juicefield

[juicefield]

Meyp Skxawng - Neteyam X Avatar!Reader Part 4

A/N: My apologies for not updating the fic in so long, I was sick with some type of stomach bug and then had a really hectic week. I've also been suffering from writers block, so if this isn't up to par I apologize! Just been struggling with writing lately. Also I'm not sure if this was obvious but when reader is with the Sully siblings (besides Neteyam) she is speaking English, and that's why she talks a lot more casually then with others (not just bc she is more comfortable around them). As per usual feedback is appreciated! Also if you find any mistakes comment them down below or message me.

You can find the other parts here:

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3

Although the writing in this fanfiction is my own, I do not claim any  ownership of Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, or any of the subsequent medias. All rights go to James Cameron and the producers. 

Synopsis: After a few week in your new body the Sully kids and Spider take you out into the forest for the first time.

Neteyam X Fem!Avatar!Reader 6.8k 1st person POV

Y’know, Jake was right when he said that eventually everything becomes backwards when you have an avatar. Like out there is the real world and in here is the dream. I’ve only had this body for a few weeks and I already feel my sense of reality slipping from me. Time becomes blurred, days simultaneously feeling too short and too long at the same time. Every day I feel more and more like I belong out there, in the forest, and not here in the lab with Norm and Max. The first week was difficult, my new body weak and feet too pliant for the harsh peat of the forest floor. But, slowly, day by day I feel the calluses building and my muscles will themselves to go a little further. 

With the Sully children it's learn fast or be left in the dust. Hell, the first time I went to the forest with them I almost died. We had decided to take my first trip out, well actually out and not close to the cave entrance. Lo’ak led the charge and set out at breakneck speed and before long I was left behind with Kiri. Spider, Tuk, and him paid no mind as we disappeared from their view. Walking slowly, we were enjoying the forest's feast for the senses and Kiri turned to me with a strange expression.

“Why are you walking so slowly? You were faster on your first day.” She says, fixing me with a pointed look, even though she was clearly walking slower than me.

“Well it is a lot harder out here! I’m not exactly used to climbing giant tree roots and dodging excessively large plants.” I whine, annoyed that she dared to point out my slow speed. Stopping suddenly she spins around to point at me dramatically.

“Ah! Ah ah,” She tutted with a wag of her pointer finger, “you told me you were going to make the most of this opportunity. Taw, you are stronger than you think. If you want to thrive in this body, you must trust it. You have always been stronger than you think.”

While normally her words would have been extremely comforting I’m still sore about her comparison to my past self so I look to the side, pouting and refusing to answer. This only served to make her angry, which she quickly demonstrates by pulling harshly on my tail. Yelping in pain I open my mouth to respond before her fierce eyes train on me, quieting any verbal retaliation that I was hoping to attempt.

“(Y/N). Your spirit is very strong, and that is the most important part of someone. You have always been strong, despite your problems, and you need to realize that your outside now has that same strength. Trust your body. Here.” Kiri comes up behind me to place her hand on my stomach.

“Breathe. Feel the muscle, the bone. Feel its strength.” She instructs as I do as she says. Taking a deep breath I try to tune out the rest of the forest, turning my focus onto the muscles in my stomach. I feel tension rise in my abdominal muscles when she presses harder to illustrate her point. She gently removes her hand to grab mine and place it over my chest.

“Now, feel the heart beating here. Notice the sounds it makes. Your spirit lives here, and she is very strong. Feel how the strength starts there and flows down the rest of the body.” I gasp softly when my hand makes contact with the warm skin of my chest. I am surprised by the thunderous beat I feel below even through bone. It feels like the drum the people use for the many rituals and parties that take place in high camp. The beat of my heart reverberates through muscle and bone the way the air vibrates around the drum, taking the energy of the drum all the way to my little room in the lab. So too does this heart take this blood to my legs, imbuing them with life and power. As I focus on the beat I can start to hear it too, a distant thump in the blood of my ears. I don’t stop listening to its sweet rhythm until I am interrupted by Kiri nudging my arm. 

“Sit with me. I want to teach you something.” She commands me and points to a cleared area next to the tree we are standing on. I hesitate but ultimately decide to obey, sitting down on the soft moss and blades of grass that litter the forest floor.  Fixing me again with her intense stare she places her hands on her crossed legs and I mirror her.

“Oel ngati kameie. Do you understand what that means?” Kiri prompts and I almost roll my eyes. Of course I know what that means, I’ve literally heard it throughout my entire life, despite it never being directed at me.

“I see you. Yes, Kiri. It’s the most common phrase in the whole language, so uh- yeah.” I respond and look away from her eyes for a moment of reprieve from what I am starting to suspect is a lecture on ‘seeing’ myself.

“No. Wrong. Seeing is not looking. You do not understand because you do not see.” She says and flicks me between my eyes.

“Ow. Why are you flicking me? Of course I can see.” I whine and press two fingers over the spot she assaulted, massaging gently. She has had so many years of practicing her flicks on her brothers that her fingers are practically a deadly weapon at this point. I know that she doesn’t mean see like that, but I’m still irritated enough that I don’t want to give her what she wants. She hisses slightly and I can see the frustration on her face so I refocus and decide to actually listen to what she has to say.

“Taw. Seeing is not done with your eyes, it is done with your spirit. To see someone is to let go of the previous experiences you have had and to let them wash over you anew. When I say I see you, I mean the part of Eywa in me sees the Eywa in you. I see into you, your spirit and your kindness and I see the way we are connected. I see into you. I saw you when no one else did, and that is what I am asking you to do now. Do not see the forest as a dangerous place, see it as it is. It is the most wondrous creation of Eywa, and you are now a part of it. If you want to find a place in the clan, you must learn to let go of what has happened to you. You must also see your new self, to trust yourself as well as the forest. Do you understand?” Kiri finished the explanation with a gentle touch of her hand on my own. 

“I know but, Kiri, I’m not a part of this forest and I never have been. I can’t see because I am not a child of Eywa like you. I’m afraid there is no Eywa in me.” I speak my fear that I had been holding in since I took my first few steps in this body. The fear that I would be unable to connect with the world around me, despite aching deeply for a connection.

“Oh, (Y/N), you have always been one of Eywa’s children. You were born on this moon just like everyone else and Eywa’s heart beats in you as well. In fact, I feel that you may be closer to her than even some Na’vi I know.” Kiri comforts me in a soft whispering voice, looking into my eyes with tender sympathy.

“How? I can’t connect with her, I can’t visit the tree of souls, or even pray to her without feeling dirty and shameful.” I lament, shrugging my shoulders to try and hide how strongly the thought makes me feel.

“(Y/N), you don’t need those things to be connected with the Great Mother. I cannot explain it, I just feel her in you. Ever since you have been in this new body I have sensed that she grows closer to you everyday.” Kiri answers vaguely. I try to get her to explain, or at least to try to find words for what she feels but we are interrupted by the sounds of a branch snapping about twenty feet away from us. 

Kiri is immediately at high alert and brings a finger up to her lips to silence my many questions. My ear twitches at the sharp sound and I scramble up as silently as possible. Kiri nods toward a tree to our right and we both huddle behind it, looking around the trunk to where the stick had snapped. The hairs on the back of my neck start to stand when I see foliage rustingling in a way that looks like something is almost slithering through. Immediately I am sure it is a predator, I can tell by the way that the leaves shake that whatever is behind them is stalking us. Any prey animal would have run already, so we can rule out a yerik. Kiri is watching from the other side of the tree, gripping my forearm tightly with one hand and the other grips her hunting knife. We are almost stuck in place while the rustling comes closer, still skillfully hidden by the thick foliage. I can’t help the gasp that leaves my throat when a pair of yellow eyes locks with mine. 

“Nantang.” Kiri mutters as the viperwolf begins slowly moving forward, revealing it's hexapedal limbs one by one as it climbs over the stump it was standing on. I try to look away from the intense eyes but an invisible force causes me to stay rooted down. I am still staring at it when two other pairs of eyes join the first, causing Kiri to start pulling on my arm.

“They are out in the daytime… run! We must run, (Y/N)!” It takes only a moment before I am snapped out of my stupor and I take off after Kiri. The wind whips past my face as I jump over roots and plant, scrambling to catch up with Kiri. This causes the biggest one in the middle to come rushing after us, using its extra forelimbs to grapple over the ground around us. The wind is knocked out of me as the largest one slams into my back, its mouth wrapped around my tail yanking me to a stop and onto the forest floor. The next few moments are a blur as I wrestle with it, forcing my arm up under its throat to keep it from biting my face off. Kiri heard the sound I made when I went down and whips around, she shouts something but I can't hear her as the adrenaline has the blood pumping loudly in my ears.

Vaguely I register her calling out for Lo’ak as I wrestle with the largest of the viperwolves, its teeth sink into the flesh of my forearm and I cry out in pain as we roll over and over again. The other two viperwolves circle me and their packmate while Kiri yells something at me in Na’vi, but in my preoccupied state I can barely even  understand English. Eventually she yells one word in English. Catch.

She throws the knife towards me and it lands a few feet away. I use the arm that isn’t clamped between the viperwolves jaws like a vice grip to try to reach it. I stretch as far as I can go and my fingers only push it farther away from me. I strain against its gleaming fangs, which causes the flesh on my arm to tear slightly, but allows me to finally reach the knife. Gripping onto the leather handle I face the viperwolf. It releases my arm when my eyes meet its piercing amber eyes. The muscles on its face ripple as it lets out a loud snarl, fast as lightning it lunges toward my throat and my instincts kick in, sinking the knife up into the dip of its throat. It falls only a few inches from my throat and it thrashes a few times, horrific wet gurgling sounds leave its throat as I push it off of me. 

One of its packmates lunges towards me in retaliation, running on pure adrenaline I kick it squarely in its torso but before I have the chance to attack again with the knife now firmly in my grip an arrow whizzes past my face, landing in the torso of the poor animal. My gaze traces the arrows path and I spot Lo’ak between the trees. 

“Lo’ak!” Kiri shouts, and he readies his bow with another arrow, aiming it at the last viperwolf but it runs off after looking at its dead and wounded packmates. Lo’ak drops his bow to his side and runs forward toward us with Tuk chasing his heels. Spider follows a few feet away grabbing Lo’ak’s bow and calling out my name when he notices the crimson blood flowing down and pooling in several distinct spots around my feet.

“TawTaw are you okay?” Tuk says worriedly, rushing to my side and grabbing my injured arm. I wince and make a noise of pain when she grabs onto a part of the open gashes. She apologizes quickly and lets go, allowing me to hold the arm up to her.

“Yes, TukTuk I’m fine. It will scar, but nothing major.” I answer, my voice softer than I expect. Spider crowds around me and pulls my arm to him to examine it for a moment. He and Tuk ask a couple more times if I’m okay while I reassure them while her two siblings fuss in the background. Once he is sure that I’m okay he tries to lighten the mood.

“Yeah, Tuk. That’ll be like the coolest scar ever, right? Badass!” He says in an attempt to reassure her, placing a comforting hand on both our shoulders. I agree quickly and try to put a smile on my face to appease her. Before she can agree or disagree Lo’ak is storming over to us with an intense look of concern on his face. His eyebrows are furrowed and his mouth is in a downturned scowl when he opens it to speak.

“(Y/N). Are you okay? You need grandmother.” Lo’ak says, in a tone that's honestly more serious than I have ever heard him use.

“I can treat her, Lo’ak, like I said. She will be okay, many have suffered far worse.” Kiri assures him, placing a hand on his arm to calm him down.

“No! Grandmother needs to see her.” Lo’ak argues, eyes still wild with fear. I've never seen him look so scared before, and I saw the look on his face when he accidentally stuck Kiri with a poisoned arrow when they were just thirteen. He was really scared to go home after that, even though it was easily reversed with the help of Mo’at. I stand up, wobbling only slightly from my lightheadedness from my lack of adrenaline and the loss of blood. I  reach out to nudge his shoulder and he whips around to face me. Looking into his face he seems even more freaked out than I am at the moment. 

“Lo’ak I’m okay. Look I’m barely even bleeding, it will heal easily. And… thank you for protecting me.” I try to convey this while looking into his eyes. After I say this his ears droop and I can practically see the adrenaline leave his body. Again he surprises me with a fiercely protective hug, grasping onto my neck to avoid my hurt arm. I can feel his heart beating next to mine as I raise my arms to embrace him, enjoying one of his rare hugs.

“Okay. But, I still want you to see Grandmother. It’s not that I don’t trust Kiri to treat you, I just…” He whispers, trailing off as he lets go of my shoulders. Reluctantly I agree, knowing how hard headed he can be he will not let it go. Usually that would be just fine, but I didn’t really want the famed tsahik to know about how I almost got us killed by being dramatic about my new body. Tuk takes our embrace to mean it's time for hugs and practically jumps on me after he steps aside, carefully making sure to avoid my left arm. Silently I send thanks to Eywa for sparing my right arm, which is my dominant.

“We heard growling and Kiri yelling bad words. I was so worried.” She laments, squishing her face into my abdomen. Kiri steps back into the conversation, having sent the animals off to Eywa with a prayer with Spider trailing her like a much smaller shadow.

“We will head back. Grandmother will want to know what happened.” Kiri says, sheathing her knife back into its holster after wiping the blood of the creatures on a cloth. I can see Tuk visibly droop at this, obviously upset to miss out on a day of swimming and fun instead of the usual chores and training.

“No, Kiri, you go have fun with Tuk and Spider. Me and Lo’ak will go back. You rarely get time off, please enjoy it.” I insist and it takes a few more back and forths of arguing until Kiri relents and takes them to the intended destination, but not before rolling her eyes with a big fat dramatic sigh. While I had said the reason was because of Tuk and Kiri’s non-existent work-life balance, I really just wanted to talk to Lo’ak. He still seems shaken up from the attack and I want to address his worries in privacy away from his sisters and Spider, who would definitely tease him for caring so much about me. They have always thought it funny to tease him and imply that he cared for me more than a friend. I know that it would only make him more upset, causing him to retreat back into his tough guy shell. He needs a more gentle touch than any of the three can possibly provide him. While Lo’ak feigns being a macho unfeeling warrior he is really a sensitive soul. The trip back is silent and he jerks his head around at the slightest sounds, his body is rigid with tension like he expects something to jump out at us. 

“Lo’ak,” I start softly, placing a hand on his back and wincing when he jumps slightly. “Are you okay? We’re okay now. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing is wrong.” He responds curtly, refusing to look back at me. I sigh and shift my hand up to his shoulder, grasping softly causing him to stop dead in his tracks. 

“Lo’ak, c’mon, you know that I know you better than that.” I mumble softly and he finally looks back at me. I see a surprising amount of pain swimming in the depths of his eyes and his face sears itself into my eyes. With eyebrows drooping and his ears bending at and ears drooping lowly he responds.

“You could have died, (Y/N). If I wasn’t there you could have died. What would I have done if you had died on my watch? You have always been the only person in my life I knew was safe. The only person that I knew I could count on to come back to, the only one that this world couldn’t take. Now that you have this new body that isn’t a guarantee anymore and that… scares me.” He admits, looking away in shame at his words. My eyes sting as I realize what this is really about. My voice wobbles with emotion and my eyes grow misty as I try to respond to his words, struggling to find words that would comfort Lo’ak without dismissing his feelings.

“I know Lo’ak. This is scary for me too, but I need this. I can learn to protect myself. Hell, I killed a damn viperwolf! Shouldn’t you be proud of this meyp skxawng for that?” I finally get out, resorting to humor once again to avoid the big feelings that we are both laying out on the table. You see, me and Lo’ak have always been each other's constant. I was the only person in Lo’ak’s life that didnt see him as a fuck-up, the only one that he felt safe going to to cry. While we never talk about it (due to his usual attempts at stoicism), I have helped him through more than a few nights after Jake or Neytiri have really ripped into him hard. My joke seems to land when he smiles a little and nods.

“You are right. It was impressive that a useless baby like you could kill just one.” He says and his lips finally curl up back into their rightful place, into that signature smirk. I let out a faux offended noise at his comment and pushed his shoulder, telling him to shut up. I see the lines on his forehead disappear and can't help but mentally pat myself on the back for calming down my best friend. After a few more exchanges of friendly banter we continued on back to the clan, only stopping once when he let go of a huge leaf that flung backwards as I tried to stop it with my torn up arm without even realizing it. I got a few stares and sympathetic looks on the way through camp, but it was relatively uneventful until we stopped at the entrance of the healing tent.

