infuriatingly infuriating
neteyam sully x metkayina! reader
synopsis the olo’eyktan’s oldest daughter finds herself falling for toruk makto’s infuriatingly charming eldest son.
warnings no use of y/n.
word count 4.4k
it has been a few months since the sully family arrived in awa’atlu, seeking uturu. they learned the ways of your people quickly—perhaps faster than you expected.
when your father tasked you and your siblings with helping them adjust, you knew it would be no small effort.
your younger brother had been less than thrilled at first, grumbling about having to teach the forest people how to survive in the water. but in time, he grew accustomed to it.
tsireya, of course, had no complaints. if anything, she was too eager to help—though it was obvious why. she had taken quite the liking to the younger sully brother.
as for you? you didn’t mind them much. you treated them with respect and did your duty, teaching them as best you could.
but neteyam—the eldest sully—was the biggest pain in your tail.
at first, he had been quiet, reserved. almost too respectful. he treated you as if you were someone of great authority, so much so that you had to remind him once that you were not his superior.
oh, great mother, how you regret that now.
it was as if those words alone had shattered whatever restraint he had. now, neteyam refused to leave you alone. he took every opportunity to tease you, to pester you about anything and everything.
he was worse than your brothers. far worse.
for someone who carried himself as a mighty warrior, he certainly didn’t act like one. if he wasn’t showing off—casually proving that he could master every skill thrown his way—he was using that demon language of his, throwing strange words at you just to see your reaction.
and eywa, did he love your reactions.
those large, crystal-blue eyes of yours would widen in pure, utter confusion every time he spoke in that strange demon language. and that was exactly what he wanted.
he would grin—sharp and full of mischief—watching the way your brows furrowed, the way your lips parted slightly as if trying to make sense of the foreign words. then, just when you thought he might take pity on you and explain himself, he would simply shake his head.
“what?” you’d snap, frustrated beyond belief. “what does that mean?”
but neteyam would only tilt his head, feigning innocence. “nga kea nari si, yawntu?”
your tail flicked sharply behind you. “neteyam.”
nothing. just that insufferable smirk.
you hated it. hated how he refused to explain himself, as if he hadn’t just spoken an entirely different language to you. as if he hadn’t just left you standing there, trying to piece together something you had no hope of understanding.
infuriating.
and yet, every time, you found yourself waiting for the next time he’d do it again.
it was infuriating.
whenever the two of you were together—whether by chance or because your father had paired you up for some task—he would do the work, yes. but not without making your life miserable in the process.
today was no different.
your mother had asked you to fetch more shells for her, a simple enough task. yet, of course, neteyam had seen you leaving and, for reasons only eywa knew, decided to follow.
“you do not need help collecting shells,” he had said, trailing behind you like an overgrown ilu.
“and yet here you are,” you muttered, sifting through the sand near the shore, determined to ignore him.
neteyam crouched beside you, hands resting on his knees as he watched you work. he was silent for a moment—too silent. that was never a good sign.
“you know,” he finally mused, “where i’m from, we don’t waste time collecting pretty things from the sand.”
you exhaled sharply through your nose, refusing to rise to the bait. “we do not waste time,” you corrected. “the shells are used for many things.”
“oh, of course,” he said easily. “necklaces. bracelets. decorations.”
your ears flicked in annoyance. “and medicine, neteyam. and tools. and trade.”
he hummed as if considering your words, then leaned forward, plucking a shell from the pile you had already gathered. “this one,” he said, holding it up, “definitely just for decoration.”
you snatched it from his grasp, shooting him a glare. “why are you here?”
he grinned. “what, and miss a chance to spend time with my favorite metkayina?”
you scoffed, turning back to your task. “go bother someone else.”
“i would,” he admitted, stretching out lazily beside you, “but no one else makes such great faces when i talk.”
your hands froze for a moment before tightening into fists.
infuriating. absolutely infuriating.
rolling your eyes, you ignored him, focusing instead on plucking shells from the sand.
and then he did it again.
that strange, foreign tongue slipping past his lips—smooth, effortless, knowing damn well you wouldn’t understand.
“these shells are just as beautiful as you,” he said, voice teasing yet undeniably soft.
you froze, fingers curling around the shell in your hand as you turned to him, eyes narrowing.
“what did you just say?”
neteyam only smiled. that smug, infuriating smile. “nothing.”
your tail flicked sharply behind you. “no,” you pressed, shifting to face him fully. “you said something. say it again.”
he tilted his head, as if considering it. then, with a maddening slowness, he shrugged. “i don’t think so.”
you hated this game. hated that he knew how much it drove you mad.
still, you tried to piece it together, running the words over in your mind, searching for meaning. but you had no hope of understanding. it was a language that didn’t belong to you—a secret only he held.
your lips pressed into a thin line. “you could be insulting me for all i know.”
neteyam chuckled, leaning back on his hands, his golden eyes warm with amusement. “you think so little of me, sevin?”
you huffed, turning back to your task, determined not to let him win. “one of these days, i will find out what you are saying,” you muttered.
he grinned. “i look forward to it.”
and you were determined.
later, when your mother and father weren’t demanding anything from you, you set out to find the younger sully brother.
lo’ak was more open than neteyam—more willing. he didn’t hold himself with the same strict discipline as his older brother, and you knew he was always eager to prove himself. perfect.
you found him near the village edge, sharpening his knife, tail lazily flicking behind him. he looked up as you approached, ears twitching with curiosity.
“what do you want?” he asked, though there was no real bite to his words.
you crouched beside him, tilting your head. “i want to learn your demon language.”
lo’ak blinked. “you mean english?”
you scowled. “demon language,” you repeated. “the one you and your brother use.”
lo’ak snorted. “right. and why would i teach you?”
you smirked. “because you like my sister.”
lo’ak stiffened. “i—what? no, i—”
you raised a non-existent brow, waiting.
he groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “that’s so unfair.”
you only shrugged. “i do not make the rules.”
lo’ak huffed but gave in easily enough. “fine,” he muttered. “what do you want to know?”
you leaned forward, eager. “start with this—what does neteyam keep saying to me?”
lo’ak knew exactly what was going on.
he had seen the way neteyam looked at you—watched how his usually disciplined, ever-perfect brother turned into a teasing, insufferable menace whenever you were around. neteyam was completely, hopelessly infatuated with you.
and now, here you were, looking at him for answers.
lo’ak smirked to himself. oh, this is too good.
he had two choices: he could lie, protect his brother’s pride, and let this little game of theirs continue.
or
he could tell you the truth and sit back to watch the chaos unfold.
really, there was only one correct option.
feigning nonchalance, he leaned back on his hands, pretending to think. “well,” he started slowly, drawing it out just to watch you grow impatient. “neteyam’s been saying some… interesting things.”
your eyes narrowed. “like what?”
lo’ak bit back a grin. oh, this was going to be fun. so fun for him.
because as he went on, explaining the things he had heard neteyam say to you in english, you listened intently, completely unaware of the storm brewing behind you.
what you didn’t see was neteyam moving through the village, searching for you. he had grown used to your presence—enjoyed bothering you whenever he could—so when he hadn’t seen you for a while, he decided to track you down.
and then he spotted you, with lo’ak.
the way his brother was smirking, looking like a complete menace, was a dead giveaway. neteyam didn’t even need to hear the conversation to know exactly what was happening.
his stomach dropped.
lo’ak was telling you.
his body tensed, tail flicking in irritation. oh, that little skxawng—
you still didn’t notice him. too focused on lo’ak, your arms crossed, head tilting as you listened. and lo’ak? oh, he was relishing this.
neteyam clenched his jaw. he had two options: stop this right now before you learned too much, or let it happen and deal with the consequences.
yeah, like hell he was choosing the second one.
so, before lo’ak could dig his grave any deeper, neteyam stormed over.
by the time neteyam stormed over, the damage had already been done. lo’ak had fully dug his grave—and he was lying in it with a big, shit-eating grin.
you turned at the sound of heavy footsteps, just in time to see neteyam approaching, his expression unreadable. his jaw was tight, ears pinned back, golden eyes locked onto his younger brother with something between fury and panic.
lo’ak just sat there, far too pleased with himself. “oh, hey, brother,” he said, voice dripping with fake innocence. “we were just talking about you.”
your gaze flickered between them, realization dawning. neteyam knew. he knew exactly what had just happened.
and judging by the way his tail lashed behind him, he was not happy about it.
you turned back to lo’ak. “so,” you said, tilting your head, “you’re telling me neteyam has been calling me beautiful this whole time?”
neteyam inhaled sharply. “lo’ak—”
“oh, yeah,” lo’ak cut in, completely ignoring him. “that and, you know, pretty much everything else a man says when he’s in love with someone.”
silence.
your lips parted slightly, but no words came. neteyam looked like he was about to die on the spot.
and lo’ak? well, lo’ak just grinned and clapped a hand on neteyam’s shoulder.
