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vandnana · 1 year

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In Love With The Enemy [III]

Chapter 3: Survivor’s Guilt

pairing: lo’ak x female turned na’vi reader

summary: during the time when jake became toruk makto, you were quaritch’s youngest and most valued soldier, the daughter he never had. but, pandora changed you and you died during the final battle, betraying quaritch and wishing that you had been able to do more. now, you have been reborn again, as a na’vi, tasked with quaritch’s new military avatar crew to kill Jake Sully. taking advantage of this second chance at life, you help the Sullys and fall in love along the way.

genre: fluff, angst ~ slow burn, pining on lo’ak’s part.

warnings: mentions of blood, war, violence

highlights: [reader’s backstory with quaritch, lo’ak continuing his flirty, simpy advances, spider and reader finally meet and have their heart to heart, neteyam and reader bonding over their trauma with their fathers, and ofc jake being protective AGAIN]

word count: 11,256

note: omg, hello! how are you?? i just want to say thank you for reading my fic!! as always, a couple of things...i wanted the reader to have some depth in her backstory, so you’ll get to read that here and learn WHYYY she feels she owes quaritch so much- i hope you enjoy!!

[prologue] [chapter 1] [chapter 2]

Despite the bright lights of the military base at Bridgehead City, everything felt horribly dim as Quaritch walked through the halls, his regiment behind him, their despair over losing so many of their team causing their heads to hang low. Quaritch was used to loss though and wholly expected it. His military record had hardened his heart and strengthened his resolve with every new tour and every new frontier.

But losing you was never part of the plan.

He only felt your human death when he had seen the video from his old AMP suit, his words from decades ago disillusioning him into believing that it wasn’t him who had killed you, that it was Jake. And in this new life, Quaritch was thrust into that illusion once more, but this time he felt the effect of your death. He had his rage and a new fuel for vengeance against the Sullys, but he never expected the grief to hit him so harshly, so inconsolably.

He believed that he was above it all, he had to believe it. Because if he didn’t, then he would no longer be who he was, and he would no longer be that father he was always proud to be for you.

He was the Colonel, their leader.

It didn’t matter how much he was hurting, he couldn’t afford to show any weakness, even if it was for you. What mattered was the mission. He couldn’t afford to let those emotions skew his mind, the only one he welcomed being that stewing anger inside of him that encouraged a facade of strength.

There were still a handful of his top soldiers left— Zdinarsk, Wainfleet, Mansk, Prager, Lopez, and Zhang—all of them exchanging glances between one another as they tried to figure out how to console their Colonel. They were all in eerie silence walking toward where they would be sleeping, rows and rows of beds accommodated for their height placed against the metal walls of a large room.

Stopping in the room, Zdinarsk put a hand on Quaritch’s shoulder, “Colonel, I’m sorry about y/n.” He looked at the rest of them who extended their condolences as they gathered around him, “We all are.”

“Sully messed with my family, I’ll have no problem killing his,” Quaritch said with silvery enthusiasm, “We touch back down tomorrow and again and again until we find that base. Alright?”

He was successful riling them all up as they affirmed their fervency for the mission in a unified voice. Wainfleet whooped along with them, wholeheartedly ignoring the festering guilt that he suppressed so well inside of him, so immersed in denial of what he had done to you that he seemed to believe his own lie.

Quaritch desperately clung to his resolve as he spoke firmly, “We’re gonna get this son of a bitch. For y/n, for everyone.” He looked at all of them, clapping his hands, “Let’s get this done.”

Again, they all rang in passionate cheers, sharing in that vengeance and Quaritch reveled in that feeling, willingly delving into that rage and casting away the weakness— the sadness, the guilt, and the pain.

He had nothing left to lose, and although it seemed that he could find refuge in his anger, his grief came back to him in the form of nightmares that night.

The last thing he had told you was that the Na’vi blood had made you soft, and no matter how much he clung to his humanity and that hardened heart of his, it had softened him too.

Before, he didn’t feel the agonizing pain and rage that Jake felt when you had died in his arms, never felt the guilt and the sorrow from failing to protect you. All that Jake felt inside, Quaritch was now experiencing, but for him, he also felt intense regret. You had both just re-entered into your new lives together, and the last thing he had done was raise his voice at you.

He was reliving all your memories together, dating backward and backward until his mind played out the entirety of your first meeting.

He was fully immersed in that recollection, closing his eyes as the imagery awakened in his head.

He and his troops had been tasked to infiltrate the base of one of the local rebel leaders responsible for the crimes that were ongoing in the city during one of his tours.

And that night, they were in a warehouse, firing multiple shots at the gunmen who stood guard until finally, things fell quiet. Quaritch moved through with stealth, his lieutenant following behind as they both avoided the dead bodies littered on the concrete floor, intently observing the mess that lay in front of them. There were various drug paraphernalia scattered across tables, stacks of boxes ready for shipment all along the walls of the fortress, numerous kinds of weaponry thrown around throughout the halls, and in one area were filing cabinets, locked but filled with data from all their operations. The odor of the place was fusty and unpleasant, Quaritch’s eyes almost burning at the putrid smell that only worsened as he passed by the corpses in the rooms, any chance of alleviation gone as it hung thickly in the humid air. They had intended to save the women who were in those rooms, victims of human trafficking who could testify against the evils they had been subject to. But, none were kept alive for that very reason.

Then, at the very far end, slight shuffling could be heard amidst the quietness that surrounded them all, and with their guns ready, Quaritch and his lieutenant walked toward the sound. Quaritch halted right before he got to the room, its door closed and the shuffling since ceased. He looked at his lieutenant who affirmed his position, and with a loud kick, Quaritch had broken the door down, facing his gun pointedly at the new opening.

He had expected to see another one of the gunmen, but he found no one there. Quickly, he entered into the room, cautious with every step as he searched around, another dead body lying on the ground on a mat, a needle injected in her forearm as she lay there lifeless. Then, Quaritch’s eyes noticed a panel in the wall, loosened unlike the others, and going up to it, he crouched looking over his shoulder at his lieutenant who stood at his opposite, ready as he aimed his gun.

When Quaritch pulled the panel out, his mouth hung open in utter shock as he stared into the eyes of a little girl.

You.

You took advantage of his shock, lunging at him and taking out a measly knife you hid from behind your back as you charged. He dodged you instantly, disarming you and taking hold of your shoulders. You fought against him, but it was futile as he tightened his grip around your shoulders, “Hey, easy! Easy! We’re not here to hurt you.”

You had stopped, breathing heavily as you finally took a good look at the both of them, and it was then that Quaritch had seen something in you. You had a bold amount of courage to attack him and out of all the people you were with, you were the only survivor, “What’s your name kid?”

“Y/n.” You said resolutely, your eyes still skeptical.

“Well, you’ve got heart, kid. It takes heart to do what you did.” Quaritch said, loosening his grip on your shoulders, “You ain’t gotta worry no more. We’re here to take you home.”

You shook your head, “My parents were the ones who sold me. I don’t have a home.”

“Then you’ve got a home with me.” Quaritch decided, “I take care of my own, y/n. I can take care of you too. What do you say?”

He reached out a hand to you and you hesitated at first, but then you took it, a small smile on your face before you unexpectedly hugged him. He was taken aback at first, but ultimately, Quaritch felt the warmth and sincerity in that hug, wrapping his own arms around your back.

He opened his eyes, almost feeling the ghost of that first hug, that first connection he had made with you. You were so young then, but you had proved yourself to him, and from that day on, you were his daughter, the only love he kept in his heart. But, you were gone now, and Quaritch frowned, the warmth he was convinced he felt fading to an icy loneliness as he lay on his back.

He knew it was futile to make wishes, but in his softened state, he let himself fall into hope.

All he wanted was his child back.

The hours had gone by and as dawn slowly approached Quaritch finally got up, his regiment savoring their last few minutes of precious sleep before they too awoke. He regained his resolve, and with how determined he had become, no one could have predicted the torment he had gone through that night. Although he did seem tired, the bags under his eyes fully present, no one addressed it as he gathered everyone together in one of the control rooms of the base.

Planning their next move, General Ardmore listened intently, ready to offer any services as she headed the console they were standing around, the holographic images showing the topography of the area.

Pointing to the mountain region, he was resolute in his explanation, “There are hundreds of these mountains. It’ll take a hell of a long time searching all of them.”

“So what exactly are you suggesting, Colonel?” General Ardmore urged, arching her eyebrows.

Quaritch’s eyes glinted, confident as he answered, “We take one of them captive and we do things the hard way.”

The General instantly grinned, “Now we’re talking, Colonel. I like the way you think.”

“Excellent.” Quaritch replied with a grateful smirk.

Everyone else affirmed, nodding with their own eager expressions.

“We’ll need a few hours before your departure, but that will give you all enough time to get your ducks in a row before heading into enemy airspace.” General Ardmore ordered, “I expect some progress out there.” She paused, before continuing, choosing her words carefully, “Don’t let your daughter’s death be in vain.”

Quaritch didn’t let himself be shaken, allowing his thirst for vengeance fuel his motivations, “Don’t worry Colonel. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Mo’at had done well in distracting you from being consumed by your worries about your father, managing to send you into a flustered state by her words. You had finally processed them, and in doing so, you sustained a perpetual red tint on your cheeks that only seemed to intensify as she slowly encouraged Lo’ak toward you from inside the tent.

“It seems that it is useless for me to tell my troublesome grandson what to do.” Mo’at said to you as she approached, Lo’ak in front of her as she led him.

She nudged his body closer to yours, her smile revealing her hidden intentions, “But I am certain that you will be able to talk some sense into him, y/n.”

Without another word, she turned her back to you, retreating back into the tent and leaving you alone with Lo’ak. Although your blush was practically giving you away, you kept a cool composure, crossing your arms as he looked at you.