I take a moment to prepare myself for what I am sure to be an endless barrage of questions. After taking a deep breath such as one would before jumping into water I step into the marui. Mo’at seems to be packing up some sort of tea into a small satchel. I catch the tail end of her instructions to the young man that looks to be not much older than me as he sits next to her, nodding dutifully along as Mo’at drones on. 

“... Let it brew for 20 minutes. Do not add anything. It is supposed to taste bad, you will deal with it.” She says looking him in the eyes and raising her eyebrows for a menacing effect. The young man looks away awkwardly and says thank you to her before shuffling out. Finally her eyes land on me and immediately go to my shredded arm. Her eyes slide back to mine and it's like I can feel palpable exasperation pouring out of them.

“Sit.” She commands and motions to the mat in front of her with the fluid sweep of her arms, adorned with a jeweled top that clinks as she moves. I gulp and hesitate before Lo’ak clears his throat, as if to tell me to hurry up. Hurriedly I sit down cross legged and hold my arm out to her as she greets Lo’ak with a hand, motioning down her face.

“What happened?” She asks, pulling harshly on the arm to adjust it so the light pouring in from the hole in the ceiling hits the still oozing wound. I try not to flinch as she turns the arm back and forth, trying to see both sides to assess the damage caused by the bite.

“Grandmother, Kiri and (Y/N)-” Lo’ak starts to explain before she cuts him off with the raise of her hand, silencing him effectively as the words die in his throat.

“I was asking her. Let her speak for herself.” She commands him and he shrinks back, going to sit in a darker corner of the marui.

“Well, Spider, me, Tuk, Kiri, and Lo’ak we’re headed out to one of the watering holes to swim and we got separated. They left me and Kiri behind and we took a moment to stop because Kiri said she had something she wanted to teach me. After we talked and meditated we heard a branch snap and then a pack of nantang jumped out and attacked us. Luckily, Kiri was faster so they didn’t hurt her. The biggest bit me and I had to defend myself before Lo’ak came and shot one of them…” I explain while she stares at me, showing absolutely no emotions, which only serves to terrify me. She says nothing so I continue rambling on.

“And I’m sorry. I had to kill one of them to stop it from doing this to my face instead. I do not know the prayers, so Kiri sent the animal off to Eywa for me.” I continue on before she raises a hand to stop me from word vomiting up more apologies. 

“How many nantang?” She asks, already pulling out some cloth and water to start cleaning each individual wound.

“Three. One large adult male and two juvenile males.” I respond, trying not to pull away from her harsh dabbing. She looks back to my face and tilts her head slightly, raising what would be her eyebrows in surprise.

“Hmmm.” She hums and I can feel my ears start to wilt under her scrutinizing gaze. “A sky person has not killed a nantang since Jake Sully. They do not usually attack in the day unless they are threatened. Did you threaten it?” She notes and starts grinding up a poultice to use on my skin, my nose twitches from the acrid smell so it takes me a moment to answer. 

“I think it was because I met its eyes. It was staring straight at me, I… I’ve never felt like that before.” I admit and she does nothing to respond except nod. Before long she is done with the poultice and starts to apply the goopy salve to my forearm. It stings quite a bit but I slowly relax into the pain, which is honestly not much worse than my normal days in my other body. While the burning pain is intense, it’s not anything I haven’t felt before. In fact pain is one of my longest friends, beating even the Sully siblings. She seems to notice and tilts her head inquisitively.

‘Does it not hurt? It is concerning if you do not feel the wound.” She looks at me expectantly and I shake my head.

“No, it definitely hurts. But I am very used to pain, so it does not bother me.” I almost mumble out my answer, trying to avoid her fiery gaze that is boring into my side profile.

“But you grew up in the lab, did you not? Why are you familiar with pain? Even my strongest warriors will complain about this salve.” She motions to the remains of the poultice in the mortar she used to grind it up, curiosity edging into her voice.

“Oh. Yeah, I forget that most people don’t know. My other body is… weak. There is something wrong with my legs, and they often cause me very intense pain.” I explain, using my hands to point at my blue legs. She chides me for moving my afflicted arm and pulls it back towards her to start wrapping it. She uses some unusual type of cloth to wrap around it a few times, securing the poultice to my skin.

“You are strong… for a lab rat.” She says in what I can only interpret as approval. Once again I somehow win approval from the hardest member of the Sully clan and my stomach feels like its flipping as I smile shyly at her compliment. 

“Thank you. And, thank you for treating me… and I really am sorry to have disturbed the balance of life without proper training, ma’am.” She waves off my worries, clicking her tongue in dismissal.

“It is fine. Now keep this on for a day and clean it thoroughly twice a day for a moon cycle. If it starts to burn or is hot to the touch, come back, or check in with Kiri. Now go, I must get ready for the returning hunting party. There is always an injury for me to tend to when they return.” She says dismissively, with such little expression that I cannot truly gauge her feelings on my actions in the forest. Lo’ak and I exit the marui, slowly shuffling out in tense silence. Once all the adrenaline wears off I realize I’m feeling pretty tired and just want to go home to my other body, this one is in sore need of a rest. Stopping Lo’ak I tell him I’m going home and thank him for taking me back, but insist that he can go now. He asks me a couple times if I’m sure and I assure him that I’m all good now and the walk back to the lab is very short. Finally he nods in agreement and we part ways. 

I take my time on the way back to the lab, trying to delay the inevitable scolding I will get from Norm and Max for my forest trip. As I stroll by the cooking area I take a deep breath, enjoying the scent and how empty camp is at this time of day. As I look around at the few people sitting outside I notice the screeching sounds of many ikran in the distance getting closer, signaling the return of the hunting party Mo’at mentioned. I walk to the edge of the cave mouth and watch the hunters as they return, noting how they all start lining up to carry the prey to the area where they butcher their prey. Among them I spot the tall figure of Neteyam. He seems to be instructing a few younger men and vaguely I wonder if he will be the one returning with a wound this time. I let out the breath I am holding when I note that his blue skin doesn't seem to be  marred by the crimson signature of an injury. 

It crosses my mind to wave to him or call out his name but I stop when he turns to one of the other young hunters and starts to discuss something with her. I continue walking past them and find myself sort of relieved at having successfully avoided him. We hadn’t really said more than two words to each other since our awkward dinner encounter. I’m not sure what it is but I just can’t bring myself to look him in the eyes since, unable to even think of how to apologize to him. What would I even be apologizing for, really? There's just something in those eyes of his that stirs something in me, they stir some part of me that I wasn’t even sure really existed. I’ve always felt like I am an animal in a cage, stuck, with everyone around me looking at me with pity and lingering distrust in their eyes. It is always one of the two. But when I look into his eyes, I feel like I am looking into the eyes of another animal in a cage all of his own. His duties form his own cage, making sure he does not take off in flight to get away from here. Much like me, many pass him with the same pity because of his harsh father, but instead of distrust it is fear that lingers after, fear of angering him or his powerful parents. However, when he looks at me it feels like he is seeing me, and me only, not my legs or my demon blood, just me. My pure soul untouched. Our cages fall around us, and there is only the other animals eyes boring into our soul. Such a tantalizing paralysis. I've never felt anything like that so it is obviously fucking terrifying to me, because I know that thought, that hope, which I will leave unsaid, is entirely impossible. 

I am lost in trying to find an apology for the next time I see him while I stand there watching that I don’t notice the first few times someone calls out my name. On the third time I hear it it finally registers that someone is actually calling out my name so I look around to see Neteyam waving me down. I hesitate for a moment and he waves a little faster, beckoning me to him as he waits by his ikran. Bracing myself for a moment, I begin slowly striding to him. As I approach I can see the agitated swing of his tail and the look of panic on his face.

“Hello, Neteyam. Is everything okay? Did something happen during the hunt?” I ask, finally sparing a quick glance into his eyes to see his reaction. His face morphs into a look of confusion and he shakes his head.

“No, no. I wanted to see if you were okay. What happened to your arm?” As he says this it makes me realize that most of the pain from the wound had actually subsided from the poultice. I will have to thank Mo’at for the care, maybe I will weave her a nice satchel, if Kiri can help me.

“Oh, yeah. Honestly I forgot about it for a minute, your grandma is such a talented tsahik that it barely hurts.” I offer up in response, too embarrassed to lead with the fact that I nearly got myself killed my first time outside of the Omaticayan stronghold. This only serves to make his grimace deepen and I can tell he is not satisfied so I continue on. “Your siblings, Spider, and I were headed to the swimming spot when me and Kiri got separated. She was helping me with some spiritual guidance when out of nowhere a pack of nantang attacked us, er well actually attacked me I guess. Luckily Kiri had her knife and Lo’ak showed up or I’m pretty sure I’d be running through a nantang’s guts right now.” His brows knit in concern when I finish my rambling explanation. “Oh, and don’t worry, I’m the only one that got hurt. Kiri was far enough ahead that they didn’t attack her.” 

“What? How many nantang? They do not usually attack during the day. Maybe I should warn father that there might be a pack of rabid nantang running around attacking people.” He says thoughtfully, rubbing his chin with his pointer finger and thumb. I can feel his eyes as they scan my body again to see if some new injury beside the one on my arm would mysteriously pop up.

“There’s no need. There were only three and two of them were killed in the fight. The other was scared off when me and Lo’ak defeated it's packmates. I doubt it will be back to the area anytime soon, and they did not seem rabid, just… hungry.” I say to try and ease the tensions that have gathered in his broad shoulders. I see them sink down for a second before perking right back up.

“You and Lo’ak? You killed one?” He asks and I get the feeling that he meant that he was impressed but the word kill instantly deflates any burgeoning pride I can feel. 

“Yes… I did not want to, but it was lunging for my neck. If I had hesitated any longer I would have…” I trail off and look to the side mournfully. I know that realistically Eywa and the clans members wouldn't blame me for my actions, but I feel like I've upset the balance of life in the forest without having learned the proper way of doing things. From watching Jake’s video logs I am aware that there are certain customs and traditions when it comes to the extinguishing of life in the clan. They did not even allow Jake to participate in hunts until he had proved himself as a member of the clan, something I have yet to do and have no idea how to accomplish.

“You need not worry, you were protecting yourself and my sister. Mother and father will know that and appreciate it, and so will the Great Mother…” Neteyam reassures me, and I let out a sigh of relief when he pointed out that I was also protecting Kiri. That’s definitely something that could help if Neytiri hears and starts to disapprove of me. I had only just gained her trust enough for her to allow her children to go places with me completely unsupervised. Plus it is a soothing balm for the guilt I’m feeling about it.

“I know, but it is still bothering me. I am not used to death and the flow of life I suppose. My world was so small, I feel unprepared for this huge new world.” I’m not sure why, but Neteyam makes it feel second nature to talk about the thoughts I haven't even shared with Kiri yet. Everytime I see him it’s like he does something to me that obliterates all of my self control and the waters of my thoughts flow through my mouth like rushing rapids. My normal defenses are no match for the charm of this gentle giant. Neteyam seems to chew on this for a few moments, gathering his thoughts into something easy to say. After a moment he places a large hand on my shoulder, something that seems to simultaneously ground and unnerve me.

“You will. You are brave, that much is clear to me. This world is large, but you will make yourself big as well. You have a desire to learn, and that is how you will do it. Learn well, Taw.” He responds and I am blown away by his confidence in me and the maturity of his response. Oh, and also the fact that he used my nickname. For a second it feels like he has stuck a live wire in me, electricity surging through me, making my heart beat loudly and my thoughts shift into overdrive. Placing a hand over my heart I try to quiet the cacophony of thoughts that attack me and I find myself saying a single word in question.

“Taw?” Is all I manage, almost breathless. Neteyam’s intense gaze falls and he starts to fidget, looking at the song chord at his waist. He fumbles with it to alleviate the nervous energy that is clearly filling him.

“Is it okay for me to call you that?” Neteyam asks, his voice unsteady and unsure. “It’s just… that is what my siblings have called you for a long time, so I thought you might like it if I also called you that. It suits you very well.” I cough a little from surprise and can’t help the smile fighting to show on my face. My tail almost wags for a second before I can still it.

“Yes. Yes, you can call me Taw… Just don’t call me TawTaw, Tuk might try to poison you. One time she tried to feed Lo’ak kllpxillw seeds after he called me that, even though they hurt his stomach. She is very protective of her special name for me.” I giggle as I tell the story, remembering the distinctly mischievous look on her face as she tried to hide the seeds in the dish they brought to eat at the lab with us. My story makes Neteyam let out a hearty belly chuckle, and he grins as he imagines the scene between his siblings. 

“Yes, she seems to be very protective of you in general.” He comments and opens his mouth to say more before a very irritated looking young man calls out Neteyams name from a distance away.

“Come on, man! We need help carrying these yerik. You can flirt with girls when you’re not on hunting duty!” He shouts across to us, his tail lashing back and forth in agitation. Neteyam’s grin drops and he rubs his temple soothingly, rolling his eyes at the voice.

“My apologies. That is my friend, Rinu. He does not have any manners. Thank you for the conversation, but I must go now. See you again, Taw.” Neteyam says his goodbye before setting off toward his friend. I let out a laugh at his friends before saying my own goodbye as he retreats. Taking a moment to recuperate from the second use of my nickname I start walking towards the direction of the lab again. Luckily I come back when Norm is out helping in his avatar so I am spared from one of his famous motherly sermons of being careful, instead I only get a small lecture from Max on the importance of being aware in the forest. He makes me promise to take one of Kiri or Lo’ak’s extra hunting knives next time before I lay down to wake in my new body.

A/N pt 2: Again thanks for all the love so far, and sorry if this part wasn't my strongest, I've been dealing with a lot so sorry if that same through my writing. Anyways I just wanted to share a piece of fanart I drew of Neteyam as Olo'eyktan while I had writers block. Enjoy!

@skeletondeerart @jackiehollanderr @anxietydrogz @farleyis @soleilmoon

#neteyam x reader #neteyam x female reader #neteyam x disabled!reader #neteyam x avatar!reader #neteyam x female!reader #neteyam x fem!reader #platonic!lo'ak x reader #platonic!kiri x reader #platonic!tuk x reader #platonic!spider x reader #norm spellman x daughter!reader #max patel x daughter!reader #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan x reader #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan #neteyam sully x reader #neteyam sully #neteyam suli x reader #avatar 2 #avatar 2022 #avatar: the way of water

[juicefield]

Meyp Skxawng - Neteyam X Avatar!Reader Part 3

A/N: Finally to the meat of the story. I welcome feedback on how I did on the Sully family dynamics! Also, while you're there tell me if you guys are wanting angst or a lighter tone to the writing. Most of the things I say in the fanfic are not cannon, btw. Neteyam is 20, the story is set in High camp, and NO NSFW. Let me know if there are any mistakes I need to fix pls!

You can find the other parts here:

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 4

Although the writing in this fanfiction is my own, I do not claim any  ownership of Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, or any of the subsequent medias. All rights go to James Cameron and the producers. 

Synopsis: The dreaded dinner goes both better and worse than you hoped it would. Still, it is nice to spend time with the whole family.

Neteyam X Fem!Avatar!Reader 6.4k 1st person POV

Surprisingly, Lo’ak was right. But hey, even the broken clock is right twice a day. The outfit gives me a camouflage-like effect, shielding me from the curious and pitiful gazes that normally penetrate me as soon as I step outside of the lab. I marvel at my new invisibility cloak as I move through the throngs of people lining up to grab their dinners. I even manage to catch a few smiles from people, most notably a group of smaller children that I pass by, relishing in their laughter as they throw a ball around waiting for their parents to return with dinner. Just as I reach the edge of the thrumming crowd I hear a voice call my name. The voice is a lot deeper than most people I know so I furrow my brows, confused, and turn back to the crowd, searching for who could possibly know my name. Neteyam emerges as a group of people part to make ways for him, bowing their heads in respect as he passes. I notice that he is struggling to carry the food in his hands and run up to offer my assistance, grabbing two bowls and a sack of fruit from his arms after he politely nods. 