“good luck, bro,” he said before slipping away, leaving you both standing there—one of you in utter shock, the other in complete, soul-crushing regret.
neteyam stared at you, tense, waiting—trying to gauge your reaction.
you didn’t look at him at first, eyes fixed on the sand, lips caught between your fangs as if deep in thought. his heart pounded in his chest, breath held as he braced himself for whatever was coming.
then, slowly, the corners of your lips curled.
the biggest, most teasing smile stretched across your face as you finally lifted your gaze to meet his.
“oh,” you said, drawing the word out, tail flicking behind you. “so that’s what you’ve been saying this whole time?”
neteyam groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “lo’ak is dead.”
you laughed, the sound light and full of way too much enjoyment. “no wonder you never translated. what was it you said earlier?” you tapped your chin, pretending to think. “oh, yes—‘these shells are just as beautiful as you.’”
his ears flattened. “you don’t have to—”
“but i am beautiful, aren’t i?” you interrupted, tilting your head. “since you’ve been saying it so often.”
neteyam clenched his jaw, exhaling through his nose. he could not believe this was happening.
you leaned in slightly, eyes shining with mischief. “tell me, mighty warrior—what else have you been calling me?”
he groaned again, feeling his entire body heat up. this was not how he wanted you to find out.
but when he looked at you—truly looked at you, all teasing and bright-eyed, wearing that smile that made his stomach flip—he knew, deep down, that lo’ak had only sped up the inevitable.
so, with a deep breath, he straightened his shoulders and met your gaze.
“do you really want to know?” he asked, voice lower now, steadier.
your teasing smirk faltered just slightly. “…yes.”
neteyam took a step closer, eyes locked onto yours.
“yawntu,” he murmured, watching as your brows furrowed. “seysonì.”
you blinked, lips parting, the teasing edge in your expression flickering with something softer.
then he leaned in, voice just above a whisper.
“my love.”
your breath hitched.
for the first time since this little game between you had started, you found yourself at a loss for words.
your eyes flickered down to his lips for just a second—quick, barely noticeable, but he noticed. of course he did. neteyam was always watching, always reading you like an open scroll.
his ears twitched, tail giving the smallest flick as he took another step closer. close enough that you could feel the warmth radiating from his skin, close enough that the teasing atmosphere between you had shifted into something else. something heavier.
“you’re quiet,” he murmured, voice laced with amusement. “that’s new.”
you swallowed, trying to regain some sense of control. “shut up,” you muttered, but the usual bite in your words was missing.
neteyam smirked. he knew he had you now.
slowly, deliberately, he lifted a hand, fingers brushing against the shell still clutched in your grasp. his touch was light—barely there—but it sent a shiver down your spine.
“you never did tell me,” he mused, golden eyes locked onto yours. “do you think i’m beautiful too?”
your heart pounded against your ribs. that smug skxawng. he was throwing your own words back at you.
but two could play this game.
tilting your chin up, you gave him a slow, knowing smile. “wouldn’t you like to know?”
then, before he could get the last word in, you turned on your heel, leaving him standing there—stunned, frustrated, and entirely hooked.
you left him standing there, smug and victorious, but your heart was still pounding.
by the time you returned home, you needed to find your sister.
because these forsaken sully brothers had somehow woven their way into both of your hearts.
you found tsireya near the woven mats of your family’s marui, carefully threading beads onto a new piece of jewelry. she looked up as you entered, a soft smile on her lips—one that quickly turned into curiosity when she saw the look on your face.
“you look…” she tilted her head, studying you. “different.”
you scoffed, flopping down beside her. “frustrated.”
tsireya’s brows lifted. “ah. neteyam?”
you groaned, rubbing your temples. “always.”
her soft laugh rang through the marui, and for a moment, you let yourself relax. but then you narrowed your eyes, gaze flickering to the necklace she was working on.
“let me guess,” you said, nodding toward it. “for lo’ak?”
tsireya hesitated—just for a moment—before a faint blush dusted her cheeks.
you gaped at her. “oh, eywa.”
“it is not—”
“you’re making him jewelry?”
“he—he appreciates our traditions!” she defended, though the flustered look on her face betrayed her.
you stared at her for a long moment before shaking your head. “we’re doomed,” you muttered, flopping onto your back. “the sully brothers have ruined us.”
tsireya only giggled, threading another bead onto the string. “maybe.” then, she cast you a knowing look. “but you don’t seem to mind.”
you groaned, covering your face with your hands. because, deep down, you didn’t. not one bit.
as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of deep orange and violet, your village buzzed with excitement. the salty breeze carried the scent of roasting fish and sweet fruits, mingling with the rhythmic sounds of drums echoing across the shoreline.
tonight was a night of festivities—a celebration of unity, of eywa’s blessings, of all that made your people strong. and, as the daughter of the olo’eyktan, it was one of those things you had to attend.
you stood near your family’s marui, adjusting the beaded adornments woven into your hair as your mother fussed over your attire. ronal was ever the perfectionist, making sure you looked every bit the part of a leader’s daughter.
“you must be present,” she reminded you, hands steady as she adjusted the woven top covering your chest. “engage with the people. show them your strength.”
you held back a sigh. “yes, sa’nok.”
beside you, tsireya giggled under her breath. she, of course, loved these gatherings. but you? you found them tiring, always forced to play the part of the dutiful daughter—composed, graceful, responsible.
still, you knew your role. you straightened your shoulders, casting one last glance at the glowing horizon before following your family toward the center of the village.
the festival was already in full swing when you arrived, torches casting golden light over the gathering crowd. children wove between the adults, laughter ringing through the air as dancers moved to the steady beat of the drums.
your attire was more ethereal than usual—custom-made loincloths adorned with the prettiest shells and beads, catching the firelight with every movement, making you shine. the woven top your mother had chosen was delicate yet intricate, the beading cascading down your torso like water, reflecting the hues of the ocean. you looked every bit the daughter of the olo’eyktan, and though you wouldn’t admit it aloud, the way eyes followed you as you walked made you feel powerful.
you had done your duties—exchanged pleasantries, greeted those who needed to be greeted, smiled when necessary, when you suddenly felt a presence.
a familiar presence.
you didn’t have to look to know who it was. you felt his eyes on you before you even spotted him across the crowd.
neteyam.
he was standing with his family, expression unreadable, but there was something in his gaze—something intentional.
your heart gave an annoyingly noticeable thump.
and you just knew, this night was about to get a whole lot more interesting.
your father had given his speech, his voice commanding as he spoke of unity, of eywa’s blessings, of the strength of the metkayina. you were just settling into your place beside tsireya when you felt it. the people cheered, the drums picked up, and just like that, the festivities truly began.
which meant you were finally free.
you exhaled, the weight of expectation lifting as you slipped through the crowd, seeking a moment to just be. the village was alive with celebration—dancers twirling near the fire, warriors boasting about their latest hunts, children giggling as they weaved through the legs of their elders. it was beautiful, vibrant, home.
you found yourself near the shoreline, where the glow of the lanterns met the shimmering tide, your toes sinking into the cool sand. the festivities carried on behind you, but for a moment, you allowed yourself to take it all in—the crashing of the waves, the salt in the air, the hum of music in the background.
and then, of course, he appeared.
“you clean up nice.”
the deep voice sent a shiver down your spine, one you quickly masked by rolling your eyes before turning to face him.
neteyam stood a few paces away, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. his own attire was different tonight—his usual warrior gear swapped for something more ceremonial, beads woven into his braids, the soft glow of bioluminescent paint marking his skin.
he looked… good.
not that you’d tell him that.
