rethinking the entire thing. Maybe he just didn’t want me anymore, or maybe he just hated Ketfxo.”

“Well, his fucking loss then,” Aonung grumbled while he crawled in beside her, snagging her around the waist and making himself comfortable. 

Lýn turned in his arms, fingers coming up to fiddle with the talon around his neck and Aonung stayed still, watching her through hooded eyelids. She brushed a strand of hair off his cheek and traced down the line of his jaw, letting the tips of her fingers linger over his lips. 

If this moment could last forever, he would take it. 

Fingers still trailing, they burned a path downwards, stopping over his heartbeat. 

Calm washed over Aonung, and all he wanted was to be closer to her. He pulled her to him and affectionately nosed the space at the junction of her neck.

“Can I make you come?” he asked against her skin, fingers playing with the material on her hip. 

His request was so soft and casual, one would think he was simply asking for them to go on a late night stroll. 

Ayelýn’s body responded without her permission. She craved him, yet a tiny part of her rebelled. Her fingers sank in his hair- on their own accord, marveled by its softness. 

“Didn’t we agree that none of it ever happened and that we would never talk about it? As in never, ever?”

“Mmm, you agreed, yeah... I didn’t.” 

“Aonung… I’m not sleeping with you again. It’s a bad idea- you know it too.”

His head lifted out from her neck. “Who said anything about sleeping?” he asked in faux innocence. “I was planning to fuck you, Ayelýn. I wanna hear those little noises you make just for me.” 

Lýn squeezed her thighs together despite rolling her eyes in annoyance- though, she wasn’t really. “Do you only ever think with your dick?”

“Not always. My fingers and tongue do a lot of thinking too… and my tail.” He wiggled his brows. “And I know you’re into that.”

Head tossed backwards, she cackled. “Oh that was good. That was really good. No wonder you lure so many women in here- and speaking of-” She shuffled. “I hope these mats are clean.” 

She’d meant it as a joke, but an odd expression crossed his face. 

“What?”

“I don’t- I never brought women here.”

Lýn’s heart fluttered at the comment. “Never? You’re lying.”

“No, honest. Usually we just did it whe-”

“I don’t need or want to know where you and your entanglements happened,” she interrupted, causing him to release a breathy laugh. 

“Fair enough.”

She wanted to ask him why he’d brought her here but couldn’t bring herself too. “Can I ask you another question though?”

“If you keep doing what you’re doing right now, then yeah, go for it.”

Her fingers were still in his hair, tips gently dragging against his scalp.

“That woman- Ez something-”

“Ezly,” he corrected with a stupid smile on his face. “I’m starting to think you’re doing that on purpose.”

“I’m not!”

“It’s okay, gorgeous. Jealousy looks good on you. You’ve got me blushing over here.”

“Oh hush! What I’m trying to ask is- is she the one from your story? The girl you liked?” 

Aonung’s smile dropped. “How’d you figure that out?” 

“You said you never slept with her. Right?” 

“Mhm.” 

Aonung’s jaw was clenched tight, so she soothed a palm over it, happy when he leaned into her affection. 

“Whenever she’s around it’s like you can’t stand to look in her direction and you get all tense and irritated whenever she talks… Then there’s also the fact that she had this crazy sense of entitlement over you, which since you said you never slept with her… could only stem from something else. She was the girl you wanted to ask to court…”

He couldn’t deny it. It was clear as day all over his face. 

“And I’m guessing,” she continued. “That based on her behavior alone- even after all these years, she still had hope, she still thought that after you’d “had your fun,” you’d go right back to her.” 

“It took me a long time to get over her,” he revealed. “Like I said, I was a dumb kid… When I finally did, I wondered- what exactly did I ever see in her in the first place.” His head fell, face nuzzling into Lýn’s cheek as she wrapped him up in a comforting hug. “You were right by the way. She got the message- avoids me now… Still can’t believe you made her cry though… and I must say it’s kind of hot seeing you so protective of me.” 

Lýn laughed. “Ezra had it coming a long time now.” 

“It’s Ez- you know what- call her whatever,” he said through a snicker. 

Shuffling their position, he rolled them over. Lýn laid on her back now to accommodate his massive body. 

‘He was such a cuddler,’ she thought in amusement. 

“I’ve never told anyone any of that before,” he admitted. “I'm also surprised by how much you figured out too.”

“Really?” She soothingly caressed his back. He was getting a tad heavy being draped over her like this, but she didn’t mind. “Why is that so surprising? I do pay attention when you talk.”

His head popped up at that and Lýn internally squirmed at the intensity she found in his gaze. There was a question in his eyes and it was clear as day what he wanted.

“No,” she said, despite her body screaming, ‘Yes, yes, yes!’

“You know, gorgeous… that’s what you said when I asked you to kiss me the first time… and guess what? We kissed. No, is also what you said right before we fucked- and damn, I think lost count of how many times it’s been now,” he listed in a silly tone.

“Aonung-”

“No,” he continued, fingers trailing up her side, “is what you said when I asked you to court-”

“Fake court.”

“Fake court,” he corrected. “And now look at where we are…” He shook his head as though disappointed in her- so serious with his acting that Lýn had to mash her lips together to not laugh. “I have to say… I’m starting to think that your no’s don’t really mean… no.”

Lýn swallowed and forced herself to not look away from his intense stare- his eyes almost daring her to refute him. 

“So I’ll ask again,” he said, voice low rumbling, causing her tummy to clench, “Can I make you come?”

Playing along with his game, her eyes spoke volumes and when her mouth spewed the word, “No,” Aonung grinned. 

Head descending, he kissed her for a long, drawn out moment. “Fuck. I love kissing you,” he rasped when he pulled away. 

Love. 

The word did something to Lýn, and as Aonung studied her expression- she knew that he knew it too. 

Not wasting another second, he kissed her again, harder this time- a kiss so passionate, it burned through her veins. 

The arousing sound of her needy moan was his undoing and unable to hold himself back any longer, he pulled away again and made quick work of removing her top and tweng. 

When she was bare to him, he was everywhere. Lips, hands- tail pushing her legs open so his frame could sink right into her. 

She bucked her hips and pulled on his hair as he sucked on a pebbled nipple, teeth nipping around her skin before he swallowed her breast in its entirety. 

“Aonung, please-“ She tried to guide one of his hands where she wanted him. 

“Not yet,” he answered around her breast.

Lýn grunted impatiently. “I thought you were going to fuck me- ow!” She hissed when he bit her in warning and stubborn like always, he continued with his path of leisure down her body. 

He worshiped her skin with kisses and quiet words that went unheard by her, all the way until his wide shoulders settled between her stretched thighs. 

And only using his tongue, he licked her into oblivion. With broad sweeps and sucks, he kept her held down with a firm grip and Ayelýn could do nothing but take it. 

Ears gone muffled and no longer able to hear the lewd sounds of his tongue at work, much less her own moans and cries, she arched, fingers fisted in Aonung’s hair as an orgasm rocked her. 

He kept her thighs spread and opened when they tried to clamp closed, tongue lazily and gently overstimulating her as she came down from her high. 

Blinking into awareness and senses returning to her, she cursed and shoved his head away. Usually she wasn’t this sensitive, but right now, she needed a breather. 

Aonung didn’t seem to mind, if anything he appeared mighty proud of herself and how quickly he got her to break. 

Crawling back up to her, he captured her lips in a messy kiss- licking into her mouth as mercilessly as he’d licked between her thighs. 

As they kissed, Lýn reached between them. She fumbled for a second, but with his help, his tweng was gone, allowing her to take him in her fist- an action that made Aonung grunt and break their connection. 

Forearms planted on either side of her, he stared right into her eyes as she stroked him from root to tip. Over and over. Every time she reached the top, she gathered the moisture dripping from there and dragged it down his length. 

His jaw dropped with a soft “ah” and Ayelýn responded with a sweet sound- as though she wasn't trying to kill him with each squeeze- with each pump. 

Eyes clenching shut, Aonung groaned. Eywa. The pleasure was maddening and when spurts of pre-cum escaped him, he had to stop her. “Fuck. Fuck- Lýn I’m -”

Lýn could feel the tremble in his body. With two more strong strokes she released him, and no sooner had she, his lips were on hers again. 

“Aonung,” she sighed. “Please.”

“What, gorgeous? Hmm? Tell me.”

“I want you,” she begged against his lips, legs wrapping around his waist. 

He reared up onto his knees and stared down at her. “So pretty,” he murmured. Lining himself at her entrance, he pushed in- just the tip. 

Lýn’s moan was music to his ears. 

Aonung watched her body’s reaction to him- watched how well she took him with each slow press, watched her chest heave in anticipation, watched how hard she bit her lip and clenched the mat beneath her. 

Using her hips, he dragged in and out- falling deeper with each measured thrust, stretching her to fit him perfectly. 

“This what you needed, sweetheart?” 

“Ye- ngh!” Her eyes widened and she mewled when he fell over her, propped by one hand as he slid in all the way- right to the hilt. 

Hitching her thigh higher up hip waist, he moved with deliberate thrusts. “Eywa. You always take me so good, gorgeous. Just look at you.” 

Lýn cried out when his angle changed, hitting a place inside of her that had her breathless. 

Aonung himself was losing his mind, muttering words falling from his lips as the pleasure built. 

“Perfect, so perfect,” he said against her temple, lips and nose trailing across her skin as they moved. 

Lýn pressed kisses to his jaw- breath heavy in a pant while clinging to him. 

“There’s only- ah fuck- one thing that could ever make this better.”

His whisper was so quiet, she almost missed it. 

“What?” she asked, body tensing as she felt that telltale sign of release coming. 

His rhythm had become erratic now, pace a little more desperate and demanding. And just as Lýn reached her peak, he emptied inside her, heaving one word that had her coming harder than she ever came in her life…

“Tsaheylu.” 

~

Hello friends! 💛

This is way over due. I'm sorrreh! As a token of my apology, one last part will be released, a little while after this one.

Also, I did not by any means think this part would be so heavy handed with the smut- it just happened... sigh, so much for all that angst I envisioned.

See you at the next ending then!

And as always, please let me know what you think.

~

When Aonung had asked for the two of them to do something, Ayelýn thought perhaps they’d still end up somewhere public- for show.

Maybe they’d take a walk along the beach, or even attend a storytelling event, but no.

What she hadn’t intended from his request of it being just the two of them was that it truly was… just the two of them.

Their evening started out with a late night swim. Aonung led her to one of his favourite spots- a brightly illuminated, underwater hidden gem, filled with sea fauna and flora that was too beautiful for words. 

And so captivated by her surroundings, Lýn had missed the way Aonung drank her in- as though seeing her for the very first time.

Later on, they found themselves on his private tiny island, seated inside of the little makeshift structure he had crafted for himself. 

The sort of lean-to design was just tall enough that Aonung didn’t hit his head when standing and wide enough that at least four Na’vi could fit comfortably. 

Mismatched, frayed mats laid scattered on the sand, acting as a sort of flooring that also provided comfort, and there was even a well-worn hammock set up in a way that the amazing scenery was still within view.

Near the threshold, they sat face to face as Aonung revealed dish after dish from a sack that had already been there waiting for them. Their position also allowed them the gorgeous view of the glittering sky and sea- stars all out in their glory as rhythmic crashing waves sang.  

In quick succession, laid out between them was an impressive spread that had Lýn salivating. 

“My Eywa,” she whispered through an excited smile, tucking flyaways behind her ears. “It all looks so good! Is- is this hexapede?” 

“Mhm,” Aonung hummed, loving her reactions. 

“Where did all of this come from?”

“We got a huge delivery of goods this morning from the Omaticaya. I’ve already made sure Keftxo gets their fair share,” he said, trying not to wince guiltily. “I didn’t know any wasn’t given to Keftxo the last two times… but things should be brought down within the next few days since they’re still sorting through everything we got.” 

The trading system between the clans of Pandora was well developed by now. With the use of human technology, communication was up and running, thus, enabling an established procedure.

“Aonung,” Lýn voiced softly. She had no words. He’d gone above and beyond for her little village time and time again. 

He tutted at her affectionately, understanding the wave of gratitude she was trying to express. 

“We got fresh meat this time around. I made us some hexepade stew and roasted hexape-”

“Wait… you cooked? You? I thought you hate cooking?”

He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck and mumbled something incoherent under his breath and without responding, he continued pointing out the options- one after the other. 

“- oh and Lo’ak gave us a couple of these things from his private stash- something called sari cakes, I think? They’re courtesy Neteyam’s mother-in-law… and finally-” He emptied a pouch that held, “Yovo fruit.”

Ayelýn gasped. “Yovo fruit? You’re kidding! I’ve always wanted to try these.”

“I know.” Aonung had gotten them specially well preserved for the journey- just for her. 

He chose the best looking one of the batch and held it out to her, pleased when she leaned in to take a bite of the fruit between his fingers. 

Tossing the remaining piece in his mouth, he watched as her face morphed into one of ecstasy, eyes rolling in bliss, lips licked with a moan of appreciation. Her reaction had the front of his tweng straining within seconds. 

“That’s sooo good,” she sighed. 