“Thank you,” He says, dipping his head in acknowledgement, “Sorry. I had meant to bring a basket but I forgot and didn’t want to turn back. My eyes seem to be larger than my arms today.” He explains bashfully, averting his eyes from mine, almost as if expecting a scolding or teasing. I decide to spare him and just shrug.

“You’re welcome. It’s no problem, I’m happy to help.” I reply smiling at him. As I adjust my bowls to sit more comfortably in my arms I notice him staring at me and really I can't help myself from asking him. “Do these look totally weird on me or something?” I blurt out, giggling awkwardly to dispel my anxiety about the outfit.

“No, no… It looks very nice on you. You just look very natural in it. Like one of our women. I did not expect you to take to it, I know human clothes are much less revealing.” He says, picking up on my worries and reassuring me. 

“Honestly, this is the most comfortable I’ve ever felt outside the lab. Thank you. I was afraid that everyone would be able to tell that I’m a dream walker immediately. Surprisingly, no one has. In fact, I even got a few smiles as I passed people.” I confess, somewhat bashful to be happy about such a simple thing. 

“Yes, probably some of our young men.” He says and my mouth falls open when I turn to him to say something with burning cheeks. Before I have a chance to let my mouth get the better of me I notice the amusement in his face and I realize that he’s just teasing me. 

“Oh my God. Are you gonna be just like Lo’ak? I cannot handle two of him, I love him but no way.” I cry at him, and nudge him playfully with the arm closest to him. He just laughs and shrugs noncommittally while I stick my tongue out at him. At this point we have almost made it to the entrance of the Sully residence but we hear a rather loud commotion inside and he motions to stop walking and fall in behind him.

“Should I come back another night if that's better… Honestly I’m scared to go in.” I whisper, just loud enough for him to hear me. He shakes his head and I can see him lean forward to try and make out what his family is yelling about. I admire the way his ears swivel forward and the way his back muscles flex from leaning forward, straining his neck to listen.

“No, I am pretty sure it is just Lo’ak and Tuk fighting. As always. You would think that a twenty year old and a thirteen year old wouldn’t have things to argue about, but Lo’ak is thirteen mentally.” He says rolling his eyes at the chaos heard inside. I can’t help but laugh and agree. I have been in the middle of more arguments between those two than between Kiri and Lo’ak, despite the latter pair actually being the same age they argue much less. Neteyam motions me to follow him and I do as instructed. We make our way into the marui. Inside a chaotic scene unfolds before us. I can see a very perturbed Tuk yanking a handful of Lo’ak’s braids, her mouth open as she yells something about her last yovo fruit and his tongue being stained purple(?). At least that’s all I have a chance to make out with the other chatter going on in the room. Kiri is between them, gripping onto Tuk’s arm in an attempt to separate the two. She says something about how this is stupid. Jake and Neytiri are off to the side, also yelling, but neither of them can beat the monster of sound that is Tuk. She’s screeching louder than a banshee, so loud in fact that it would make more sense if Lo’ak had tried to murder her.

Fortunately for Jake and Neytiri, Tuk immediately drops his braids and lets go of the silly fight as soon as she sees me behind Neteyam. Dramatically she screeches my name and practically jumps on me. She squeezes the life out of me while she hugs me, barely reaching up to my chest in this form. I feel the warm saccharine of nostalgia sweep over me. Tuk had been the only person in my life that I had ever been taller than, and I can’t help the memory rushing through me of the last time she had been this size compared to me. She had been so young, only the tender age of five when she reached my height at the age of twelve. 

“Taw! Taw, you look so pretty, why are you with Nete, your hair…” She uses the mother language, talking way too fast for me to keep up with everything she says. Once she finally calms down I thank her and ask her how she knew it was me. 

“Because Nete doesn’t know any girls. And Lo’ak told me you have a new body. Just like Daddy!” She exclaims, much to the chagrin of Neteyam who is now beside me.

“Tuktirey, that is enough.” Neytiri scolds her, causing her to quickly scramble off of me. Tuk begrudgingly apologizes to her mother. After sending Tuk a death glare she turns her gaze onto me. Have you ever been spotted by a thanator? I haven’t but I would wager that it feels pretty similar to Neytiri’s eyes piercing through me at this moment. I can practically feel her eyes scratching my skin as they roam over my body, her eyes lingering on my clothing, the bowls and braided bag of fruit in my hands, and lastly my face. I feel her passing innumerable judgments while her eyes look between me and Neteyam, which makes me take a step to the side to get a little further away from him. Feeling like a germ under the microscope I hesitantly take a step towards her and bow my head. 

“Tsakarem Neytiri te Tskaha Mo’at’ite I greet you and thank you for welcoming me into your home and clan for the night. It is an honor to finally meet the legendary mate of Toruk Makto.” I greet her as respectfully as I can, maybe even piling it on a bit too much. I had decided before I left that I would greet her formally in English, worried that if I used the traditional greeting of ‘I see you’ paired with its hand gesture that she would be offended. I also just didn’t want her to hear my less than perfect rendition in Na’vi. She clicks her tongue and looks at Jake, who just smiles softly and nods at her. It’s obvious that he is speaking to her through his actions, almost like he is urging her to greet me back and treat me with sympathy.

“Hmm… Well, you seem to at least have manners, unlike my useless children.” She seems to approve finally while hissing the last part in the direction of Tuk and Lo’ak who since have resumed their bickering silently through looks and rude hand gestures. Looking like two children caught with their hands in the cookie jar they step back from one another. While Neytiri and Jake scold their children another presence comes into the marui behind me and Neteyam. I turn around to be greeted by the sight of Mo’at, mother of Neytiri and current Tsahik of the Omaticayans. She only raises her eyebrows (at least, where they would be) at both of us before we step aside to let her through. 

“Mother, this is the human child that has befriended our youngest three. The one that stays with the scientists.” Jake says, introducing me.

“I thought it was a boy? And not a dream walker?” Mo’at responds, tilting her head as she scans me up and down. While her eyes hold a little less aggression, they are no less intimidating than those of Neytiri. In fact, they might be even scarier if set upon me with anger in them. 

“For the last time, Grandma, that is Spider. She is (Y/N), the one that doesn’t leave the lab.” Kiri answers, mildly annoyed that her grandmother doesn’t remember me, despite how much the three of them talked about me. Mo’at hums in response, and I take her silence as a chance to greet her. 

“Tsahik Mo’at te Poatzua Kakxa’ite, I greet you. My name is (Y/N) and I thank you for your graciousness as you accept me as a guest for tonight.” I use the same greeting as Neytiri but I can’t help being even more formal. After all, Neytiri gets her fierce disposition from her mother. My head is bowed when she hums her approval at me. 

“Come, child. Please, sit the food down here.” Mo’at instructs me as she points at a low table sort of structure in the center of the room. Around it sits eight mats, two are at the head of the table and I assume they are for Jake and Neytiri as the heads of the house, on either side sits three mats. While I help Mo’at position all the bowls, Tuk and Lo’ak are still bickering, just about a completely different topic which I can’t care to listen to, and Jake and Neytiri seem to be in quite the heated discussion through hushed whispers. Neteyam and Kiri are talking about some sort of training that Kiri is going through. I get distracted watching the family interact and Mo’at asks me what’s wrong.

“Nothing is wrong, it’s just really nice to see a big family together like this. Me and Spider may be a sort of siblings but we don’t have this. This is really… special.” I say wistfully. 

“Yes. Family is the most precious thing in this world and the next.” She agrees, but I can see the faint pity behind her words. The same kind that always hides in depths of the voices of others when I mention my life, and it's many deficiencies.

“Your grandchildren may be the closest thing I have to a family besides Norm and Max.” I admit, helping Mo’at set up the table after Neteyam delivers his portion of the goods.

“The scientists, eh? That is funny, you do not act like them.” Mo’at observes, lowering onto her mat and patting the spot next to her, prompting me to sit down. 

“What do you mean?” I ask, confused by what she means. Perhaps she means that I am not as smart as them? That is to be sure with the lack of any type of formal education on Pandora.

“You do not feel like you are out of place like they do. When they are here, it feels like a thorn in my mind and I am unable to think clearly. They are kind, but they are too different because they cannot see. You are different too, but not like they are.” Mo’at concludes, meanwhile everyone finally sits down to eat which prevents me from asking any clarifying questions. Great. That’s definitely not going to keep me up at night. Surprisingly, Neteyam lowers down onto the seat beside me and I send a look to Kiri in silent question. 

“Tuk and Lo’ak were arguing about who will sit next to you. Neteyam compromised for them.” She explains, jerking her head towards them. I look over to Neteyam and offer a somewhat awkward smile, which he promptly returns. Neytiri gathers everyone's attention and says a prayer to Eywa in thanks for the food and the members that helped to make it before everyone starts eating. 

“Oh yeah, (Y/N) here’s a sra. I almost forgot.” Lo’ak says reaching out to offer me a cloth to wipe my hands on between dishes, despite already having a mouth full of some orange vegetable. Excitedly, I hold up the cloth I brought with me.

“Actually, I brought one that I weaved myself. It's a little too pretty to use as a sra, but I wanted to have my own.” When I finish explaining, Neytiri snatches the cloth from me pulling a huff of surprise from my lips, surprising me with her swiftness.

“You weaved this? These are sacred techniques. Passed on from the ancestors…” She says sternly, but before I can apologize she continues on. “Still, you did very well. While I am upset that you have been taught this, you do show promise in weaving.” She reasoned, thankfully dropping the topic without much issue before offering the cloth back to me.

“Yes. Good job (Y/N). It looks like it could have been made by Kiri.” Jake agrees with her, his mouth full of a bite of fruit. Neytiri shoots him a look that says ‘stop talking with your mouth full skxawng’ and he gulps down the food stiffly, feeling silly at being caught behaving childishly by his mate. Smiling and shaking my head at them I turn my attention to the food. I can’t decide what to try first so I just reach for the same type fruit that Jake is eating. As I bite into the juicy fruit I try not to practically moan as the glorious juices run down my face. It was about a thousand times better than any freeze dried fruit available in the lab, or any of the puny runts we manage to actually grow in the Pandoran soil. Looking around and seeing that everyone else seems to be talking to someone I turn to Neteyam beside me as I wipe my mouth with my sra. 

“What kind of fruit is this? It’s soooo good.” I ask him after swallowing the delicious mouthful of fruit. 

“That is utumauti. In English it is known as banana fruit, I believe. Utumauti is a rare fruit, hard to get. It grows at the top of the canopy, so you must wait for them to fall, or ride an Ikran to get to them. Today I found a tree with enough for everybody. I was very lucky today to find enough for us.” He explains while I listen intently.

“Thank you. For getting them and for explaining to me. I have read about them before, but I did not know what they looked like.”

“You have read about them?” He asks, obviously surprised at how much I seem to know about Na’vi culture. 

“Yes, the scientist left behind a whole database on Pandora’s many plants. There are pictures of most plants, but since utumauti is rare there were no pictures… I have always been interested in the tìhawnuwll after I watched your father talk about them in his first video log after his first time in his new body. It led to me reading about it, which led to me reading about a large variety of the plant life here. Pandora’s plants have evolved, they’re amazing. Before we came here we had never seen plants with consciousness…”  I blabber to him as I take small bites of stewed meat. The spices are foreign, slightly spicy and earthy, but not overwhelmingly so, which makes the tender juicy flesh one of the most delicious meats I have ever tried. Not that that is very difficult to achieve when the only meat you have ever had is the freeze dried stuff which you have to drown in a million spices or sauces to be anywhere close to good. 

“Ah, I am sorry to tell you but it is not yet the season for the tìhawnuwll. They are harvested during the wet season. When it is time I will bring you some, yeah?” He offers kindly, once I finish my spiel on zooplantae and their many fascinating qualities.

“I would really appreciate it. And sorry for talking so much, I don't get many chances to talk about my fascination.” I say while an appreciative smile spreads across my face at the promise. Neteyam offers me back one of his own and I marvel at how he looks when he’s so close. Many people would say that he looks like his father but I have to disagree. While Neteyam has the large build and height of his father, he has the delicate beauty of his mother. His eyes are just as piercing and clear, but burdened by responsibility. Maybe that is why everyone says he looks just like Jake? There is an intensity to them that I find entirely unexpected, like I am gazing into the eyes of an Ikran. So innocent yet so wild. It excites me, and I avert my eyes when it starts to feel too intense. As much as I would love to keep conversing with Neteyam, I feel I don't know him well enough to keep a conversation with him. I opt to rope Kiri into the fray, who has just finished her conversation about some root or tubercule with Mo’at instead of facing my stunted social skills. 

“So, Kiri, what is your favorite fruit?” I ask to distract Neteyam, who is still staring at me. Which, as far as I know, may be a completely normal thing for Na’vi to do to someone they just met.  After all, my sample size is only his other three siblings and I highly doubt that they’re the best examples of the average Omaticayan. It was really starting to unnerve me, though. Kiri turns to us and gives a strange look to Neteyam, who must have just now noticed his staring as he hastily turns away back to the food. I try to figure out what he’s thinking with a spare look his way, but he gives nothing away on his face.

“The fruit of the melon tree makes the most delicious juice, and the flesh is best on a hot day.” She answers, but still narrows her eyes, squinting at her brother in suspicion. He looks up from his food and and his ears go back, another series of looks and body language that I don’t understand ensues between sister and brother. While I can read Kiri’s side perfectly from a decade of practice, Neteyam is much harder to read. Finally he seems to give up and lets out a scoff,  looking down at his food and she smirks in what I assume to be her victory. I try to contain my chuckle as I bring a small bite of some sort of starchy root in my mouth, but a little goes into my sra as I hurriedly place it over my mouth to laugh at them when I am unable to suppress my giggle. Neteyam ears perk up and he looks back over at me, raising a non existent eyebrow at my laughing. 

“Score one Kiri, Neteyam zero. Am I right?” I say and look over at him mischievously. His mouth drops open a little bit before a look of resignation dawns on his face and he just nods, shrugging nonchalantly.

“More like score three hundred Kiri, Neteyam zero.” Lo’ak interrupts, the snide comment paired with his signature smirk. He turns to me to bask in the glory of his joke, but Neteyam uses the opportunity to flick the shell of a seed at him. It bounces and lands directly on the center of his chest. He falls over dramatically, gasping for breath and pretending to be shot. 

“Baby sis….. You can have my bow. Kiri, you have (Y/N). And bro, you take care of Ti’o’tan. Make sure to feed him twice a day for meeee……” He says, all while gasping for breath before falling backwards and sticking his tongue out. Neteyam only rolls his eyes at his brother's antics. The sound of laughter fills the marui as Kiri and Tuk break into hysterical laughter while Neytiri scolds him and tells him to sit back up. Jake, on the other hand, can't help the small smile that peeks through his lips at his son's silliness. Mo’at simply observes everything with a stoic silence, but I think I see a hint of amusement in her face. 

“So you’re saying you own me?” I ask, using the most serious voice that I can muster. Lo’ak’s eyes shoot open and he sits up with his mouth hanging open. He looks to his father to help him out of the hole he's just dug, stuttering a few syllables as he tries to figure out how to live through the night. Jake just gives him a look and shrugs with a shit eating grin on his face. Jake has lots of experience with saying stupid things that offend his mate before apologizing and placating her, but he offers no help to his poor son. Before he can realize I’m just teasing him and am not at all offended I burst out laughing. 

This gets almost everyone laughing, even a few chuckles from Neytiri and an actually obvious smile from Mo’at. Relishing in the belly chuckle of Jake and the high pitched giggle of Tuk I lift my head in pride at my joke, warmth fills my stomach from the family's laughter. Lo’ak just pouts when he realizes he's been made to be a fool. His ears almost wilt and I prepare to apologize but am interrupted by Neteyam.

“Score one (Y/N).” Neteyam whispers to me from my side, which only causes me to laugh harder. Lo’ak cannot hear what his brother is saying but he still sends Neteyam a look like he has betrayed him, and accuses him of taking my side. Eventually everybody returns to a normal conversation flow before being interrupted by a loud question from Tuk. 

“Wait, why don’t I get TawTaw?” Tuk whines. “I’d take way better care of her than Kiri.” She says and juts out her lip in a childish pout, despite now being thirteen. Tuk often says TawTaw instead of the singular Taw because she once told me she ‘loves me two times more than Kiri and Lo’ak do’.