“you again?” you sighed dramatically, placing a hand on your hip. “is there nowhere i can go without you appearing like a shadow?”
neteyam chuckled, stepping closer. “if you wanted to be alone, you wouldn’t have come here.”
you scoffed, though you didn’t move away as he reached your side, standing beside you as the waves lapped at your feet.
a beat of silence passed before he tilted his head slightly, golden eyes scanning your face.
“you really do look beautiful tonight.”
it wasn’t teasing this time. no smug grin, no playful lilt to his voice. just a quiet truth, spoken into the space between you.
and for the first time tonight, you had no clever response.
back at the heart of the festivities, away from the shoreline where you and neteyam stood, two warriors—two leaders—watched.
tonowari and jake stood side by side, their conversation casual, yet their eyes keenly observant. they had been discussing the ongoing training of the young hunters, the state of the tides, and other matters of importance. but, at some point, their attention had drifted.
to you and neteyam.
because, despite whatever you and neteyam thought, you were not subtle.
jake exhaled through his nose, shaking his head as he watched his eldest son step closer to you, the way his body naturally leaned toward yours, the way you—despite your best efforts—didn’t pull away.
“they think they’re being discreet,” jake muttered.
tonowari hummed in agreement, arms crossed over his broad chest. “they are not.”
jake sighed. “he’s got it bad.”
tonowari’s lips twitched slightly, amusement flickering in his sharp eyes. “as does she.”
jake glanced at him, smirking. “that a problem?”
tonowari was quiet for a moment, watching as you shoved neteyam’s shoulder, only for the boy to grin and lean right back into your space.
“…no,” the olo’eyktan finally said. “not yet.”
jake chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. “good luck with that, brother.”
tonowari just sighed, already bracing himself for the storm that was sure to come.
back with you and neteyam, the air was thick.
the kind of thick that made your skin feel too warm, your chest too tight. the kind of thick that had your heart pounding a little faster than it should, your breath catching at the way his golden eyes burned into yours.
the tension could have been cut with a knife.
but the question was—who was going to make the first move?
neteyam was watching you closely now, that cocky smirk long gone. his lips were slightly parted, his chest rising and falling in steady breaths, though you could tell—you could tell—that he was feeling it too. that same charged, unspoken pull that neither of you were willing to put words to.
for once, he wasn’t teasing.
for once, you were the one trying to look anywhere but at him.
“you’re quiet again,” he murmured, voice lower now, softer.
your fingers curled into your palms. “you talk enough for both of us.”
neteyam chuckled, but it was breathier than usual, as if even he wasn’t fully present in the words. his gaze flickered down for a split second—to your lips, just for a moment—but it was enough.
your stomach flipped.
you swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of everything. the way the firelight flickered over his skin. the way his braids shifted as he tilted his head. the way his hands flexed at his sides, like he was debating something.
your tail twitched. was he going to do it? was he going to be the one to break first?
neteyam shifted slightly, leaning in just a fraction—so small, so subtle, but you caught it.
and eywa help you, you didn’t move away.
maybe you should’ve. maybe you should have smirked, teased him, run before he could turn this whole thing into something real.
but you didn’t.
instead, you just stared at him, pulse racing, waiting to see if this would be the moment one of you finally gave in.
just as your lips were about to touch—just as you felt the faintest graze of them, the smallest, feather-light brush—
a loud, booming clearing of a throat shattered the moment.
you jerked away so fast you nearly lost your footing, and neteyam—mighty warrior, future olo’eyktan—practically jumped back as if you had burned him.
that was how deep the two of you had been in your own little world.
heart hammering against your ribs, you turned, already knowing what you’d find. and, sure enough—
there stood tonowari.
and beside him, looking far too amused for his own good, was jake sully.
oh, eywa.
your father’s arms were crossed, expression unreadable, but the sheer weight of his stare was enough to make you wish the ocean would just swallow you whole.
jake, on the other hand, had the audacity to smirk, glancing between you and neteyam like this was the most entertaining thing he’d seen all night.
neteyam straightened immediately, shoulders squared, but you knew him too well. knew that beneath that carefully composed expression, he was panicking.
“neteyam.” jake’s voice was easygoing, but the warning beneath it was clear.
“sir.” neteyam’s response was stiff, formal, and oh eywa, you had to fight the urge to laugh at how utterly caught he looked.
tonowari said nothing at first—just looked at you, then at neteyam, then back at you. and somehow, somehow, that was worse than if he’d yelled.
“i see you are both enjoying the festivities,” he finally said, voice far too calm.
you swallowed. “yes, sa’nok’itan,” you murmured, trying to keep your voice even, though you swore you saw the corner of jake’s mouth twitch.
neteyam, to his credit, didn’t flinch. but the tips of his ears were burning red. “we were just—”
“i am sure you were,” tonowari cut in smoothly.
and that? that was when you knew you were done for.
you dared a glance at neteyam, but he refused to meet your gaze, jaw clenched so tight you thought his teeth might crack.
jake clapped a firm hand on his son’s shoulder, barely containing his grin. “why don’t we let them enjoy the rest of the festivities?” he said, clearly enjoying this way too much.
tonowari exhaled through his nose, giving you one last long look before nodding. “come,” he said, turning to leave. “we will speak later.”
you felt your stomach drop.
and then, just like that, they were gone, leaving you and neteyam standing there—mortified, frustrated, and one second away from kissing.
for a long moment, neither of you spoke.
then—
“…so,” neteyam muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “that was—”
“do not.” you cut him off, voice tight, because if you thought about it for one more second, you were going to combust.
neteyam exhaled sharply through his nose, running a hand down his face before finally—finally—meeting your gaze.
and despite everything, despite the sheer embarrassment of it all—
he smirked.
“next time,” he murmured, stepping just close enough to send a shiver down your spine, “we pick a better spot.”
your jaw dropped. “neteyam!”
but he was already walking away, laughing, leaving you standing there, flustered and fuming, knowing damn well he’d just won.
JC Avatar Universe fanfiction - constantly updating (*- longer fics)
I write for Neteyam, Tsu'tey, Ao'nung, open to writing for Lo'ak, Jake
*All For You - Neteyam x Ta’unui ! reader / enemies to lovers! - pt. 1 | pt. 2
when Quaritch attacks the Ta’unui water clan, Y/N flees to the Metkayina clan for safety. She develops feelings for Neteyam but the tensions grow when Y/N finds out that Neteyam is the son of Jake Sully - the man she hates.
*Be Mine - Neteyam x Metkayina ! reader / fake dating!
the one, where neteyam pretends to court the reader to avoid all of the nagging from his parents and a group of admirers. of course, it doesn’t take long for her to fall for him too
Human Stuff - Neteyam x Human ! reader (afab) / period cramps
the one, where a confused na’vi teenager tries to comfort his human friend while she’s on her period
Your lips, my lips, apocalypse - Neteyam x Omatikaya ! reader
when y/n hangs out with the women at the lab and decides to put on lipstick to feel pretty, her friends start to make fun of her. but not neteyam, he thinks she looks cute
*And I cried when you first said, "Oel ngati kameie" - Neteyam x Metkayina ! reader / forbidden love!
despite her father’s wariness of the sully’s and their ‘demon-blood,’ y/n can’t help but feel drawn to neteyam. as the two of them bond over their similar experiences of parental pressure, he finds himself falling in love with her
*Second Chances - Neteyam x Omatikaya ! reader / love triangle!
y/n and lo'ak were destined to be together, or so she thought... after moving to awa'atlu with the sully's, lo'ak starts to fall for a certain metkayina girl, leaving y/n completely heartbroken. it is unexpected when neteyam, who has been secretly harboring feelings for her, decides to tend to her wounds. can y/n reciprocate his love?