“Fuck, Lýn.” He cracked his neck, willing his body to calm down. “Can you try not to kill me so early tonight?” he half begged, half teased. 

It took her a split second to catch his meaning, but when she spotted his obvious situation- one he made no effort to hide, she managed to mumble an apology through a mortified blush- though a small part of her was pleased she had that much of an effect on him. 

Conversation, fun and flowing after that, they talked about everything and nothing as they indulged in their Omaticaya delicacies- sharing and feeding each other bites of food with exclamations of “you have to try this!” and “oh Eywa, this one is amazing!”

And when their bellies were full and satisfied, their attention fell on the view before them.

A light breeze ruffled their hair while they sat in comfortable silence- both minds preoccupied. 

Fiddling with his bottom lip, Aonung tossed fleeting glances Lýn’s way- a question on the tip of his tongue. And unbeknownst to him, Lýn was also sneaking her own peeks- finding him far more captivating than their scenery. 

Momentarily distracted by a leather waterskin almost sort of hidden behind him, she couldn’t help ask, “What’s in that? Did we forget to try something?”

“Hm?” He turned to see, then, “Oh, no. That’s not for you to try. Lo'ak said it’s lethal. Some insane concoction called Spir’ytüs.” 

Ayelýn looked affronted. “What do you mean not for me to try? I want to try it.”

“Sorry, gorgeous but no.” 

“All I’m asking is for a sip!”

“Lýn, you can barely handle the lightly fermented ones we make here.”

“Says who?!”

“Uh- says me? Says that one time you were stupid enough to have a competition with Rotxo and I had to carry you back to your parents inebriated and had to explain to them that it was in no way my fault, yet your father glared at me as if I had fed you every sip myself!”

“That was one time! You know I usually hold my spirits well!”

“Yeeah. I’m not taking any chances. Especially with something I haven’t tried yet.” 

Determination blazing through her gaze and boldness taking control, Lýn crossed over to his side, careful of the spread that separated them, and in the blink of an eye, she was planting herself in his lap, knees on either side of hips. 

At her shocking actions, Aonung worked his jaw, eyes flickering to her lips before returning to her eyes. “You’re playing a very dangerous game, Ayelýn.”

“Am I?” Her palms danced down his skin, starting from his shoulders, feathering down his chest to land flat against the hard panes of his stomach. They rounded his sides with clear intent on the pouch behind him. “Not if I win,” she whispered in his ear. 

Like lightning, he caught her wrists and clutched them in one hand. Her feeble protests died rather quickly when he lifted his knees- making her land exactly where he wanted. The jaw dropping shock on her face at the intimate feeling of him pressed up against her warm heat was worth the painful ache it came with. 

Lýn could do nothing but watch as he used his free hand to pop off the top of the waterskin and take a deep swig of its contents. 

He tried not to wince at the burn but failed- it was sickly sweet and definitely fucking potent. 

“I win,” he rasped, triumphant grin stretching wide and taunting as he tightened his hold on her wrists- not that he needed to, since the minx in his lap put up no fight. 

Never one to back down, Ayelýn arched her brow as if saying really? And then she surprised him yet again by leaning in and kissing him- tongue darting out to taste the essence of the sweet spirits lingering on his lips and tongue. 

She’d stolen her taste. 

It happened so fast, Aonung barely had time to register, because she was then leaning back with a satisfied smirk and smacking her lips with a pleased hum. 

“No… I think I, win.” 

But Aonung was quick to retaliate. Greedy and demanding, he devoured her with the type of kiss that had her dizzy within mere seconds. 

Wrists released, her hands framed his face as their lips and tongues danced- moving to a tune that worked in perfect symphony. 

“Stay,” he begged against her lips- finally asking that question he knew he shouldn’t be asking.

He chased after her when she tried to break their connection, stealing one last firm kiss before she managed to push him backwards. 

“Aonung, this is a bad idea.” 

Logically, he knew she was right.

It was a terrible idea. 

Eyes roaming over her, he licked his lips. At some point he had released the tie that kept her wild hair confined. She was stunning- swollen lips, flushed cheeks and fully blown pupils. 

He wanted to kiss her again. 

So he did. 

One hand tangled her hair, he angled her head and parted her lips with his own. And though he could still feel her lingering inner fight, she kissed him back just as feverishly. 

Lýn rolled her hips- a single, deep roll against the thick ridge of him that gave her the most delicious friction despite the layers separating them- one that gained her a staggering groan from Aonung.

“Do you have to get back tonight?”

“Anou-”

He didn’t want to face her rejection just yet, so he silenced her with another kiss- a kiss that made her tail and toes curl… a kiss that hurt her heart just a little bit. 

The incessant throbbing between her thighs had become overly unbearable and, aching for relief, Lýn gave in, encouraging his touch as his hands explored her skin. 

They skimmed up her thighs and squeezed her ass before traveling up her sides- calloused thumbs sweeping the underside of her breasts. 

A loud swear escaped him and his hips bucked when she rolled again- core rubbing deliberate and way too much for him to handle. He clamped a firm hand on her waist to prevent her from doing it again.

Unhappy about this, she smacked the hand away and he smacked her backside in response, tugging on her tail in warning for good measure. 

“Ayelýn, I’m going to come within seconds if you keep that up.”

“That sounds like a you problem.” She yelped at the tug of her hair and the stinging bite he left on her neck. 

“So mouthy,” he mused. 

“And you’re annoying,” she muttered with a nip of her own against his jaw.

But then, reality creeping in, alarming and loud in her head, Lýn’s mouth moved faster than her mind, spewing, “I’m not a play-thing.”

Aonung reared back to see her face. A flash of hurt crossed his features and despite how fast he’d schooled his expression, she still caught it. “Of course you're not… Where did that even come from?”

“I- I’m just saying… I don’t know what any of this is or what we’re doing, but I needed you to know that.”

“Lýn. You're not,” he emphasized.

She nodded, glad to have at least cleared that with him.

“And anyway… It’s- uh… been a while for me,” he admitted in a soft tone. “I don’t- I’m not that Aonung anymore. I’d hope you think so too.” 

She did think so. Aonung was so much more different than she’d realized. Different from the rumors… different from when they’d first met.  

“When you say a while…”

“Mmm, counting? Over a year…” He scratched his jaw. “Almost two by now since we’ve been together- well not together together-” he rambled. “You know what I mean.” 

“Oh.” Ayelýn turned the information around in her mind as she bit on the tip of her thumb.

He hadn’t been with a woman in that long? How? Why?

“Okay,” she finally said. “And to be clear, you want to-” she gestured between the two of them, “-with me?” 

“Yes,” he answered firmly, fingers toying with the string that kept her top in place. “It’s no pressure though. We’re just having fun, right?” 

“Fun.” 

“Mhmm.” He ducked his head to nose at that spot where her neck and jaw connected. With one tug of the string, the beaded thing covering her breasts fell into her lap. 

A shudder made her jerk in his arms and Lýn blamed it on a gust of wind. This time of year and this late out, the breeze could get nippy… It definitely wasn’t the way Aonung was mouthing at her flesh, or the way his thumbs brushed over her hardened nipples. 

Definitely not…

Fuck. 

“Okay,” she agreed breathlessly, head lulling backwards as his path trailed from her collarbones, to the tops of her chest that rose and fell in anticipation. “But just this one time and we don’t talk about it afterwards. Agreed?”

Aonung paused at her words. 

He didn’t want that. 

And instead of responding, he swallowed her nipple into his mouth. 

~

Sex with Aonung was not at all what Ayelýn imagined… and yes guilty- she had imagined this moment…. Many times actually. 

In the early days of their pretend courtship, a heartbroken woman named Zers’i had cornered Lýn, giving her a piece of her mind- accusing her of stealing the man she hoped she’d settle down with. 

By the end of the rant, Zers’i had turned from bitter and angry into a sobbing mess. And in the midst of Lýn, comforting the weeping woman on her shoulder, it led to an interesting revelation. 

“You’re going to have to do all the work. I- I guess I don’t feel so bad now,” the blubbering soul had stammered through tears. 

At the time, Ayelýn didn’t know what that meant, but with two other confrontations that bore similar remarks, she gathered that Aonung could be somewhat of a selfish lover. 

Yet here, in this moment as the stars watched over them, Aonung had ripped sounds from her lips she didn’t even know she could make. 

The man was ruthless in his pursuit to learn what she liked- mapping her body with his hands, lips, tongue… tail. 

He was far from selfish as he stayed buried between her thighs for Eywa knows how long, lapping and sucking while his fingers curled deep within her heat, causing delicious pleasure to consume her in wave after wave. 

Then, while she was mid recovery from another glorious orgasm, he was rearing onto his knees, lifting her calf over his shoulder and thrusting into her in one fluid stroke- right the the hilt. 

That first time, the burning stretch and his pace was brutal. 

Skin slapping on skin he took her hard and fast, practically contouring her body to his will as profanity fell from his lips like a prayer. He really didn’t last long at all and he even apologized for it when he dropped down next to her to catch his breath. 

Post orgasmic haze, his lips were everywhere, peppering her with sweet, playful kisses as he whispered things that made her blush.

“Not so mouthy now, are you?”

“You make the prettiest sounds when you come.”

“Will you let me taste you again?”

“...You’re beautiful.”

Eager to have her own way with him, she had slithered between his thighs, mouth watering at the sight of him coated in her arousal. 

Lýn was pretty sure dicks weren’t supposed to look pretty. She guessed he must have been an exception. 

He was quite impressive even though he was half hard. She wouldn’t tell him that though, she was sure it would only go to his head, especially judging by the stupid smirk he’d given her as she took him in. 

Lýn enjoyed teasing him. Within seconds of her little playful strokes and licks, he was fully erect and leaking all over her hand. His stomach hollowed out and his moans and grunts were loud as her head bobbed- mouth taking him deeper and deeper down her throat each time she came up for air. 

And when the cusp of his impending release came near, he was sitting up, impatiently pulling her up his body by the hair and kissing her with such passion, she was on the verge of combusting. 

Drenched between her thighs from her own arousal and his release from earlier, he slipped in with ease, sliding her down his length until she took him all- back bowing because at this angle, the man was impossibly deep. 

Eyes locked in unspoken intensity, they released quiet breathy sighs as they relished in the feeling of him seated inside her- deep and full and tight and warm. 

Limbs folded around each other and lips meeting halfway, they rocked slowly, fucking in a way that didn’t feel like fucking at all. 

Aonung planted kisses on her temple and her cheek and jaw, hands smoothing over every inch of skin he could find while Lýn clung to him- tiny murmurs and mewls escaping her.

They moved in tandem, deliberate rolls and grinds that weren’t rushed or hurried as they climbed higher and higher- the build up so profound and fervent, a few tears sprang to Lýn’s eyes. 

“Fuck, I’m going to come soon.” He licked away the lone teardrop that escaped her, and she tasted the salt on his tongue when he parted her lips with it. “Come with me, gorgeous. Please.”

She nodded and led one of his hands between them, showing him what she wanted- clit needing attention for her to get there. 

It was tempting to increase their rhythm, to want rock harder or move faster, but they both kept their pace, gradually getting to that peak that swelled and blossomed until they neared that break.

Rhythm eventually growing erratic, then faltering, Aonung hid his face- nose pressed into Lýn’s cheek as his fingers tightened their hold- in her hair at her nape, the others circling her clit. 

Ayelýn came with a soft cry and a full body spasm, trembling as she felt his warmth spread inside her. She moaned into Aonung’s mouth- his own groans accompanying hers.

Pleasure thrumming throughout her body, he continued to grind into her- drawing little aftershocks and whimpers from her. 

Both limbless and exhausted, they collapsed against the mats beneath them. 

Aonung slipped out from between her legs and Lýn made a face at the gush of mess slowly escaping her. Though, she was too worn out to care to do anything about it. Eywa, there was so much of it. 

Arm draped around her waist, Aonung kissed her forehead and whispered something she didn’t make out. She squirmed closer, and made a home in his arms, content to use a bicep as a pillow and to squish her face into the space below his shoulder.

And in the quiet of their shelter, the sounds of rolling waves lulled them into calm.

Aonung did not find rest easily that night. While Lýn slept, his thoughts plagued him. Knuckles running down her spine, he held her close… 

Something he’d never done with anyone before. 

Aongung didn’t do cuddling. 

He didn’t do soft and sweet fucking.

And he definitely didn’t do night overs.

He sighed and squeezed his eyes shut, hoping his thoughts would grow tired.

Ayelýn confused him. 

He knew he liked her. He hadn’t realized just how deep, however. The way in which this woman had wormed her way into his constant thoughts, terrified him.

A small dark part of him- a lingering remnant of the old Aonung, thought that fucking her would get her out of his system. 

They’d fucked alright, yet here he was, holding her because he still couldn’t get enough. She was no longer only in his thoughts.

She had seeped into his veins…

Into his heart.

Giving up on his inner struggle, he decided to literally give up. He was done fighting this. 

Done fighting them. 

Cupping her neck he held her to him as quiet prayers to Eywa left his lips, whispers buried into Ayelýn’s hair. 