“So...” Lo’ak began, smirking as he made eye-contact with you, his adoring gaze bearing into you.

You clasped your hands in front of you, unsure of how to respond and instead mirroring his words, “So...”

The two of you were enveloped in momentary silence, and while your feelings were merely rippling underneath the surface, he proudly wore his heart on his sleeve, the way he was looking at you making you feel more shy than you cared to admit.

You cleared your throat, feeling your heartbeat quicken with every second that passed, “Well, you heard your grandma. We should really get you home.”

You walked away quickly, your steps haphazard as you started to navigate through the various tents around you. You had hoped that it would change the mood you had found yourselves in, but Lo’ak didn’t seem to want to evaporate the unspoken intimacy between you two, following you and purposefully brushing his arm against yours.

You didn’t acknowledge it, focusing only on the scenes ahead of you, the beginning of morning village life so revitalized with the rise of the sun. There were families cooking breakfast, the decadent aroma of food wafting in the air and mixing with the light earthy smell of the Pandora air. Walking past were warriors, their bows already in hand as they all filed out of the cave and off the cliffs, their ikrans catching them before diving off the edge. Then, there were the happy children, some of them still yawning while others were actively playing with one another, their bubbliness filling the environment with happy cheers.

Lo’ak suddenly grabbed your arm, gently spinning you around to face him, “What if I don’t want to go home yet?”

You retreated your arm back, dodging the question, “I don’t think your parents will be too happy about that. They’re probably already looking for you.”

When you faced away from him, you stopped, unsure of what direction to head toward.

Lo’ak took advantage of that, crossing his arms as he stepped in front of you, “You don’t even know where our tent is.” He was joyfully stalling, reveling in your time alone before he’d have to face the inevitable.

“Alright, then lead the way.” You replied, outstretching your hand.

“Fine,” He put his hand on your arm, snaking his hand down until he reached yours, intertwining your fingers.

Your hand was so comfortably rested in his, so perfectly matched with one another as each of your fingers were laced between his own. The blush you already had on your cheeks only worsened and in your stomach, you felt unmistakable flutters that further warmed every inch of your body, focusing itself on your heart, its beating so rapid that it felt like it would jump out of your chest.

You glanced up at him, “What are you doing?”

He held your hand up, smiling innocently at you, “I’m just making sure you don’t get lost.”

You stood up straight, your mouth curving into a half-smile, “I can manage.” You assured him.

“If you can manage then why haven’t you let go yet?” He challenged, his eyes shimmering.

“There you both are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you both.” A deep voice asserted from behind you.

Much to Lo’ak’s disappointment, you retracted your hand from his, pulling it into your chest as you faced where the voice had come from.

Neteyam was stomping over, hardly noticing the moment you two were sharing as his frustrations were etched so vividly on his forehead. He glared at Lo’ak first before looking at you, his expression relaxing, “We are having breakfast. Come on. Everyone is already waiting.”

Lo’ak groaned in annoyance, crossing his arms, “I don’t want to go. We don’t want to go.“

“Lo’ak.” You let out, glaring at him with disapproval.

His expression softened hearing your voice and Lo’ak put his hand up in surrender, “Okay fine, we’ll go.”

Neteyam glanced over at you, giving you a small grin of acknowledgement before he took Lo’ak by the back of his neck, Lo’ak rolling his eyes as he reluctantly walked beside his brother.

You had started out following them from behind, but in the distance, you could see avatars wearing human clothing, and among them, you saw a familiar face, the sight almost making you cry. You diverted away from the direction Lo’ak and Neteyam were headed, unbeknownst to the both of them as they whispered amongst each other, careful so you wouldn’t hear.

“Where did you go last night?” Neteyam asked in a hushed tone.

“Nowhere.” Lo’ak lied.

Neteyam smacked him on the head, “I covered for you this morning, so you better have a good excuse.”

“I do!” Lo’ak threw his hands up in the air, his irritated expression morphing into a proud smirk, “I was with y/n.”

“What?” Neteyam tilted his head, “No you weren’t.”

Lo’ak’s eyes lit up, as he spoke, his hands gesturing in the air, “Bro I was! We were just talking and then I was lying in the hammock and then she laid in the hammock and then—“

“Wait,” Neteyam said, putting his hands up, leaning forward as his forehead scrunched in distaste, “There is no way that a skxawng like you and someone as a beautiful as her had se-”

“We didn’t. She fell asleep next to me.” Lo’ak admitted, “Also, who said you could call her beautiful?” Lo’ak let out defensively.

“I did. What? I can’t call her beautiful?” Neteyam reasoned, but Lo’ak shook his head.

“No, you can’t because I like her. You’re not allowed.” Lo’ak’s expression deadly as he spoke.

“Geez, you’re so childish when you have a crush.” Neteyam quietly snickered, “What makes you think she likes you back? All she did was sleep next to you. That hardly means anything.”

Lo’ak scoffed, “You don’t know women like I do, Neteyam. Trust me, she does. I just know.”

“You’re delusional baby bro.” Neteyam replied, patting his brother’s head.

Lo’ak glared at Neteyam, swatting his hand away, raising his voice too loud for comfort, “Pfft, sounds to me like you’re a little jealous, since no girl is sleeping next to you at night.”

Neteyam, insulted, met him with the same amount of volume as he retaliated, “There are plenty of women that would love to lie with me, but I have duties to fulfill.”

Lo’ak pursed his lips, sneering “I rest my case then.”

“You skxawng I’ll—“

The all too recognizable clearing of a throat behind them made them stand erect suddenly, Neteyam relinquishing the grin that he had and Lo’ak momentarily closing his eyes, ready to be scolded.

“Neteyam, Lo’ak! What are you guys doing? Breakfast is already getting cold.” Jake rebuked, stepping in front of them.

His eyes went to Neteyam immediately, “What did I ask? I asked you to find your brother and get y/n, and instead I find you here. Where is she?”

“She was here just a-” Lo’ak began, stopping as Jake gave him a harsh glare.

Jake rubbed his temples, sighing, “Since I can’t trust either of you to find her, I’ll do it myself. Just go to the tent.”

“Dad, I want to go with you.” Lo’ak urged, but Jake didn’t heed to his request, already walking away.

You had already made your way over to where you had seen Norm by the time they noticed you were gone. It didn’t take long for you to spot him, and to your delight, Max was with him too, his eyes glued to the tablet he was holding.

“Norm! Max!” You yelled out, catching their attention immediately.

You ran to them, and unable to contain your excitement, you hugged Norm tightly. He reciprocated your hug in his happy shock and he leaned back to look at you, his hands still clasping your shoulders, “Jake told us, but seeing you it’s surreal! I mean l-look at you! You’re Na’vi!”

You knelt down to look at Max, his mouth hung open in surprise. As he continued to look at you, he looked as if he was almost going to cry, emotions overcoming him as he stuttered, “I-I can’t believe it. I mean, I can because you’re here, but just…wow!”

You smiled at him, “It’s good to see you Max. I really missed you.” And looking at Norm, you extended your sentiment, “And I really missed you too, Norm.”

“And we missed you,” Norm’s tone sincere, “The lab’s never been the same ever since…well, you know.”

“Yeah,” Max agreed, “But now that you’re back, are you gonna be in the lab more often?” He had a hopeful tone.

“I hope so.” You replied positively, “There are so many samples I need to look at.” You joked, and the two of them laughed.

Movement from behind you caught Norm’s attention and as he looked past you, he waved, “Hey Jake!”

“What brings you here?” Max asked.

Jake approached, his tone prickly as he replied, “I’m here for y/n since apparently my children can’t follow simple directions.”

You put your hands up instantly, acknowledging your actions, “Sorry Jake, that was my fault. I wandered off when I saw Norm. Neteyam did come and find us, but I was the one who delayed everyone.”

Jake sighed, “You’re such a pain in my ass, you know that?”

“I’m just telling you the truth! And what did I say before? I always respect my elders.” You replied jokingly, crossing your arms as you lifted your chin upward.

“Come on, come on we’ve got breakfast ready in our tent.” Jake said, taking you by the arm as he led you away from Norm and Max, who you waved goodbye to.

As you walked with Jake, you couldn’t help but look at him, noticing the presence that he commanded as he walked by, the people you were passing showing their respect for him as they acknowledged him with some form of greeting.

“What now? Are you gonna make fun of my wrinkled forehead again?” Jake ribbed, dryly laughing.

“Of course not,” You replied sarcastically, “You’re the great Toruk Makto. I couldn’t possibly.”

“Ha ha. It’s not all that great, you know.” Jake let out.

“Yeah, but when I look at you now, I feel like that’s who you were always supposed to be. I’m proud to see what you’ve become, Jake.” You replaced your joking tone, with true sincerity, smiling at him with so much reverence.

“Well, I owe a lot of it to you.” Jake retreated to a humble nonchalance, although inside he was practically beaming by what you had said.

You patted his back, “This life that you built for yourself with Neytiri and your children, it’s all I could have ever hoped for you.”

You paused, looking upward, deliberating a question that was burning into your mind before finally asking it, “And you helped raise my brother too. How do I tell him the truth?”

Jake stopped, facing you, the change in his eyes creating a wretched feeling in his chest, “I’m sorry, y/n. I meant to tell you, but Spider...he found out about everything last night.”

You wanted Spider to hear the truth from you, but not in the way that you had screamed out your speech to Jake. You couldn’t even imagine how Spider must have felt hearing it, everything you had said horrifying even to you in simple memory as you replayed it in your mind. You had no doubt that you had created gashes in the life that he knew, the life that you wanted for him. And yet, you knew that there was nothing you could do to fix the damage that you had unknowingly done by opening the floodgates to such a traumatic past, one he was unaware of, the notions of a happy origin story ripped away from his reality.

Once you fell silent, Jake knew exactly how you were feeling and he shook you gently out of your own thoughts. For a moment, you were stuck there and then you felt that movement within you, jolting you as you stared back at Jake.