Nerves Talking - Neteyam x Crybaby ! reader / misscommunication
after spending months teaching his little sister’s friend how to hunt, neteyam is surprised by the lack of her progress. later on, he discovers then that she is just too nervous to be around him because of her not-so-small crush
Tunutu (Crush) - Neteyam x Omatikaya ! reader / childhood friends to lovers
although neteyam had never reciprocated her feelings, choosing him was always an easy decision for y/n, one of those she could make in a heartbeat. so when another man tries to win her affections, neteyam suddenly becomes aware of what he has been missing out on
*Chosen by Eywa - Neteyam x Omatikaya ! reader / series (complete)
eywa makes no mistakes... in the midst of his preparation to become the future olo'eyktan, neteyam is told to be with a chosen mate. guided by the signs of eywa, tsahik picks y/n, a woman orphaned by the war, whose heart already belongs to another. y/n's whole world begins to crumble, as she is forced into the loveless bond. will neteyam and y/n be able to overcome the odds and find their true happiness?
Child of Our Own - Tsu'tey x Omatikaya ! reader
seeing his friends already awaiting their firstborns, tsu'tey begins to yearn for a baby of his own, but he is too shy to tell you about it
Unrequited Love - Tsu’tey x Omatikaya ! reader / smut
you had been in love with tsu'tey for as long as you could remember. so when you see his heart break again at the loss of another mate, you offer him comfort, expecting nothing in return
Unrequited - Tsu’tey x Omatikaya ! reader / series (complete)
based on Unrequited Love: y/n had been in love with tsu'tey since they were kids, watching him get his heart broken over and over, until he became hardened. on one particular night, she offers him intimacy with no expectations in return, which sparks up a complex relationship between them. they grapple with guilt, unrequited love, and newfound intimacy, as y/n and tsu'tey navigate the depths of their feelings for each other
Captain Save a Hoe - Tsu'tey x Avatar ! reader
grumpy tsu’tey having to take care of a clumsy avatar!reader, and eventually warming up to her
Let Me Hear My Child - Tsu'tey x Pregnant ! reader / headcanons
tsu'tey's reaction to finding out his mate is pregnant
You'll be a great dad - Tsu'tey x Pregnant ! reader / Tsu'tey x Jake
tsu'tey is overwhelmed with anxiety and fear upon hearing the news of his mate's pregnancy and becoming a father, but like a good friend, jake is there to calm him down
Can't wait to meet you - Tsu'tey x Pregnant ! reader
pregnant!reader having to reassure tsu'tey that he will be a great father, despite his fears
Just Married - Tsu'tey x Female ! mate
when you stepped into the public eye for the first time after your mating, tsu'tey couldn't contain the overflowing affection he held for you. but because you felt insecure about the way you were being perceived by the clan, tsu'tey decided to prove you otherwise
Ao'nung:
Heaven in Hiding - Ao'nung x Metkayina ! reader / secret dating!
ao'nung and you have been hiding your relationship for some time now but there comes a moment when you want more than that
Thinking out loud about avatar (my opinions/analyses/theories):
sully kids watching jake's old diary logs
neteyam taking the move to awa'atlu the best out of the sully's
jake cringing at "my husband was toruk makto" bc of his own insecurities
jake and quaritch making up
-- let me know, if you want to be added to my taglist ♡
First official still from Avatar: Fire and Ash!! 🩵
Posting with permission from the artist, yodowdydon!
Please check out their Instagram page and go show your love for the original post!
wow can't wait!
Hi guys, I recently asked people to vote on what they'd like as Free Folk on my Patreon, and they asked for public Progress Reports!
So, the progress report is available to all if you join for free on my patreon! It's free! There's content in there, even if you don't want to pay! Honestly, I'd love it if you joined!
Just uh, fyi; spoilers will be inside. Especially since ima just post the Progress Report as you've always been there.
Speaking of...
I rewrote everything.
There were glaring issues with the old demo, like not meeting any ROs, and it'd already be past 300k words.
Still being a lil shit, and it being past 300k words.
Having not killed a man, and it being past 300k words.
NOT EVEN GETTING KISSES OR HUGS, AND IT BEING PAST 300k WORDS!
Shame!
Shame on the author!
Puts best face on.
Puts on nice song.
Well, I listened.
The lack of interactivity, the exposition, the blah blah blah...
I tried addressing those issues, hard. I also tried addressing issues with the narrative itself. Issues with the ROs (a majority of which we never even met yet!)
Everything. This isn't a small rewrite, something that changes things here and there.
I'm even calling this the "Great Reset". Cause I reset everything. Changed almost everything.
Now?
I love this version. I love working on this version. I can see the road ahead, when previously I was unable to.
I'm so confident in this version that I put Todd Howard, and played Sweet Little Lies.
Cause I'll be hanged if I'm lying. And I'm not.
The changes I've put in, the effort I've put in, the progress I've made in these last two months.
Now, I ease you into KaE for the first 100k words. You choose whether to be raised as a Prince, Princess, or Squire and experience the politics, the characters, the living breathing world of KaE that sows the seeds of the issues that'll cause the chaos in the world you'll face later on. I've introduced new coding features that make it simpler for you and me, and it feels more immersive than before. I want us to reach the academy within 300k words. I just feel happy to be writing again. It's my real calling, and it feels good to do it.
Anyways, enough of that. Please, take some time out of your day to look at the latest of what's upcoming.
The progress for the public release is 83k words out of 100k. We're almost there for the public release!!!
Thank you for reading!!!
- 3D Best Visuals with air balloons Medusa
- Jake's kids are taken by the Windtrader by Peylak to the Ash Tribe of Varang, the main villains of this part. Attack them.
- Quaritch in new looks "Mangwan Ash Clan" menacing than ever
- Quaritch clashes with Jake again at the Ash Clan with Parker, which looks at them terrified.
- Jake leads an army to attack the other side with Neytiri and Spider.
- Jake and Loak fight with headbutt.
- Neytiri fights with Ash Clan and possibly Wainfleet to her injury, some Na'vi was shot and fall on the ground.
- Varang, the leader said ,"Your goddess has no dominion here," to Kiri.
- Spider is shown passing out with his helmet failing. He falls down a cliff.
- Neytiri fights Varang until she is injured.
- fight dazzing footage and the return of Payakan
19 December, I beg you, come sooner!!
Alma was never a misled teacher. She wasn’t manipulated by Mercer, she wasn’t his victim, she did not have good intentions. She was the CO-FOUNDER of TAP. Including TAP-Con1.
This is a deep dive I’ve been wanting to do for a while, and I’ve finally been able to gather all my ideas and put them together. I know I’m late to the party, but I have a lot to say, especially because of the tendency of this fandom to judge Alma in a very biased way and to ignore important traits of her character just because they’re “uncomfortable”. Even among other people who dislike Alma, I have never seen some topics discussed and I want to change that, because I feel they are fundamental in understanding both her character and the role she plays in the story. Now, that isn’t to say I think people shouldn’t find Alma’s character interesting or entertaining; if you defend her and genuinely sympathize with her, however… this is not the place for you. I am the biggest and proudest Alma hater, so do with that what you will. I’ve seen too many people defend her actions, or try to tone down/change objective things in the game that are even explicitly spelled out for the audience. So, here I am.
Alma always knew exactly what she was doing. She knew what she wanted and what she was willing to do to achieve it. She wanted her school, no matter the cost (as she says quite literally in the game). It's true, she didn't know that Mercer was going to massacre the Sarentu. But she was still willing to take students for her school without theirs or their parents' consent. Let me elaborate.
In the flashback while she's going to the Sarentu moot with Mercer, this is how the conversation goes:
Alma: We're just talking to them, do we need this many soldiers?
Mercer: This is our last chance.* They're too primitive to understand what we can do for their children.
Alma: It's for the children.
Mercer: Exactly. Just think what we can achieve. Finally.
Alma (nodding): We're helping them. They'll see it... in time.
And THIS exactly is what sums up the person that she is. She may not have predicted Mercer’s massacre, but she still went to the moot with the purpose of taking those children no matter what. Because the core of what she believes is this: humans are superior and therefore need to impose their better ways of life on the lesser and uncivilized Na'vi; these people are too stupid to understand anyway, so it’s acceptable for humans to steal their children and forcefully assimilate them in the culture of their oppressors because they’re superior anyway. One day, years after they kidnapped their kids, the Na'vi’s primitive minds will come to understand that and recognize humans as superior, and thanks to their now successfully-brainwashed children, they will get to subjugate them as well.