~

When morning broke, neither of them spoke about it. 

And in the following hours that turned into days that turned to weeks, neither acknowledged the evident shift between them.  

~

Eywa. 

Please give me calm, give me strength. 

Ayelýn blew out another shaky breath. She was a nervous wreck this morning. 

Tail twitching behind her, she made yet another wrong turn along a bouncing pathway… Maybe it was deliberate? Maybe it was her body’s way of protecting her from what was to come. 

Eywa. She really didn’t want to do this.  

Throughout her journey, Lýn kept a look out for a familiar mountain of a man who she couldn’t seem to find anywhere. Of all days, this was not a day for him to be missing! 

Despite her obvious prolonging, she couldn’t stall any further or else she’d be late, and after final, futile efforts, she at least felt some ounce of relief when she spotted Aonung’s sister. 

“Tsireya!” she called out. 

“Ayelýn!” the woman chirped in pleasant surprise, walking over to meet her halfway. “Are you looking for my brother?”

“Well, yes and no. I was hoping to catch him for a moment.”

“He’s out on a hunt. Won’t be back till late.”

“Oh.” That was disappointing to hear. 

“What’s wrong?”

Lýn licked her lips and tried not to grimace. “My presence has been requested. Your mother summoned me,” she revealed. 

Tsireya appeared unaffected by the news, though she did pick up on Lýn’s nervousness. “I had a feeling this would happen eventually. I told my brother as much… He’s so stubborn,” she muttered with a fond shake of her head. 

“Why does she want to see me then? I was just told to come here.” 

“Sa'nok has been asking Aonung to have you come by for a while now and he’s been swimming around it,” Tsireya explained. “She thinks he keeps you purposely away from her and I’m guessing she’s had enough… and of course she’d choose the day he was on an all day hunt.”

“Ah. I see.” Lýn weighed her options, then, “Reya, I have no clue what to say to her… the few times we’ve interacted were- weird and awkward and honestly, I don’t think she likes me very much.”

“Lýn, trust me, you’ll be fine. She simply wants to get to know you. She did the same thing with my Lo’ak.”

That did ease away some of Ayelýn’s nerves. 

Tsireya took her hand and squeezed it in comfort. “And just a secret between you and me… if she offers you to stay for a meal with her, it means she definitely approves.”

~ 

Ayelýn tried not to squirm, but sitting before an intimidating Ronal would make just about anyone uncomfortable. 

They’d been sitting in silence ever since she’d arrived and Lýn decided to cope by focusing on her surroundings while Ronal continued to study her. After all, every nook of the Tsahìk’s marui had something curious to see. 

“What is your appointed position in your village, Ayelýn?”

Lýn startled, not only from the sudden break in their long, suffering silence, but also from the question. 

By now, it was no secret what her role in the clan was. Ayelýn had gotten her fair share of snickers and stray comments and at one feast only a couple days ago, she had to pull away a snarling Aonung when he’d overheard a group of women bad mouthing her and her scrubber status. 

The Tsahìk had also been present and seated nearby and Lýn had even caught her watching the ordeal in great interest. 

“I’m a scrubber, Tsahìk.” 

“Hm. Do you enjoy it?” 

“I don’t think anyone enjoys being a scrubber,” Lyn answered honestly. “But it is work, and I am diligent about it.” 

Ronal appeared to think before she spoke again.

“Should you have the opportunity, what would you prefer to be doing then?” 

“Oh- no, I-”

“T’is only a question, child. Won’t you humor a curious woman?”

“Ah… I- I suppose I’ve always had an interest in mending things.” Lýn held in a chuckle, remembering her first meeting with Aonung and his mortified reaction to her canoe. “Though I don’t believe I’d be any good at it given my lack of skill.”

“Skill can be easily learnt,” Ronal said, helping herself to a sip of her brewed seaweed and herb tea. “If I’m not mistaken, Hythspon is finally considering getting an apprentice- I believe you know him? Perhaps you might be interested in taking the position? I can put in a good word for you, if you’d like.”

Ayelýn sat up straighter. “Truly? I- thank you, Tsahìk… I will give it some thought.” 

“You should… It means, you’d also be closer to Aonung since you’d have to move to Awa’atlu.”

Unsure how to respond to that, Ayelýn mashed her lips together and gave a small nod. 

“My son does not realize it, but he speaks a great deal about you. I, however, am interested in getting to know the women he intends to mate and bring into our family, for myself... So tell me.” Ronal sat back expectantly. 

Lýn frowned. “What exactly would you like to know?”

“Everything, my dear. Everything. You will not be Tsahìk- since my Reya is next in line, but if and when you and my son do mate, you will be the mate of the Metkayina’s future Olo'eyktan. It is my duty to know who that woman is… So tell me, everything.”

And so, Lýn spoke as Ronal asked her question after question. 

She was asked about her family and her completed rites; Keftxo, her childhood, her likes and dislikes, what her values were and what she did in her free time. Ronal asked her what she envisioned for her future, even how many children she wanted to have.

With each question, they became more direct and personal and Ayelýn felt her walls going up and panic bubble in her chest. Her body was so rigid and tense, she had to force herself to unclench her jaw, to uncurl her tail and to give her shoulders the occasional roll. 

When requested, Ayelýn recounted the story of how she and Aonung first met and then Ronal asked her a question she had been dreading the most. 

“Aonung won’t say, but when do you believe you two will take the next step? I am keen to have the meeting of the two families. Tonowari and I have been lenient. We gave Aonung a year, it has now been almost two. I understand this must be a bit difficult for you, but… it has been long enough.”

Stunned, Ayelýn fiddled with the end of her tail, then, catching herself, she stopped. “We will discuss it, Tsahìk,” she feebly promised. 

“That is all I ask,” she said. “You may continue to court of course, there is no pressure to make the mating bond just yet.” 

Tension eased from Lýn’s shoulders at that.

“But, you have to understand, we need to know for certain whether or not this is a secure match,” she explained with surprising gentleness. 

“I understand.” 

“Good… Now tell me, Ayelýn. Are you happy in your courtship with my son? Truly?”

“Yes. He-” Lýn cleared her throat. “I am happy… He makes me happy.” 

“Hmm.” Ronal’s unwavering eyes made Lýn uncomfortable. “I must speak my mind when I say I was quite surprised by my son’s choice of you.”

Feeling another wall of guardedness shift into place, Lýn clenched her jaw. “Because I am a scrubber from Keftxo?” 

Surprise clouded Ronal’s features for a fraction of a second. “Oh goodness, no. Nothing to do with that. If anything I am baffled as to why you- a woman with her head on her shoulders- is with my Aonung- given how he can be.” 

“How he- can be? Forgive me, Tsahìk, but don’t understand.”

“Aonung is… subversive. He is wild and brash- rude. He is selfish in nature and is reckless with his life.  As his mother, I want nothing more than for him to see that he is destined to do great things.”

Lýn’s heart thundered in her chest. She should have bit her tongue but it was quicker to release. “Your son is already doing great things.”

Ronal regarded the woman before her. Gone was the fidgeting, nervous slip of a Na’vi. Ayelýn was livid. 

“You don’t agree with me?” she asked, mildly amused.

“No. No, I don’t. Aonung is defined by none of those descriptions.” 

“Oh?”

“Tsahìk, my apologies for speaking out of turn but- Aonung is bold, and kind. He is brave and he may seem selfish at times like you say but he would put his own life in danger for the help of others. He is brash and rude but he is also funny and sweet and charming- and he wants nothing more than your approval of him. He wants you and his father to see him- not as a constant disappointment but as your son…. He’s a good leader, he has heart and strength and the people love him!

“And yes he has his flaws- Don’t we all?! But he is our future Olo'eyktan- his mistakes no matter how big or small are seen as monumental in anyone else's eyes. He’s allowed to make mistakes, he’s allowed to learn from them and not have them constantly thrown back in his face... Like anyone else, he’s allowed to be forgiven…. Especially by his parents.”

Silence followed.

An awestruck appearance of realization formed on the Tsahìk’s face and Lýn braced herself for Ronal’s wrath.

“You speak with such passion for Aonung. I had not realized you were in love with my son.”

Ayelýn released a shaky breath. Not outrightly disagreeing with the statement, she didn’t correct it either. 

Since her mother’s slip of the word love a little over a month ago, she’d had sufficient time to dwell and think. 

At every attempt to reason away the absurdity, Lýn had failed. 

She was in love with Aonung. 

Through and through. 

Flaws and all. 

“We are courting, Tsahìk. Of course I care deeply for him.”

“For someone like Aonung with a commitment to his clan, courting has nothing to do with love, child. It is a path to secure a match in the end. You may care deeply, yes, but finding love in courtship for him is a gift. As leaders, courtship means duty, honor, security.”

Lýn bit her lip. She finally understood the pressures Aonung face day after day.

“Then, as a leader whose duty is for the clan- their needs, their happiness… Doesn’t Aonung deserve that too? You speak of love as this surprising gift between a match. But… can’t he just want to find love for himself?”

Ronal’s lips twitched and instead of answering, she asked her own questions. “Does my son know? Does he know how deep your feelings for him fall?”

“...No.”

“And will you tell him?”

Ayelýn’s head bowed, wordlessly answering the question. 

“Pity… Well. There is still time, no?” The Tsahìk uncovered a platter. “I am famished. Would you like to join me for lunch, Ayelýn?”

Staring stunned at the spread, when Lýn glanced up, Ronal was smiling. 

The type of smile that told Ayelýn she’d passed some kind of test. 

~

Hello friends! 💛

Firstly, I promise you, I tried so many others, but that's the title that happened to stick for this part... and on the topic, I hope the smut was alright... Hehe.

This part got way too long, so I split it into two. The next one coming out will be the final part. *Fingers Crossed*

As always, please let me know what you think.

~

“Absolutely not!”

The smile on his lips died. “No? What? Why?” 

“W- what do you mean, why?” she implored. “I should be the one asking you that! What is this about, Aonung? You have to explain yourself! You can’t just-” 

“Hey, hey, okay,” he tried to sooth, as she turned upset. “I’m sorry! You’re right.” He was already messing up, forgetting everything he and Lo’ak had practiced beforehand. “Will you at least give me the chance to explain?”

Ayelýn scoffed in disbelief.

What in the Great Mother’s mighty name was happening?

“Ayelýn.” 

Out of habit, she nervously tugged at her tail, staring at him with no response. Lýn wanted nothing more than to desert their present conversation. She was uncomfortable and trying very hard to stay respectful. For the fifth time, she had to mentally remind herself she was talking to her future chief. Cursing him out would not bode well. 

“Lýn?” he called again. 

Reluctantly nodding, she agreed to hear him out. “Okay.” 

His shoulders slumped in relief. “Okay.” 

“So,” she said lamely. “I’m sensing there’s a story here?”

“A tiring one, yes,” he agreed, turning away and plonking himself on a mat around her family’s tiny crafted table.  

Ayelýn watched dumbly as Aonung made himself comfortable- body sprawled in a lounged position that showed off his- well his everything. Abs, thighs, chest- arms that held him up as he leaned against them. 

Eywa, the man was large!

He patted the space beside him expectantly, and she complied, but not without a dramatic huff. 

“I need your help. More specifically… I need a courting partner,” he started. “I’ve been instructed by my parents to find one.”

“And your first thought was me?” she snorted, thinking this was all some kind of cruel joke. 

“Not exactly,” he replied with a chuckle that seemed more sad than amused. 

She fidgeted as he launched into his story, telling her everything from his parents’ expectations, to his elaborate plan that heavily relied and involved her… Technically she was right. He didn’t exactly want court… he only wanted her to pretend. 

And when he was finished, Lýn was just as confused and no less convinced. “Your story is sad and all but I’m sorry, I-”

“It’d be for a short while, Ayelýn. Just long enough that it seems real.” 

“Real?” she frowned. “Alright, let’s say we did… We’d make that happen how exactly? Have you noticed we can’t have a single conversation without breaking out into an argument?” 

“That’s not fucking true. I-”

At her pointed look, he bit his tongue. “Ayelýn, all I’m asking is for you to show up to a couple feasts and ceremonies with me, maybe hold my hand or kiss my cheek, bat your eyelashes and pretend that we-”

“Are in love?”

“Like each other,” he bit out. “Just enough to get my parents off my tail.” 

“Why me?” 

“Why not you?” he tried to tease, but she wasn’t impressed. 

“Will you stop behaving as if this is no big ask and be serious for once?! You came to me of all people to help you. Why? I’m sure you have a slew of women who’d be more than willing to play pretend with you, Aonung. There are rumors you know? About you and- and your-”

His lips quirked, entertained at how flush she was suddenly getting. Her blush was fucking adorable. “My what, gorgeous? Go on, you can say it,” he taunted. “I believe in you.”

The stinging smack against his chest in retaliation was well deserved, and it was taking everything within him to not burst out into laughter at her expression when she realized what she’d done. 

“Again I say, you are such a child!” she seethed, too caught up to apologize to her future chief for her violence. The man was ridiculous!