“Spider, he’ll come around eventually, I know it. Just stay calm alright? We’re about to eat breakfast and just, everything’s going to be fine.” Jake pulled you in for a hug, patting your back and once he felt you reciprocate, he knew that you had listened, despite your silence.

“How can you think of breakfast right now after telling me that?” You whined, closing your eyes as you buried your face in his shoulder.

Letting go of you, he took the opportunity to joke with you, hoping that it would distract you, “I had it all planned out. I was gonna ask Neytiri to chop your food into tiny little baby pieces for you.”

You drooped your shoulders, your mouth hanging open in disbelief for a moment before you finally gave into a laugh that bellowed from your chest, “Maybe she should chop your food into tiny little pieces. You’re probably used to it since that’s all you’d get at the retirement home.”

It somehow worked, your mind latching onto the lightheartedness between you, and once you finally arrived at the tent, you were able to set your turmoil aside as everyone greeted you with warm smiles.

Neytiri was the first to come up to you and you greeted her politely before she put her hands on the sides of your face, her eyebrows furrowed with concern as she asked, “How are you feeling, y/n? Did you sleep alright?”

Lo’ak, who was on the ground already sneaking a bite of one of he fruits his mother had cut, choked suddenly, the abruptness making Neteyam instantly laugh aloud.

You glanced over at him for a second as you shyly nodded, “Surprisingly, I did.”

“Really?” She said, pleased as her eyes lit up, “No nightmares?”

You shook your head, “No nightmares.”

Neytiri gave you a pleased look, “I am so happy to hear that. You must feel more at home then, right?”

You couldn’t help but look at Lo’ak again, his eyes already on you as you responded, “Yeah, I guess I do.”

She was inspecting your shoulder, touching the wrap lightly before placing her hands on your arms, “Your wound is healing well. It should be fine in two days’ time.” Gesturing toward the ground, she urged you to sit, taking her own seat by the fire.

Tuk stood up from where she was, taking you by the hand as she led you to a seat beside her and Kiri, “You can sit here!”

Kiri smiled at you, moving a little toward her left so you would have more room. Neytiri began to distribute the food to everyone, an array of meat, fruit, and leafy vegetables arranged on wooden plates, the meat still warm from having just been roasted.

You had remembered how good Na’vi food was, but finally eating it after what felt like so long, it tasted better than you remembered. You devoured your whole plate quicker than everyone else, but Neytiri put more food on your plate as a consequence, which you hungrily scarfed down too.

Jake laughed as he watched you eat, supplementing his joke from before, “Are you sure you don’t want your food in little pieces? It’ll make it easier for you to gobble it down.”

You rolled your eyes at him, “Oh shut up and eat your food old man before your gums wear out.” You replied snarkily.

“Yeah, dad! Before your gums wear out!” Tuk’s innocent voice echoed.

No one expected her to interject at all, but when she did, you were the first to boldly let out a boisterous laugh and soon the whole tent was filled with that joyous laughter as everyone else joined. Even Neteyam loosened up, chuckling alongside everyone else, savoring in the rarity of lightheartedness.

Once you had all finished eating, each of you helped Neytiri clean up, and when you had ensured that the tent was spotless, you walked out of the tent.

Jake pulled you to the side, his concern for you returning, “Are you gonna be okay? I mean, everything with Spider-”

“I’ll be fine, Jake,” You reassured him, “What we should be focusing on now is my dad. He’s still out there and he’s probably already picked out the knife he’s gonna murder you with.”

Jake wanted to avoid talking about this with you, but he knew it was only a matter of time before you brought it up again, “I’ve told you before, y/n. You don’t have to worry about your dad. I know how to handle this.” He was bluffing, practically talking out of his ass to try and get you to drop the issue, his inner protectiveness encouraging him.

“I’m being serious Jake. He won’t stop until he finds you, and for all I know, he could be coming for me too. My father doesn’t know what happened to me. Whether he thinks I’m dead or if he thinks I’m alive, he’s gonna come with everything he’s got.” Your expression became determined, your strong will revealing itself in your eyes’ change.

Everything you were saying was everything that Jake had feared.

He knew the gravity of the situation and he knew that killing Quaritch was the only way to keep his family safe, but now, you were part of that equation too. Jake didn’t want to risk your life again, he didn’t want to put you in another situation where you could be hurt again. You were alive again and he promised to himself that he would protect you this time. And that meant more to him than just making sure that you would stay alive.

You had spent your whole life fighting wars you never wanted to be part of, and Jake didn’t want you to have to fight another one, one waged by your father the minute he had awoken. He wanted to protect you from the worst parts of your old life and keep sacred the person that you rarely ever got to show—the person you were with Grace and with him.

He pulled you into a hug suddenly, “Look, you’re going to hate this, but I need you to let me handle this...alone.”

You leaned backward, pushing him away from you, your expression deflated, “What are you talking about? I have to do this with you. I know about his operations. I know how he thinks. I can help.”

“No!” He refused instantly, “Y-you’re still injured and you just can’t, alright?”

“You know that I’ve been through worse than this. I can’t sit here and do nothing Jake! I won’t!” You argued, raising your voice, the echo of your anger and frustration drawing everyone’s eyes to where you were.

Neytiri walked over, her eyes lowered at her husband as she distinguished the panicked anger in his eyes.

“Ma Jake. She is right. This is her fight too.” Neytiri pleaded, putting a hand on his back.

He avoided her eyes, planting them on yours as his voice went scarily low, his fear and anger ringing with intensity, “You’re not going to have any part of this. I won’t allow it.”

You threw your hands up in the air, backing away from him, your frustration coloring your silvery tone, “Jake, I have no excuse not to. I’m a soldier, just like you! I can fight!”

“And being that soldier got you killed!” He yelled out, huffing as he let out the last syllable. His voice broke as he continued, “It’s too dangerous. Your dad killed you right in front of me once and I won’t give him the chance to do it again. I can’t.”

He turned away from you, “I’ve made up my mind. I’m doing this without you.” And pausing, he looked over his shoulder, strict as he ordered, “I don’t want you leaving the camp until I finish this.”

Without another word, Jake left, Neytiri following after him. You faltered backward, your head downcast as you balled your fists up. You knew deep down he was right. Jake had thrown your own words into your face to settle that feeling. You wanted to fight more than anything, but you also understood Jake. You saw past his intense anger, you saw the the torment in his eyes, torment that came from his own self-loathing.

Although you were alive, your new form welcomed into this world again, you could see in Jake’s expression that he still blamed himself for your death, that he had not yet met reconciliation with himself over things he couldn’t control.

It was exactly where you were at; despite all the assurances you were told the day before, you still had the remnants of what you always saw yourself as—that perfect soldier doomed to pay for her father’s sins.

You felt a hand on your shoulder and you slowly lifted your eyes, parting your hair out of the way as you looked at who the hand belonged to.

It was Neteyam, his eyes sympathetic, “It is alright, y/n. My father...he’s always like this.” His voice had a gentle intonation, a stark contrast to his usual deep voice, yet you couldn’t help but notice a hidden scorn that was present.

The rest of the Sullys came too, providing their own forms of comfort as they gathered around you. Kiri gave you a smile as Tuk took hold of your other hand, both of them echoing their own assurances.

You were silent for a moment, letting yourself calm down before you asked, the question burdening your entirety, “When Spider found out, what did he say?”

Lo’ak, Kiri, and Neteyam all exchanged glances at one another and you could tell by how their faces drooped that what you feared had come true, “Of course. He hates me, doesn’t he? I don’t blame him. Everything’s my fault.”

Kiri patted your back, “Don’t say that, y/n.”

Lo’ak took your hand into his, catching your attention, “Well, then...let’s make him not hate you.”

“What?” You tilted your head at him, moving forward as Lo’ak pulled you slightly.

Turning to his siblings, he motioned for them to follow him too, “Come on!”

Leading you through the myriads of tents, up and through the other rock formations present, you all ran to the opposite side of the cave, near where you had seen Norm and Max before. Stopping, Lo’ak asked one of the humans where Spider was, the woman pointing toward one of the sites in the distance.

When you had all arrived, you suddenly felt apprehensive, nervousness taking over you as you felt the palms of your hand sweat, “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

But Lo’ak shook his head, “The longer you wait to talk to him, the longer he won’t know the truth.”

He knocked on the door of the site, and when there was no answer, he opened it anyway, sticking his head in, “Spider! Bro, come out. I know you’re in there.”

Kiri pushed her brother out of the way, coaxing him to come out gently, “Monkey boy please. It’s important.”

There was a long pause and it seemed as if he wouldn’t come out, but then you heard footsteps approach closer and closer until he entered the doorframe. He looked like he had been up all night, the skin around his eyes dark against his pale, sullen expression.

“What do you guys want?” He asked, his voice dejected.

You walked over, “It’s not them who wanted to see you.” Spider looked over, his eyes enflaming as he saw you approaching. You put your hands up, “I know that I’m the last person you want to see and-”

“You’re right.” Spider spat, his tone venomous, “I don’t want to see you.”

He turned around instantly, ready to close the door until you spoke again, “Just hear me out Spider, please. Give me a chance to tell you the truth.”

Spider stopped, hesitating. No matter how much he wanted to cast away who he really was, endless questions had plagued him that night. He couldn’t help but wonder about the truth, he couldn’t help but wonder how a father could reject his own son.

He loosened his grip on the door, giving in to those questions, “Fine.” Turning, he walked down the steps of the site, crossing his arms, “Tell me then. What’s the truth?”

You walked toward him, the rest of the Sullys gathered around the stairs as they listened intently.

You kept your voice calm, but inside you were shaken, the memory ingrained in your head like a painful scar, “Your mother Paz had you right before our dad led the troops against the Na’vi. She was in love with him, and when she had you, she thought that would make him love her the way he should have. But it didn’t, and she spent everyday after blaming me for that.”