A project like TAP isn’t the basis for cultural exchange, it’s the basis for cultural erasure and the assimilation of Indigenous children. TAP was LITERALLY a residential school. If you think there could ever be a “good intention” behind this, then you are a despicable human being. Alma knows this. She simply hides it behind a self-righteous facade of generosity and allyship. I don’t care that she genuinely believes that this is a way to help the Na'vi: it doesn’t change the “human-superiority” complex of her beliefs, it doesn’t change the fact that she literally made a fucking residential school. It is literally called “residential” in-game, and it can’t be interpreted differently. This is what “residential school” means. Alma was raised on Earth, where Indigenous people still exist, where residential schools literally already existed. Where do you think they got their inspiration from? It was always intentional. Remember that Mercer and Alma started working together for a reason. They shared a dream, and that dream was always going to be built on the blood and the stolen freedom of Indigenous Na'vi and their children. There was never a single half good intention about this project. This is literally a story about childen surviving residential school and reclaiming their Indigenous culture. The game doesn’t want you to sympathize with the colonizers who did this. The point of the story is for you to empathize with the Indigenous survivors of genocide and colonization.
Believing that you are doing something good — when you are actually doing tremendous harm — only because of your self-righteous superiority complex and actually doing something good are not the same thing. And the fact that Alma believes that by doing this she is actually helping the Na'vi makes her a even worse person. Can’t you see the danger of such mindset, the arrogance, the superiority? It is even more disgusting to me. At least a person like Mercer is honest: he’s horrible, hates the Na'vi and he’s proud of it. Alma, however, tries to hide it in a pathetic and disgusting attempt at feeling morally superior to people like him, tricking herself and the others around her into believing she’s actually a decent person, while her only goal is to achieve the recognition she thinks rightfully belongs to her and simultaneously erase her so-called “guilt”.
If she actually cared about the Sarentu children like people claim she did, she would have not left them in cryo for 16 years. She could have gone back to check if they were alive at any point during that time. She chose not to. She robbed them of their entire lives for the sole reason that she was too hypocritical to face her actions and failure, because that’s what this really is about. She never actually believed she did something wrong, her only shame came from the fact that she didn’t get the recognition she always strived for.
And even once she was forced to go rescue them, she still continued to lie to them and made them believe they had been abandoned by their clan. She kept the lie up when she could at least have told them that the Sarentu were dead. When they relocated to the Clouded Forest, she made them believe the Kame'tire were untrustworthy. She could have just said nothing, but no, she had to reinforce the lies to make herself look better, to pose as the Sarentu’s sole guide once again.
That woman had absolutely no shame for what she did and only admitted the truth once she was forced to do so. Even when she goes back to wake up the Sarentu, we can find out in a note that her priority is still TAP. “TAP is just a tomb for our dead dreams. Or maybe not. Just maybe.” Still, after almost two decades in which she could have, you know, self-analyzed a bit? she says loud and clear that she dgaf about the kids (she never even mentions them), like she’s proved over and over again, but only about her little colonialist assimilation project.
Later, if it wasn't for Anufi recognizing her, she never would have told the truth. Again, the only thing she ever does for the Sarentu — that is, simply informing them of the truth they were owed — she does because she is forced to do so by external forces. Even the only actual good thing she does in general, creating the Resistance, she does after TAP is gone, not because she realizes she’s done something bad, that she’s part of something evil and wants to separate herself from it, but because, again, she is forced to. If it wasn’t for the Omatikaya and the other clans rebelling, if it wasn’t that humans lost Pandora, she would have never left TAP. Not much of a resistance on her side then, right? She may have founded it — again, after she was forced by the circumstances, not because she was moved by authentic and sincere motives, and she’s able to do so only by lying about her project and actions — but it was the other members that made it a Resistance, not her.
* also notice Mercer saying “this is our last chance”. Interesting, right? I wonder why they were unable to find willing students. In Alma’s videolog we find at TAP-Con1 she says: “We’ve gone as far as we can with the Kame'tire. […] We just have to make them see what benefits it could bring to the Na'vi, to share cultures and outlooks. We have so much to teach each other. So much to give to the Na'vi. […] (about the Sarentu) I’m so excited to meet them and welcome the children to our school.”
We just have to make them see what benefits it could bring to the Na'vi. We have so much to teach each other. So much to give to the Na'vi. And here it goes again, the reason why she was never a good person. At first she tries to make it look like their intent is actually exchanging cultures between equals, but then immediately states her true ideology: it’s the humans who can help the primitive Na'vi, not the other way around. This idea that superior sophisticated societies need to share their “wonders” and teach their ways to the lesser, primitive uncivilized (Indigenous) people is beyond disgusting. Again, this is NOT cultural exchange. Because beyond that, I guarantee you there is absolutely NOTHING the Na'vi would have gained from interacting with their colonizers like that. Like Aha'ri said, “why would the Na'vi want to have alliances with you?”. We just have to make them, Alma also says. The Na'vi are never taken into consideration as actual intelligent people with their own will, they are never meant to be part of the conversation: they are too stupid, so we just have to force our culture onto them. But it’s okay!! We’re the superior and civilized ones so we’re actually doing them a favor.
I’m so excited to meet them and welcome the children to our school. Once again, the Na'vi’s will doesn’t matter. She doesn’t say nor imply anything about actually having a discussion with them. The Kame'tire said no, but they just HAVE to have their school, so they’re gonna “welcome the children” one way or another. From the note I mentioned earlier: We all had to make sacrifices. Some... they made the ultimate sacrifice. But the science, the progress. Yeah, we did what we thought was right to make TAP a reality. She admits very clearly (and very casually) that she doesn’t give a flying fuck about the lives she and Mercer purposefully destroyed. It was a sacrifice she (and Mercer) decided had the authority to make for “the science and the progress”. Even decades after the massacre, this is what the lives of the Sarentu still are in her eyes: a necessary and justifiable sacrifice. Alma always knew this. Not in the back of her mind, not subconsciously. Stealing the children was something she was always willing to do, because in her mind it’s a good thing, in her mind they have the right to do it. And that makes her abhorrent.
As I said at the beginning of this post, Alma was never a misled victim, she was TAP’s co-founder, and that obviously includes TAP-Con1. That means that she not only was aware of everything that was going on in that place, but that she was behind it. She was behind the children being kept in cages, washed with disinfectant, being left to sleep and live like prisoners. They were little children, the oldest being SIX, forced to be analyzed in laboratory (and gods know what else they did to them).
From an interaction at the lab of TAP-Con1, our Sarentu says: “Blood samples. Some of us cried everytime.” And Alma was behind it. And even if she wasn’t, she still allowed it. If you seriously think that she, the fucking co-founder, did not have any executive power over the project she literally made and she was just subjugated to Mercer’s will, you are fooling yourself. This is true for both TAP-Con1 and TAP.
“You didn’t do a thing to stop Mercer. The wounds he gave us, you gave as well.”
Nor explained the point so perfectly. She was behind the fear, the abuse, the torture just as much as Mercer and Harding were. Again, she was never just a teacher and the game spells it out for you very clearly. If you ignore this, it’s your choice or your willing lack of understanding.
What I find even worse is that she never even tried to repent or earn the Sarentu’s forgiveness. She did absolutely NOTHING to earn back her place into their lives or into the Resistance. Not because there is something she could actually do to redeem herself. No, what I find irritating is the fact that she just assumed she was given a free pass for everything. At the end of the main game, she even has the audacity to think that she and the Sarentu can move forward together and “be a family again”. Except they never were one, they were never on the same side. It’s frustrating how she still refuses to see that. Another proof that she doesn’t hold herself accountable like she claims she does, she still does not see the damage she has done, she still does not see how wicked her actions and intentions always were. She still sees herself as a victim. But this is no excuse for the audience to consider her as such.
After her Avatar dies and she is forced to admit the truth about the Sarentu massacre, there is a side quest called “Penance” in which Alma, Ri'nela and the MC gather to bury it. You may think after her confession — which she made seem spontaneous but was actually forced by Anufi and Nor — Alma actually feels remorse like she claims she does; you may think she finally understands now the gravity of what she did to the Sarentu, that finally she will act honestly and be ready to face the consequences to her actions.