“Me? You’re the one that can’t say the word, co-”

“Your playmates, Aonung!” she belted. “I don’t know what you were thinking, but I was going to say playmates.” 

The smug skxawng had the audacity to look disappointed that she hadn’t said what he was actually thinking. 

“And judging by just how many rumors I’ve heard, I’m sure they are very true!” she continued. “Just look at you!” she emphasized, moving her hand up and down towards his body.

“Aw thanks, gorgeous. You think I’m attractive?”

“Aonung!”

“What does it matter?” He was getting slightly annoyed now. He was so used to getting his way with women. Why was she making this so difficult? Truthfully he knew she wouldn’t agree straight away, but he didn’t think it’d take this much to convince her. 

“It matters to me, you skxawng!” Her tail thrashed behind her, irritated and itching to whip him again. “I’m not stupid… I’m from Keftxo and not- not Awa’atlu.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” 

“Oh we’re pretending already, are we?” she asked sarcastically. “Have you thought this through enough? Who’s going to believe that you choose me out of all the options you have? I’ve got nothing, Aonung! Nothing! I’m from Keftxo. I have no status, no achievements-” she listed, gesturing to her body that bore no tattoos of any significance besides the small one for completing her coming into adulthood rites. “I’m a scrubber for Eywa sake! Who’s going to believe that you’d want me as your future mate, because I sure won’t!” 

He leaned into her personal space, arms practically trapping her as one rested on the table and the other on the floor- brushing her folded knee. “You sure don’t think very highly of yourself, do you, gorgeous?” 

“That’s not-”

“I promise you that the reason I picked you has nothing to do with you being from Keftxo, and certainly nothing to do with your status.” 

She licked her lips and he caught the action. “Why then?”

“Because for some strange reason, you’re immune to my charm. You didn’t even like the tongue thing I did,” he said, sounding almost disappointed. “They all like that.”

“Stop.” 

“Say yes.”

“No.”

“If I wanted another woman, I’d have done so. But I didn’t… I want you.”

That had no right sounding the way it sounded.

“Aonung…” her tone was warning.

“Ayelýn.”

“People will talk.”

“Let them. Their opinions mean nothing to me.”

“What about what it means to me?”

“You don’t care what people think.” 

“You don’t know me!”

“Then I’ll get to.” 

“I’ll get on your nerves.”

“Oh, I’m counting on it.”

“You’ll get on mine.”

“Can’t be helped but I’ll work on it.”

“I might stifle you in your sleep.”

He grinned. “Already thinking of us sleeping together, are we? Naughty, naughty, Ayelýn.” 

“Aonung.” She tried to push him backwards needing space- and air to think. Eywa, he smelled good.

The bastard didn’t budge though. He was doing a weird pleading thing with his face that made her tummy give a little swoop. Ayelýn groaned and slumped forward, forehead smacking against one very firm pectoral… She felt her resolve slipping. 

Maybe she wasn’t as immune as he’d said.

She straightened up when she felt the vibrations of his chuckles. “This is an awful lot you’re expecting from me… It might sound selfish but what exactly do I get out of it?” 

“What do you want?” 

Ayelýn nibbled on the edge of her thumb. Given the sudden rare opportunity, there was one thing she really wanted, but it seemed too big a thing to ask. 

“The entire thing is insane, you do know that right?” she complained instead, backtracking again. She couldn’t even believe she was actually considering it either. 

“What else am I supposed to do?”

“I don't know, have you tried being honest with your parents?” 

“No. I really haven’t. I won’t either,” he replied candidly. 

“So you’d rather lie to them? You’d rather create this whole scheme- this… this ruse-”

“Yes,” he said firmly, cutting her off. “Ayelýn, please… This is my only option at the moment.”

Silence descended between them. He stared at her while she studied him. Desperate eyes dancing with searching ones.  

“You’re good at this, you know, convincing me to do things that I damn well know is going to end in disaster.”

That cocky smirk began to grow across his lips. “Well, you kn-”

“Don’t speak. Or you’ll ruin everything.” 

He pressed his lips together, unable to hide his amusement. The skxawng knew he’d won. 

‘When have you ever done anything daring?’ her mind mocked as she ran through possible scenarios of how badly this could all end.

“Okay,” she decided after her silent moment of deliberation. “Okay, I’ll help you.”

Aonung opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off before he could, index finger sternly pointed up at him. 

“But! I reserve full right to end this whenever I want to… If it’s too uncomfortable or- or too much.”

“Deal.” 

“And, only if my parents agree with your request to formally court me… As much as I hate this- lying to them- they can’t know the truth either.”

He was a little less confident about that aspect- only because her father didn’t appear to think much of him- but he nodded anyway. 

“Easy. Double deal.”

Ayelýn eyed his outstretched arm warily for a beat too long, then clasped it with hers- the size difference drastically noticeable since his swallowed hers entirely. 

“Double deal,” she repeated. 

~

The rest of the afternoon passed in a world wind. 

Right after they’d made their deal, Lýn’s family had shown up- evidently too eager to stay away any longer and Aonung was invited for dinner the moment he tried to apologize for overstaying his welcome.

While he and Aldurf- Lýn’s father, engaged in awkward small talk that was thankfully interrupted by an excited Kaiiff, Ayelýn helped her mother prepare a simple spread consisting of spicy, roasted fishtails, a fragrant seaweed and tslikllte broth and some leftover nectar dipped fruit. 

Throughout their meal, Bwena blushed profusely and flicked her wrist in an “oh stop” motion, every time Aonung complimented her.

He praised cooking skills after tasting each dish offered to him and Ayelýn had to force herself to stop rolling her eyes at each flattering remark given. Especially the ones when he admired her mother’s grand tapestry that had taken her many moons to complete.  

Kaiiff, on the other hand, bombarded their visitor with question after question. “Do you have your own spear?” the eight year old asked after a big gulp of broth. “Did you craft it yourself?” He wiped his mouth messily and pointed. “What’s this tattoo for?” He listened intently as Aonung explained, then, “Oh and that one? And what about the one on your calf?”  

Aonung thankfully took it all in stride, delving into tales of his adventures in the far oceans when he’d been asked, “Did you really defeat an akula on your own? I heard a rumor that you did.” He grinned at the wide-eyed, awed expression on the youngling’s face that so reminded him of his own little brother. 

To Ayelýn however, it was incredibly annoying how quickly her family became besotted with the skxawng. Thankfully she could rely on her father to show some sort of emotion other than instant acceptance. 

Aldurf didn’t glare per say, but sat back quietly while everyone spoke, staring at their guest with uncertainty. And by the time their stomachs were filled, the sound of her father clearing his throat lulled their chatter- future Olo'eyktan included. 

“Kaiiff, go play.”

The little boy pouted at being dismissed, but got up anyway, taking a long piece of driftwood with him. He’d apparently been trying to whittle it into a spear all week. 

“So,” Lýn’s father started, gaze trained on Aonung who shifted nervously. “What brings you to our home, son of Tonowari? What makes you seek out my only daughter?”

“Well I-” Aonung was suddenly anxious. When did that ever happen to him? “I was hoping to get to know your daughter, sir… with your permission of course.” 

When Aldurf made no effort to respond, Aonung glanced at Ayelýn who rolled her eyes at his silent plea for help.

Taking pity, she gestured to the man sitting beside her. “Sempul, the skxawng said he intends to court me.”

“Gorgeous!” Aonung chastised, the nickname rolling naturally from his lips as a whispered hiss. “You can’t call me that in front of your parents.” 

“Then you can’t call me that either.”

“Not happening.”

“Then skxawng it is,” she smiled.

“Wow…” He stared. “You should do that more often.”

Her smile dropped. “Do what?”

“Smile. I like it. It’s pretty. Do it again.”

“I only smile with people I like.”

“Ouch, and here I thought you liked me plenty.”

“Shut. Up.”

“Never.”

The clearing of a throat had them straightening up as though chastised- both reminded that the same thing had happened once before.

Bwena was grinning so wide, she appeared giddy while Aldurf finally seemed more at ease- more his usual relaxed self. Obviously they saw something Lýn didn’t.

Disappointed by her parent’s reactions, Ayelýn knew it wouldn’t take much for them to agree to Aonung’s request.

She guessed she was going through with this facade after all. 

~

A week later, Ayelýn was slowly placing the length of the beach near Aonung’s private hideaway. It would be the first time they saw each other since he’d approached her with this wild idea and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous. 

The loud shriek of a skimwing alerted her of Aonung’s arrival. His water beast coasted expertly, finned wings causing large rippled waves before the future chief was soon lurched and landing on the sand with grace. 

“Show off!” Ayelýn called out in greeting, causing him to grin. “Skxawng, you’re late.”

“Only a little. I got back from my hu-” When he’d closed the distance between them and had finally seen her properly, his words got stuck in his throat, causing him to choke. 

“You, alright there?”

“Fine, mm,” he croaked, knocking his chest with his knuckles. “You-” He coughed and tried again. “I like your- you look beautiful.”

“Oh… Thank you.” 

Ayelýn had put some effort into her appearance for tonight’s plans. Hair tamed with a salt and sweet scented herbed balm, Lýn’s natural curls fell above her waist, shiny and defined. She wore her best top- an intricate creation she’d made with brightly coloured coral that was delicately woven. Her flowy tweng had detailed braided cords and beads along the edge and she’d borrowed her mother’s neck piece which glittered with rare stones her father had traded for many years ago. 

“Well uh, let’s go. We really are late.”

“Wait, wait!” She hurriedly grabbed his hand. “Shouldn’t we discuss this first?” At his confused expression, she huffed. “What are the rules? The plan?”

“Rules. Can’t we just go with the flow?”

“Aonung, this will be the first time anyone sees us together. Your friends are going to be at this feast… your family.”

Aonung tracked her expressions. “You’re nervous,” he concluded, feeling like a dick. He pulled her closer with the hand she was already clutching. “Alright. Tell me what you need to know.”

He felt pleased from her grateful sigh of relief, and listened intently as she began to explain herself. At some point, whilst she rambled on, listing her rules of do’s and don’ts and definitely no kissing, Aonung unconsciously zoned her out.   

Because Eywa… He couldn’t stop staring at her. 

~

Awa’atlu was an explosion of festivity. 

Ayelýn had been to her fair share of feasts and celebrations at other neighboring villages, but this would be her first one at Awa’atlu. Everything in the main village was bigger, grander… And tonight was no exception. 

The beach was packed, all in the name of celebrating the first harvest of the new moons. Lit torches along the shore glowed brightly in contrast with the dark sky and sea. And past the dancing bodies that moved to the thundering beats of massive drums was an archway- it was majestic, thick mangrove roots twisting and connecting, leading to an enormous communal space.

Lýn kept hold of Aonung’s hand as they made their way through a throng of clan members. Bows and signs of respect followed them with every step- along with whispers and stares of curiosity. 

When they approached the feast area, Aonung squeezed her hand. “Fuck.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked, tilting her head upward to catch his expression, finding it closed off.  

Instead of responding, he changed the direction they’d been going in and Ayelýn quickly caught on.

They’d been summoned.

She didn’t think it’d be this soon. 

Ahead of them sat a line of regally adorned Na’vi. The council. And seated directly in the middle of that row was none other than Tonowari and Ronal. 

Growing up, Lýn had seen the clan leaders from afar on a rare couple occasions, but this would be her first interaction with them. 

At the impressive sight of Tonowari, she silently chastised herself for not figuring out who Aonung was sooner. Just like his son, the chief was a beast of a man- and even seated, Lýn felt small in comparison.  

Both she and Aonung bent with respectful greetings toward the Olo'eyktan and Tsahìk. The act meant the loss of Aonung’s grip, a comfort Ayelýn instantly missed. He’d gone completely ridged beside her, thus causing her anxiety to spike. 

“Late again, Aonung,” his mother voiced, tersely and although her words were directed to her son, her attention was trained on his female companion. 

“Apologies, sa'nok.” 

“Who is your friend?” his father asked.

“I am Ayelýn,” Lýn said. “It is an honor to meet you, Olo'eyktan. Tsahìk.”

Tonowari was kind enough to politely return her greeting, but Ronal’s gaze only intensified. 

Ayelýn knew Ronal’s stare was meant to intimidate, and she’d have cowered at any other time, but somehow a surge of boldness took over. She did not back down, did not break the fierce eye contact until Ronal blinked and bared a hint of a smile that conveyed her intrigue. 

“Ayelýn… I’m assuming this is your mysterious courtship partner?” Tonowari questioned, and before his son could answer, the chief was addressing Lýn. “Aonung has told us too little about you. It is good to put a name and a face to Aonung’s stories. I was beginning to think you didn’t exist,” the chief said, and though Lýn knew it was a joke, she tensed at the tone of his words. 

Sending a fleeting glance to her pretend partner, she caught the irritated tick of his jaw. The tension was glaringly extreme, so Lýn tried to break it with a chuckle that came out more shaky than amused. 

“It’s my fault for that actually, ” she lied, addressing the chief. “I wasn’t quite ready to take the next step. I’m grateful Aonung has been so patient with me.”

Her fingers reach out to tangle with Aonung’s as she ignored his burning stare. 