“Who else is there to blame?” He snarled, his biting tone affecting everyone as they all widened their eyes at him. “How could my dad want me when you were already there to be his perfect daughter?”

Spider looked at you, the disdained contempt so furiously burning in his eyes as you maintained your gaze on him. Despite how angry he was, you kept your calm, sincerely speaking, “Fine, yes! I was the perfect daughter. When our father found me on earth, I was seven and when he brought me to Pandora, I was fourteen. My whole life, all I’ve done is train and become everything he wanted me to be. But, just because I was everything he wanted, it didn’t make my life any easier or any better.”

“What’s your point? Do you think I haven’t struggled here? You’ve been here a day and everyone’s already accepted you. I was born here and I don’t have anything close to what you’ve got.” His gaze remained hateful, his scorn emanating harshly at you.

“Spider, that’s not true!” Kiri scolded him, taken aback by his entire demeanor.

“Yeah, Spider. You know it’s not like that.” Lo’ak piped in.

He looked at them, the scorn still present in his expression, “Have you seen how your mom looks at me? She doesn’t see me as one of you. She never has and neither does anyone else. Y/n just got here and everyone’s already kissing her ass!”

You sighed, “Spider, this life that you live now is all I could have ever hoped for you! You got to be free in a way that I never could,” You looked at all the Sulllys, “You have the family that I never had and you got to grow up here on Pandora and live the life I never got to live.”

Spider maintained his hateful gaze toward you, scowling, “All you could have ever hoped for, huh? That doesn’t change the fact that you were the one he loved and not me. Did you just come here to make me feel bad for you?” He scoffed, “‘Cause I don’t.”

Spider’s words stung, the feeling making your heart recoil in a writhing pain that you suppressed. You knew there was nothing else you could say to help him feel better about his situation, but you couldn’t even be angry with him for it. To know how your parents didn’t want you, didn’t love you enough to care— you knew that pain from your life on earth before Quaritch, the life you escaped from parents who didn’t care whether you lived or died.

You got up, ignoring the agonizing pain you felt inside as you spoke to him one last time, although you felt what you were saying was futile in granting him reassurance, “Our father was wrong to choose me over you. There should have never been a choice and I’m so sorry for that. But, I didn’t come here to make you feel bad for me. I came here to tell you the truth, that even though our father rejected you and didn’t love you the way a father should have, I loved you and I still do. You’re my brother.”

You waited for a moment, Spider’s eyes fixated on you before he took refuge in the ground, averting his gaze and giving silence as his answer. Your eyes went to the other Sullys, who gave you sympathetic looks. You kept a strong resolve, pretending that you were alright as you mustered a smile, waving to them as you walked off.

“Y/n.” Lo’ak began softly, getting up.

Neteyam stood up with his brother, stopping him as he attempted to follow you. Lo’ak looked at his brother with confusion, but Neteyam nudged him toward Spider. Neteyam didn’t have to say anything for Lo’ak to catch on. Spider needed his best friends more than anything, Kiri already beside him, rubbing his back.

Lo’ak looked at your figure, slowly distancing away from where you were and with a huff, he pushed Neteyam in your direction.

Spider sat in silence for a while, Kiri, Tuk, and Lo’ak surrounding him. Kiri was the first one to speak, her voice soothing as she talked to him, “Come on, monkey boy. You know you’re one of us. It doesn’t matter what other people think.”

She paused, looking up at Lo’ak who encouraged her to speak more. She nodded, “And y/n, she means well. She’s not replacing you or trying to prove anything, she just wants to be your sister.”

“I know that!” Spider raised his voice, frustrated as he finally looked up from the ground.

“Aw Spider.” Lo’ak voiced sympathetically, placing a hand on his back.

His eyes were brimming with tears.

The reason why he had kept his eyes to the ground, why he let silence fill the air was because he couldn’t bear to show you how much that really meant to him. Spider had kept his hateful gaze before, clouded in irrational anger and resentment because he couldn’t face that truth.

But, when you had told him that you loved him regardless and to hear you call him your brother after he had acted so harshly toward you, he broke down, overwhelmed with the inner desperation to feel something from the family he never knew.

Spider wasn’t sure how he would face you again. He felt overwhelmed with shame, but that shame did not arise from his own treatment of you, it arose from how angry he still was, despite that desperation he felt to connect with you. He had no reason to be angry with you anymore, but inside of him, he still felt his scorned envy festering and his frustration at keeping that anger at bay only worsened when he felt your kindness and love touch his heart so gently, so unexpectedly. You never met him with hostility, every word that you told him so delicately coated in your compassion as you spoke, so invasive to his soul that he couldn’t even look at you. He couldn’t hate you now, it was impossible to hate you, and that only agitated his inner turmoil even further.

As you walked away quickly, your steps matching the rapid fire of your thoughts, you were also overwhelmed with so much shame motivated by your traumatic past. You were haunted by those memories with each step, mocked by your incapability to do more.

Spider grew up having everything you wanted.

But it still wasn’t enough.

How could you expect it to be? You believed that he still hated you and that he was right to do so. Even as a sister you couldn’t fill the gap that his parents had left.

Behind you, you could hear footsteps, the sound pulling you slightly out of your head, loudening until finally they came up on your right. You looked to your side, Neteyam’s head tilted toward you, his hands clasped behind him as he walked with you, careful to sync his steps with yours. You were surprised, but didn’t say anything, expectant of him to speak, his expression reflective. You faced forward again, unsure of where you were headed, but you continued to keep walking, Neteyam continuing along with you in silence. After about a minute, he said something, his voice gentle like it was when he had first come up to you earlier.

“It must have been hard for you to live with your father, to live by his rules,” He began slowly, still looking at you from the side as you met his gaze, eager for him to continue, “You are not wrong for doing so. I speak from experience. Everyday, I try to be the son I am supposed to be, the son of Toruk Makto. It is difficult to stand taller than the shadow you are meant to follow, but still, it is something that we have strived to do.”

You stopped, turning toward him, and although he was trying to keep a mature, calm look, you could tell that he was merely trying to remain unbothered, “Don’t worry about Spider. He will come to understand, y/n. You are not responsible for what happened to him nor are you responsible for what your father has done. You were just trying to be a good daughter.”

It was so easy for you to recognize the weight that he carried on his shoulders, that weight all too familiar to you. It was the burden of being the perfect soldier and the perfect son that encouraged his words, and perhaps because no one had ever been able to share such a sentiment that he felt so inclined to comfort you.

You were touched, and even though he tried to remain nonchalant, you knew what it took to even say those words aloud, to recognize that burden just to give you at least a little bit of ease.

You stepped toward him, pulling him into a a hug and catching him off guard, his arms frozen in the air in uncertainty to reciprocate, “You’re a good son, Neteyam. I know you are. So, don’t be too hard on yourself either.”

You let your head rest on his shoulder as you softly held onto his back, “It’s okay to hug me back.” You reassured him, “You probably need this more than I do. I know that feeling.”

Neteyam, still in his shock, managed a light scoff, “This hug is for you, not me.” He slowly rested his hands on your back, letting himself relax.

You didn’t push him any further, leaning back as you let your hands rest on his arms, “Thank you for what you said.”

“Of course.” You observed Neteyam’s expression as he regarded you differently all of a sudden, his respect for you reflected in his eyes, “You are quite the woman, y/n.”

“What makes you say that?” You played off, your expression completely skeptical.

“You are strong, even after all that you have gone through,” He stepped forward, pointing at your heart, “And you still remain kindhearted, selfless. I came to comfort you, but you managed to comfort me. Thank you.”

Then, he put both of his hands on your shoulders, smiling, “Do not worry about Spider. If I have learned anything about having a brother, especially one as difficult as Lo’ak, it is that no matter what you’ll always have one another’s backs.”

For that moment, you let yourself believe what he was saying, falling into a small sliver of hope as you looked up at Neteyam, “Lo’ak isn’t all that bad. Cut him some slack. He’s got a tough act to follow.”

Neteyam’s eyes grew, “I guess you’re right,” He paused, “He really likes you, you know.”

“What’s not to like?” You replied lightheartedly shrugging.

He gulped, touching the back of his neck sheepishly, “Yeah,” He nervously laughed.

“Well, I guess I better go.” Neteyam sighed, excusing himself, “I have a hunting party to lead and I probably should not be late.”

You understood Neteyam, and not wanting to keep him any longer, you nodded, “Of course. Duty calls.”

He waved at you, turning on his heel, but you called out to him, “Thanks again Neteyam!”

Looking over his shoulder, he gave you one last smile before facing forward again, walking off and disappearing past the rocks. Watching him go, you looked around the cave. Although vast, you felt as if it was suffocating your entire being. Jake wanted to protect you, and you understood that wholly. But staying in the camp went against your nature and everything you believed.

You were in the place you loved and the entire world was out there. When you were alive, you had only just gotten a taste of it in those last three months when Jake had come on board, but you couldn’t bring yourself to find a way into that world, too considerate of Jake to risk anything. You let yourself wander aimlessly, your steps distracting you from how you felt. Eventually, you found yourself on top of one of the rocks that towered over the rest of the camp, settling on the edge of it and looking out in contemplation.

Your steps had ceased and you were alone again, your isolation giving way to the thoughts that were plaguing you, each one settling a new kind of worry and concern into every crevice of your institution as you brought your knees up, hugging yourself as you felt the torture of it all. Even when you cast your eyes upon the people below you, you couldn’t help but think of your place in all this. Jake had adamantly benched you, and suddenly you felt lost.

The hope that you let yourself believe had since gone and your resolve was tattered again.

You felt like a relic, a broken one that had been patched up and fixed into something unrecognizable, your purpose obsolete and your contributions meaningless, and naturally your mind wandered to Grace, your mind seeking refuge in what she always loved to tell you.