“Because you are a better hunter than Kiri, so you get my bow.” Lo’ak explains like a dutiful brother, using the same voice he would use when she was a really small child. She takes offense to his tone and they continue to argue about who would be the better guardian to me. Eventually, I have to butt in to stop the squabbling.

“Actually, now that I have my new body, I don't need anyone to take care of me.” I point out, in a pathetic attempt to get them to stop arguing. 

“But you do have your other body still… and now it's unprotected.” Kiri notes, and I can see the spark in her eyes that means she’s up to no good.

 I look over at her with a deadpan expression, mouthing ‘why would you say that’ as another round of bickering ensues between Tuk and Lo’ak. Kiri pipes up occasionally to defend herself from Tuk’s biting character assassination. Eventually I just give up and leave them to their heated discussion. At this point all the food has been eaten and the family is just conversing with each other. I sit in the noise and let it seep into my bones. It feels nice to bask in the ambiance of a larger family, easy to just sit back and observe that way they interact. Easy to just lose myself in the pleasant noise. Silent had been a long time companion, but I find noise to be more calming. I notice Neteyam turns to me and opens his mouth to say something before he closes it and looks away a couple times. On the third I say something before he can back out of a conversation, again. 

“You know I don’t bite, right?” I ask with a teasing lilt in my voice. I seem to catch him by surprise yet again and when he looks down at his food I can see a flush appear in the pink part of his ears. I can’t help but let out a laugh at his sheepish face. He is so easy to read right now that I just can’t help it when my shoulders shake slightly from laughter, tail bumping into his as it swings back and forth. The slight contact seems to knock him out of his stupor and I can see him take a moment to steel himself before looking me in the eye, like one would before eyeing an animal stalking them. 

“You are a strange woman. A lot more bold than I expected.” He murmurs, holding our eye contact with me for a second longer than I expect, only parting our eyes when Kiri suddenly clears her throat. Again with that eye contact. I think I will see those eyes in my dreams, with their intensity. My eyes flit to Kiri’s face and the look on her face is pure bewilderment. I can almost hear her saying ‘(Y/N), what are you two doing?’. She juts her chin out fiercely and quickly raises her eyebrows to punctuate her silent question. I simply avert my eyes and childishly refuse to say anything or give anything away through my face. I know if I look at her she would be able to see how flustered he had made me. Instead I look around at everyone around the table except her and Neteyam, pausing to observe each member briefly.

Thank you Eywah. The silent prayer slips through my lips when I notice that despite dinner being finished, everyone is still talking to one another and the only one that has noticed the interaction between me and Neteyam is Kiri. Mostly, I am glad that Lo’ak and Jake are in some sort of semi-heated discussion, keeping Lo’ak’s attention off of me. If he had seen that there is no doubt in my mind he would have said something horrendously embarrassing. Not even necessarily on purpose, not to spite me or our promise, he simply has a big mouth. 

Another reason that me and Lo’ak get along, he might have a big mouth but I am not afraid of dishing back to him what he dishes out to me. Although Lo’ak is known as the least responsible Sulli, he still is respected as he is after all the chief’s son. Many in the clan would not dream of speaking to him as I do, but honestly, I think he likes it.

After a few more minutes of awkwardly avoiding eye contact with Kiri, while Neteyam avoids eye contact with me, the conversations around us peter out and Tuk uses it as an excuse to ask me to play a game. She explains that it uses stones and a wooden slab with small circular indentations in it. She explains the game and how to strategize with childish zeal, and I can’t help the warm feeling that creeps onto my face via smile as I watch her. Jake and Neytiri excuse themselves for a moment away outside, away from the kids. Mo’at retreats back to the healer's marui to do some work on a young boy that had recently been severely injured from an attack by a hammerhead or 'angtsìk when he went out on his first hunting trip outside of the zone considered safe by the clan. While Kiri and Lo’ak had moved closer to me and Tuk to observe our game, Neteyam  hurriedly offered to help out his grandmother saying something about how he knows the poor young boy. But he is obviously still avoiding my gaze when he leaves, trailing behind the healer dutifully. Tuk steals the first two games from me with ease as I try to grasp the subtleties of the game before I narrowly win the third. I suspect Tuk had let me win, though, because when I try to play Lo’ak I end up losing spectacularly to him. 

Eventually Jake and Neytiri return to the marui a few minutes before eclipse starts to fall and they wish me a goodnight when I tell the family that I need to leave once I realize what time it is. Tuk is practically begging me to stay the night and pouts when I gently explain that I can’t because I need to feed and shower my other body before I can sleep, and I wouldn't even really be spending the night. She finally relents, but only after I promise to come visit again tomorrow. I make my escape before Kiri can catch up with me on the way out. I’m only spared because her dad calls out to her as she turns to follow me, asking some questions about her chores the following day. 

When I arrive at the lab Norm and Max are waiting up to ‘scold’ me for being out so late, which isn’t really a scolding at all. Both Norm and Max have always been unable to really get mad at me, not that I usually even had a chance to do something to upset them. Usually they were too busy worrying about Spider or some bigger problem like food to worry about my small rebellions as a child. 

“(Y/N), you can’t stay out this long. It’s safe in camp but you need to give yourself more time to take care of your body.” Max starts up as soon as I open the second steel door to the lab entrance. Before I have the chance to apologize, Norm cuts in, like the worrywart he is. 

“(Y/N), he’s serious. We saw what happened to Jake’s human body all those years ago. We just don’t want you to fall into that same hole he did, not taking care of your original body.” Norm frets, while physically inspecting me to make sure that I was okay. Which I can admit is understandable because he knows how hard it is to survive a Sulli dinner. 

“Yes, Norm, I know.” I say, punctuating my annoyance with a roll of my eyes. They’re acting like I didn’t grow up watching those videos, like I don’t know the issues of not taking care of my much smaller body. I’d watched Jake Sully waste away enough times to know that I need to take care of myself. My action only causes Norm to huff and turn me towards him with hands on both of my shoulders, looking into my eyes with the intensity of a thousand suns. God, he's so dramatic. 

“I’m serious, (Y/N)! If I have to see you go through that it would break my heart. Eating, showering, and exercising is important. Especially with your… condition, sweetheart.” He says with such a sincere worry in his eyes that my shoulders drop from their tense defensive position and I sigh.

“I know Norm. I promise you, I will take care of both of my bodies.” I assure him, sealing the promise by offering up my much larger pinky finger for him to take. Norm grasps my finger with his and gives it a couple shakes. When I turn to go I’m stopped by Max standing directly behind me with his own finger outstretched so I have  to promise him as well. A smile of amusement sneaks onto my face but I simply shake it off and grasp his pinky in mine. Once I promise to also be more punctual from now on, Max shows me out through the backdoor to  the hammock that they set up for me while I was gone. Norm goes back inside to heat up my dinner from earlier for me while Max gives me the instructions on how to transfer back. I lay back on the hammock at his command, adjusting my tail and kuru to get into a comfortable position. He instructs me to basically fall asleep, or sort of like meditate, until I awaken in the other body. 

“Breathe, clear your mind and try to let go of any thoughts. If you have trouble again you can breathe in and out and count backward from twenty like before.” He advises from my right side before leaving me to give me some quiet to help me come back. Luckily, I don’t have as many issues getting back into my body as I did leaving it. It was a lot easier than the first time now that I knew what to expect. It only takes a couple of minutes to fall ‘asleep’, my body is fairly relaxed from the food and tired from running around with Kiri and Lo’ak. I am lulled to sleep by the sounds of the cave, and the sounds of the few Na’vi still up scurrying around to get ready for sleeping hours. I even imagine what they are doing. Maybe a young couple trying to meet up in the quiet of the night. Or perhaps an older couple is helping each other as they set out a large tapestry to dry. A young tween refuses to go to bed, despite the scolding he will receive from his mother in the morning after he’s spent the whole night carving a totem for his best friend. Spider finally making his way back home from whatever he had been doing all day, and I swear I even heard the door of the building next to the lab open. Spider tends to stay there these days. He used to live with me and the boys, until he ‘moved out’ when he turned eighteen. He’s a lot less appreciative of Max and Norms' smothering style of parenting than I am. These pictures lull me into a sense of peace and before I know it I wake with a start in my body again.

My eyes snap open and I can see the lights inside the machine before any of my other senses care to grace me. Immediately I can feel that my feet are both asleep, and my calves are cramping up from the confined space. Slowly the chorus beeps of the many machines invades my ears. I hear Max say something from the outside before the lid is lifted by internal hydraulics. The flood of lights that hits my dilated pupils causes a physical head rush that prompts me to try to reach my hand up to block it, but my hand is blocked by the wire cage surrounding me.

“How you doing, kiddo?” Max calls to me from the pedestal displaying my brain waves, which told him I was back in the body. Norm is already removing the wire cage for me and I simply give him a thumbs up. The only thing I could actually concentrate on was the pain returning to my legs, especially sore from a day of complete inactivity in the tube. I pull my legs over the side to try to let the blood flow back to them as Norm bombards me with many, many questions from how the dinner went to what Neytiri’s reaction was. I wave him off and ask him to give me a minute before I explain what happened. Norm nods and goes to grab my food while Max helps me down onto a chair they placed beside the neural link bed for me. I thank them both and while I eat I explain everything, well everything except my strange final interaction with Neteyam. I did not need Norm and Max teasing me about scaring him off. Plus, I’m not sure whether I am ready to admit how intensely his eyes had affected me. I admit, I may have overstepped my bounds with the Chief’s son. Which is not… good. I resolve myself to make up for it and to try to be a bit less mouthy, but it’s a little hard to know how much is too much when you’ve only socialized with around twenty people in the entirety of your life. Maybe I came on a little strong, so I'll try to be more respectful and a little less brash. Everyone else in my life is so used to my dry and sarcastic nature that I rarely offend them, but I’ve been told I’m a bit blunt. 

Finally after a long ‘talk’, more like lecture, Norm and Max finally set me free, but not before they had me walk a bit and do some exercises to keep my legs strong. A couple easy stretches and a few laps around the lab with a promise to do more from now on was needed before I was able to lay down. The aching in my bones felt twice as strong, I had almost gotten used to not feeling the constant dull ache below my flesh. What a wonderful reminder! I need to understand that this blessing is double edged. I am now free to be able to accomplish things physically, but is it physical fulfillment I seek? Will this new body bring me the fulfillment I need? Or will it only remind me how human I really am. A part of me fears it will only serve to make my other deficiencies all the more obvious. 

No. I cannot let myself ruin this opportunity with my fears, all I have ever done was listen to them. Now I must have courage, and stand tall despite the fear in my heart. I have to find it within myself to carve out a place on this planet, a way to stake a future in the dangerous Pandoran forest. A way to finally become who I was born to be.

@skeletondeerart @jackiehollanderr @anxietydrogz @farleyis

#neteyam x reader #neteyam x female reader #neteyam x disabled!reader #neteyam x avatar!reader #neteyam x female!reader #neteyam x fem!reader #platonic!tuk x reader #platonic!lo'ak x reader #platonic!kiri x reader #norm spellman x daughter!reader #max patel x daughter!reader #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan x reader #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan #neteyam sully x reader #neteyam suli x reader #avatar 2022 #avatar 2 #avatar: the way of water #neteyam sully

[juicefield]

Meyp Skxawng - Neteyam X Avatar!Reader Part 2

A/N: I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter. I don’t celebrate, but I can appreciate a good ham. This is set after avatar 2, both reader and Neteyam are 20. This is set in high camp, bc I said so. This is also not set as far in the future as it is in cannon, for reasons. Also no NSFW (the Hoes Not gonna love this :/). I didn't edit this as thoroughly as part 1, so let me know if you find any egregious mistakes.

You can find the other parts here:

Part 1 // Part 3 // Part 4

Although the writing in this fanfiction is my own, I do not claim any  ownership of Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, or any of the subsequent medias. All rights go to James Cameron and the producers. 

Synopsis: You experience a new body for the first time, and have never felt freer. Luckily, you have great friends to revel in your newfound joy with.

Neteyam X Fem!Avatar!Reader 8.9k 1st person POV

"Aw... damn. It didn't work." I mumble quietly, raising my hand to block the offensive brightness. Slowly I blink against the harsh light, trying to block it with my hand. I can practically feel my pupils expanding all too fast, trying to stop the influx of light causing me to be lightheaded. When I turn my head I see Max in a mask hovering above me. I see his mouth moving but I can't understand what he's saying at first. The blood rushes in my ears, louder than it ever has before. 

"... hear me, kiddo?" Is all I catch as I realize Max was the one shining the offensively bright light in my eyes. 

"Yeah, yeah I hear you." I say, loud enough for him to hear me this time. "It... didn't work." I said to him, my words sounding slurred almost because my tongue is so dry. His face looked amused, which really confused me. Why would he find this funny? This is horrible? Finally he relents and puts the LED flashlight down, instead picking up a small hand held mirror.

"Yes, kiddo, it did." Max says, holding up the mirror. As I gaze at its reflective surface I see the body from yesterday staring back at me. Snapping out of my tired state I sit up; entirely too quickly as blood rushes to my head and makes me feel light headed but does nothing to curb my happiness. Max fusses at me but I dismiss him with a wave of my hand, insisting that I'm fine. While marveling at the modern science I reach up to touch it’s- I mean my- face.

"Oh. My. God." I say when my fingertips make contact with the warm surface. I saw her eyes widen at the same time mine did and I couldn't help the sound of surprise that escaped me. "Max! Norm! We did it! We fucking did it!" I said turning to Max with the biggest smile I've ever had. I was smiling so hard that I could feel the unused muscles of my face stretching tentatively. The dull ache from the use only sends more excitement through me, that must mean everything is working the way it’s supposed to.

"No, you did it. You were so brave, sweetheart." A voice I recognized as Norm called out from my right. I feel my ears swivel towards him and marvel at the strange new feeling of having moving ears, of the new muscles I’ve never had before. Stretching sinew that feels too strong to be mine. I reach out for his shoulder and suddenly I notice how big I am. My hand nearly takes up his whole shoulder as I try to gently squeeze him in reassurance. Norm lets out a grunt of pain and ducks to move his shoulder away, rubbing it and wincing.

"You just woke up so you can't really tell how strong you are, but you were a lot more gentle than Jake when he woke up. So don't worry." He says when he sees a look of pain flit across my new face. Before I can even utter an apology he continues, cutting me off. "Now c'mon it's time for a few tests and we'll get you some clothes to wear." 

"It sucks, but the only thing that will fit you is some of Norm’s old clothes that his avatar got too big for." Max said as he entered the room again before I had even realized that he left my side. They pester and prod me while I answer a few questions to ensure that the transfer went as well as we think. They barrage me with a litany of fine motor control tests before they take all the IVs and monitors off of me. By the time they end I am grumbling and practically electrically charged with energy, far too ready to get up and run for the first time in years. Realistically I know that it will take a bit of time to build up to running and sprinting, but I am very tempted to make a run for it. Sadly, I refrain. 

"Okay take it easy and try standing up. Then when you're ready try taking a step. We'll go from there. Hopefully we'll get you up and at em' before Kiri and Lo'ak arrive." Max instructed while checking the time on the clock above the door. I try swinging my legs over the bed and am again surprised by the strength of this body when I almost knock the tray filled with medical supplies beside me off the table. Max smiles and tells me to take it slow while I laugh at my graceless movements. It's then that I notice how good my legs feel. There's no more pain in my legs, no dull ache that refuses to leave no matter what I do. They feel so strong, I swear I can feel every tendon attached to bone under the skin moving as I stretch my feet per Norms instructions. My joints feel like butter and I almost melt into the bed with relief. There had been part of me, a small, dark part in the very back of my mind, that had worried that my genetic problem would affect my avatar.

"Okay sweetheart, try to stand up." Norm advises. Immediately I move to try to stand. I remember my strength this time and stand up with minimal issues. My tail flicks from side to side erratically before I get it under control and tangles a bit in the chords coming out of the bed. Norm and Max rib me a couple times as I struggle to take my first step forward.

"This is a lot harder than I thought it would be." I complain, trying to defend myself against their teasing. I'm starting to get used to the body so I decide to step forward to grab the clothes from Max's hands and stumble a little before catching myself on the steel table next to the bed.