But no. Once again, her only focus is herself. Instead of humbly coming to the Sarentu, she whines about how she doesn’t feel comfortable in her own body (because she chose for years to deceive herself and most importantly the Sarentu with a fake mask of allyship). When the MC points out that the Avatar was never the real Alma, she still speaks as that mask was her true self, she still believes that she was actually one of them, one of the people she personally oppressed and colonized.
And Ri'nela is having none of it. “Did it make your sins easier to bear? Playing make believe?” This is exactly it. Alma posed as one of the Sarentu, actually tricking herself into believing she was one of them, because this way she didn’t have to face the person she really was all along. This way it was easier to pretend she was in the right, that she was manipulated by Mercer. But as I explained earlier, this doesn’t make her misled, this doesn’t make her a person with good intentions; it just makes her a hypocritical heinous human being.
This is why Alma is irredeemable. Not only because there’s no action good enough to repair the atrocities she was responsible for, but because she would actually had to feel genuine remorse to start a redemption arc. As she made abundantly clear through her words and actions, this is not the case. And I’ll even say this: a person like Alma is utterly incapable of feeling true remorse. There will always be a part of her that believes herself to be partly a victim, a person who just wanted the best but was ultimately misled. This is what I consider the worst, most loathsome and dangerous trait of her character.
This is why the Sky Breaker dlc left a sour aftertaste in my mouth. Spoilers if you haven’t played it yet.
After the valkyrie attack, when everyone is gathered to discuss what happened, Mokasa (why was he allowed to be there in the first place is a mystery) is bitching about the humans, and Sa'ney rightfully calls him out on his hypocrisy. At this point, Alma (again, why the fuck is she here?) intervenes and says:
“Does he not deserve the same as me? I share the same blame. But… I’ve been allowed to move forward.”
Does he not deserve the same as me? Yes, yes he does. That’s the point. I share the same blame. Do you, Alma? Do you really? Don’t get me wrong, I HATE Mokasa. Leading the RDA to the Sarentu, blaming Anufi, lying to his own clan for decades… I don’t think I need to explain. But it always got me thinking how people point the finger on Mokasa so naturally but don’t give Alma the same treatment. Let’s examine them a bit.
Again, there’s no need for me to explain why everything Mokasa did was horrible and unjustifiable. But let’s take a look at why he did it. He says it in the main game: “it was their children or ours”. As cruel and horrible that sounds (because it is), it’s also true. It’s clear Mokasa was aware of the humans’ intentions from the beginning: he knew they were gonna steal Na'vi children regardless and he ensured those children wouldn’t be Kame'tire. Was he right? Of course not!! There is NO excuse for what he did. He should have warned Anufi and the Sarentu, he should have not torn apart his clan to hide his secret… but it’s still a completely different motive. Alma is a human and an oppressor who wanted to steal children for her own personal ambition; Mokasa, an Indigenous man part of the oppressed category, did evil and inexcusable things because he thought that was the only way to protect his clan and their children from their colonizers. The outcome, the goal even, is the same: the sacrifice of the Sarentu and their children. Yet what drives Mokasa and Alma to commit this atrocity cannot be judged equally. Not really the same, is it?
But I’ve been allowed to move forward. Have you, Alma? HAVE YOU? Who exactly has allowed you to move forward? The Resistance? But why should they ever have a say in this? Yes, they felt betrayed too in a way, obviously. But they’re not the ones whose lives were ruined at her hands. The only ones who get to have a say in this are the Sarentu. Didn’t seem to me that they forgave her; they only made clear they wanted and needed to go their own way. They very clearly separated themselves from her. So, it looks like to me that Alma simply assumed she was given a free pass for everything even though she didn’t do a single thing to repent for her actions.
I have conflicted feelings about Mokasa’s so-called redemption, and I’m not sure what were the game’s intentions regarding him as opposed to Alma. But what is certain is that Alma deserved to pay the consequences for her actions. Mokasa was rightfully banished from the clan. I know the same can’t be done for Alma, but ignoring her is not enough. She deserves to be punished for what she did. I don’t how, honestly (not implying physical torture or anything here guys, dw). Yes, Nor killed her Avatar and I think that was absolutely necessary. But what Nor did (and he 100% had every right) was revealing the real Alma, it was stripping her from the possibility to keep deceiving everyone, especially the Sarentu; it was not, however, the consequence she needs to face. I really hope they will somehow deal with this in the future.
This is what I think of her. I may never hated a character more and I wish she died in the neurosect. There is absolutely no excuse for this woman. There’s no sympathizing with her. I did not villanize her, I did not exaggerate her actions or make her look worse than what she actually is. If people still refuse to see it, I think that says a lot about them.
I want to conclude saying this: I do think Alma is a beautifully written character, and it was surprising how well the game handled such delicate themes, how it showed different affects of colonization and assimilation culture on the children without passing one of them as more rightful. Because at the end of the day this is what the story is about, and the fans ignore this too often: this is a metaphor for residential schools and their survivors. It’s a story about resistance and reconnection. You cannot forget this when you judge characters like Nor, or Teylan, or Alma. Again, you are not meant to defend her. It is not her story. It is the Sarentu’s story. And it is meant to parallel the real stories from which this one was inspired. Always remember that.
"it is what demon's blood does" on ao3
why him if not i? | neteyam sully
pairing: neteyam sully x omatikaya!fem! reader
warnings: swearing, jealousy, protective neteyam, mentions of mating, neteyam fighting over you, kissing, fluff
masterlist
neteyam was often jealous when it came to other boys around you, he hated it when other na'vi men would flirt with you or make you smile like he does. no, you and neteyam hadn't expressed your feelings to one another but it was quite obvious with the frequent touching, flirting and always being around each other. most of the clan was waiting upon the day neteyam would announce you were mated- and so were the two of you.
neteyam had been walking through the village when he heard a group of na'vi talking, he was going to just walk past but he stopped when he heard your name being spoken. neteyam thought the group were talking bad about you, and was going to step in and tell them all off for doing so. but as he listened closely to what they were saying, they were in fact not talking bad about you but you being mated with someone, his ears perked up with curiousity as he listened in. "did you hear, y/n and karait have mated." "i know, it's sorta weird. i thought her and neteyam were a thing, obviously not." "y/n and karait are adorable though, i saw him picking flowers for her this morning."
neteyam scrunched up his face, you and karait? mated? there was no way that you and him were mated, you would've told him. neteyam knew better than to believe the words of other people, he walked away from the group in search for you to tell you about the crazy rumours until he was stopped by lo'ak who ran up to him. "bro, have you heard?"
“what?”
“y/n and karait are apparently mated.” lo’ak said, he couldn’t believe it either.
neteyam rolled his eyes, not believing him. “it’s just rumours, y/n would’ve told me.”
“i thought the same thing, right? and then i saw them together and he was like all over her.” lo’ak told him, neteyam felt a pit form in his stomach at his brothers words. “you missed your chance bro.”
neteyam stood there taking it in,“shut up.” he stormed away, he really had missed his chance with you. he waited too long.
the rest of the day neteyam had been in a bad mood, he kept on hearing people in the clan talking about you and your new ‘mate’. to say he was jealous would be an understatement. and he couldn’t help but feel hurt as well, he was almost sure you had reciprocated his feelings. that’s what he got for letting his feelings get in the way. the feeling he got was sickening when he imagined you mating with another, them getting to please you and make you feel loved- it was all suppose to be him.
neteyam was drawing back his bow, ready to take a kill- but all he could think about was you, he wasn’t his usual focused self like he was all the time. he let go of the string letting the arrow fly towards his target, missing. he barely ever misses kills. his father noticed his son’s odd behaviour, taking notice of how his mind seemed to be in another place. “what’s wrong?” jake asked making neteyam turn to him.
“nothing.” he grumbled setting down his bow, his answer so obviously not being the truth.
“sit down.” jake instructed patting the spot next to him on the log.
neteyam did as he was told and sat down next to his father, “now, are you going to tell me what’s going on in that mind of yours, son?”
neteyam’s angry expression turning into one of hurt as his father repeated his question. “i-i don’t even know.” he sighed looking down at his hands, “it’s just…” he paused wondering if he should tell his dad why he was actually upset. “it’s y/n.” he confessed.
jake hummed, knowing the two had feelings did one another. “what about her.”