“Hey, is everything alright?”

You went moon-eyed for a second before your gaze returned to normal, your ears still not used to the eerie similarity between Kiri and Grace’s voice.

“Hey Kiri.” You greeted her with a small voice, your eyes still ahead of you.

She quietly crept up on you and so did the others, Spider, Tuk, and Lo’ak following her. But, when she saw your forlorn state, she stopped them, going up to you herself. She sat beside you, her attention entirely focused on you as she pivoted her body to face you.

Your eyes only glanced at her as you mustered a weak smile, “You don’t have to worry about me. You should be with Spider. He needs you.”

“How can you be so caring toward me?”

You whipped your head around to find Spider standing a few paces back with Lo’ak. He cautiously approached you, his movements timid with every step until he was where you were.

“You know nothing about me and you tell me that you love me, how could you after everything I said to you?” Spider was desperate to understand, his hands going in the air as he aired out his frustrations.

Never did you expect this, and you spoke quickly, not wanting to let ambiguous silence fill the air as it did earlier, “I told you. You’re my brother.”

You waited as he bit the inside of his cheek, considering in his mind what he planned to say to you. When he had finally decided, his voice had an echo of nervousness. “And you meant it?” He paused, “When you called me your brother, did you really mean it?”

He was balling his fists up. Spider had cast his pride away, but he still felt embarrassed to even be asking you, the anger he still held in his mind feeling betrayed as his heart desperately wanted the answer.

You shifted, sitting on your knees as you spoke to him, “I only got to be your sister for a couple days before I died. Let me make up for that time. Please.”

Even though his anger refused, even though his envy of you still ran rampant in his veins, his heart gave in, softening his resolve as he let himself fall into your figure, his arms wrapping around your neck as he let the tears he was holding in finally fall, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

You took a quick breath in, your eyebrows curving upward in surprise, “There’s nothing to be sorry for.” You blinked for a moment too, wondering if what was happening was part of reality. But, as you let one of your arms caress his back, you finally felt that connection, surrendering your surprise and allowing a genuine smile to form on your face.

Spider finally let go, and for the first time, you were finally able to really take in his appearance, “The last time I held you, you were only a baby.” You paused, seeing the resemblance of Paz in his features, “You’re so grown up now.”

He didn’t know how to respond, only managing to smile as he still felt awkward, wiping his tears quickly.

You let your gaze go to Kiri, who held her hands to her heart, almost feeling that warmth emanating from the both of you. Behind her was Tuk, who still only maintained a semblance of the situation, but still she seemed to share in that same sentiment as she gave you her usual innocent smile.

Then your eyes went to Lo’ak. If it weren’t for him, you would have never talked to Spider, and you were sure that you were giving him that same grateful look that you had when he had returned your pictures to you the day before.

You mouthed to him, “Thank you.”

He didn’t anticipate it at all, his hand going to the back of his neck as he acknowledged your gratitude with a nod, a slight red tint forming on his cheeks.

When you looked back at Spider, he still seemed to be in his embarrassment and to divert from it, he changed the subject, asking you a question, “Hey, where’s Neteyam?”

The sense of normalcy he was trying to put into the air oddly made you feel more reassured than you thought, your first simple conversation finally happening, “He went with his hunting party. To be honest, I wish I could have went with him.”

“What? Why?” Lo’ak interjected, his tone came out more irritated than he meant it to, hints of jealousy flecked within it as he crossed his arms.

You stood up, answering his question plainly while Kiri and Spider gave each other knowing looks, “I should be out there.” You spun around, your view focused on the sky, your eyes following the various ikran that were flying in the distance, “But your dad made it pretty clear he doesn’t want me to leave the camp.” You sighed disappointedly.

“Well, that doesn’t mean he has to know.” Lo’ak’s confidence imbuing back into him as he walked toward you.

“Lo’ak...” You were already giving him a disapproving look, but he didn’t seem to care as he took your hand into his, smirking as he ran with you, down the towering rocks and toward one of the cliff edges.

Lo’ak was running straight toward the cliff, and he didn’t have any intention of stopping, calling his ikran with a cawing sound and with your hands still intertwined, he jumped, sending you both into that endless sky.

You could only hear and feel the wind, your entire body weighing you down as you were sent into free fall for the quickest moment until Lo’ak’s ikran appeared below you, ready to catch you both as it gracefully flew against the winds. Lo’ak pulled you into him suddenly, one of his arms clasped around your back and once you did, you were secured.

He sat you in front of him, holding you close as he took hold of the saddle with one hand, controlling his ikran to fly faster. You had no other choice but to wrap your own arms around him as Lo’ak urged for speed.

It didn’t take long for him to reach a safe distance from the camp, and once he did, he slowed down slightly. He whooped proudly, exhilarated by the ride and while you felt that same exhilaration, your love of being in the air didn’t outweigh your shock.

You leaned backward, your hands still at his back as you shouted at him, “Are you insane? What could have possibly possessed you to do that?”

Lo’ak adjusted himself as he stared into your eyes unfazed while he purposely inched his body closer to yours, “I know I told you that you look pretty when you’re grateful, but how is it possible you look prettier when you’re mad?”

You looked heavenward, blushing violently at his words, “God, I really have to get an ikran of my own.”

Lo’ak immediately took notice, slyly commanding his ikran to go faster, forcing you to tighten your grip on him again.

“I don’t know,” Lo’ak began, “Judging by how you’re holding onto me, I think you’d rather stay like this.”

You gasped, “That was cheap.”

He feigned innocence, shrugging, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

You could feel your chest warm as laughter bellowed from it, so amused by Lo’ak, “Why go through all this trouble? What’s the thinking?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? It’s worth it.” Lo’ak smirked, but his eyes were dripping with adoration for you, “And besides, jumping off the cliff impressed you, didn’t it?”

“You’re so stupid.” You huffed, shaking your head as you gave him a wide grin.

As you continued to fly, you looked down, your height above the ground so high that you were even going through a few of the clouds, their integrity wisping into thin air as the wings of Lo’ak’s ikran batted them away.

Since you were still seated comfortably in front of Lo’ak, you were able to see everything behind you, and emerging behind one of the Hallelujah Mountain formations was Kiri’s ikran, Spider and Tuk riding with her as they quickly caught up to you.

Kiri’s ikran showed up on your guys’ right side and matching your pace, Kiri yelled out to her brother, “Come on! Let’s take y/n to the Spirit Tree!”

Lo’ak looked to you first and you nodded eagerly. You all flew downward, the sight of Tree not too far from where you were. And when you reached the ground, you practically jumped off, so entranced by the Tree’s presence. You had never been there before and you had only ever seen it in the imagery that you and Grace had looked at back at the lab.

You didn’t know that the Great Mother was already well-acquainted with you. Your human body was once at the base of Her Tree, and she had chosen not to save you, knowing that one day you would return in another way.

Kiri came up to you, taking you by the arm and leading you underneath its ethereal tendrils, “You know what to do right?”

Nodding, you took hold of your queue and with the other hand, you held onto one of those tendrils, connecting the two as you closed your eyes.

When you opened them, you were suddenly back at the lab and you were confused. You were human again, feeling as if you were transported to your mind’s memories. But everything felt real, too real, all the sensations that you associated with the lab were exactly as they were when you were alive. Cautiously, you walked around, looking for anyone, but it seemed that you were alone.

Then, you heard footsteps, the sound of combat boots hitting the ground and you turned, “Look who’s back from the dead! Ain’t that a bitch.”

“Trudy!”

She ran to you, instantly engulfing you in a hug, “I was wondering when you would come around.”

“What do you mean?” You asked curiously, tilting your head at her.

“She means we’ve been waiting for you, Miss Marine.”

You had done a good job fighting back your tears when you saw Trudy, but as you turned toward that voice, just hearing it sending warmth into your whole body, you couldn’t hold them off anymore.

It was Grace, just as you remembered her, although she wasn’t holding her usual cigarette. She was already outstretching her arms to you and you hadn’t even realized how fast you were moving until you were finally in her arms, melting in her motherly embrace. You savored in that moment, holding her tightly to make up for all your lost time together.

“Oh, my sweet sweet girl.” Grace cooed, caressing your hair as you cried into her shoulder.

You leaned back slightly, your eyes flitting to the two of them, “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you both.”

“Hey, Jake’s not giving you a hard time, is he?” Trudy asked, crossing her arms, “‘Cause if he is, you should have no problem kicking his ass.”

You chuckled, “He’s trying to protect me actually.” You paused, your tone entirely changing as you relinquished your smile into a tight-lipped expression, “From my dad. He’s alive too.”

Grace took a deep breath, rubbing your shoulders as you continued, “He wants to kill Jake and his family. Jake doesn’t want me to fight, but you know me. I can’t just do nothing.”

“You were never meant to do nothing, y/n. The Great Mother has a purpose for you that is far greater than defeating your father.” Grace said, her voice so full of wisdom.

You couldn’t understand Grace, begging for clarity as you furrowed your eyebrows, “When you said you were waiting for me, what exactly did you mean?”

“I know you’ll defeat your father, but while you’re here, the Great Mother wants you to live freely. It’s the only way you’ll be able to fulfill your purpose.”

Still, you couldn’t grasp anything she was saying, her phrasing like a riddle as it entered into the folds of your brain, disorganized in your thoughts, “But Grace, what is that purpose? How do I defeat my father?”

She opened her mouth, but as she did, she began to choke on her words, nothing coming out as her breathing labored. You reached out for her, but once you did, she was sucked into a white abyss, and nothing you did stopped it from happening. Slowly, you were back in our body, but you never would have known as you were released into a state of nothingness, absence of any reality.

You were stuck in that nothingness as Lo’ak pulled you off the Spirit Tree, your body going limp in his arms, “Y/n! Wake up! Come on, wake up y/n!”