“Is that so?” Tonowari asked intriguingly. His gaze found her village’s beads. “How is it that you two met? I didn’t realize that Keftxo held your interest, son.” 

Head still bowed, a cloud of growing rage appeared on Aonung’s face and as his lips parted to speak, Lýn quickly cut in again. 

“That would be my fault too, Ma Olo'eyktan,” she laughed- more believable this time. “How we met is quite the story. You see I had narrowly escaped a dangerous riptide. My canoe got caught on some rocks and thankfully it washed up near here. Seeing that I’ve never been to Awa’atlu, Aonung was kind enough to take care of me… He was quite charming, and well… here we are.” 

Careful with her explanation, she made sure not to be specific about their timeline. As far as his parents thought, they’d been secretly together for months. 

“Here we are.” Tonowari gave an impressed, hum. “Well. I'm pleased to see that he’s finally settling down. And to you Ayelýn, welcome. I hope we see more of you. Aonung, we shall speak later,” he said, dismissing them. “Go on. Enjoy the celebrations.”

Later on and after she’d been briefly introduced to Aonung’s rowdy group of friends who gestured approvingly at her in the way men usually did with each other over a woman, the pair settled amongst them to enjoy the feast. 

Away from the leaders of her clan, Lýn finally relaxed somewhat- shoulders slumping as pent up tension slowly left her body.

Uncaring of the stares, she awkwardly shuffled closer to Aonung, leaning against his side as if it were natural- and after a while of them both figuring out what worked- it did… feel natural. 

She felt his breath tickle her hair as his shoulders shook. 

“Are you sniffing me?” 

“No!” she lied. Then, “Fine, yes. Only a little,” she whispered back. “I’m stressed and your scent is annoyingly comforting,” she huffed. 

Instead of teasing her for her comment like he’d usually do, he tugged her closer, one large palm curling across her hip. And sure it might have all been for show, but some small part of him fluttered happily at the feeling of him being her comfort. 

“Eywa. I think I feel my heart in my throat,” she mumbled. “Do you think your parents bought it? It felt like they saw straight through me!”

“You did good,” he mumbled in praise against her temple. “Far better than I did… My mother likes you.” 

“Really?” she snorted, peering up at him, dubiously. “How could you possibly tell? She said not one word to me and glared the entire time, you skxawng.”

Aonung shrugged. “She smiled. She doesn’t do that with just anyone.” He snickered as if realizing something. 

“What?”

“Seems like you and my mother have something in common.” 

“Mm… Aonung,” she said gently, shifting a tad closer so they wouldn’t be overheard. “Is it always like that? With them,” she clarified. 

His tongue poked the inside of his cheek and he shook his head. “Not always. They’re not very happy with me right now, is all.”

“Why?” she frowned. “Because of the courtship?”

“A little bit… My parents don’t love it when I rebel against the life they intend me to be living.” He smirked in faux amusement. “Unfortunately, I am a stubborn disappointment and I just can’t help myself.”

Ayelýn didn’t find any humor in his words, she felt sympathy if anything. “How would you like to live your life?”

Aonung blinked in surprise. No one had ever asked him that question. “I'm still figuring it out,” he whispered honestly. 

A high pitched whistle and bang of a drum interrupted their moment.

Everyone’s attention fell on Tonowari who stood before them. His voice was resonant as he greeted them and his speech was beautiful and full of praise for his people.

Then, after Ronal led the clan in a chanting, melodic prayer, they feasted.

Aonung begrudgingly untangled himself from her when the food arrived. “Are you hungry?” 

From the lavish spread they were sharing with others around them, he dished out her meal for her, adding more and more despite her feeble protests. 

“That’s way too much, Aonung!” she laughed, tugging at his arm and wrist to stop him from putting another serving. “I can’t possibly finish all of that.” 

“Then I’ll finish what you can’t,” he responded easily, swiping a slice of fish from her leaf and licking the juice from his fingertips. 

It didn’t take long after that for them both to start bickering.

And, so lost in the moment between the two of them, when Ayelýn finally glanced around- if she thought people were staring before, they most certainly were now.

Even Rotox was peering at them in surprise. Catching himself, he smiled at her and engaged her in small talk, making her feel welcomed. 

Midway through their meal, they were interrupted by two newcomers. 

An omaticaya male who Ayelýn figured was none other than Lo’ak- gave her a knowing smirk as Aonung introduced her to his sister. 

“I thought you were finally done with this, foolishness,” Tsireya chidingly whispered to him sometime later, while Lo’ak and Ayelýn were in the middle of a heated debate about the tastiest part of a fish. 

“Reya-”

“You promised you’d try.”

“And I am.” He gave her a meaningful look.

“Oh… So, she- Ayelýn’s the one you said you found then? The one you told us about?”

Aonung felt a stab of guilt for lying to his sister. He nodded. 

“I owe you an apology then,” she sighed. “I thought you lied… and that she was just another plaything of yours.”

“She’s definitely not.”

Tsireya smiled. “Good. Because I like her.” 

They both watched as a fiery Ayelýn and Lo’ak continued to argue their points- each trying to get poor Rotxo to take a side. 

“Me too,” Aonung agreed.

~

At Aonung’s instance, he accompanied her back Keftxo- her hanging off his back as his skingwing glided them through the ocean. Avoiding the long journey, they used a shortcut through a coral filled channel and arrived on the northern side of her village. 

But something was wrong… Lýn sensed it the instant they stepped foot at the edge of a dilapidated dock.

The loud roar of crashing waves could be heard from the south. In addition, orders being called out, mingled with screams and shouts of terror coming from every direction accompanied the clan’s mess of movement. 

Lýn ran to the nearest person- Aonung close behind, calling out, “Slwen!”

Slwen, an elderly Na'vi, held a crying toddler in her arms, whilst two little ones clung to her legs. “What is happening?”

“The terrace wall at the south side. A breach. It- it happened so fast. They tried to barricade it, but the waves were too rough.” She was shaking. “Homes collapsed, Lýn” she revealed. “They are searching for the missing.”

“Lýn, wait!” Aonung tried to pull her back but she slipped past him in a flash. “Fuck.” Moving quickly, he gave a stern order to a terrified teenaged boy- telling him to get to the nearest village and bring help. Then, he was running after Ayelýn.

Sprinting through her village, Lýn’s heart pounded as people ran in the opposite direction. The terrace wall was centuries old. There had been breaches in the past- breaches they were able to mend- but if it ever broke all the way… their little village was no match for the fury of the sea. 

“Ayelýn!” Aonung caught her around the waist, flinging them around so he faced her. “Stay!” he ordered loudly with a pointed finger. 

“My family!”

“I mean it! Don’t!” And with that, he took off in the direction of the commotion, leaving her behind. 

The further south he got, the worse he saw. 

Water came up to his shins along what was once a southern dock. It was rising alarmingly fast. He could see men and women straining to hold up the barriers- high waves angrily splashing over the illuminated natural wall that creaked loudly.

Snapping sounds rippled with every new crack and more and more water escaped between them- washing away Na’vi with its powerful force.

And just ahead he spotted the remains of collapsed maruis- the tops of their ceilings splintered and jutting out of the sea as they slowly sank. 

Quickly assessing the situation, Aonung began to call out orders. 

Those being rescued emerged one by one, and the entire time Aonung’s gaze was on the lookout for Lýn’s family. 

“You, and you, help me with this!” Directing two men- and three others who fell in, they used their knives to cut the ropes of a section of pathway. Lifting the heavy material toward a gaping section of the barrier, they successfully secured it.  

Catching on, many others followed suit- some even climbing high to stretch the material further up. 

On Aonung’s third patching, he caught sight of a familiar man emerging with rescues- a child in his arms and an injured elder leaning heavily on him. Aonung called his name, but the waves were too loud. 

“Aldurf!” Aonung called out again running towards him. He caught him by the shoulder before he could dive off again and the older man seemed surprised to see him. “Kaiiff? Your mate?”

“Safe,” Aldurf assured, panting as he wiped at his brow. “My Lýn?”

“Safe,” Aonung said as well. “Are there many others down there?”

“Ten trapped. Three still missing. There’s too much debris. I’ve got a team trying to find another way in.”

“I’ll go. Take over for me up here.” It was an order. 

Before Aldurf could agree or not, Aonung was diving deep without a second thought. 

~

Only when the faint rays of morning made itself known did things finally calm. 

Fatigued and aching, Aonung and many others made their way to the shoreline to where the rest of the clan were gathered and waiting.

Ayelýn spotted him first and ran towards him. Looking deeply relieved, she was trying to appear brave and unaffected, but the wringing of her tail and the way in which her eyes tracked over every inch of his body told him that she was nervous- that she was genuinely worried- about him. 

“I’m fine, gorgeous,” he assured, brushing a strand of hair off her cheek when she came within reach. Then, to his surprise, her forehead fell against his chest with a quiet mumble.

 “Thank Eywa.”

“You were worried about me,” he teased in a singsong voice, ducking so that his words got muffled in her hair. 

“Shut up, skxawng” she said without heat, slipping her arms around him. “Sempul told me what you did… Thank you.”

Surprised for a second time by her actions, he realized they were engaging in physical contact that was again not for show- or part of the plan, but for comfort… for them. 

His knuckles ran along her spine as he observed the beach. The people of Keftxo were hugging each other in relief. Over the top of Lýn’s head he caught sight of her family- all safe. They waved at him and approached. 

Bwena fussed over him, planting a fat smooch on each of his cheeks in thanks. Even Aldurf patted him on the back while Kaiiff launched into a story about how he’d heard that Aonung saved so many people. 

Soon, the entire village was gathered in their communal space, singing in unison a soft melody of thanks to Eywa until the morning burst from the dark. Although nine homes were lost and many were injured, they all still had their lives.

Aonung stayed that day to help pick up the pieces- along with the few others who’d come from neighboring villages.

With the waters residing, they cleaned away the debris, made more patches to the terrace wall and crafted makeshift temporary homes for those who’d lost theirs.

Ayelýn and her family’s home was thankfully still intact and had only suffered minimal water damage.

Aonung was already mentally making plans for how to reinforce their marui- he even voiced a couple suggestions to Aldurf who accepted his offer to help him execute the improvements.

They hosted him again for another meal, again thanking him for his efforts. And when he was finally about to leave, whistling low for his skingwing- Ayelýn called out his name. 

She jogged down the rickety dock towards him, determination ablaze in her eyes. “I know what I want.”

“Want?”

“You asked me what I wanted in return for helping you… Is that- still an offer?”

“Oh. Right…” he cleared his throat. “Of course.”

“Sempul said that you two are going to do repairs? To our home?”

“Ah. Yes. I’ve got a couple ideas.” Actually he had a lot. Not only for her home.

She nodded. “Can you- I was hoping…” Her arms folded and she shook her head as though thinking something was stupid.

“Ayelýn. Ask me.”

“Keftxo. You know we are sort of the forgotten village… We try but-” she hesitated. “I know that technically I should be going to our village’s chief councilor- and that it is a big ask, but, you have the power to make a change- a difference… All I want is for us to flourish-” She gestured to her village behind her. “To not be broken and always need mending… To not be known as… lesser.”

Aonung took in the view of Keftxo- really looked. Mauri pods were falling apart- familiar reinforcement like what Ayelýn had used on her canoe could be seen covering up much of the pod shells. There were numerous tears and rips and holes along the village paths, docks had missing gaps and that was only the half of it. 

The biggest issue was the terrace wall of course… an issue that if not properly tended to could wipe the entire little village. 

Without her ask, he been planning to bring it up with his father anyway- he’d been ready to head to Awa’atlu to ask the Keftxo’s councilor what exactly the fuck he’d been doing all these years for the village… and seeing Ayelýn staring up at him so pleadingly broke a tiny part inside of him. 

Suddenly all he wanted to do was scoop her up and hide her away somewhere safe and pretty. She deserved it. 

And she was right too. He did have the power to make a change for them. 

“Okay. I can do that.”

“Yeah?” 

Her grin was so blinding, he couldn’t help returning it. He almost teased her about it, but he didn’t want her to stop. 

No. Instead, he was going to try his damn hardest to see that gorgeous smile as often as he could. 

~

Hello friends! 💛

I hope you enjoyed this part. Please let me know, you know I love hearing from yall.

Little disclaimer; but because this is a mini series, there's going to be some time skips ect. Also, I have a tiny bit of it already kind written- but do we want smut in this series?

~

“You want us to… what?” 

“Court. You and me.” 

“Clearly you’ve gone and lost your head.” 

~

Months Before…

Aonung stormed out of his family’s marui after yet another argument with his parents. Their demands were already ridiculous, but their constant reminders at every family meal were becoming annoyingly overwhelming. 

The anger and irritation inside of him was building, festering and threatening to make him do something he knew he’d regret. 

He was also about ready to punch something… Anything!

Clicking his tongue, he called for his skimwing and the second he reached the edge of the pier, he was leaping off and diving into deep crystal waters. Tsaheylu made, and at his command, the water beast shot off, taking him further and further away from his home… away from Awa’atlu. 