“she’s been mated with someone else.” it hurt neteyam to even say the words out loud, his heart feeling like it had been clenched. speaking it out loud he felt incredibly stupid, you could mate with whoever you wanted to. he always had a lingering thought in the back of his mind that you may not choose him to be your mate- he just never really considered that it may become true.
jake furrowed his eyebrows, he had not been aware of a new mated pair in the clan. and he- like everyone else- was sure that you and neteyam would become mates. his face softened for his son, feeling bad for the situation at hand. “have you spoken to her about it?”
“no, i don’t know if i can. i’ll look stupid.” he fiddled with his 4 fingers. “and what will it do if i do speak to her about it? it’s not like she’s going to stop being mates with karait.”
jake sighed putting a hand on neteyam’s back comfortly. “there are many other women in the clan to be your mate.”
he gagged internally at the thought, being mates with anyone but you?- no. neteyam ran his hands down his face frustratingly ”there is no other like her though.”
“well, maybe not. but there are many others that would be a great tsahìk and if you have them a chance maybe you could come to like them.” jake was trying to make him feel better, but was doing the opposite.
“no- you don’t get it. i don’t want any other woman in the clan- i want y/n! she’s perfect an-and everything i have ever wanted, she was suppose to be my tsahìk. i-if my mate is not her, then i do not want a one. i’m so stupid, i messed everything up! i waited too long and now she is with a stupid skxawng.” his father was taken aback by neteyam’s sudden out burst, but he got it. neteyam too was surprised by his own burst of emotion. “sorry.” before jake could say something more neteyam got up from the log, grabbing his bow. “i’m going to head back, sorry for wasting your time.”
the trip back was horrible, he was left with only himself and his thoughts- they were mostly about how stupid he was. he was passing through some trees when he heard a laugh that was all to familiar, it always made his heart flutter- it was your laugh. he followed the direct in which it had came from. you were sitting on the grass weaving something, whilst humming a beautiful tune.
neteyam started to move back quietly but stepped on a twig that made a loud snap making your ears perk up- smiling at his presence. “i know you’re there, nete.”
“hi….” he came out of the bushes, revealing himself. you expected him to sit down but he just stood there. looking at you even made his heart hurt, the fact you would never be his.
you looked up at him, “do you want to sit with me?” neteyam nodded slowly sitting down next to to, watching as your hands worked on a basket. you noticed something was off with him the second he sat down, he usually sits close to you- but currently he left a huge gap between the two of you.
a silence fell over the two of you- which you couldn’t decide if it was a comfortable or awkward silence- until neteyam chose to break it by clearly his throat. “so, karait?”
“what about him?” you asked not taking your eyes off the basket, you were curious as to why he was asking about him- you were completely unaware of all the rumours going around about the two of you.
neteyam was getting a bit angry, what did you mean- what about him? he was your mate. you couldn't even tell your best friend. "you know what i mean."
you drew your eyes from the basket to meet his own, "am i suppose to?.." karait was your friend, and if you were being honest you found him kind of annoying. he was always following you around, clinging to you.
neteyam scoffed, shaking his head. "i don't get it- why wouldn't you tell me?" you grew confused, what was he talking about- and why was he getting mad at you? he noticed your confused expression. "don't act like you don't know."
"i don't know what you're talking about, nete" you put the basket down on the ground, removing your hands from it- your full attention now on neteyam.
"what does he do?" he asked, what did karait have that he didn't. "does he treat you good?- does he pick you flowers? is he a good hunter- does he spend lots of time with you- is that it?"
"karait?" oh eywa, did neteyam hate the sound of another's on your tongue.
"yes, him!" it came out harsher then he had intended it to, "what does he have, tell me."
"uh.." you started to grow slightly uncomfortable under neteyam's harsh gaze, you had never seen neteyam raise his voice before- besides when he was shouting at lo'ak. "he's nice, i guess?"
neteyam's jaw clenched, "he's nice, you guess? that's it? he's nice?"
"he's quite good with a bow?" why was he asking so much about karait, you were so confused. "i don't know what you want me to say." you laughed.
"i just want to hear it from you, just tell me the truth. i already know." he was hurt, you were laughing. how were you so unbothered by this, he had everything karait had if not more. why did you choose him, why did you string him along all this time just to go off with another?
"nete, i-"
"what does he have that i don't?" his eyes were filled with hurt and betrayal, and they were directed right at you. "were all those things you told me lies? all the promises you made to me?"
"everything i've told you is the truth. what is going on with you neteyam?" why couldn't he just tell you what he was talking about? had you missed something?
"what's going on with me?- what's going with you?" he took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. "were you trying to spare my feelings, is that why you didn't tell me?"
before you could answer another voice appeared. "y/n!- i knew i would find you here...." karait appeared coming from the same direct neteyam had minutes ago, trailing off as he saw neteyam sitting down with you. he looked between the two of you, he could sense the thick tension between you and neteyam. "uh- sorry, am i interrupting something?.."
"karait-" you were about to tell him to go away, he really couldn't have came at a worse time- could he? he always managed to pop up randomly- it was weird how he knew were you were everyday. before you could tell him to go away though, someone beat you to it.
neteyam's hands formed into a tight fist, jaw clenching tighter at karait's arrival. he stood up angrily, narrowing his eyes dangerously at karait. "yes, you are. you've interrupted a lot actually."
karait looked around confused at neteyam's harsh tone. neteyam looked down to what the na'vi was holding in his hand, flowers- your favourite ones. the ones he always got for you. "look man, i'll just come back later- it's fine." he began to turn around to head back.
"no you're not."
karait stopped, turning back around and met neteyam's gaze. "excuse me?"
your eyes widened, "neteyam." you whispered harshly, to tell him to stop but he ignored you.
neteyam took a step forward, standing tall trying to intimidate karait as he stood taller than him by a couple of inches. "you heard me, you're not going to come back later."
kariat chuckled, "i don't think that's really your decision." he then turned to looked at you. you were still sitting down on the grass, you looked like you were so lost- because you were. "do you want me to come back later, y/n?"
"uh-" for the third time today neteyam cut you off- which you were getting extremely annoyed at- moving to stand in front of you. blocking kariat's view of you, standing protectively. you sighed rolling your eyes- but you would be lying if you said you didn't find him being protective extremely attractive.
"don't talk to her."
kariat smirked as he suddenly realised why neteyam was being like this- he liked you, just like he did. kariat narrowed his eyes not breaking eye contact with neteyam. taking a step forward, as he stood up straight mimicking neteyam's body language. "yeah? what are you gonna do about it- she's not your mate."
neteyam hissed, baring his sharp fangs dangerously at kariat challenging him. kariat hissed back standing his ground. you thought kariat was extremely dumb, challenging turuk maktos son. you stood up quickly off the ground, putting your hand on neteyam's shoulder from behind him trying to pull him back but he didn't budge. "neteyam- what are you doing!" you thought he was just being ridiculous at this point.
"i've got this, y/n." he replied turning to look at you then turned back to kariat, speaking so he could hear him. "gonna show this skxqwng what a real man is." kariat hissed in reply.
"now is not the time to compare dick sizes, nete!" you whisper yelled over his shoulder at him gritting your teeth frustratedly, still trying to pull him back. you came into the forest to peacefully weave a basket for hunting, not to watch two na'vi fight.
"oh yeah? now is the perfect time to." you sighed frustratedly, you knew he wouldn't back down. neteyam was usually not the one to get into fights-but if it involved someone he loved, he wouldn't hesitate to knock some sense into a na'vi.
"don't try and protect him, y/n. this skxqwng is asking for it." kariat spat, you weren't trying to protect neteyam from him. he was one to the best warriors in the clan- if not the best. you were trying to protect him from neteyam, but kariat was the one asking for it now.