"I feel like a baby direhorse." I grumble as I sit the clothes down on the bed. 

"Yeah. I remember what that felt like." Norm spoke, obviously he's remembering the first time he piloted his avatar. It was a story he often told over dinners with a great degree of dramatics and theatrics. He would talk about how natural Jake had seemed juxtaposed with how clumsy and ungraceful he had been. I’ve had many warm nights and aching bellies from laughing at his jokes while he told his stories of the time before the war.

"Okay. Okay, love you boys but get the heck out while I change." I say, and point at the door, eager to get out of the awful hospital gown. The tag in the back was making my neck twitch, sensitive new flesh itching from the polyester tag.

"You sure you got this alone?" Max asks, eyebrows crinkling with concern. With his creased brows and crinkled eyes I can almost see the anxiety in his face and I frantically assure him that I am capable on my own.

"Yeah. I got this. I've never felt better, actually." I reply as I all but push them both out the door, shooing them away. As soon as the door closes I take off the annoying hospital gown they put me in and pull on the tank and shorts. I brush out the wrinkles and walk over to the two way window to look at my reflection. My reflection is so surreal I almost wonder if I'm actually dreaming right now. If so, it's an exceptionally vivid dream. I push all the hair out of my face and look around for something to tie it with. Luckily there is a large rubber band on one of the tables so I gather my hair to tie it. I feel a small jolt and I gasp when I touch the spinal queue at the base of my skull, also known as the kuru. It's warm and surprises me when I feel the muscle and cartilage underneath flexing against my touch. I try to tie my hair but I can only wrap the rubber band around it all once so it's not really a ponytail, but I simply want the damn hair out of my face. I turn to the door and when I open it I almost forget to grab a Na'vi respirator. Na'vi can breathe the air in the lab, but only for a little bit. I hang it around my neck as I walk out.

It's insane how small everything looks when I step into the lab. It feels like a completely new space as a traipse around, even though I've been living here since my birth. Max and Norm rush over to crowd around me and fuss over me for a while, still worried about complications. I assure them I'm fine, in fact I'm better than fine because I feel so light and so strong. They make me do a few more of the less fine motor, hearing, and sight tests while I wait for Kiri and Lo'ak to arrive. Eventually I get irritated and snap at them, telling them to leave me alone.

"You know I love you guys but c'mon I'm perfectly fine." I say before retreating to my room. I attempt to weave briefly but I just can't because it's a lot harder when you're two times bigger than you normally are. I settle for some music instead and pop in the 2005 pop mix CD. I accidentally press the eject button while trying to press the play and I finally understand how Lo'ak’s skxawng ass broke my CD. It's surprisingly hard to push the right button at this size because they're so close together. Finally I get the CD to play after a few tries and Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl starts flowing from the player. While I'm about halfway through My Humps. Hearing the loud door to the entrance screech open I scramble to press pause on the player. While I absolutely adore Kiri and Lo'ak I still am not ready to explain what My Humps means. I had a hard enough time explaining Don’t Cha by The Pussycat Dolls that I don’t even want to think about the mess of explaining the term 'humps'. I hear Max say my name and the word room while I scramble to sit on my bed. I awkwardly try to adjust my position into a casual laying down pose before the door opens and I hear Kiri and Lo'ak before I see them. 

"No you… you- penis face. You said if I cleaned last night-" Kiri said before noticing the surprised look on her brother’s face and turned around to see me. Her eyebrows nearly shot off the top of her face. "Uh... hello?" Kiri said in that particular voice that she uses around people that she doesn't know. I get an evil, maliciously wicked idea to mess with her but of course before I can make good on that and mess with her Lo'ak’s big mouth opens. 

"Who the fuck are you and why are you in (Y/N)'s room?!" He shrieks and bumps his head on the top of the door frame before scrambling into a fighting stance. I burst out laughing at this and through the tears in my eyes I see the recognition of who I am dawn on Kiri's face. 

"It's me skxawng." I say in between breaths while I try to calm down, and Kiri lets out her own giggles at her brother's high pitched scream. Clutching my stomach, I stand up feeling my newly acquired abdominal muscles protest slightly from all the laughing.

"(Y/N)??" He says with his mouth open like a fish.

"Yeah. You better close your mouth before an atokirina lands in it and Eywa finally gives you the sign to shut it forever." I say rolling my eyes and pushing his shoulder gently.

"Yeah that's definitely you." He grumbles as Kiri laughs at us under her hand. Kiri approaches me tentatively, like I'm a newly born creature to befriend.

"How?" Kiri asks me while she grabs my hands and inspects my hands and arms. "I thought they said it was not possible anymore."

"They used Grace's pod… I'm sorry, Kiri. I didn't know until yesterday." I say looking down at the floor. Although I know Kiri will not be mad at me for using her mother's chamber, I know it might be a painful reminder of the loss of her. One could argue that she never really had her, but she had always been comforted by Grace's avatar. Always seeked out the tube when she was having a hard time emotionally.

"Hey, it is okay. I'm glad they used it to give my friend a chance at a life. It is what mom would have wanted." Kiri insisted before throwing her arms around me in a bone crushing hug. At least it would be if I didn't now have carbon fiber bones. "It's Eywa's will." She assures me. Lo'ak walks behind me and inspects my entire body before whistling. 

"Damn girl, you look pretty good in blue." He says while smirking. 

"Ew, Lo'ak that's actually gross. Shut up." I say while rolling my eyes. "Today is my first day." I abruptly try to change the subject from Lo'ak’s disturbing attempts at flirting. 

"Well that means we have to go out and have some fun. We can show you all our favorite fun spots. C'mon Taw." Lo'ak says excitedly, even using the nickname he had given me as a child. They had just called me Tawtute or sky person when we had first become friends, not used to saying my name. Eventually I told them that I didn't like being called that because I didn’t feel like a human at all. They started to simply call me Taw after that. Grumbling in defeat, I reluctantly follow as Lo’ak starts trying to pull me out of my room and Norm calls out to protest.

"Hey! She's not going to be able to keep up yet because it's her first day. She can go out tomorrow, Lo'ak. We have exercises for her to do first. Y’know stuff to strengthen her sense of balance." Norm almost yells from the other side of the lab. 

"C'mon Norm. We'll only take her to safe places and have her back before first twilight.... please?" Kiri pleads as we approach. Luckily Norm has a soft spot for her, as Grace's child, so he relents, but not before making me promise to be careful. Before we walk out the door I take a moment to brace myself to take my first step out of the lab in a few years. I've always avoided going out, for many reasons, like the staring Na'vi or vile names I would hear in hushed conversations that I just know have to be about me. I almost tell them I can't do it but when Lo'ak pulls me out of the door and I take the first breath of fresh air with no mask, I know I had to do this. With my new heightened Na'vi senses I can almost taste the air as I smell it. It smells earthy and lush; almost like the cave made by the mountains is alive despite having no plants inside. Lo'ak keeps pulling but I plant myself firmly after a few steps to have a second to get my bearings. Although the entrance to the lab is the furthest building away from the entrance of the cave, there are still a few Na'vi that live right around the human dwellings. 

These were the less prestigious families of the clan. At this time most families were carrying out various tasks and jobs delegated by Jake and his few chief advisors relating to the more domestic chores to avoid midday heat. Many of them did the jobs deemed less important like weaving and basket making. A few had looked up from their jobs to aim their shocked eyes at me, accompanied by open mouths gaping like fish. As I glanced around most of the Na'vi looked away as soon as I met their eyes, dropping to their crafts in shame from being caught . I could hear a few muttering lowly 'uniltìranyu' or even some muttering dreamwalker in English. I catch a few elders pursing their lips and shaking their heads in disapproval. Suddenly I felt like I was back in that pool, a small little weak girl that stood in front of Txeyu soaked and cold not only from the water but the pain of alienation. Kiri could immediately tell what I was feeling, her empathetic nature peaking out. She places a hand on my back, rubbing soothing circles.

"Taw. Please, you are having a chance here to show these people who you truly are. Let them see that you are as strong outside as you are on the inside." Kiri urges me forward with the hand on my back. My first instinct is to snap back that I am not nearly as strong as she thinks but I bite down the bitterness and start moving forward again. 

"If you weren’t wearing such silly ass clothes then they wouldn't call you that. Hell, they'd probably think you were one of us, you speak the mother language almost perfectly for a sky person." Lo'ak adds as an attempt to comfort me in his own way as we walk towards the front of the cave. Luckily, almost everyone was out hunting or gathering so we were able to peacefully make it back to their marui that sits near the caves' large entrance. As we all walked there Kiri said that she would help me cut my hair, because it looked 'like a banshees nest' and braid it into a style that would protect my kuru. 

Neytiri and Jake were currently out on a hunting trip with their eldest son, Neteyam. Neytiri and Neteyam were a mystery to me; I had never met them and they had made no effort to know me. Which, I'll admit, is completely understandable due to Neytiri's personal losses that were caused by the humans. Jake is a sky person but she still hasn't let go of her grudge and if you are human you must prove to her you are worthy of her good graces before she kills you. I don't know what Neteyam's deal is, though. If I am to believe Lo'ak it's because all he ever does is work and train. But, and this is probably more the truth, Kiri tells me it's because he's a total momma's boy and Neytiri always told him not to play with me or join his siblings for our usual hangouts. This would normally be a little insulting after almost a decade of friendship with her other children and even her husband, but I totally get it. Humans are nothing but trouble, especially on Pandora. She barely tolerates Spider, but I'm jot sure if she even considers him more than Kiri's pet. 

Kiri putters around their family marui gathering beads, string, and a small exquisitely carved dagger. Just as she makes her way over to me Lo'ak groans.

"Ugh. C'mon I meant let's have some fun. I want to to braid hair and talk about boys." He complained, flipping his hair back for dramatic effect and blinking his eyes lashes before his face morphs in disgust.

"You mean while I braid her hair. If you do it her head will look like a mess." Kiri says, sticking her tongue out. "Besides you know she must braid her hair to protect the kuru."

"Whatever, man." Lo'ak scoffs before picking up his spear and running a thumb over the sharp stone tip. "I'm gonna go fish while you guys kiss and sing or whatever." Kiri responds only by giving him the finger and rolling her eyes while I laugh at the two.

"Sit," she commands while patting the mat in front of her. I hesitate so she adds an annoyed "Now!" While pushing me forward. I sit down and cross my legs awkwardly. This had never been a pose that came easy to me because of my problems, but as I settle I notice it feels completely natural to sit like this.

"Please, if you could try to cut it like my normal hair. It doesn't have to be perfect, but I still want to feel like me." I said as I ran a hand through the waist length hair, marveling at its length and texture. It felt coarser than my other hair, but still soft even with my new refine senses.

"I can try," Kiri says nonchalantly before grabbing hold of all the hair and slicing a large length of hair off at once. 

"Kiri!" I yell, not expecting a large cut, "please leave some of my hair! I don't want to be bald." I complain and she just clicks her tongue cheekily. Before I can register or try to stop it my tail flicks her leg in annoyance. "Do you ever get used to having a tail?" I ask dumbfounded as I try to stop it from showing my annoyance to no avail. 

She only snorts and incredulously says, "Well I don't know, I've always had a tail. After a while it'll just feel like another finger, maybe?" She says while she finished roughly chopping the sections of my hair my hair. I'll have to finish later with some scissors in the lab, but honestly she's given me a really good base to start with.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it. And you." I say as I turn and give her a smile. Kiri gives me a small smile back and motions down to her lap where she has a large sack of beads that she used from everything from jewelry to hair accessories. 

"What colors do you want?" She asks, grabbing out a handful of beads for me to inspect.

"Um, whatever color you think would look nice." I say and shrug. I've never much cared for my appearance so I'm not really sure what color I'd like in my hair. It was never really something that I’d thought about much, not really much of an option when you grow up with such limited resources. I don't even get to pick my own clothes, mostly I wore the clothes left behind by the female scientists. This often led to strange outfit combinations since most of the nice clothes were taken in the hurry to get off the planet. Kiri ends up choosing a couple purple beads and a few large green beads. We chat as she brushes my hair and sections it off. Mostly I listen to her complaints about learning medicine from Mo’at. They were notorious for butting heads about what herbs and roots to use because Mo’at is much more traditional in her Tsahik practices than Kiri is. Kiri is a lot more concerned with the patients comfort while Mo'at is a stickler for efficacy, always opting for the bitter herb that works faster over the mellow ones that take longer. Her hands work lightning fast as she  braids down my kuru and two braids on either side of my face for the beads, a style she herself often wears because of her much more delicate hair. Most Na'vi had textured hair, much more similar to people of color than Kiri's thinner hair. When she is finally done she hums happily and hands me a small handheld mirror that I use to inspect my reflection. I am again startled that my face is an entirely different color but relax when I realize that it still really does look like me. The only thing missing is a scar from a childhood accident. Feeling the braids and admiring my new hair style I smile at Kiri.

"Thank you so much. My head feels a lot lighter now." I say while I trace my fingers over the braids, admiring the two strand technique she uses on the ones framing my face. She just nods in my direction while she moves to put away her precious beads. "So..  what now?"

"Now we get you out of those clothes. Are they Norm's? They are horrendous. I feel like I must cleanse my eyes." She says with the signature flat tone she uses when she teases me. I stand up and nod lazily, not wanting to acknowledge her teasing. I've been in many wars with Kiri over the years and I can admit when I am outmatched. Lo'ak is much easier to battle in the game of wits, so I've learned that instead of being against Kiri, it is smarter to be with her. While she rifles through a sort of chest I notice that I am actually taller than Kiri. The thought sends a happy zing through my body that culminates in my tail almost wagging before I consciously force it to stop. It makes me happy to be tall because it means that my new body is particularly strong. The Na'vi always prized the taller members of the clan, as they often made the best warriors among them. I puff my chest proudly and proclaim to Kiri that I may not fit her clothes. 

"You are rather small for our age." I tease as she rifles flings a few tops over her shoulder. She flips me off silently and pulls out something that was larger than the rest.

"Oh thank you, Eywa. I found it!" She squeals excitedly before holding the set up to the light filtering through the hole in the center of the marui. It was a beautiful set, made from feathers from a variety of Pandora’s prized bird-like creatures. She hands it to me. Turning it over, I admire the fine details of the Omaticayan craftsmanship. I trace my fingers over the braided band that holds all the feathers. The leather is soft and pliant,  even though the set itself is obviously older. I can feel my face muscles get tired from the grin that stretches them before I realize that I cannot accept such a gift, it would be considered disrespectful by the clan. They wouldn’t want me to wear their clothes, evidenced by the fact that Norm still does not own any Na'vi clothes for his avatar. He always just wears larger size human clothes. The only exception was a battle band given to him by Jake for his help with the human war, but even that is a huge privilege because he is not one of the people. I have done nothing to earn this outfit so I shake my head and try to hand the set back to Kiri. Kiri, however, does not accept it and goes on to explain whose it was.

“It was my mothers, a very long time ago. She was around our age. She has now grown out of it and no longer uses it. Please, I am gifting it to you.” She insists, pushing my hands away. At this my mouth falls open. Is she trying to kill me?! Though I have not met Neytiri two things have been made very clear to me.

1: Neytiri does not like humans.

2: Neytiri is known for being a fierce woman, hell she even scares the mighty Jake Sully!

Immediately I drop the set, refusing childishly to accept it. If Neytiri saw me in her clothes she might kill me and stuff my body to mount like a trophy hunt. Screw that, with how much she scares the Olo’eyktan I wouldn’t be surprised if she ate me. No way in hell, man! I just got this body and I have so many things I need to do first. 

“Kiri, do you want me to join Eywa?” I ask incredulously. “Seriously your mother may slay me if she sees me in that. And it's not even yours to give away.”

“You are wrong,” she sasses back at me, “she has given it to me, therefore it is mine, therefore I may give it to you.” She rolls her eyes and bends over, picking up the top and loincloth.

“Yes. But, Kiri, there has not been a sky person that has ever been permitted to wear the people's clothing, besides your father who, might I remind you, became one of the people so he doesn’t count.” I insist, practically whining, while she tries to force me to accept the top from her hands by pushing it at my chest. As we continue to bicker a head pokes into the marui. 

“What are you guys doing?” Lo’ak says looking between us. “And why aren’t you done? I caught so many fish I thought the stream would run out and you still hadn’t come to me so I headed back.” He explained and came in with three large fish strung up on a rope hanging over his shoulder.