Mind distracted in a jumbled mess of fury and frustration over the situation at hand, Aonung let himself be blindly carried through the ocean. 

His parents had given him a deadline to find a woman to court. A woman he was then expected to eventually take as his mate. 

And honestly, it bothered him just how much of a shock the news had caused for him when he was told. Aonung had known all his life it would eventually come- it was expected of him- his birthright. 

But was it worth the pain it came with? 

“You should know better,” his father would say. “Be better.” Aonung was constantly criticized for his training techniques… his life choices, his decisions… his ways. It was, “do as I say,” and “when will you learn?” and… “you disappoint me.”

Nothing was ever good enough!

Words of honor and commitment and duty were forever shoved down his throat at every given opportunity. And although Aonung still considered himself a rebel and a rule breaker in his circle of friends, he was very much stifled and controlled. 

It was why most of his daydreams involved him running away. Daydreams of him leaving behind the duty, and the expectations… the fucking title. 

But he couldn’t leave. 

Tsireya. 

And Khalhan- his little brother. 

Aonung could never desert them. 

Damn his parents. Damn the entire situation. 

Fuck it all. 

~

For the remainder of the day, Aonung spent it by himself. Hidden away, he brooded, wallowing in self pity. It wasn’t until the sky began to change, suns slowly sinking into the sea that he considered leaving his shaded haven. 

A sudden muffled swear however, followed by a thunk, pulled Aonung from his thoughts. He couldn’t fathom who would have possibly ventured this far out to the abandoned, tiny island he considered his own. 

Curious, he climbed over a short wall of moss covered jagged rocks, only to find… a female.

He was unable to see her face from his position, but she was clearly upset, angry even, judging by the way she kicked the canoe that was half docked, half bobbing from the sway of rolling waves. 

“Oh you stupid thing! Couldn’t you have waited until I reached the reef line?” 

He snorted when a curse escaped her again, along with another thump, from the serve of a fierce kick. 

“Having fun there?” he called out. 

She startled at the sound of his voice, flinging her body around, knife drawn from her hip in preparation for danger. 

“Don’t do that!” she hissed when she found that it was just a loitering Na’vi. “I could’ve hurt you, you fool. You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that.” 

Aonung approached, hands lifted in surrender. The tip of her knife brushed his stomach as his eyes darted between her and the weapon.

Head titled, he noted that she barely reached his chest and her puny blade looked so dull, he was certain she wouldn’t be able to make much- if any damage with it. 

“I highly doubt that, but if it makes you feel any better,” he shrugged, ignoring her pretty scowl as he moved to inspect her canoe. It was laden with laundered items, so with ease, he pulled it all the way onto the shore. “What seems to be the problem with this?”

“It’s got a leak,” she huffed, sheathing her blade. “I tried patching it before I set out this morning, but-” Head snapping toward the sea, she glanced around in immediate panic. “Wait, where are we-” Her stomach dropped at the sight of a significant flag blowing in the far distance. “Are we near Awa’atlu?”

It was only at this question did he take note of the purple and brown string of beads dangling from a lock of her tangled, messy hair. “You’re from the Keftxo village,” he said stupidly. It now made sense to him why she didn’t immediately recognize him. 

She sized him up when her eyes found his own string of blue and brown beads- Awa’atlu beads to be precise- attached to the sheath on his hip- her expression almost daring him to say something. 

And he would have… but for some reason he held his tongue. 

“I… got turned around,” she mumbled, thumbing at a small scar on her shoulder. The almost healed cut had ripped open in her haste to keep both her and her canoe safe. Thankfully it was no longer bleeding. “Riptide, along the eastern sharp rocks.” 

“Riptide?” he repeated in alarm. “Why in Eywa’s name are you even traveling near there?! It’s high tide. Were you trying to get yourself killed?” 

“W- Did you not just hear me say I got turned around and caught in a riptide?!” Tail flickering in annoyance behind her, she gestured to the vast ocean before them. “It’s not as if I had any control! I left Keftxo before dawn and now look where I am! Oh, and I’m fine, by the way. Thank you, for your concern,” she snarked. 

His gaze traveled the length of her body, spotting no other injuries. “Are you really?” he asked sincerely. 

That gave her pause. “Yes.”

He didn’t believe her but accepted her answer anyway. “Alright then.” Kneeling beside her canoe, his brows creased incredulously. “Just how old is this damn thing?”

“It’s fine!” she exclaimed in offense, crouching beside him to inspect the damage. “Only needs a bit of mending.”

“A bit?” He flicked at a thick, crusty patch of reinforcement. “You’re better off without it. I’d scrap it if I were you. One wrong turn along a pier and it be nothing but a pile of fucking splinters.” He snickered. “Who even made this thing? The work is shoddy, a mess of piss poor craftsmanship, sloppy carving. Look- even the design is off. How did you get it to float?” 

Nostrils flaring, her chin jutted out at his words. Aonung was pretty sure he’d be dead if her glare was a dagger. 

She muttered a slew of very creative swear words under her breath that had him raising his brows and while he should’ve been insulted, he was rather impressed. 

“Scrap it… scrap it?! I’ll have you know, I fixed it up myself! This canoe was specially gifted to my father by council elder Fjid!”

Aonung snorted. “Fjid?! The old man hasn’t been on the council in over a decade. And what does he know about canoes? Last time I saw him, he could barely tie a knot.”

“I know we just met, but does anything good ever come out of your mouth?” 

“Actually. I’ve heard my tongue does wonders,” he boasted cockily, tracing the tip of said tongue along his bottom lip sensually.

Instead of swooning or blushing like he thought she would, revolution clouded her features. It threw him off honestly. 

“Who is the nearest mender in your village?” 

Aonung blinked. “W- I can mend it for you,” he offered, getting to his feet quickly when she looked about ready to dive out. 

“No, thank you… Mender?” 

“Wait…” He pointed to himself, baffled by her reaction to him. “Are you upset with me?” 

“Hm, let me think,” she hummed sarcastically, pretending to ponder. “I almost died from a riptide, got washed up near Awa’atlu of all villages. My canoe has a gaping hole in it and the first person I’ve come across who I thought could maybe, possibly help me, insults its craftsmanship and tried to crudely insinuate that I let him please me with his so-called wonderous tongue… So, yes. I’d dare say I am upset with you.”

She blew out a gush of air. “Now… would you please tell me where I can find your nearest mender.” 

~

Aonung led her to a marui on the outskirts of his village where many canoes were lined docked along the pier it was connected to. 

All the while throughout their journey there, he couldn’t help tossing glances at his new found companion. A companion he found to be scruffy and slightly volatile… but also… pretty. Very pretty.  

Her reactions towards him were slightly refreshing- she clearly didn’t know who he was- status included - something he was keen to keep hidden from her for a bit longer for some reason. 

He found great amusement every time she caught him staring- her face morphing into an unimpressed scowl that most definitely read, fuck off… He was right, because a second later she was signing those two words right at him and speeding past, purposely sending a wave of water his way.

Oh he liked her alright.  

Was it terrible that he loved pissing her off? That scowl did it for him, honestly, especially the one she gave him after he’d caught up and yanked on her tail, signaling that they had to travel in the opposite direction. 

When they’d reached the shoreline, her annoyance towards his theatrics had subsided. Distracted, it was evident that she was trying not to gape at her surroundings, and failing to. 

Unbeknownst to him, Awa’atlu was in every way different from the little village she’d grown up in. While of course there were some similarities, Awa’atlu screamed life- brightness, adventure… promise. 

His companion was so rapt up with her awed surveying that Aonung was secretly glad she missed the few passerby’s reactions to him. 

Two women he'd slept with on two separate occasions, flirtatiously waved at him. And then there were also the overly respectful nods and gestures from others that were becoming obvious.

Desperate to avoid running into anyone who’d try to stop and chat, Aonung gently tugged on her elbow to change their direction. “This way.” 

~

The mender available to help seemed rather enthralled by the pair that had come to visit him that day. 

Hythspon, while no longer in his youth, but nowhere near considered old, stood for a full solid ten minutes watching the bickering two hurl snides and sly comments to each other, all while trying to come to a decision. 

His future chief wanted the Keftxo female to leave with one of the newly crafted canoes Hythspon had available, while the unnamed metkayina wanted to simply have her own canoe mended and be on her way. 

“I told you already, the thing is a deathtrap! Are you trying to get yourself killed? Because at this rate, I’m starting to think you are!”

“It’s not a deathtrap!”

“It is!”

“Not! It’s perfectly fine!”

“So perfectly fine that it almost killed you?! Sorry, gorgeous but you need to let it go. It’s time.”

“No. No, no. The riptide almost killed me, skxawng, the riptide! And for future encounters, the decent thing to do would be to ask about someone’s well being after facing a catastrophe like that! Not, lecture them as if they're stupid!” 

“Well you wouldn’t have ever been in that situation if you had ditched the fucking thing and worried about your own life! You seemed to think so too since I found you kicking and swearing at it!” 

“I already apologized for the kicking!”

“Yo- you,” he spluttered incredulously. “Did you actually apologize to a pile of splinters?”

“Canoe!”

“Deathtrap!” 

“It just needs a little love and care, I told you!”

“Aha! Love and care? I’m sorry, gorgeous but that thing is way past love and care.”

“That’s the second time you’ve done that now. Stop calling me that!”

Anoung paused… then, head tilted, he grinned wickedly. “Gorgeous.”

“UGH! Why do you insist on behaving like such an annoying little kit?! Even my brother is more mature than you and he’s eight!” 

“Oh-ho! So me trying to stop you from harm's way is-”

The clearing of a deep throat halted their argument and also made them simultaneously straighten up and put a little distance between them. At some point during their feud, they’d ended up merely inches apart. 

“Well, as much as I’ve enjoyed this rather entertaining ordeal,” Hythspon chucked, “I would like to get on with the rest of my day.” 

“Right, sorry,” she mumbled in embarrassment, tail curled as though she wanted to hide herself behind it. 

Hythspon’s solution in the end was to loan her a canoe. He’d have someone find her own and promised to mend it to his best and then have it returned to her- which she was ever grateful for.

That left Aonung with nothing else to argue about and the minute Hythspon gave her an oar, she was dashing off. Before he could think of running after her, she stopped abruptly at the marui’s threshold and pivoted. 

“Um, thank you. For your help… skxawng.”

“You’re welcome… gorgeous.”

She scowled, but he didn’t miss the tiny twitch of her mouth. He probably imagined it but he thought for the briefest moment that she’d almost smiled.  

Walking along the pier, Aonung watched her row until her silhouette faded into nothing more than a blob in the distance. Confused by the unknown churning he felt in his chest, he shook his head and finally turned away. 

It wasn’t until later that night as he waited for sleep to claim him, that he realized something…

He hadn’t gotten her name. 

~ 

In the blink of an eye life went on. 

The Sullys were gone and a few months later, Awa’atlu received word that Xilä- Neteyam’s mate had given birth to a healthy baby boy. 

Left behind was Lo’ak of course, who’d decided to stay at Awa’atlu for good. Much to no one’s surprise, the forest boy was officially courting Aonung’s sister, Tsireya. 

Whilst Aonung and Lo’ak had started off on rocky footing initially, they both had quickly overcome it in their youth, and dare say even become close friends since then.

And even though Aonung’s immediate confidant was Rotxo, Aonung found himself confiding in the Sully brothers more often than not. 

Neteyam had given him some good advice when Aonung had first opened up about his worries to find a mate. Advice that he was actively trying to practice. Neteyam had told him not to look- not to stress and worry. That Eywa would show him the way eventually… But his patience was wearing thin and time was also running out. 

Arguments with his parents had intensified and the gossip and whispers about his “playmate” days being over, had spread. Though it was the truth. 

Gone were the days and nights of fucking and fooling around with playmate after playmate. He hadn’t been with a woman since after Neteyam’s chat with him that night. 

It was harder than he thought- not getting his dick wet on the regular. Not only was it painful at times and he had to get rather acquainted with right hand, but it also put him in a foul mood most days. 

Aonung was secretly proud of himself however. Every time temptation tried to lure him, he didn’t give in. He was serious. He was trying… Even though he had his doubts. 

And then, just like that, his year was up. 

And still no woman from Eywa. 

~

“Bro… Are you shitting with me right now?”

A disgusted expression formed on Aonung’s face. “I do not shit with you, brother.” He shook his head. “Your human sayings are quite vulgar, do you know that?”

Lo’ak ignored him, focusing instead on the bombshell of a confession Aonung had just shared. “Can we go back to the part where you said you lied to your parents about having a courting partner?” 

Aonung grimaced. Not only because the words sounded just as bad coming from Lo’ak’s mouth, but also from the sour flavor of the pungent booze he and his friend were passing back and forth. 

“I didn’t know what else to do.” His jaw clenched at the thought of the tongue lashing he was in for when the time came for him to confess. 

Ronal had the spirit of the Great Mother running through her veins. Aonung knew his mother didn’t believe him when he’d told her his news earlier that day. 

Fuck. 

“Okay. Let’s start over, man. Why would you even do that?”

Right. Lo’ak didn’t know everything. Neteyam did.