"i told you before, don't talk to her!" neteyam growled venom laced through his words, he turned his head slightly to you, his tone completely changing to a soft loving whisper. "go sit down y/n and finish off that beautiful basket, i don't want you getting hurt." you removed your hand hesitantly from his shoulder and slowly moved away picking up your half woven basket and went to go sit down on a log not far away from them.
neteyam watched a you sat down and turned back to kariat, "i know what this is all about, you heard everyone talking didn't you?" kariat smirked at him. "thought i would tell everyone, so i didn't have to when it actually happened."
neteyam's blood boiled, the two of you weren't even mates. he had gotten worked up over nothing and had gotten mad at you, and told everyone you were his. oh, he was gonna get it. with one final hiss neteyam charged at him, throwing a hard punch to kariat's nose making him fall back- neteyam wasn't going to hold back, he had been holding in his anger all day and kariat was going to be the one to get it all.
kariat stumbled back, regaining himself throwing a punch at neteyam, landing on his jaw. neteyam stumbled back and reached up towards his lips swiping one finger across it, looking back down to his finger seeing blood on it. he smirked as he looked back up to kariat who had a bruise forming on his nose already. all of kariats confidence washed away quickly, being replaced with fear as neteyam threw multiple punches at him- landing a hit every single time.
you winced looking at kariat's bloodied face from neteyam's hits, kariat did not look too good. neteyam kneed him in the stomach then threw kariat onto the grass harshly, they were only a few seconds into the fight and kariat already wanted to withdraw from it. neteyam bent down and got right in the na’vis face, “if you even so as go near y/n again, i’ll do worse than this. and you better go back and tell everyone that you and y/n are not mated, understand?” he didn’t responded. “i said, do you understand.”
“ye-yes.”
neteyam was about to hit him again when he felt a hand pulling him back, “okay, that’s enough neteyam. i think you’ve proved your point.” you looked down at kariat who sent you a thankful look. neteyam sighed as he got up sending one last glare at kariat- who pounced up quickly and limped away, scared that neteyam would do more. as soon as he left you turned to neteyam, “okay, now. care to explain to me what just happened?”
“oh uh..” neteyam trailed off, he didn’t really know what to say. “i didn’t like him?”
you gave him a blank look, obviously not believing him. “right.” you shook your head, rolling your eyes. “i’m leaving.” you went to turn around but by a firm grip on your hand.
“he told the whole clan that you two had mated.” your eyes widened in shock, everyone in the clan thought you and kariat were mates? oh eywa. “and- and i was mad and hurt because i…” he trailed off.
“because you?..” you asked softly wanting him to finish off his sentence.
neteyam met your eyes and gulped. “because.. i wanted you to be my mate.” your mouth fell agape, you could feel a smile starting to form on your lips. “i’m sorry for believing everyone and not asking you before and getting mad at you earlier, i should’ve never raised my voice at you. i was just really hurt and jealous that you chose someone else, i know it’s no excuse though and- you can choose whoever you want to be your mate, because you can obviously choose anyone-” he rambled on until you stopped him by crashing your lips on his, he was taken back a bit but quickly returned the kiss. his whole soul had been longing to meet your lips, to kiss every inch of you.
the two of you broke the kiss, neteyam cursed himself for needing to breath- he didn’t want to ever stop kissing you. “for being the smartest person i know you really are dumb aren’t you?” you chuckled, neteyam still speechless from the kiss. “do you really ever think i’d choose anyone over you, nete? it’s always been you.”
he grinned widely like a child who had just had his first clean kill, “can i please kiss you again?”
Summary of the series: You were found by Noa, Anaya and Soona - on the brink of the death - healed back to health, you were faced with being let go, or staying with the Eagle Clan. Food, shelter and safety. The catch? Their Leader wanted to know about Echo ways of living and never bargained feelings into the transaction. (This will be updated as chapters are posted. ) SERIES PLAYLIST.
Chapter One: Customary.
Chapter Two: Gone Hunting.
Chapter Three: Wounded Pride.
Chapter Four: Head First.
Chapter Five: Sense of Belonging.
Chapter Six: Empathy.
Chapter Seven: Cross Roads.
Chapter Eight: Future.
Chapter Nine: Savior Complex.
Chapter Ten: Chimp Mosh Pit.
Chapter Eleven: The Grim Reaper.
Chapter Twelve: Taken.
Chapter Thirteen: If You Only Knew.
Chapter Fourteen: Thick as Thieves.
Chapter Fifteen: Oblivion.
Chapter Sixteen: Cross Contaminate. **ACTUAL FINAL CHAPTER SEVENTEEN* Traditional. ( Coming Soon. )
hi!!! ik u have ur list up rnnn but i kinda really NEED to hear ur takes/ hc on casual dominance with neteyam 🎀 please please please
*kisses forehead to incentivize u* 😙 <33
is this life with neteyam too much to ask for??? i don’t think it is. thanks for the request!!
pairing ; neteyam x fem!reader
synopsis ; casual dominance headcannons with neteyam <33
themes ; fluff, fluff & fluff
• Neteyam wraps his tail around you without even thinking.
• Around your waist while walking, around your leg while sitting, or gently curling around your wrist during ceremonies.
• It’s instinctual — not possessive, just his way of keeping you grounded, connected, close.
• Especially in crowds.
• Even though you’re capable, sometimes your stride is just a little shorter, your steps a bit slower — and he notices.
• So when you’re lagging or tired, he scoops you up and carries you like it’s his right.
• His arms around your shoulders, your legs looped around his waist.
• “No point in making you tire yourself, let me take care of you.”
• Whether it’s fruit from the trees or meat cooked over flame, Neteyam feeds you.
• Hand to your lips, thumb brushing against your bottom lip after.
• He watches you eat like it’s a ritual — like you’re a goddess who deserves to be worshipped every day.
• (You are.)
• Neteyam loves to make you things.
• Beaded chestpieces woven with your favorite colors, necklaces with meaning in every shell and tooth, arm cuffs that match his.
L When you wear something he made, it’s not just a gift — it’s a claim.
• “You look good in my work,” he says with a grin, pressing his forehead to yours. “You look good with me.”
• You’re strong, you’re skilled, but he still hates when you put yourself in danger.
• If there’s a scouting mission, a risky hunt — he insists on going instead, or at least going with you.
• “I know you can handle it, but I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
• No one else hears the songs Neteyam writes about you — but you do.
• They’re softly whispered in your ear under the trees, or hummed while you lay curled in his lap.
• Some are full of longing — others, fierce devotion.
• Even when you’re mad at each other, Neteyam never lets you walk away without a kiss, a forehead press, or at least a soft “be safe.”
• “No going to bed angry, we’re stronger than that.”
• He likes the way you fit against him when you’re both riding.
• His arms around you, your braid tucked safely against his shoulder, his voice low in your ear giving directions or simply whispering your name.
• It’s not just about flight — it’s about trust.
• Fingers brushing your side as you walk, a hand resting on the small of your back, his tail curling possessively around your thigh at rest, a hand tilting your chin up before a kiss.
• His touch says, I see you. I choose you. You’re mine.
• When Neteyam says “come here,” your body moves before your mind catches up.
• Not because he’s demanding — but because his voice makes you feel safe.
• You know he’ll never lead you wrong.
• He stands back and watches you spar, but his eyes never leave you.
• He offers quiet critiques, soft praise.
• “Your stance was perfect.”
• “Almost got me that time.”
• And when you impress him? That smirk, that pride in his voice, it lights you up.
• When another hunter gets too close, he doesn’t argue.
• He just steps in, loops an arm around your waist, kisses your temple slowly — eyes locked on the other guy the whole time.
• “I’ll meet you at the river, yawne (beloved),” he says, deliberately. “Don’t be late.”
• “You’re so easy to love.”
• “I see the whole world when I look at you.”
• “You follow so well — you trust me.”
• His voice is reverent. His words, sacred.
• His dominance isn’t about control — it’s about honoring your surrender.
• He doesn’t stop you from doing things, he just makes sure you never have to.
• He’ll carry it, he’ll fix it, he’ll take the lead when you’re tired.
• “You’ve done enough,” he tells you softly. “Let me take it from here.”
• He weaves tiny, shared details into your hair — small beads, threads, symbols only you two recognize.
• When others ask, you both just smile.
• It’s private. Sacred.
• A quiet way of saying, we are one.
• Even across the clan fire, Neteyam finds your gaze.
• He doesn’t say anything — he just looks.
• That lingering stare, the slight tilt of his head, the little smirk.
• It’s not a warning, it’s a promise — and it makes your knees weak every time.