“I would hardly call three enough to drain the stream,” Kiri teases, “and we would not have taken so long if this one would get dressed.” She points at me, as if accusing me of a horrific crime.

“I cannot accept the clothes. It is not for me to wear! I am not one of you. The elders of the clan and your mother would not like it.” I explained to Lo’ak, turning to him and gesturing to the clothing she is holding. He simply looks on with a bored look on his face before it transforms into that face he gets before he spouts one of his ridiculous ideas.

“Well,” Lo’ak starts with the mischievous look on his face, “how could they be mad if you had the consent of the Olo’eyktan’s kids huh? Dad would totally be fine with it, too.” He insists. Kiri enthusiastically agrees, nodding so hard her many braids bounce up and down. 

“Yeah right. As if your mom or respected clan leaders give a thantor’s ass about your ‘consent’.” I counter and shake my head at them. I see an idea form in Lo’ak’s mind. A delicious, evil idea takes root and he opens his mouth to birth it to the world.

“What about the future Olo’eyktan?,” When I shake my head he continues on, “No I’m serious (Y/N)! The elders really respect Neteyam’s opinion and wouldn’t challenge you if you told them that he allowed it. Mom wouldn't get mad either if she knew he approved too.” I stay silent as I mull it over and I finally agree, albeit reluctantly. I'm not sure whether I agree with their reasoning or if they've simply worn me down. Another example of why it is better to be on Kiri's side, she will always wear you down.

“Okay let’s go.” Lo’ak says and grabs my forearm, pulling me out of the marui. There are a few more people than earlier and I get strange looks as I pass them, but luckily no one seems to care much as everyone is getting ready for dinner. I guess it has been longer than I thought it was to braid my hair, as eclipse is nearing. Kiri trails a length behind us, not really caring to keep up with Lo'ak's enthusiasm.

“Let’s go? Where are we going? Lo'ak!” I say confused, while Lo’ak stubbornly drags me along without uttering a word. A few times I almost trip over people as I try to slow down and get answers out of him. Unlike usual, he is a man on a mission and doesn’t answer me until we reach the cooking area. 

“To Neteyam. We must ask him about the clothes, he is on cooking duty today. Normally, men don’t do that but mom insists that he needs to learn to do the jobs of women to appreciate the work that they do when he becomes Olo’eyktan.” He explains, as if that's the reason I was confused.

“What?! No! I don’t even know him. I shouldn’t be here when you ask him. I want to meet him under less weird circumstances. It's totally weird to be like, 'hi my name is (Y/N), been friends with your sisters and bro for a while, can I wear your mom's old clothes?'.” I complain, planting my feet solidly on the ground to force him to stop pulling me along, finally getting agitated at his lack of awareness of his own peoples opinions.

“(Y/N), please, it’s Neteyam. He will not care.” Kiri piped up, she had finally caught up with us and now stood beside me. 

“Fine! Fine. But I’m not explaining this to him, you guys are!” I say and stick my tongue out at them. Lo’ak merely rolls his eyes and Kiri nudges me forward. I start moving again and we walk up to the large earthenware cooking pots that the many women are standing over. I can smell the pots, admiring the smell of spicy and earthy tones that float up from them. Among them is a range of ages. I see some that are as young as eight to many young adults like myself to even respected elders of the clan. The young children seem to be processing some sort of vegetable while the teens and young adults work on slicing meat and veggies. The older women are the ones actually doing the cooking, while the elders are the ones barking out orders and instructions to them. I hear many new Na'vi words as we walk past them. I assume that most of these must be the names of foods and spices, mostly because as a male Lo’ak does not get cooking duty and Kiri absolutely hates it. Tuk, on the other hand neither likes nor dislikes it so she also does not talk about it. Even with her mouth running a thousand miles a minute she still doesn't talk about things that she deems boring, which leaves my education of such matters to be very little. I search among the women for the mysterious Neteyam, but before I find a single male standing around Lo’ak calls out to him.

“Neteyam. Brother!” He practically shouts, unperturbed by the scornful looks that older ladies give him for disrupting their cooking lessons. A few younger children let out barks of laughter at his mischievousness. It's then that I notice him. Immediately I am confused that I hadn’t immediately seen him, he towers over most of the women there. Maybe it's because of the gentle smile and look that is in his eyes that makes him seem much smaller. He’s a lot less out of place in the kitchen than one would expect from a great warrior and hunter. He’s also, unfortunately, devastatingly good looking. I mean, I had always thought that Lo’ak was handsome, but his brother has this air of maturity and gentleness that makes his fine looks feel entirely different from Lo’ak’s. He feels like a man, while Lo’ak still feels like a boy. I feel a thousand times more awkward now. Why would Lo’ak do this to me? I think to myself when he catches sight of us and waves before I can make a run for it. I see him say something to the elder he was listening to and he makes his way over to us. As he nears I can practically see the confusion on his face as he looks at me. The urge to run away rears its ugly head as he catches my eye. I bet I could make it back to the lab before Kiri and Lo’ak could catch up to me. Before I can win or lose this hypothetical bet with myself the mysterious man speaks.

“Baby brother, what brings you here?” He asks and I can’t help but enjoy his voice. It is soft, yet mighty. Quiet, yet commanding. I ignore that thought and try to refocus, looking at him while attempting a smile that says ‘Hello future chief please don’t find it disrespectful that I came here today to ask you about what clothes you’ll allow me to wear’. I don’t think the point gets across, but one can only hope. “And who is this?” He ads while giving me a sideways glance. I notice that his gaze lingers on my shorts before moving up to my face.

“Hello. My name is (Y/N). And your baby bro has dragged me here to ask you something.” I offer up using my rusty Na'vi language abilities, trying to get ahead of Lo'ak's scheme. When Lo’ak said almost perfect for a sky person he may have been slightly over-exaggerating. I used to be better but I stopped talking to Kiri, Lo’ak, and Tuk in Na'vi a couple years ago when they asked me to help them practice English, so my ability has deteriorated quite a bit. I offer up my hand for him to shake. Neteyam looks down at my hand with knitted brows until Lo’ak says.

“You remember, our human friend.” He prompts, nudging Neteyam towards my hand. Neteyam seems to remember the silly human custom of shaking hands and takes my hand in his slightly larger one. He grasps it softly and shakes it a few times, giving me a barely there smile. 

“Oh. It is nice to finally meet you. You speak the mother language very well.” He compliments as he shakes my hand. “And I am sorry I have not made it to meet you before, but Olo’eyktan training is very intense.” He says bashfully, looking down at the floor.

“Oh it’s fine. Trust me when I say I understand. There are not many who would rush to meet me.” I joke to try to lighten his demeanor. I find myself fiddling with the two braids that frame my face to try to escape the awkward situation. Instead of making the atmosphere it seems to make Neteyam deflate even more as he winces. “Oh sorry, I was trying to make a joke.” I explain, thinking I may have somehow offended him.

“No, I am just really sorry that I had not met my sister's best friend before.” When that came out of his mouth I realized, relieved, that I had not offended him, but instead had made him feel bad for me. Not the optimal outcome, but better than I feared.

“You are too kind, but I believe that may be Spider. Not me. Your brother however, maybe, but only because he has no friends.” I say with a laugh, hoping that this joke would actually land. Luckily that gets a few chuckles from him and he actually smiles before finally looking me in the eyes.

“You are funny, (Y/N).” He compliments my jest while Lo’ak pouts at it, grumbling an expletive that I can't catch under his breath.

“Ugh, Taw you are so mean to me. Sadly, you’re right, though. I’m stuck with you as my best friend.” Lo’ak interjects rolling his eyes, bumping my shoulder when he says the word stuck “So, stop flirting with my best friend.” He almost accuses Neteyam. Neteyam blabbers for a second, very obviously embarrassed before struggling to get out an annoyed, 

“I am not flirting skxawng! I am simply trying to be nice to your friend.” He defends himself. I look over to find Kiri’s reaction to find her hiding a grin behind the feathered top she's still holding. I see her shoulders shaking and realize that she is also holding in laughter at her brothers' antics. In an attempt to change the subject Neteyam asks Lo’ak what he has come to ask him about.

“Well (Y/N) here doesn't have any clothes of her own to wear in this body so we came to ask if we could give her one of moms old outfits.” Lo’ak explains. “She thinks it would look bad if she accepted the gift, that mom might hunt her on sight. But, like I explained, if you say it's okay, surely mom will be fine with it.” He throws and arm around me and pulls on my ear when he says that his mom will hunt me. I push him away and flick his arm harshly to get him to stop.

“She is right. Mom would not like that. It has not been done since father.” Neteyam says, dipping his head in agreement with me. 

“I know, but come on look at what she is wearing. If she wears that everyone will say stuff about her. Maybe they’ll even start saying bad things about me and Kiri.” Lo’ak says, using anything he can to convince Neteyam. “Plus she's not like Norm, she doesn’t have specially made earth clothes for her much bigger Na'vi body.” I can see the gears in Neteyams mind turning as he considers what his brother said.

“Yes. But-” Neteyam starts to say before being cut off.

“C’mon man, Mom won’t ever wear this again. And Kiri probably won't grow into it like mom thought she would… Plus, don’t you think it would look a lot nicer on her than this.” He says while gesturing at my basketball shorts. This makes Neteyam look at me up and down before he sighs loudly. 

“Fine. But if mom asks, it was not my idea. I'm not taking responsibility for you this time.” He huffs at his brother. Suddenly, a voice calls out and Neteyams tail whips back and forth in clear annoyance.

“Dinner is ready. I must go help now. Will your friend be joining us? I am grabbing food to bring back to the marui.” Neteyam asks Lo’ak but I answer anyway.

“I would love to come, but I have to tell Norm and Max. That will give me a chance to try them on.” I suggest, despite secretly hoping that they don't fit. He seems taken back that I had answered him and not Lo’ak, but he nods and smiles nonetheless.

“Goodbye then. See you at dinner, hopefully.” He says before heading back over to the elder he was helping before.

“Awesome!” Lo’ak says throwing an arm around both me and Kiri on either side of him. “Well… First one to the lab wins.” He declares before taking off running and laughing at my dumbfounded face. I had certainly never been challenged to a race before, especially not by Lo'ak. Spider was the only one who I could possibly keep up with, but he was never really around much before my legs started to give out on me. Miles had always been a child who needed adventure, while I was always more of a homebody. Always cooped up in the lab, reading and talking to Norm and Max. Kiri laughed and nudged me before she took off running after Lo’ak. Seeing Lo’ak getting further away I hesitated, wondering if my motor control over this body was really ready yet. The, I thought of Jake Sully, he did not hesitate with his new body, so neither should I! 

I look to the left and right to see if anyone is watching me. Luckily, most of the women were completely unconcerned with me, only focusing on their pots and knives. I take a deep breath before I take off after them. I’m again surprised by the strength of my new body, it feels like I launched forward rather than started running. In the first few steps I feel like a baby deer as my knees wobble and my feet are unsteady. My tail isn’t balanced and I almost fall into a woman carrying a large pile of leathers and pelts. I shout a small apology in Na'vi behind me. Not turning to face the disappointment on her face, I continue on. As I run my body instinctively adjusts itself, and I can feel my newly acquired tail now helping me to stay upright as I dart around people returning from a hunt with animals slung over their backs, hoof-like feet tied together. A few of the hunters in the party call after me to stop running through camp, but it feels like I’m flying. If this is what running feels like, then I can’t even imagine what actual flying on an Ikran would feel like. Finally Kiri comes into view with Lo’ak almost by the lab entrance in front of her. For the first time in my life, I feel determined to win against Kiri so I push myself harder. My muscles strain against me, the muscles in my calves are burning when I finally push past Kiri in the last leg. I whoop as I pass her in the last second, barreling into the lab door that Lo'ak is holding open to us.

I stop when I reach the chamber between the outside and the lab, my lungs heaving as I struggle to slow my breathing. Lo’ak is laughing at me and Kiri says something to defend me, but I can’t really hear them with the blood rushing in my ear. Ba-dump ba-dump. My heart beats strongly in them, another reminder of how powerful I feel. The rhythmic pounding slows and when I calm down Kiri congratulates me on catching up to her. Max and Norm greet us with a hey from the monitors in the computer lab as we open the second door, depressurizing the small room. We wave back and make our way towards my room, all of us grabbing a Na'vi mask as we pass the rack.

“You did very well for your first race. Very strong.” She says smiling at me, her fangs poking out slightly over her bottom lip.

“Would have been more impressive if she had won.” Lo’ak teases, “It's easy to catch up to you, Shorty.”

“Yes, well it's her first day in her Avatar. Father has told us what his first day was like, he compared it to a baby yerik taking its first steps. Catching up to me was pretty impressive.” Kiri said, defending me again. 

“Thank you, Kiri,” I started, “and I would have won if you hadn’t cheated. You ran off before you even finished your sentence.” I complained, tugging on one of his braids harshly to punish him. He lets out a yowl of protest and gives his own tug on the braid framing the right side of my face. Kiri breaks us up before a brawl can break out.

“So are you coming to dinner? Please, we’ll get dad to say yes, I promise. I want to be there when you taste the best food you’ve ever had.” Lo’ak almost begged while he fidgets with the puzzle on my desk.

“I guess, as long as Max and Norm both say yes.” I replied, but really I was hoping Max would say no. Mostly because, knowing Lo’ak, I was going to be embarrassed through the whole thing. I’m sure he would keep teasing me about Neteyam and my clothing, and I will definitely be interrogated by Neytiri about my outfit. I’m sure she would have a lot of questions for the weird kid that has been friends with her weird kids for a decade or more. I am definitely not ready for that on my first day piloting my avatar. Plus now that I look at it, the set that Kiri tried to give me is so small I’m scared that I will flash everyone on they way there. 

“Please, Taw.” Kiri joins in the chorus of begging. “I’ll tell mom beforehand that I gave you one of her outfits, too.”

“I have to wear that thing? Seriously? It’s so small! I don’t think I would be comfortable with that yet.” I try to weasel my way out of wearing clothes that are honestly smaller than my underwear in my other body. 

“Trust me it will look really good on you.” Lo’ak says practically leering at me. 

“You know, I’m starting to think that you just want to watch me wear something ten times shorter than anything you've seen me in before.” I say rolling my eyes at his attempt at flirting(?). 

“No, but that is definitely a plus,” Lo’ak starts to say before I give him a death glare, “C’mon Taw, it’s not a big deal I’m just kidding. Every girl in the clan wears clothes like that.” 

“I’ll only wear it if you promise to not try to embarrass me tonight.” I reason with him, before taking my puzzle back from his hands.

“Hey, I can’t help it if you embarrass yourself. But, I won't try to embarrass you.”  Lo’ak says holding out a pinky. I grasp it with mine for a pink swear. It was something that me and Lo’ak and Kiri had been doing since forever. I told Kiri and Lo’ak that pinky promises were a death contract on Earth; a sacred ritual. That if you break the promise the other party has to kill you. Of course a few months later they had found out that wasn't true when they saw Norm pinky promise me to help with dinner. They had asked him why it was worth a “sacred pinky promise” when he usually said he would help before getting absorbed in his work and falling through on the promise. Norm had laughed through his entire explanation, that no, if he failed I would not kill him. They were so mad that Kiri had refused to come over for the next visit to the lab. I had to apologize and braid her hair four times before she fully forgave me. To this day we still use pinky promises to signify a serious promise, despite not being able to kill each other if we fall through on our promises.

“I’m serious, I want your mom and brother to like me.” I admit, looking away to hide from the reaction I knew was coming.

“Awwwww. Taw, you love us so much you want to impress our family.” Lo’ak coos, pinching my cheek that I turned away from him. I slap his hand away lazily and accompany it with a glare.

“Lo’ak stop, this is obviously important to her.” Kiri said, reaching out to stop Lo'ak from grabbing my cheek again. “Don’t worry, I will be there to protect you from Lo’ak.” She says, and pats my face where Lo’ak pinched it to soothe the skin. 

“Thank you, Kiri. Hey, maybe I was wrong. Maybe she is my best friend.” I say flipping off Lo’ak with my right hand while throwing my left arm around Kiri in a half-hug. Lo’ak only grouchy at us while Kiri laughs. 