Slightly tipsy as he and Lo’ak sat along the shoreline, waves kissing their feet, Aonung divulged, telling his friend every detail all over again, because, what else was there for him to do?

“Damn, that’s just… damn.” Lo’ak sighed, slightly stunned by the angry rant Aonung had just given. “You’re lucky it’s not as bad as Neteyam- he had a fucking blood oath.” He winced at his choice of words. “Sorry, cuz.” 

Aonung paid him no mind however, his gaze instead distracted and locked on the horizon before them as Lo’ak went on a long winded rant of his own.

“- all one fucking mess, this whole elders’ tradition thing. If you ask me, brother, I’d just get some poor girl to pretend to be in love with me- ya know, appease the parents, then just have her break your heart… and then-” Lo’ak drank another healthy mouthful of their booze, “and then everyone would feel so sorry for your moping ass, they’d give you a break over this whole courting thing… I’m sure of it.” 

Aonung’s head snapped to his friend, slightly stunned. 

“What?” Lo’ak glanced behind him for good measure, but nope, Fishlips was staring at him. “What?” he asked again.

“That’s… that’s actually a good idea.” 

“The shit I just spewed?”

Aonung cursed at the burn from anther sip of the liquid he swallowed. Why was it worse each time? “Yeah. I think I’ll just do that.”

Lo’ak plucked his bottom lip in thought. His mind was hazy but not that hazy. He probably hadn’t heard right. “Pfft. You’re yanking my tail.”

“No, I’m serious,” Aonung said, sitting up as his mind started whirling. He twisted to face the Sully man, taking another shot of the disgusting, throat burning spirits. “It’s the perfect plan. Just before the formal ceremony, I’ll have her break it off, but by then I’d have “fallen in love”… My parents wouldn’t push anyone on me after something like that.”

“Dude… I was fucking joking,” Lo’ak emphasized. Then, paying attention to the determined look on the man’s face, Lo’ak shoved his shoulder. “Skxawng, you’re not seriously thinking of going through with this?”

“Why not? It’s good advice- Hey! I was going to drink that!”

Lo’ak had snatched the waterskin they hid their liquid stash in. “I think you’ve had enough.”

“Fuck you.”

Facing the metkayina man fully, the omaticaya shook his head. “Listen… back at Home Camp, there’s a saying, don’t ever take advice from Lo’ak. Now usually I’d be offended, but right now, I think you should listen to the masses… Also, I’m pretty sure you’re drunk. Better yet, we're both drunk.”

Aonung waved him off. “Lo’ak. This plan could actually work.” 

“It could also blow up in your face.”

“Then that’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

“You’re that desperate?! Reya’s got so many female friends, why don’t you-”

“No. I wouldn’t ask that of my sister. I know myself and it’s this unspoken rule between us anyway. I don’t play around with her friends, and she stays clear of mine- even if she’s never been like that- like me.”

“Nice. Guess I’m the exception then?” Lo’ak grinned. 

“You’re not my friend,” Aonung deadpanned. 

“Ouch!” Lo’ak pretended to be hurt. 

“Are you going to help me with this or not?” 

“Dude, I really love your sister. And I’d really like to stay on good terms with your parents, you know, so they’d let me continue to court her?! If they knew I helped you with this they’d toss me back to the forest before I could even plead my case!” 

Aonung squinted at him. “Tsireya’s made you soft,” he taunted. 

“Nice try, but I have two new badass tats that say otherwise,” he replied, gesturing to the intricate ink that adorned his left arm, and right shoulder.

The corner of Aonung’s lips twitched. He was secretly proud of the forest boy. Lo’ak impressed them all with his determination to learn their metkayina customs.

He’d been through grueling challenges that endangered his life and partook in lengthy, traditional ceremonies all for the chance of love. All for Tsireya. No wonder it was so easy for Aonung to approve of their match. 

Lo’ak blew out a breath and handed the booze back to his friend who took a swig. “Alright then, let’s do this fucking thing.” 

“That was fast. What changed your mind?”

“I know too much. Your parents will kill me either way, especially if they knew I didn’t do anything to stop you. So, let’s get to planning properly so they don’t find out.”

“Let’s hear it then. What’s first?”

Lo’ak thrummed his bottom lip again. “First things first, we need to find you a woman. Should be easy to help you get a willing partner, you’ve already got so many swatting at your tail.” 

“No,” Aonung shook his head, eyes glassy in the moonlight. “It can’t be one of them. They’d think they could handle it but they’d also think they could change me. Make me fall for them. I’m not stupid.”

“Nope,” Lo’ak agreed. “You’re just a cocky bastard… a fucking fishlip skxawng if you ask me,” he mumbled.

“Skxawng…” Revelation formed on Aonung’s face. “I think I know the perfect woman.” 

~

Ayelýn was furiously scrubbing at a filthy mat someone had brought in. Frustrated, she cursed at whatever substance had left such a stain, praying it wasn’t blood… or worse. 

Thankfully it didn’t smell like either. 

She wiped at her brow, and blew out a breath toward a stubborn loc of hair that refused to be confined in her tie. This would be her last article to clean for the day. 

If she could just get the stain out. 

Scrubbing until her already bruised knuckles blistered, Ayelýn tuned out the sounds of the village around her. 

Keftxo, was the smallest and last in the chain of fifty islands occupied by the metkayina people. Hearing countless whispers and rumored talk when she was growing up, Ayelýn found out that Keftxo, was sadly known as “the lesser” island. That included the reef people inhabiting it, also.

Despite learning this, her parents taught her to never be ashamed of being from here. It was full of the hardest working Na’vi, Na’vi who undertook jobs that may not have been the most grand but were no less important than any other. 

Life in her little village was all hard work most days. Her duty, along with a handful of others was the grueling job known as a scrubber. 

Everyday, canoes from their neighboring villages were filled to the brim with tarps, sleeping mats, hammocks, heavy fishing nets, tapestries and harnesses. And everyday she would spend hours scrubbing them clean. 

She’d just added another sweet smelling soap spud directly to the already almost potent concoction she’d formed for this one mat, hoping the concentrated effects would aid in her task, when a familiar fine voice called her name. 

“Lýn! Lýn!” Kaiiff, her little brother excitedly bounced into the marui she was in, boxy grin wide. “You won’t believe this! We have a visitor from Awa’atlu and I think he’s asking for you!”

Wiping sweat from her brow again, and mostly likely smearing herself with soap studs, Ayelýn began to rinse out the stubborn article. “No one from Awa’atlu knows who I am, Kaii,” she said with a forced smile, trying to mask her tiredness from the ball of life in front of her. 

“Lýnnn, I’m serious. He described you perfectly. Asked for a puny, scowling female and even said you have a tiny scar on your left shoulder. At least that’s what Talu said he was asking for. And who else in the village could that be?” 

Ayelýn paid full attention to her brother now, brows scrunched in confusion. Before she could ask, two individuals were entering the marui behind her brother, flanked by a very obvious crowd of onlookers behind them. 

Her father seemed uneasy as he approached her, suspicious eyes flickering from her to the man following close behind him.

“You!” her lips spat in fury before her brain could comprehend who exactly she was seeing. 

“Hello, gorgeous,” the familiar stranger greeted- rather loudly too, once again with that stupid smirk of his. 

“Ayelýn?” her father called. “You know the Olo'eyktan’s son?”

Ayelýn audibly inhaled- shock clouding her features at the revelation that the wall of a man before her- the man she’d practically insulted quite a few many times now, was none other than their Olo'eyktan’s son. 

Aonung…

Ripples of not so hushed whispers from Lýn’s workmates echoed behind her as her face paled in mortification. Despite the reveal, she had never wanted nothing more than to punch the stupid smug smirk off his face, mirth dancing in his eyes because he knew… that she knew now. 

“Ayelýn,” he voiced as though testing it out- her name sounding sinful coming from his lips. 

Time seemed to have sped up, because in a matter of seconds, quite a few things happened.

The first being, Aonung’s surprisingly pleasant introduction with her younger brother and her mother, who’d quietly snuck into the mix as well- her cheeks tinting as she bashfully patted Aonung on the arm for thinking that she was Lýn’s older sister and not her mother. 

Having enough, Ayelýn snapped rather rudely, interrupting their small talk. “What are you doing here?” 

“Ayelýn,” her mother hissed in disbelief. “Have some respect.”

“Sa'nok, you don’t under-”

“No, it’s okay. I know my presence is a bit of a surprise… I was actually hoping to have a word with your daughter, if you’d allow me,” Aonung directed to her parents, tone dripping in charm Ayelýn knew was probably- most likely all an act. “Somewhere private if possible?”

“Oh! O-of course, of course,” Bwena replied, grin stretching so wide that Ayelýn thought her mother’s face must hurt. She was ever eager to encourage whatever was happening here. “You may use our marui. Ayelýn will show you! Go on, Lýn,” her mother quipped, bodily shuffling her forward and even taking a fast second to try to hastily wipe away a streak of soap residue from her brow. 

“No- wait-”

Protesting was futile because before she knew it, Ayelýn found herself in her family’s shabby but quaint, tiny marui- quite alone with a towering Na’vi and his stupid smirking mouth. 

It annoyed her how much he was enjoying this- whatever this was.

Her eyes tracked his every move as he observed her home. It wasn’t as nice or grand or even tidy like the ones she’d snuck glances into during her brief visit to Awa’atlu, and she suddenly found herself feeling self conscious- lesser than… and she hated herself for it. 

When he finally returned his attention to her, his lips did a funny little quirk as though he were trying not to laugh.

“What?” she snapped.

Instead of responding, he snagged a cloth from a line of clean drying articles and approached cautiously, surprising her when he began to gently wipe at her brow and down her cheek. His other hand held her chin in place, thumb and forefinger keeping her still as he worked in silence. 

Ayelýn didn’t know why she allowed him, but something gave her pause… maybe it was the way his smell attacked her senses- salt and spice and comfort. 

“There you go,” he hushed, voice rumbling deep and wrong. “All pretty again.”

Senses betraying her, she forced herself to take a step back. “What are you doing here, Aonung?”

“Looking for you.”

“Mm, I gathered… You’ve created quite the spectacle and now it will be all my village talks about until I’m frail and old.”

“That’s dramatic… and presumptuous of you.”

“Presumptuous? Me? Oh-” she scoffed. Oh the nerve of him. “I have lived here all my life and I have never seen you step foot in Keftxo. You’re the one that walked into my village- like you own it mind you-” She gave him a flashing warning glare when he tried to rebut, because technically he did own her village. “-looking for me! Can we get this over with so you can be on your way? What do you want?” 

Mouth set, he shrugged casually. “I want us to form a courtship. A formal one.”

When Ayelýn didn’t answer, his head tilted, trying to catch her attention as he poked her shoulder. “Did you hear me, gorgeous?”

“Hm? Oh yes, I did. Nice joke. I'm just too tired to laugh though. Now what do you really want?”

“I’m… not joking,” he enunciated slowly, peering at her in concern, as if she were the one saying crazy things. “I want us to court and-”

“You want us to… what?” 

“Court… You and me.” 

Ayelýn snorted. “Clearly you’ve gone and lost your head.” But something about the way he kept staring at her however popped the amusement bubbling at her chest. “You’re being serious right now, aren’t you?” 

He nodded. 

And for the first time, she saw his sincerity shining through.

“So, what do you say, Lýn?” he asked with an expectant smile, using her nickname as though they were old friends.

“Absolutely not!”

~

Hey, you lovey people!

I’m sure you all know the drill by now, please let me know what you think. 💛

Parts 2 & 3 are mostly complete and just need a full edit, so be sure to share anything in particular you’d like to see happen.

~

It was the screeching cry of a mountain banshee in the distance that stirred him.

Eyelids heavy, he squinted through them for half a second, before immediately snapping them shut again. Neteyam’s first thought was to go right back to sleep, but his plan was soon interrupted when he found that there was a little foot uncomfortably smushed up against his cheek. 

Groggy, a tired groan escaped him as he stretched and twisted his body, muscles tight and aching from pushing himself too hard in training yesterday. He’d kill for one of his mate’s incredible massages.

With ease, he adjusted Elteyä from her wild sprawl and brought her across his chest instead. He didn’t even know when she’d snuck into their room.

Thankfully, she didn’t stir at the movement, or wake from the kisses he pressed to the crown of her head as she unconsciously wormed her face into the crook of his neck. Norii though, her clothmade doll, slipped from her fingertips, so he tucked it back into his daughter’s arms. 

In the dim room, all was quiet and still, save the soft suckling sounds that stole his attention. Head turning, he found that Enyu’s eyes were closed, but Neteyam knew she was somewhat awake. After the rough night they’d had- if he felt fatigued, she must have been exhausted. 

His wife laid on her side, facing him with a protective palm supporting a tiny head as their youngest nursed from her chest. The sight alone filled Neteyam with emotion so strong, he could never seem to put it into words. 

As if she could feel his gaze, she peeked at him, the corners of her mouth tilting upwards a fraction. 

“Morning, baby,” he croaked in greeting, smoothing his palm down the side of her thigh. 