Everyone ran over, kneeling beside Lo’ak as he put his head on your chest, checking for your heartbeat. He was relieved as he felt it thump, but you were sill unconscious.

Spider was panicking, “What’s happening? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know! She’s not waking up.” Lo’ak yelled back, shaking you desperately, “Y/n! Y/n! Come back to me!”

“Guys. We’ve got company.” Kiri’s eyes were focused above her, her own voice trembling as she picked Tuk up.

Lo’ak followed Kiri’s gaze, his eyes widening as he recognized the helicopter that was whirring in the distance.

“We have to go now. It’s Quaritch.” Lo’ak ordered, picking you up from the ground.

“But where? We can’t lead him back to camp.” Kiri responded as she followed suit, Tuk holding onto her tightly as Spider followed behind her.

“Then we’ll use the forest to our advantage and hide. Just follow me.” Lo’ak said, and Kiri nodded.

Past the Spirit Tree and into the thick brush of the nearby forest, you all ran through the trees, distancing yourselves as far away as possible. Quaritch had seen the movement by the Tree, ordering for descent immediately. Lo’ak had moved quickly enough to get a head start, but Quaritch was determined, using his instincts to search diligently for you all.

When Lo’ak had come to the river, seeing the waterfall at the base, he pointed to it, “There’s a cave behind there. Let’s go!”

The season had created overgrown vines that cascaded in front of the waterfall, shrouding the cave from any prying eyes. Wading through the river, Lo’ak led the way into the waterfall, hunching over to make sure he had taken all the impact from the water as he carried your body.

Once they were hidden, Lo’ak laid your body gently on the surface of the cave, picking a spot with the most moss to give your body more comfort.

“Is y/n gonna be okay? I-Is she dead?” Tuk asked, devastation already in her voice as it trembled, her tears already falling.

“She’s alive and she’s gonna be fine Tuk.” Lo’ak replied, smiling at his sister, despite how unsure he was on the inside.

“Lo’ak, you have to tell mom and dad. Call it in.” Kiri demanded.

Groaning, Lo’ak refused, “No way.”

“Stop being stubborn and just do it! We can’t hide in here forever.” Kiri protested, but Lo’ak still refused.

“If you’re not gonna call mom and dad, then at least call Neteyam.” Kiri urged, and finally Lo’ak gave in.

He put his hands on his telecom, adjusting the setting to Neteyam’s frequency. Neteyam was already on his way back from the hunting party, but after Lo’ak’s call he took the quick detour.

Spider nudged Lo’ak, whispering so Tuk wouldn’t hear, “Do you really think y/n is gonna be okay?”

Lo’ak sighed, looking at you, brushing a hair away from your face, “I hope so.”

Outside, Quaritch had just entered the forest, ordering for his troops to spread out as he searched through the forest, his eyes skimming every inch above and below him for any movement.

Neteyam finally arrived, landing softly in the tree branches. Neteyam moved quietly toward the waterfall, his feet lightly tapping the branches as he skillfully made no noise in his movements. Arriving near the river, Neteyam jumped down, ensuring that no one was around before breaking though the water abruptly, startling everyone.

“Hurry, hurry! The soldiers are still out there.” Neteyam informed, urgent as he gestured for them to come out.

When he saw you lying on the ground though, he rebuked that order, going over to you and glaring at Lo’ak, “What happened?”

“I’ll explain later. Can we just hurry and get out of here?” Lo’ak explained, already picking you up from the ground.

There was no time to ask any more questions, Neteyam forcing himself to be satisfied with that answer as he urged for everyone to follow him out. Carefully, one by one, they all exited from behind the waterfall. The sounds of gunshots in the distance indicated where they should run and once they entered into a large enough clearing, they all called their ikrans.

Safety was almost theirs as they began to fly, but even the air wasn’t safe as the helicopter whirred in the distance. Diving back downward, Neteyam led his siblings through the low altitude, barely off the ground as they evaded shots coming from the helicopter. Then from below, some of Quaritch’s soldiers were shooting at them too, making the maneuvering all the more complicated as bullets flew rapidly in the air, bursting through the bark of trees and through the gigantic leaf stems of the neighboring flora.

It was one shot that rang through the air that forced Kiri to turn her ikran upside down, and while she was desperately holding onto Tuk, Spider didn’t have enough time to grip onto anything, his body slipping from her ikran and into the labyrinth of endless foliage, knocking him out instantly as his body hit the ground.

“Spider! He fell! We have to go back!” She yelled at her brothers.

But it was already too late. Quaritch had got what he came for- a captive to question.

Yet, he would come to learn that the wish he had so freely made had come true.

He was getting his child back.

Author’s Note

my lovers!!

get you a guy who will jump off a cliff to impress you LMAOOOO --

also, is neteyam lowkey developing a crush too?? cant really blame him cause youre amazing

anywaysss i hope you all loved the chapter! please please PLEASE tell me what you thought of the chapter! one of my favorite things is reading your comments and hearing you all pour your precious hearts out!!

as always, thank you all for waiting so patiently for this new chapter! things have been kinda busy lately, so im sorry for the delays!! i cherish and love every single one of you lovers. please take care :)

love,

nana <3

~~side note here: i just wanted to just break some of my choices down for this chapter, so if you’re interested, pls do read!!

while i was writing, i had an idea of the reader’s backstory, but i thought it made sense to give her a traumatic past because it would explain her attachment to people, especially quaritch and how valuable it was for her to meet grace and understand life beyond quaritch

in addition to that, i gave her a purpose from the Great Mother to really offset how unworthy she still feels to have her life and to essentially help her see that she is MORE than what quaritch made her, and grace delivering that message just makes it all the more important.

andddd lastly, if you read the first part when quaritch recalls meeting you and connecting with you, and then you read how you and spider connected together, they parallel ;0

~~ alright side note over haha thank you for reading if you did!!

taglist [tumblr wouldn’t let me tag some blogs but i didn’t want to leave anyone out!]

@fifty-shades-of-mischeif @pretty-npeach @tonni30 @itsemy01 @23victoria @soobinsrose @starjane312 @valentineoxox @justlillythinking @mae-is-crazy @scarletrosesposts@paniniii @bloodyziggy @mister-police @mrs-sullys-blog @niiight-dreamerrrr @promiseofeywa @wilmalovegood @sssspencerrr @mochi-yu @d4rno @lovekeeho @dreama-little-dreamof-me @strawberryclouds22@tsunchani @sully-stick-together @local-mr-frog @pirana10 @usernumder67 @im-kai-scotty @ghoulbli @devil-on-acid @iamparou @nightfalldia @a-queen-blr @aeclark041-blog1 @justpassinbxx @persondoingstuff @melatonindaydreamz @ducks118 @macncheese69420666 @rotten-toenails @rikidaily @extreamlycutecuban @iizx7y @bongwaterflavoredgatorade @lovekeeho @spicycloudsalad @perfectprofessorloverapricot @kind45 @skyri-revia22 @blueblushedflwr @neteyamslovr @coldlamaspersonspy @jayinthecloset @lunamochii @littlethingsinlife @ok-boke @donaldsmac @slut4sluttybooks @zatarias-pandora @bol0-de-morang0 @dakotali @bajadotcom @bitchyzombienacho @siriusblackwh0re @wadiyatalkinabeetmate @eggyongies @galaxyfruits @kiricomics @fireflystoughts @reallysparklychaos @bwormie @fireflystoughts @n1ght5h4d3-24 @tojigirl @jiminparkk @larkkyoris @simp-erformarvelwomen @fairygirl-222 @kolsmikaelson @skyri-revia22 @junnniiieee07 @ashrocker123 @sassy-persona @chantelle-mh @https-izuku @kaealowri @sunsents @galacticstxrdust @graykageyama @k----a27s @neteyamforlife

@glitter-in-my-heroin @kirikuki @katkat1918 @0-0h-0 @imthefunniestpersonalive @my-name-duh @mayabritjohn @annoyingstrawberryballoon @sometimesminsan @pearlrosegardener @aestheticcraze @animetrash12 @sbfandom @hrlzy @vhobuu @urforevermore @usersjs-world @vampsclassiffied @razor-blayde @doromoni @lizzyloo22 @jimfiqs @hunylew @dreamergirljen @champagnelovers101 @di0nlurking @sleepyharuka @dani111@nisha-potter @goddesslilithmoriarty @zilena9

#avatar #avatar way of water #avatar fanfiction #avatar x reader #avatar loak #loak angst #loak fic #loak x reader #loak fluff #loak x you #nanasavatarfics #nanasilwefic!

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vandnana · 1 year

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thank you for adding my fic to a list of so many other wonderful and talented writers!

you are just a GEM 💕😊

nana 💙

｡ﾟﾟ･｡･ﾟﾟ｡

ﾟ。𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥¡𝐬𝐭 ₊˚. ›

ﾟ･｡･ﾟ

ʚɞ ok wow i haven’t made one of these in a while but yeah !! kisses to all fanfic writers out there <33

Keep reading

#avatar fanfiction #avatar #avatar way of water #youarejustheavensentarentyou???

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vandnana · 1 year

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I'm obsessed with "in love with the enemy"! It's one of the best stories I've read on Tumblr! I check your account a thousand times a day hoping for an update

im going through my inbox right now and YOU GUYSSS ARE MAKING ME CRY

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE YOU ALL OMG ;(

with my WHOLE HEART, you guys make me love writing even more and you just motivate me to give you all the very best because you guys shouldn't get anything less.

YOU ALL DESERVE THE WORLD AND MORE

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU ALL,

nana <33333

#cryingscreaminthrowingupoverallofyou #nanasloversclan

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vandnana · 1 year

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In love with the enemy more like in love with this beautiful storyline. Just casually falling in love with your story telling and the whole plot. Thank you for sharing it with us ❤️❤️

my anon lover,

this genuinely warmed my heart so much!! thank you for the kindness :)

i'm really happy to hear that you're enjoying the plotline! i made a lot of changes from the prologue to now, and it means so much to hear that my interpretation of events is reaching you in this way.