We talk for a few minutes, before they have to leave to help get ready for dinner. The plan was for me to change and come to their marui when the dinner horn is sounded, which is when most Na’vi go to get food. Usually, a member of each family stands in line to get food for the whole family. Most dishes are served in one dish and the Na’vi use their hands to eat from each dish, using a cloth to wipe their fingers between each type of food to avoid crossing flavors. Each cloth is customized to the owner to avoid confusion, often made as gifts for children. I have never been so glad that I asked Kiri to teach me to weave as I pull out one of my pieces that is small enough to use as a napkin. I made it to use as a bandana, but in this body it is more like a napkin size. It's really too fancy to use as a sra, especially because it's not a special occasion but, since they're considered personal items to the Na'vi there might not be any that have not already been used. This would definitely be a better option than using one of Lo'ak's extras. Ew.

After that I get ready, pulling on the small set. As I look in the mirror I can’t help but fuss with the feathers on the top to get them to cover as much of my chest as possible. The loincloth starts to ride up so much that I debate changing back into the ugly shorts and tank top again. I shake my head and decide to just let it hang where it sits, as every time I move so do the tops many feathers. I go into the lab to show the outfit to Max and Norm. Norm, of course, flatters and compliments me about a thousand times. Max simply smiles fondly and listens to Norms compliments, much like a father listening to a mother fawning over her child. He only interrupts to ask how I feel about the clothes. I would love to tell the truth and tell him that it's way too short for my comfort, but I just smile and say I love it. If I told him he would definitely tell me to change, which would no doubt cause me a fight with Kiri and Lo'ak. After they both stop admiring my outfit I ask them to go to dinner and surprisingly both agree, quickly. I raise my eyebrow at this but choose not to question it. After that I help with their dinner while waiting for the dinner horn to sound from outside, they promise to set aside a big portion for me to eat when I re-enter my body later, making me promise them I will eat it. We usually eat dinner earlier than the Na’vi, so just as I add the finishing touches to our dinner the horn blows and I make my way down to the Sully’s marui.

Thank you for reading! Let me know if I have made any mistakes or errors, feel free to massage them if you don't want to comment. Feedback is also greatly welcomed.

@skeletondeerart

#neteyam x reader #neteyam x female reader #neteyam x disabled!reader #neteyam x avatar!reader #neteyam x female!reader #neteyam x fem!reader #platonic!tuk x reader #platonic!lo'ak x reader #platonic!kiri x reader #norm spellman x daughter!reader #max patel x daughter!reader #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan x reader #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan #neteyam sully x reader #neteyam suli x reader #avatar 2022 #avatar: the way of water #avatar 2

[juicefield]

Meyp Skxawng Neteyam X Avatar!Reader: Part 1

A/N: I included the epilogue in this post so I could just delete the last post. Neteyam is 20 in this and there will be no NSFW content in this fic. It is not set in the far future as I reference bits of culture from the 2000s (mostly because this fic is essentially about culture, Na'vi and human and how they clash with each other and unfortunately I don't know about human culture in 2170 so I just used stuff from our time). Also this is set in high camp. I love the Metkayina, but I've always loved the forests of Pandora since I was young.

Although the writing in this fanfiction is my own, I do not claim any ownership of Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, or any of the subsequent medias. All rights go to James Cameron and the producers.

You can find the other parts here:

Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4

Synopsis: Today is your twentieth birthday on Pandora. You look back on your life in reflection as you think about the future and your place on her.

Neteyam X Fem!Avatar!Reader 6.6k 1st person POV

The Na'vi say that every person is born twice. The second time is when you earn your place among The People... forever.

A tired yet youthful Jake Sully, now known as Jake Tsyeyk te Suli  or the mighty Toruk Makto, droned on from the blue tinted computer screen staring back at me. Once again, I found myself watching the videos he left behind. I know I shouldn't torture myself, that this fantasy I've had since I was a child was nothing but that... just a fantasy. I could never get the second chance he got all those years ago. I’ve spent years living vicariously through him and his video logs; imagining that I had become one with The People like him. I knew it was childish, but that certainly didn't stop me from dreaming about it. 

The more I watched his videos, and Grace's videos, the more I longed to see this world that I find myself stuck in. That mystical magical world that was closed off from me, just outside, so close yet so far. However, I couldn't be like Spider, my strange adopted "semi-sibling" and run around like a chicken with its head cut off (this was a line straight from Norm, as I have never even eaten chicken let alone seen one), awkward and slow next to the lithe natives. I fiddled with a small puzzle Norm had brought from the old world as I listened to Jake's voice. It was a rare treat and one of the things I had as a child that was almost like a toy. Of course at this point I knew how to solve it faster than I could blink practically. As I sit there and continuously slide the locking mechanism in and out I become briefly distracted from the monitor as I feel the ridges of the plastic puzzle. It felt weird to have the thought that Spider was my brother. He certainly never acted like he cared about me much, always opting to hang with the Sullys. However, I know that he feels a certain camaraderie with me due to our similar afflictions. The affliction in question being our shared blood, vrrtep reypay, or "demom blood" flows through both of us. Unlike Spider, however, there was something that afflicted me and me alone in this new world.

The sickness. Norm and Max weren’t sure what it was, but they knew for certain it was some sort of genetic thing. Some thing that my parents had carried in both of them. "Thing". It was easier to call it a thing, easier for me to compartmentalize that way. Easier to tuck away the pain and suffering in a neat corner of my mind. It affected me in different ways. From my joints to my stomach to my legs, my body was simply weak. Back when I was willing to try reaching out to the other children, Na'vi children, I would always get made fun of for being a weak human, so once my legs started to give out on me at the age of 8 I officially swore off having "friends".

"Meyp skxawng."  A little girl muttered under her breath after my legs gave out while splashing in a pool in the cave system. Her name was Txeyu. She was one of the Na'vi that lived the closest to the labs in the back of the cave system, also about one of three friends that I had besides Norm and Max. She was one of the only Na'vi children that would hang around me, but as my legs worsened I could feel her getting agitated everytime I couldn’t keep up as we played. 

"Sorry,"  The apology that exited my mouth was out before I could even stop to think what I actually did wrong. Pulling myself up from the awkward position I was in after I had slipped and fallen to the floor I continued. "Sometimes my legs don't work so well… I mean, even for a human." The last word came out strained like if I said it loudly then everyone would suddenly realize I was an alien and demand to throw me out of camp. I knew of course that humans had the protection of Jake Sully. Realistically that could never happen, but many of the Na'vi were not accepting of our place in the clan. It had been long ago that I learned shame for being human but I remember this memory as the time I learned to be ashamed of being disabled. When I looked up there was this distinct look on the Na'vi's face. A strange mix of pity and disgust that left a pit in my stomach. The slope of her eyes and the curl of her lip are often in my dreams, haunting me. I will never forget them from that day. With tears stinging my eyes I politely excused myself and threw myself into Norm’s arms as soon as I found him. Even though I hadn't known what the words at the time meant I knew exactly what her face had meant. I was a blubbering mess and after that I wasn't allowed to play with Txeyu (or at least Norm had told me that, for my peace of mind so I wouldn’t seek her out) and I swore that I didn't need friends. 

To be fair to Txeyu, I was a weak moron. Confirmed by not only my weak body, but also my inability to stop watching the videos that the two most revered sky people had left behind. Grace was my source of entertainment since I was a child because  the humans were not concerned with bringing old world media with them to Pandora. Mostly because coming to Pandora they had not thought of babies being born in the new world, had not thought of the culture left behind. Had not thought of the difficulty these children would have with their identity, knowing almost nothing of the new world or the old. Many people had brought things with them but most cultural items had been taken by the sky people when they left. And yes, Norm and Max told me all about Earth and about movies and music and art along with the small amount of stuff they could recover from the old lab but it was nothing, nothing, compared to the real thing. To have a sense of community with people who have shared experiences, to have people that you belong to. The very thing that makes people human, or maybe not human, but the thing that is important to all life that holds empathy. 

Empathy. That, I thought, was the similarity humans had with the Na'vi. They both had empathy. What separated them, however, was more important... greed, yes, the humans were greedy despite their sympathy. I had learned as a girl that the two were not exclusive. I knew it was true in the way I wished to be Jake, in the way I longed for a world I didn't belong to. Knew that even I, a human that can hardly be called human, is not spared from this defining characteristic of greed. Unfortunately I would never get a second chance, another body, like Jake did.

I accepted this fact when I was a mere twelve years old, a particularly hard year for me. I started my menstruation cycle with only Norm and Max to comfort me. There were other women at the base, but none close enough to me for me to celebrate in the joy of womanhood. I would have turned to Kiri, but luckily for her she doesn’t have an aunt flow, like all Na'vi. What a lucky bitch. I had started bleeding and had been in the bathroom panic stricken because my first thought was that the sickness was getting worse, that the pain I felt was finally going to bleed me out and kill me. As I silently wept I accidentally knocked over the trash bin in my room. Norm had come to the door, knocking softly thrice he announced himself.

"Hey... you good in there? You've been in there a while and I heard something fall." Hot tears were stinging my eyes and I was breathing heavily, like there was a giant boulder on my chest. Hey, maybe this was one of those panic attacks I read about in the encyclopedias of Medicine and Psychology I had read? I had always been a curious child, learning as much as I could to stave off boredom. There had been a few precious fiction books left behind by the scientists before I. Please dear Eywa (I had felt embarrassed at the time to ask Eywa for help), please help me remember that boring book I prayed all while frantically trying to calm down enough for the memory to surface. Breathe. I had to breathe in and out. I've got this, I mean I'm totally dying, but I've definitely got a handle on this. Compartmentalize. Yes, I distinctly remember the book talking about breathing and slow breaths from the diaphragm, for sure, definitely... Just as I finally started to get a grip and calm down Norm knocked again.

"Come on, seriously you're freaking me out here." Well shit. I didn't get it together fast enough. I gathered myself as best I could, focusing on the cool steel below my fingertips.

"Norm, I think I might be dying." I said trying to project my tired and scared voice through the bathroom door. 

"WHAT? OH MY GOD. Shit... shit! What's wrong? What do you mean? Let me in. Please, open the door." I could hear the panic laced in his voice. The handle on the door rattled as Norm tried to enter the bathroom. 

"Stop!" I commanded "Hold on. I'm-I'm bleeding."

"Oh sweet Jesus open the door." Norm said and the door handle rattled so hard that I thought the lanky scientist might break it.

"It's... coming from down there. Don't come in, it's embarrassing!" I lamented. The quiver in my voice made Norm immediately understand.

"Oh... sweetheart that's not... um, you're, uh, not going to die. Just... clean yourself up in the bath. I'll get you clothes and then me and Max need to have a talk with you." I tilted my head at that, a million questions running through my mind. Did he know what was going on? Why did he seem so relieved? This was horrible! But, I did as was told and waited outside, fidgeting nervously.

And that my friends, is the story of my very first lesson from Norm and Max about the wonders of womanhood. Oh what a joy it was. Of course, they had been severely awkward with it. Max was slightly better, mostly because he had had sisters back on Earth so he actually knew how to use a pad. Ah pads, I think wistfully. I remember them. They were absolutely wonderful. Of course they all ran out by the time I was fifteen. Nowadays I use reusable cotton pads. Not bad, but they were a pain in the ass to make and I always seemed to lose them in the wash. Luckily, Norm is a softie, so I often convince him to help me make them with the promise of my special pancakes made from wheat bread ration. Of course, I'd always been able to get Norm to practically do anything. Partly because of my sickness and the fact that I was his little girl helped. All I had to do was say I was having a bad day and give him the eyes and bingo, my lovely full day of pad making was now cut in half. Success! Max, however, is not as easily swayed; he had always been the more logical and sensible one. I later asked them why they hadn't warned me in advance about periods. I remember laughing when Norm bashfully rubbed his neck and admitted that they simply hadn't thought about it before now.

That was how it has always been. Max was the voice of reason, the one who reminds me to eat when I need to and reminds Norm that I am stronger than I look. I appreciate him more than I even thought possible. Norm was more of the doting type, almost motherly in his spoiling of me. Always letting me a little further, a little longer than necessary in the few times that I was able to take an oxygen mask and run around by the cave as a young kid. Between the two of them I was in good hands. My mother wouldn't have left me with them when she died if they weren't worthy. And so I became their daughter. I don't call either of them dad or father or anything like that but I know that they’re my parents. I love them so, so dearly. Even when Norm ate the last chocolate bar when I was eight. Incidentally this was not long after the Txeyu situation, eight was a hard year too! A portal to hell opened in the lab that day; my sobbing was louder than the banshees on the Hallelujah mountains.

I sigh and sit the puzzle down on my desk. This was my reality lately. All I seemed to be able to do was think about the past. Perhaps because I finally realized I have no future here. There was nothing for me here, nothing except Max and Norm (and Jake, I suppose, but his visits were few and far between and he always seemed a little uncomfortable around me). When they're gone I would have nothing, be nothing. I mean sure I had friends, two to be exact, and one very annoying close acquaintance. Kiri and Tuk were the former and Lo'ak was the latter. He had recently been demoted from best friend status after breaking one of my only CDs (of course jazz CDs were some of the only music to be left behind when everyone left), even after I had told him to be careful with it when putting it in the player. 

The Suli children were the only link I had to the outside world at this point. They had become my friends purely by accident. It happened when Jake was coming to visit Norm and Max to discuss a raid. Lo'ak and Kiri had followed him, no doubt a scheme cooked up by Lo'ak and of course Kiri went along with it. They had been curious where their father ran off to every few weeks despite their mother looking irritated every time he left, promising her that it wouldn’t be long and that he'd be home before dinner. Neteyam had tried to stop them but they lost him by the retired elders hut, slipping away when he wasn't paying them express attention and was answering a question about his training posed by a well-respected elder.

On that fateful day I had actually been outside the caves for once, with Norm watching me from afar to make sure my mask was on and I was walking well enough on my own. I remember looking up at Jake, smiling, and saying hello to the friendly giant (hey, he was friendly to me). He greeted me in english then headed for the door. Behind the bushes near the cave entrance were two meddlesome ten year olds with their jaws practically on the floor. They had never seen a sky person that was so small except Spider, they guessed I must be a child too!

"Lo'ak look! I didn't know that any sky people children live here besides Spider." Kiri said, pointing to my small figure that was about fifteen meters away from them, oblivious to the eyes watching me as I picked a small bouquet of wild flowers to put in my room. 

"Yeah. But, what the hell is wrong with her legs??" Lo'ak said loudly before Kiri elbowed him in the gut. I had heard his voice that time, strange and in a language I didn't understand yet so I stood quickly as panic set in. 

"Hello? Who is there? Jake Sully is here, so you can't hurt me! He's Toruk Makto and he'll protect me!" I called out to them as the flower I was holding fell down at my side. Kiri and Lo'ak simply looked at each other, astonished that I was speaking at all, but especially since I knew their father’s title.

"Hello." I heard a deeply accented voice respond back to me in english. My eyebrows shot up when I heard it. I knew right away that it was coming from a Na'vi child. The accent was unmistakably inhuman. Not to say it was bad sounding, in fact I had always found the native accent to be beautiful. It was just different than the way humans spoke.

"Um.... who are you? Can you come out now? You're scaring me." I said to the bush that was now in front of me. I made my way over to them while they argued about whether it was a good idea to come out or not. I watched as a blue head popped out from behind the bush. I couldn't help the gasp that came out of my mouth at the sight of a little boy around my age.

"I am Kiri and this is Lo'ak." Kiri responded to me as she came fully out of the bush from behind Lo’ak, a hand wrapped around Lo'ak's forearm pulling him along. "Jake Suli is our father." My eyes widened in surprise as I suddenly felt embarrassed to have used Jake as a threat. I made my way over to them slowly, wincing when my ankle twisted slightly to the right. 

"Oh... uh-hi. My name is (Y/N). Mr. Sully told me about you... I met Kiri before but we were both babies, right after she came out of Grace… so I don't remember, I'm sorry!" I was completely unsure of what to say. Goddamnit why did I have to mention Grace? The only company I ever kept were Norm and Max with the occasional visit from the other sky people and the scarily limited friends I had as a toddler and young child. I knew, of course, through Grace's videos and Norms education of the Na'vi (specifically the Omaticayans) to be respectful in my language and not to use figures of speech. 