She hummed in response and hooked her ankle over his shin, eyes closing to sneak in a few more minutes of rest. 

Neteyam scanned the span of their bed, and no sooner when he realized they were missing another little someone, did he hear the pitter patter of tiny feet coming their way. 

Dragging her own doll behind her, Asthlyee stumbled in and made a beeline for her mother- like she did every morning since she learned how to walk, but stopped short at the sight of the infant already attached to her breast. 

Hair mused wildly, her little fist fell away from the eye she'd been rubbing and Asthlyee’s cute face morphed from drowsy confusion to scrunched up in a clear display of hurt, ears falling back sadly. 

“Asthlyee,” Neteyam called in a hushed, post-sleep raspy voice, “come here, pretty girl.” Shifting Elteyä to his side, he beckoned for the grumpy toddler to come to him. 

Bottom lip pouted, she crawled her way across the massive spread of blankets and plonked herself on her daddy’s chest, oblivious to his winces at the sharp pokes of her knobby knees and elbows. 

“Good morning,” Enyu whispered to them both through squinted eyes, sitting up with Ray’lu in her arms. “Did you sleep well, my Asthy?”

Asthlyee nodded, though her frown cut deeper as she watched her mother switch the babe to her other breast. Arms stretched out, she made grabby hands, expectantly asking for her mother. “Mama? Mama, me?”

“Oh my love, you’ll get your turn soon, yeah?” she hushed sweetly, leaning forward to caress Asthlyee’s cheek. 

She felt a pleased pang in her chest from her daughter wanting her. Since Asthlyee was a daddy’s girl through and through, whenever her little one wanted her instead, Enyu’s happiness always went haywire. 

It had been three weeks since their youngest was born, so their little family was still adjusting. So far, the new addition was hardest on Asthlyee. 

When the two year old met her baby sister for the first time, she- like Elteyä, was all excited smiles and hugs- maybe not really understanding but imitating her big sister’s actions all the same. 

Kiri and Spider had given Jake and Neytiri their first grandson six months ago, so Asthlyee was no stranger to babies, since she seemed to like her baby cousin just fine.

But when her morning routine, which usually started out with kisses and cuddles from her mother while she nursed, was being given to someone else… Well, that’s when Asthlyee realized that her new baby sister was here to stay.

Their mornings together meant the world to Enyu, really. Without fail her daughter would seek her out, and once she’d had her fill of milk and an abundance of smothering love, Asthlyee would crawl right into her daddy’s arms where she refused to leave.  

The toddler blinked at her mother, not liking her response, so she resorted to her favourite person for back up. “Daddy-!”

“Shh, not so loud, pretty girl,” he shushed gently, fingers combing through her wild locks, trying to tame them yet sympathetically soothe away any possible incoming tantrums.

“Daddy,” Asthlyee tried again, though it really wasn’t any better. “Wook!” She pointed indignantly, “da baby.”

“Yeah I see, Asthlyee. Is Ray’lu hungry? You’re such a great big sister to share with her.”

“But is mine booby… an mine mama.”

It was in the tip of Neteyam’s tongue to joke to his wife that technically those “boobies” had belonged to him first, but given the situation he didn’t think it would help his discussion with his two year old.

“Asthy girl,” Neteyam cooed. Tears were rapidly pooling along her lash line making his heart ache, even though he knew they were fake. “Remember we talked about you sharing with your baby sister? She’s very little and has to grow strong like you and ‘Teyä. She needs your mama just like when you were a tiny baby.”

Asthlyee crossed her arms at his words while her tail slapped irritably. “No…. No share.”

Neteyam wiped away a dried drool patch from the corner of her pouty mouth. Noting the startling resemblance she shared with her mother, he couldn’t help smiling at her little scowl. She was every bit Enyu like this- defiant and fierce. 

“No?” 

“No.” 

“No?” he repeated, tickling her pudgy tummy, gaining a giggle in response. 

Instead of fighting her on the point so early in the morning, he tugged her down, tucked her in for a comforting cuddle, and bestowed a kiss on her forehead. Neteyam was not ashamed to admit the tactic he used on Enyu when they were younger, seemed to work on his daughters as well.   

Successfully distracted and through a yawn Asthlyee insisted, “Dolly, daddy.” She lifted the shabbily sewn doll for him to kiss as well, then laid her cheek against his and sucked on her thumb out of habit. 

And when Elteyä unconsciously squirmed closer to him, Neteyam wrapped an arm around her and watched as his mate burped their Ray’lu, all of them quietly listening to Enyu’s quiet crooning. 

Surrounded by his girls, Neteyam felt like the luckiest man alive. 

~

“Aye, bay, shee, eee, aye, heff, jeee!” Elteyä’s head bobbed to the beat of her song with every note she sang. Not knowing the rest of the letters, she hummed the tune cheerfully through another mouthful of her breakfast.

“Asthy, baby, don’t play with your food,” Enyu chided lightly as she broke up a few pieces of fruit in front of the toddler. She tried to coax another bite of the breakfast scramble from the fussy eater who’d been naughtily tossing pieces away. 

“No.” Asthlyee shook her head stubbornly, reaching instead for her mother’s chest, wanting to nurse again. 

“Nu-uh. Not till you eat a couple more bites. You’ve barely had any.” 

The toddler turned whiny but the moment her father said her name firmly she grumpily obeyed, allowing her mother to feed her. 

“What?” he chuckled, seeing his mate’s wrinkled nose. 

“Nothing… It amazes me just how much you’ve got them wrapped around your finger,” she jested, smirking when her daughter opened up for a second mouthful without any prompting. 

Neteyam shrugged. “Got you wrapped around my finger too,” he mumbled slyly, mirth and heat dancing in his eyes. 

“Behave,” she grinned, shaking her head at the fact that she was blushing like a teen with a frivolous crush.  

Her mate looked entirely too pleased with himself. He loved that he had such an effect on her, even after all these years. 

With a sleeping Ray’lu nestled in the crook of his arm, he ate with his free hand. The peaceful, milk drunk infant was a sheer contradiction to last night where she’d screamed her lungs out for most of it, keeping her both parents up. 

“Flower.” He jerked his chin towards his wife’s abandoned bowl, reminding her of the untouched meal, but she waved him off, making sure her daughter had her fill.

Her habit of forgetting to feed herself had somewhat gotten worse now that they had kids, since Enyu was forever fussing over everyone but herself. 

“Aye, bee, shee, dee, eee, heff, jee…” Elteyä started over her rendition for the third time and Neteyam coached her through the rest of the English letters she’d only started learning recently. 

“Mama?” Asthlyee’s head tilted sweetly. “Peas, Mama? Booby? Peas.” 

“Pl-ease,” Enyu corrected, poking her daughter's nose playfully. 

“Yes,” Asthy contested, nodding impatiently. “Pease.”

She bossily crawled into her mother’s lap, making her parents huff in matching smirks of amusement at the sight of her determinedly trying to push away the offending string of Enyu’s top that was blocking her way. 

And only when she was settled did Enyu finally begin to eat. 

Elteyä’s song suddenly stopped, all turning quiet for longer than normal during a typical family meal.  

“What’s happening in that brain of yours, baby girl?” Neteyam asked, seeing his oldest lost in thought, one cheek puffy from the food she’d stopped chewing. He swiped his thumb down her chin and across the corners of her lips to remove the mess there. 

“Daddy? What’s a- a chicklhen?” 

Neteyam’s brow quirked in amusement. Not only at her question but at the sticky tiny handprint she accidentally left on his knee. “A chicken? It’s an animal. From Earth.”

“Oh… That’s where granpaw’s from right?” 

“That’s right.” 

Her adorable face crinkled in confusion as she pondered over her next thought. “Then, why did uncle Spider call uncle Lo’ one? He’s not a chicklhen!” 

“Aha!” Enyu covered her mouth as her body shook with laughter, accidentally causing Ray’lu too stir in Neteyam’s arms from her outburst. “Sorry,” she mouthed when he hissed her name, adjusting the infant when she nosed at his skin.

Asthlyee had lifted her head to blink at them in curiosity, but finding nothing interesting, she returned to suckling away while a pudgy little fist played and kneaded the flesh of her mother’s other breast and nipple. 

Oblivious to her parent’s reactions, Elteyä's nose wrinkled. “But, what does a chicklhen look like?” 

“How about we take a visit to the labs later? I’m sure if you ask very nicely, someone there can show you a picture of a chicken,” Neteyam suggested. 

“Okay!” she chirped excitedly. “Do you think it really looks like uncle Lo’?” she wondered out loud after drinking a big gulp of fresh plant milk. 

“No, baby. I’m sure your uncle Spider was just teasing,” her mother assured. 

“Ohh…” The four year old nodded sagely, as if it made sense. “Because of the new baby?”

“What new baby?” Enyu asked curiously, fingers carding through Asthy’s soft strands. 

Elteyä shrugged and reached for another slice of melon fruit. “I don’t know, mama. He just said he was the chicklhen for not giving aunty Otty a baby yet.” 

Neteyam and Enyu shared matching surprised glances.

Then, just as fast as the last word left her lips, Elteyä was spewing another question. “Can a chicklhen have a baby?” And before either of them could even answer- “Daddy when can I have the real baby?” she asked expectantly, Norii the doll, oddly crammed under her armpit. “Do I hafta get the boymate first?” 

“What?! No!” 

Their family tent rang silent for all of an entire minute at Neteyam’s no, followed by Ray’lu’s wail. He shifted the infant in his arms, bringing her up to his shoulder with a little bounce and gentle shush and apology for waking her up. Thankfully she settled quickly. 

“Well why not?” Elteyä sassed, over the sounds of her sister’s quieting cries, looking thoroughly put out and very much like her mama whenever he said something that upset her. 

Eywa help him. 

“Because. You’re not allowed to grow up and leave me,” he said somewhat seriously. “You’re not allowed to court. No mate. No boys, Elteyä.”

Enyu rolled her eyes at this while Elteyä giggled as if he’d told her the world’s funniest joke. “You so silly, daddy. Of course I hafta grow up! Then I get the boyfriend like aunty Tuk and then-”

“What?!” 

“Alright! Alright,” Enyu cut in. “‘Teyä, my sweet girl, let’s not give your daddy a heart attack so early in the morning. Why don’t you go play for a bit before it’s time to clean up and head over to your great- grandmother Mo’at, yes?” 

“Oookay.” Elteyä rounded the table with an excited bounce. She leaned against Enyu’s side to peer at her sister. “Asthy, do you want to play too?” 

The toddler nodded around her mothers nipple and when she quickly sat up, Enyu fixed her top back in place and watched them run off, hand in hand. 

Neteyam too had stared after them, then, head snapping to his wife, he hissed incredulously, “Boyfriend?! Boyfriend.” 

“‘Tey, relax. Don’t get yourself worked up. We’ve been over this before. You’ve got to let go of-”

“En’yuna. She’s four. Four and talking about having a- a boyfriend? No. No,” he shook his head, shrugging as though the entire thing was ridiculous. “Never. She’s not allowed. None of our girls are. Tuk’s never allowed to babysit again either. Elteyä looks up to her and if that’s what she- ”

He scoffed incredulously, “Boyfriend… tuh! Did you know about this? Does Tuk actually have a boyfriend? Or is this another on of her make up stories? What does she even know about that? She’s fourteen! What are my parents thinking? I’m telling you right now, baby, that won’t be the same for my girls. Nope. Not happening.”

Enyu huffed and clicked her tongue at him. Every time he behaved like this it highly amused her. She’d been subject to his overprotective and possessive tendencies for most- if not all of her life, and now it was the same for all three of their girls. 

Crawling towards him, she slumped herself into his lap, thighs falling on either side of his hips. “You’re so dramatic, you know that?” 

Ray’lu was contently snuggled against her daddy’s chest. Scrunched up in that newborn position Enyu loved, she looked extra tiny, especially being held by Neteyam. 

Careful of their little one between them Enyu laced her fingers together behind his neck and caressed his skin with her thumbs. Before he could retort, she kissed him squarely on the mouth. “Dramatic,” she emphasized. 

Breathing in her scent deeply, Neteyam rested his forehead against hers, willing himself to regain his composure with the help of her soothing. 

“How are you so calm about all of this? Doesn’t it freak you out a little?”

“Well one of us has to stay sane whenever the other one’s losing it,” she teased. “And of course the thought of our girls growing up and eventually leaving us terrifies me, but ‘Tey, we don’t have to worry about that for a very very long time. You said it yourself, Elteyä’s four. Asthlyee is two going on sassy, sure… but this sweet one,” she nuzzled her baby’s cheek, “can’t even lift her own head yet… You’ve got nothing to freak out about right now.” 

“Mmm,” he grunted in agreement, though he wasn’t entirely convinced. Tugging her hips closer to his with his free arm, he kissed her neck just because. 

Wrapped up together, the pair basked in comfortable silence until Ray’lu began to fuss and the sounds of a squabble between their other little ones two broke out. 

~

It's good to be back writing for these two. I missed them!

Lemme know what you think, loves.

P.s. I've tagged those of you who asked when the series was ongoing. Please feel free to let me know if you want to be removed from future posts like this :)