I AM HONORED!

love,

nana <3

#nanasloversclan #ICHERISHANDLOVEYOUFORTHIS

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vandnana · 1 year

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I love your writing so much! 🥹💖

You have me waiting for the next chapter of “In Love With The Enemy” like

hey lover!

thank you for reading my work!! i cackled reading this LMAOOO

stay tuned! the next chapter is on the way!

love,

nana <3

#IPROMISEITSONTHEWAY!!#ILOVEYOUALLSOMUCH #youguysareactuallythebestestever #nanasloversclan

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vandnana · 1 year

Text

In Love With The Enemy [II]

Chapter 2: The Son He Never Wanted

pairing: lo’ak x female turned na’vi reader

genre: fluff, angst ~ slow burn, pining on lo’ak’s part.

warnings: mentions of blood, war, violence

highlights: [more tearjerking jake and reader moments, neytiri and mo’at being like mothers to reader, lo’ak continuing to be an entire SIMP, and ofc tuk being adorably annoying like always]

word count: 9,242

note: how are you all doing?? as always, i’d like to thank you for waiting for this part! i don’t want to spoil anything before you read, but i will note that i just think all the moments with lo’ak are so cute cause he just flirts with her (or tries to) and she plays along, but on the inside she gets all fluttery and is kinda clueless about everything cause no one’s ever acted like that with her so AHHHHH — I really hope you all enjoy this chapter!!

[prologue] [chapter 1]

When you finally arrived back at camp, the night fog cleared all around you as Lo’ak’s ikran landed gracefully on the edge of the rock, that fog once shrouding you and Lo’ak in a bubble of joyous freedom dissipating as your return grounded you back into reality.

Jake was waiting for you with his arms crossed. You caught a glimpse of Lo’ak’s face, annoyed as he hopped off his ikran. Once his feet landed, he relinquished his annoyed expression, though only for a second, as he outstretched a hand for you to take.

“I got this.” You replied, hopping off on your own.

“Oh yeah, of course,” He replied, coolly drawing his hand back and placing it on the back of his neck as he feigned nonchalance.

“Do my orders mean nothing to you?” Jake yelled out, his anger clearly seething through his whole body as he stomped toward you both.

Lo’ak’s shoulders slumped, dreading his father’s lecture and dropping his hands from his neck, “No sir.”

You stepped between Jake and Lo’ak, putting your hands up, “Woah, woah, woah. Calm down old man. I asked him to take me around, okay? Your anger shouldn’t be focused on Lo’ak.”

Jake huffed in frustration, “He’s my son, y/n. He disobeyed direct orders.”

You lowered your eyes at Jake, “Oh, and you haven’t?”

Lo’ak scrunched his eyebrows at you, surprised by your boldness, but what really caught him off guard was his father’s quickness to concede to you, his expression softening.

“Fine, fine, but next time, I won’t be as forgiving.” He turned to Lo’ak, “Take her to your grandmother please.”

Lo’ak nodded, and Jake took him by the arm, glaring, “And no detours, got it?”

He fought back the urge to roll his eyes as he replied, “Yes sir.”

“Alright, dismissed.” He ordered.

“No, not dismissed. We need to talk about my father, Jake. He’s still out there.” You urged, planting your feet in front of him.

Jake put his hands on his head, “I know he’s out there, but right now, what I’m worried about is you.” He looked down at your wound, its ache suddenly making itself known to you, but you were too prideful to admit it.

His voice became scarily low as he spoke again, his expression grave, “You need to go get that patched up. Now.”

Jake pushed you forward, and you reluctantly moved your feet. Lo’ak took his place beside you as you both walked, Jake changing his mind about leaving Lo’ak to escort you to the tent as he trailed behind you both.

You observed everything around you as you walked further into the cave. It was vast, practically endless, and although the night sky was shielding its stars with its fog, you were still able to see their slight glimmer in the sky. It wasn’t too far into the night, groups of Na’vi, warriors, women, and children still in clusters, all of them staring at you as you passed, clearly weary of you in your odd clothing, but seeing Jake behind you, they seemed to relax. Amidst them though, you saw a few humans, their breathers on, wearing the khaki jumpsuits that all of the scientists had worn when you were alive.

“Wait.” Your tone displaying sternness as you stopped, turning toward Jake, “I need to know.”

You paused, heaviness filling your heart as fear began to consume it, “Is Trudy dead?”

You had assumed the worst, but you still clung to a tiny bit of hope that shattered instantly as you looked into Jake’s eyes, the glint of sadness in them affirming what you had feared. He didn’t need to say anything for you to know what that sadness meant. You felt a horrid clawing at your chest and you could only understand that feeling being the unbearable crushing of your heart. Jake hugged you as that pain settled in, and you felt so dreadfully numb, you couldn’t even wrap your arms around him.

“What about Norm and Max?” You asked pleadingly.

He let go of you, giving you a small smile, “They’re alive, and they know you’re here.”

Hearing that they were alive didn’t settle your grief, but you felt the mixture of emotions take over you as your relief and sadness melded together.

“I want to see them. Take me to them.” You stated resolutely, planting your heels into the ground as Jake shook his head at you, trying to push you forward agian.

“No, you’re not going anywhere until you see Mo’at.” He argued.

“Jake, I told you I was fine, okay?” Although, the throbbing was getting worse as you spoke, “Just let me see them please? Don’t you think it’s been long enough?” You responded, your forehead scrunched in frustration.

“They’ll still be here when you’re better, y/n. Now, will you please just listen?” He pleaded with you, his eyes stern again, “Don’t make me carry you over there, you big baby.” He warned, and you finally gave up.

“Fine,” You conceded, huffing in compliance as you crossed your arms, “I’d shoot you if I still had my gun.”

Jake shook his head at you, ruffling your hair, “Like you can aim with that injury.”

You slapped his hand away, smoothing your hair out as he pleaded, “Norm and Max aren’t going anywhere either, so just do as I say, please?”

“Well, stop being annoying and just let me go with Lo’ak, okay?” You huffed out.

“Alright, then go!” Jake encouraged as he shifted his point toward the tent.

“Alright alright, we’re going.” You spoke, putting your hands on Lo’ak’s back to get him to walk.

When there was finally some distance between you and Jake, you sighed, moving from where you were behind him to walk next to him instead. He stopped when you did, putting a gentle hand on your arm. You halted at the touch, blinking in confusion as your eyes traveled downward. You looked at him, anticipating what he had to say.

When you had mentioned Trudy, he had remembered he still had your pictures in his cloth pocket, and taking them out, he nudged them toward you, “Your pocket ripped and they fell out when we were in the tree. I figured they were important to you.”

Looking down, you finally noticed your pocket, widely ripped at its width. Taking the pictures out of his hand, you fought back tears that were easily brimming in your eyes. You let a weak chuckle out, embarrassed by your own emotions as Lo’ak looked at you sincerely.

Realizing that he was still holding onto you, he let go, clearing his throat, “The other girl in there.” He began, “That’s Trudy, isn’t it?”

You traced over her smiling face, “She was my best friend, you know. She was the best pilot in the whole unit. We would fly together.”

He listened, humming in response as you reminisced. Trudy was dead, but Lo’ak had returned a piece of her to you, and you couldn’t help but smile at him, your expression illuminating with gratefulness.

Lo’ak blushed instantly, shy under your gaze, his hand going to the back of his neck, “You have to stop looking at me like that.”

You shrugged, “Like what? I’m just grateful, that’s all.”

Lo’ak cleared his throat, finding his courage as he met your eyes again, “Well, you look pretty when you’re grateful.” The shyness you brought out of him retreating as his usual smugness took over.

You didn’t expect such boldness, scoffing as you dismissed him, “And how do I look when I’m not grateful?”

Still maintaining his cavalier, his heart pumping rapidly as he thought up his response, he smirked at you, “Still pretty.”

You were blushing, but you scoffed, lightly smacked his arm, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing you were actually charmed by his attempt at flirting.

“Y/n! Y/n! You’re finally here!” An innocent tone rang out, making you tear your eyes away from Lo’ak.

Tuk was running toward you, overjoyed at seeing you again.

“Tuk, can’t you be annoying somewhere else?” Lo’ak groaned, crossing his arms as he glared at her.

Tuk stuck her tongue out at her brother, “Whatever Lo’ak. I bet you were the one annoying her.” She retorted, taking you by the hand and dragging you toward the tent.

You shrugged your shoulders at Lo’ak, motioning for him to follow, and he unwilling agreed, trudging after you.

Once you approached the tent, you saw Neytiri on the floor weaving amber, circular beads and golden twine together. You greeted her properly, “I see you Neytiri.”

Hearing your voice, she got up, putting down what she was weaving to greet you back, her voice welcoming as she spoke, “Come, you are hurt. I will help bathe you before mother heals you.”

She lowered her eyes at Lo’ak, her tone changing into a stern one as she ordered, “Out Lo’ak and take Tuk with you.”

He groaned as Tuk pouted, “Mama, why can’t I stay?”

“Just listen to mama, okay?” Neytiri said, and Tuk nodded reluctantly.

Lo’ak sighed, turning on his heel to exit the tent. Before he stepped out completely you called his name, his head spinning back so quickly at the sound of your voice.

You still had the pictures in your hand, and you held them out to him, “Keep them safe for me?”

He smiled at you as he took them from your hands, purposely brushing his fingers against yours, “Of course.”

You knew what he was trying to do as you felt his fingers touch yours and you stifled a light chuckle, “I’ll see you later.”

“Draw the curtain!” Neytiri yelled, and Lo’ak did as she asked, taking one last glance at you before he pulled the drapery down.

You made eye-contact with Neytiri again, who put a gentle hand at your back, guiding you to the large basin filled with water, steam coming from it, in the middle of the tent.