"The Na'vi have an extraordinary understanding of the English language already. They learn faster than my team can seem to teach them. Fortunately for them, our pronunciation is a lot less important than their language. Unfortunately for us that means a lot more of them understand us then the other way around. The only way to talk in secret around them is to use figures of speech. Unfortunately they may find this rather offensive if they call you out on it, especially when you accidentally call one of the clans best a brown noser. God, I had a hell of a time explaining that one to them."  I remember that video log with great fondness. I had only watched it a week prior for the first time after Norm finally gave approval for me to watch some of the video logs that were more personal to Grace, rather than the usual educational ones (also the ones in which she was drunk). The new blue people in front of me just stared at me with wide eyes. They could not believe I was being so bold for such a tiny thing. Finally the girl shifted and flicked her brother with her tail, breaking him out of the trance he was in. 

"Well... do you wanna play with us?" Was the only thing Lo'ak could think of to say. I shifted nervously. I hadn't played with any Na’vi since the incident with Txeyu. As I picked nervously at the dirt under my nails I let out a short sigh.

"I'm not allowed to play with you guys I think?" It came out as more of a question than a statement. These were Jake's kids, so maybe Norm would be fine with it? Plus, I noticed as they both deflated and started fidgeting with their jewelry and hair that they have hands like Norms avatar body, so that means they're like me! They also have demon blood, so they could understand me, maybe. Just as they turned around to leave after waving goodbye I called out to them. 

"Actually, I think Max and Norm would be okay. If it's Jake's kids. He's a good guy so you guys must be too!" I cringe remembering my naivety. Luckily I was correct, they were "good guys"... and we have been good friends for years now… except when they break my things! I sighed and walked over to the mangled remains of my precious jazz CD. I had already tried gluing the pieces back together. CDs really didn't work that way though, so I tried recording myself singing the songs but I could never sing the way the woman on the CD did so eventually I just gave up. Luckily this gave me the genius idea to record all the remaining CDs I had in case another unfortunate alien boy decided to jam a damn disk into the computer halfway before closing it and breaking it in half!

As I flopped down onto the chair beside my desk I played Beethoven's String Quartet no. 14, 1st Movement to try to quiet my mind. I know from Norm and Max that classical music was one of the least popular genres from Earth but I always had a fascination with it. Not that there was really a choice when I had 5 CDs to my name. Crap. 4 CDs to my name. Beethoven's greatest symphonies, Etta James's At Last (previously, Rest In Peace Etta), Metallica's Black album or 5th album (I wasn't as much of a fan now, but I had some really cathartic times with that album when I was an angsty 13 year old), a burned CD titled "2005 Car Mix" with a variety of pop songs, and a guided sleep meditation music CD (I had never gotten bored enough to actually sit down and attempt to meditate with it) were the musical companions in my life. 

The only exception were occasions when the clan had a large festival or feast and I could hear the sounds of the Omaticayans singing and chanting. Those were always my favorite nights. I would often sit and weave something while I listened to hundreds of voices commune with Eywa, to celebrate a new life or one just ending. That’s one of the only past times I have that I really enjoy. Sometimes I even hum along, pretending that I was a member of the clan. I could almost smell the earthen musk that always clung to every Na'vi. Like they were really one with the forest, as if they were born of the forest. They were so natural in it, just as natural as a fish in the water. As I hum I feel the tickle of a tail brushing against my back and the heat radiating from the thighs of the two Na'vi on either side of me. A brief peace floods into my body, relaxing my muscles one by one before I remember who I am and where I am. I remember again that I was born a human on Pandora, and the dream is broken. That fantasy is not me, no matter how much I wish it so. 

I should really stop torturing myself like this. The only thing fantasizing does is fester and ferment into anger. Anger at my mother, maybe? I mean she did pass on the thing to me. Maybe at Eywa? Do I even believe in Eywa? Sometimes I swear I feel her all around me, in the plants waving in the winds or the sounds of the cave. In the dripping water and wind rushing past the mouth of the cave, dancing through the hallelujah mountains. I hear her in the banshees shrill cries at dawn, and the thanators mighty roar at twilight. Do I even have the right to believe in her? To be angry at the hand dealt to me? By being born on Pandora, does that mean that Eywa is in control of my destiny like her Na'vi children? Am I one of her children?

I ponder this as I weave on the loom that Kiri gave to me last year for my nineteenth birthday. She brings me plenty of string and teaches me new techniques every moon cycle on our ritual ‘girls night’. Although honestly she might get in trouble if anyone finds out about that. A lot of Na'vi wouldn't appreciate a sky person knowing cultural weaving techniques that have been passed down for generations through the Omaticayans: who are known as great craftsmen. My girl Kiri is a total badass though, so she still teaches me anyway. 

Kiri, Tuk, Lo'ak are the only reasons I haven't gone verifiably insane yet as I waste away on this planet. As much as I love Max and Norm, their company doesn't ever change much. There's never anything new going on with human settlement. Always the same issues that we discuss over dry, flavorless ration food. The problems of growing food in the Pandoran soil, which may be lush and fertile for the home plant species, but is absolutely terrible for Earth plants. Always some new trouble that Spider had gotten into with Lo’ak. We are always having trouble with having enough batteries for the tanks to furnish all the humans with oxygen. Yet another reason why I don't go outside. I'm a waste of resources and while Max and Norm can't admit that, I can. I know I'm useless, honestly I wish that I could be of help in even the science realm but hello, there's no school on Pandora and both Max and Norm are horrible teachers. I mean I'm smart but I cannot figure out fucking geometry on my own?! Plus the other humans didn't leave behind any lesson plans for children when they left so I'm pretty much S.O.L. 

I’m pulling a soft blue, almost feathery string through another row on the loom when I hear Max and Norm talking outside of my room in the main lab. I strain my ears but I cannot make much sense of the words I can hear.

"Jake doesn't know.... yeah... ready... think... okay jeez, Max." Eh, nothing to really worry about, I decide. Probably the same old shit in a different toilet. I tune out their talking and focus on the crescendo of one of Mozart's greatest hits before almost dropping the loom when I hear a sharp knock on the door. I get up and turn to press the pause button on the CD player before opening the door. Standing there is a very excited looking Max and a very nervous looking Norm. 

"Oh my God, what is it this time?" I said recollecting a time when I had opened the very same door to them looking very similar to this moment and they had practically accused me of having a crush on Lo'ak. As if! I would never have a crush on Lo'ak. He's like an annoying little brother to me and he's always hiding my stuff just to irritate me or pulling a single hair out one at a time till I yell at him to stop. But I think that may be the reason that we get along so well, he doesn’t see me as different like everyone else does. He has always teased and roughhoused with me like he would Kiri or Spider, albeit a bit gentler.

"Hey kiddo, we just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. We know you're finally 20! You're a grown woman now..." Norm trailed off looking wistful. Max took up after Norm, who was reminiscing like a parent would on their child’s birthday. 

"And we have something to show you! Something we have been working on for a long time now." He threw an arm around Norm to emphasize the we.

"Did you get the Rewon Tanhì that I asked for?" I asked excitedly. I had been asking them to find me a morning star flower on their expeditions and missions since I heard of them a few months ago. Kiri told me they glow in the dark even after being cut from the bush, an indigo bioluminescent glow that never fades. They're fairly rare so Max said they would keep an eye out but to not count on them finding one. I planned on an open air terrarium to use as a night light if they ever happened upon one while they were out doing research. I just wanted to bring a little of Pandora's beautiful bioluminescent night flora to me since I can’t go outside to see them myself.

"It's something a bit more exciting than that. Come on, follow us, kiddo." Max said before grabbing my wrist and pulling me forward toward the back of the lab. He seemed a little too excited and I almost tripped forward with the force of his pulling. I laughed and told him to slow down a little bit. 

"Sorry, it's just been really difficult to keep this under wraps. You have no idea how many times I almost told you. Honestly, I'm surprised Norm hasn't." Max said, chuckling as Norm exclaimed an indignant "Hey!" while shaking his head fondly.

We reached the back door of the lab that went to the actual laboratory, of which I am typically not allowed into. I'm generally very clumsy because of my issues and Max is always doing some sort of dangerous chemistry experiment that would cause some serious damage if I knocked it over. Maybe even an explosion if the right compounds are left laying around. While that might bring me some much needed excitement to my life, I still opt to just leave the lab alone. 

"It's in the chem lab?" I asked, entirely confused as to what I could possibly want to see in there. It was the most boring room in the whole building.

"Yes. And you need to close your eyes. I want it to be a complete surprise." Norm said, looking over at Max while wiggling his eyebrows like a total goof.

"Okaaaay...." I said, finding their strange demeanor highly suspicious. I closed my eyes and felt Max's large hand on my shoulder, guiding me. I could feel the warmth of it seeping into my skin as Norm, presumably, opened the door to the chem lab. The shrill shriek of ungreased steel grinding on steel was heard in the chem lab and the rustle of thick canvas-like fabric made me shift my weight to my other foot anxiously.

"Okay... come on in guys." Norm says as Max guides me in the room, making sure I don't trip as I step over the raised door frame. I was taken about 10 feet into the lab before Norm told me I could open my eyes. I blinked slowly as my eyes adjusted to the sterile white lab lights. I could only cock an eyebrow, unimpressed as my eyes land on what looks like a large tube covered in a large brown tarp of some sort. The tube had to be at least ten feet long. I looked over at Norm expectantly and a flash of recognition came on his face as he stumbled forward to pull off the tarp.

"Sorry..." he mumbled while lifting the heavy fabric off the large tube. Inside the tube is a female Na'vi. No actually, I count 5 fingers, so it’s an avatar. She was jerking and I could see her nose twitch, like she had smelled the acrid dung of a viperwolf. I realized it bared a strong resemblance to my own as I reached out to touch the glass. When I did she curled forward slightly toward my touch, almost as if she was reaching out to me as well. As she stretched out of the fetal position I saw her whole face and my world stopped. 

"No... there's no way. You guys said there was no way." I whispered looking over at Max and Norm. I couldn't allow myself to believe it until they told me through their own mouths. I had gotten my hopes crushed too many times as a child to allow myself to believe this so easily.

"Well, remember when Grace's Avatar started deteriorating when you were thirteen? And then when you were fourteen we laid her to rest? Well using her chamber and some supplies we found at an abandoned outpost we were actually able to incubate an avatar for you. That's you sweetheart." Norm said, grinning at me and gesturing to the body. 

I feel my knees tremble and buckle as a litany of emotions surges through me, falling forward slightly before Max caught me and helped me up. All I could do was bury my head in his shoulder and cry. These men, who loved me and raised me, have given me the gift of life again. I couldn't breathe so I just squeezed him and shook as the emotions and fears flew through me. I could vaguely register Norm coming up behind me to hug both of us. After a good cathartic cry we all released each other from our group hug. 

"I... I don't know how... I can't... thank you, both of you." Was all I could manage to get out as my voice trembled with emotion. Hesitantly I walked over to the avatar. "She's... beautiful." I reached out to touch the warm glass, tracing my fingers over her face. Well, I guess my face? I guess it will feel more like my face after the consciousness transfer. Her blue skin looks so radiant and soft. Unlike the Na'vi I know she looks so untouched. Almost like a child. She is free of the scarring that comes with growing up in the dangerous Pandoran forests. I admire the markings on her face, taking in all the details and tanhì, or bioluminescent freckles that spray across her face and body. Her hair floats in the blue solution cascading in waves down the gentle slope of her back all the way to her tail.

"We know. Trust me, we know how much you need this. How much you've needed this since you were a kid... and yes she really is beautiful." Norm compliments, squeezing my shoulder. 

"Now, I have to say this before you get your hopes up. We have great hope that the consciousness transfer will work, but kiddo, there's a small possibility that it might not and I need to prepare you for that." Max says solemnly from my right side. That was just like him, always ruining a sentimental moment with his warnings. 

"I know, Max. But still, the fact that you wasted all these resources on me means a lot." I said, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"It's not a waste. Don't… don’t say that, (Y/N). We would both do anything to make you happy." Max replies, looking over at Norm as he nods to me.

"So when can I go in?" I said as I finally let the excitement fill me. It was so strong that my stomach feels queasy; to the point that I feel I might throw up my wheat ration pancakes. 

"Well," Norm piped up, "we were thinking about doing a test run tomorrow. Kiri and Lo'ak are supposed to come anyway for movie night. We thought you'd like to surprise them." I nodded excitedly while smiling at them. I truly loved these two men. They were the closest things I had to parents and I'm so grateful that mom left me in their care. My chest feels so warm as I give both of them another short hug that I think it might explode out of me in a spray of rainbows and sugar. Honestly, all this lovey dovey shit was getting sickening. 

"Now let's go have some birthday food." Norm suggests while he unfolds the tarp to cover it up again. We went and ate our traditional birthday barbecue (not really because it's not cooked on a grill but we have lots of blow torches for sciencey reasons that we use to cook it). It's a decadent meal that could only be spared a few times a year, and one of my absolute favorites. After that they sang me Happy Birthday, and all-mighty Eywa was it super off-key. Soon after that I bid them a goodnight so that I can go to bed early so tomorrow will come a little faster. As I lie in bed all I can think of is tomorrow morning and the possibility of being unable to establish a neural link. 

Due to my anxiety-induced insomnia morning approaches slower than I thought physically possible. Did the suns somehow get delayed rising? Because I swear I've been in bed for two days tossing and turning. Just as I'm about to flip my pillow to the cool side for the fortieth time I hear a gentle knock on my door. 

"Hey, kiddo, it's time to get up. Figured you wouldn't mind an early start today." Max called through the door from the other side. Exhausted, I roll over and heave myself off the bed to get dressed. It takes me a little more time than usual but I finally put on some clothes and bumble out of my bedroom door. 

"Wow. So, no sleep huh?" Norm teases as he looks up from cooking breakfast. 

"Yeah, no. Too excited." I respond, rolling my eyes at him dramatically. I keep glancing at the chem lab door while I impatiently watch him cook and Max notices.

"You have to eat first. It's not ideal that you're tired for your first transfer but it would honestly be way worse if you were hungry too. So. Eat." Max demands pointedly. I sigh as Norm puts a plate down in front of me. I feel my skin buzzing while I eat the breakfast I have thousands of times faster than I ever have before. I almost choke shoveling down the eggs and veggies.

"Hey slow down. Can't have you dying on us before you can actually try." Max says jokingly. Norm pushes him with his arm. 

"Max, don't say that. That's not funny." Norm huffs, giving Max the stink eye. 

"Yeah, yeah." Max replies and I drift away from their bickering as I wait for them to finish breakfast. After we all finish Max goes through a few rules for the transfer and Norm helps me into one of the weird jelly beds used for transfers. He places the wire caging around me and turns away before I grab his shirt and tug on it through the holes of the cage.

"Norm.. Max... I'm scared." I admit.

"I know. But, you have to be brave. I know you can do it." Max said and Norm added a "Yeah, me too." I released his shirt slowly and sighed.

"I know... okay I'm ready." I say and try to relax. As I hear Max flip a few switches and Norm closes the lid I could cuss myself out. Why didn't I try that meditation CD last night?! I think as I try to steady my breathing like Max told me to. As I breathe in I see the flashes of light from the machine. Okay, ‘breathe and count backwards from 20 if you need help’ is what Max advised at breakfast.

In. Twenty.

Out. Nineteen.

In. Eighteen.

Out. Seventeen.

In. Sixteen.

Out. Fifteen.

In. Fourteen.

Just as I am about to call out to Max that it's not working I completely black out. I'm not exactly sure how to describe the experience of a consciousness transfer, how it feels or looks. I think that it feels like dying in a way. It feels like a complete separation from your body, like you are floating out of it, then next thing you know you are blinking at a blinding light ahead of you.

If you have any suggestions or feedback please comment down below or message me! This is my first fanfic in a while, so please excuse my poor grammar. And thank you for reading! Neteyam and the reader will be meeting next chapter.

@skeletondeerart

#neteyam x reader #neteyam x female reader #neteyam x avatar!reader #neteyam x disabled!reader #platonic!tuk x reader #platonic!lo'ak x reader #platonic!kiri x reader #norm spellman x daughter!reader #max patel x daughter!reader #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan #neteyam sully x reader #neteyam suli x reader