On the other side of it was Neytiri’s mother, her back turned as she prepared bowls of herbs for your healing treatment, their earthy aroma filling the air.

Once she turned around, you greeted her politely, gesturing your hand from your forehead to hers, “I see you, Mo’at.”

You were surprised as she seemed pleased with you, a hint of a smile gracing her lips as she acknowledged your presence, “Y/n Quaritch.”

She walked over to you, circling you as she studied your features, “There is never death, only change. You are proof of this. The Great Mother has blessed you with new life.”

You averted your gaze, hardly sharing the same feeling, your heart twisting as she spoke. You could feel the guilt within you rise in her presence, your father’s sins against her weighing down on your chest.

Mo’at could sense how troubled you felt inside, and even just seeing your tired expression, she could tell you were exhausted, that tiredness taking its toll underneath your eyes.

She placed her hands on the sides of your face, gently lifting your head to meet her eyes, “You have been through much, child. Be calm. You are with your people and you are home.”

You gulped, shaking your head at her, “I don’t understand,” Your eyes went to Neytiri, your gaze showing how burdened you felt, “My father destroyed your home and killed Eytukan, killed so many of your people. How can you welcome me so easily?”

Mo’at and Neytiri exchanged glances with one another, their thoughts becoming unified as each of them took one of your hands into theirs, the coldness you felt in your heart, suddenly warming through their motherly touch.

Mo’at spoke with conviction, her wisdom echoing through the tent, “Your father’s evils are not yours, y/n. You were born of the Sky People, selfish and cruel they are. Yet, you protected life and gave your own for someone you loved. You were always meant to be one of Us.”

“What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

Neytiri looked as if she was going to cry, her voice sincere, “Jake, it was his life that you saved.” She put her other hand on your cheek, a single tear falling from her eyes, “I will never forget what you’ve done for me, for my family, my people. You have a strong heart, y/n like Jake. You are one of The People.”

You couldn’t find any words, the inner turmoil inside of you fighting to stay as their heartfelt reassurances melted it down, almost reducing it to nothing as you felt the warmth emanating from them both enter into your heart.

You had only ever felt this feeling once in your life, and it happened with Grace. It was the feeling of being recognized by a mother, and having craved it so much, having missed Grace so much, you let yourself be captured by that feeling, no longer battling against it and leaning into that comfort.

Neytiri and Mo’at noticed the change in you, and as you relaxed, they helped you out of your clothing. Mo’at unwrapped the cloth around your wound, and you winced in pain when she pulled the bullet out, leaving the widened gash open. That pain quickly subsided when they guided you into the basin, the touch of the heated water on your skin calming the tension in your whole body.

The two of them worked on either side of you, gently scrubbing your skin with soft, green cloths. Using a specialized herb mixture, its floral scent wafting in the air, Neytiri rubbed it in your hair, while Mo’at washed your body meticulously with another mixture, the floral scent of the hairwash mixing with the citrus-like scent of the one for your body. Eventually, all the dirt, caked blood, and yanna bark sap was gone, and with it came the layers of strain.

When they had finished washing you, they helped you out of the basin, drying you off quickly with another set of cloths.

Neytiri came up behind you, “Lift your arms.”

You did as she said, allowing her to drape something over you, and as you looked down you realized it was the piece she was weaving earlier, the twine coming together in an asymmetric halter shape, the beads cascading downward where your shoulder was.

“I made it like this so it is open where you were hurt.” She explained.

“This is beautiful.” You said in awe, and she gave you a satisfied smile.

Neytiri continued to hep you get dressed, teaching you how to fasten the loin cloth properly, and when you grasped the idea, you did it yourself. Once it was secured, Mo’at gestured for you to follow her, leading you toward the array of bowls that you had seen her prepare earlier.

Beside her array was a hammock, her eyes going to it as she spoke to you, “Lie down.”

You nodded, seating yourself in the hammock then lifting your legs up to fill the length of it. You watched as she took one of the bowls in her hand, warming a thickened paste she had made between her fingers, and you breathed deeply as she slabbed it into the open flesh and all around it, the cool sting of the herbs spreading throughout your wound. As she continued to rub the paste, you could feel your eyes get heavy, your vision blurring as you fought to stay awake.

Mo’at neatly blanketed your wound with a fresh new wrap, smothering the coolness from the paste and engulfing the area in comfortable warmth, and once that settled, you had lost the fight to your own exhaustion, your eyes shutting as sleep took over you.

By the time that Jake came to visit, there was no hope of waking you up. He was still having a hard time grasping that you were really alive, but he was just so happy to see you that he hardly cared, smiling as he knelt beside you.

“Ma Jake.” Neytiri called, putting a hand on his shoulder.

He turned his head, standing up, and with his full attention she continued, “She knows about how she died.”

Jake groaned, whispering, “How could you tell her? It wasn’t something she needed to know.”

“She deserves to know, just as she deserves to know about other things.” Her tone hinting as she gave him a serious expression.

Jake looked back at you, peaceful as you slept soundly, “She’s not ready.”

“Y/n is strong.” Neytiri defended, “You do not need to worry for her.”

“It’s not her I’m worried about.” He replied, meeting her gaze again, “It’s him.”

“And you have not told him either, that his father is that demon.” She hissed at Jake in frustration, “You cannot keep them apart and you cannot keep the truth from both of them. They are brother and sister.”

Mo’at cleared her throat behind them, “Do not disturb her in her sleep with such talk.” She drew the curtain back slightly, making an opening, “I will watch her.”

Although unwilling to leave you, Jake agreed, entrusting you with Mo’at as he left, Neytiri taking the lead as they both exited the tent. When they both walked out, Lo’ak was nearby, waiting to see you and Tuk, who had gotten bored, left not too long before her parents walked out.

He started to walk toward the tent, and noticing him, Jake stepped forward, “We’re having a family meeting. Go get your sisters.”

There was no chance to protest as his parents’ glares bore into him, forcing his obedient nod. Jake and Neytiri waited for all of their children just a couple meters away from where you were. Neteyam came first and a little after came Lo’ak, Kiri, Tuk, and another with him.

Neteyam took sight of his brother and his approaching siblings, greeting the other that had come with them, “Hey Spider.”

Neytiri gave Jake a worried glance, but he dismissed her, turning to his children, his expression serious as he explained your situation and who you were, carefully choosing his words as he spoke.

“So, she really— “ Spider paused, trying to understand, “She really died and came back…as a Na’vi?”

Jake and Neytiri nodded, and Spider put a hand at his chin, his eyes showing his amazement, “That is insane.”

“She has helped this family in more ways than you know.” Neytiri revealed, “I expect you to treat her like family.”

“Yes, mother. We will make sure she feels at home.” Neteyam reassured him.

“Yeah! I love her already!” Tuk exclaimed, turning to her sister, “And you’ll love her too Kiri!”

Kiri smiled at her sister, her eyes turning hopeful as she asked, “Did she really know my mother?” She was clutching onto the pendant of her necklace, once her mother’s but passed on to her.

“Yes, she knew her longer than any of us.” Jake affirmed, giving his daughter a reassuring smile.

He looked at Neytiri, who was already giving him a disapproving expression, “And I want you kids to promise me something.”

They leaned in, waiting for what he had to say and he continued, his tone serious, “I don’t want her anywhere near the lab or anywhere near the humans, okay?”

Lo’ak was quick to protest, “Why not? You know more than anyone that she wants to see Norm and Max.”

“She will see them, alright? Just not yet, okay? Can you just do as I—“

Then came your scream. To everyone else, it wasn’t all that loud, but to Jake it painfully rang in his ears like a siren and without hesitation, he ran, Neytiri and the children running after him.

He bolted into the tent, your figure shuddering in Mo’at’s arms as she held you, your stare blank as you looked at the floor, the remainder of a nightmare hanging in the thickness of the air. It would have been better if you had just slept horribly, then you would have expected this. But, beautiful dreams had come to you before a nightmare infested them— you saw your father, his sneer as he killed Jake and his family one by one, the blood splattering on your face as he made you watch, and no matter how much you screamed, no matter how hard you tried to stop him, there was nothing you could do.

Hearing Jake, Mo’at loosened her embrace and leaned backward as Jake knelt beside you, holding you by the shoulders before pulling you in.

“It’ll be alright, y/n. You’re okay.” Jake reassured you, his hands rubbing at your back.

Neytiri came up beside you too, her hand on your shoulder.

The children though stayed outside, climbing up onto the adjoining rock beside the tent and peeking through the upper openings in the tent to see.

“Is this how you felt when I died?” You weakly let out, leaning back to look at Jake, who blinked at you, his heart aching at the question, “I know it was just a dream, but I watched my father kill you Jake. You and your family.”

Jake could feel your grief from your shaken voice, the hurt that he felt from you seeping into his own soul, “That’s all it was y/n. A dream. I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

You looked away, not wanting to believe in such hope, but Jake made you look at him again, “Hey, hey, do you remember what you told me before? Before the bulldozers came?”

It was impossible to forget, one of the last memories you had with Jake, “Of course I do.”

Jake took your hands into his, his voice resolute and determined, “A father protects. It’s what gives him meaning. You died protecting me when I should have protected you. I’m not gonna make that mistake again.”

You were crying as he said those words, smiling as you wiped them away, the sorrow inside of you dissipating as he smiled back at you.

“You’re safe here.” Jake said, patting the hammock, “You can rest, okay?”

You shook your head, “I’ve been dead for what, twenty years?” You got up, fidgeting with your fingers, “I’m done resting, Jake.”

Jake faced you, “You can still sleep. You love to sleep. You were always the last to wake up in the shack, remember?” He joked.

You scoffed, “That’s because I had a cripple underneath me who loved to snore.”

You hit him on the arm, and he gasped, pointing a finger at you warningly, laughing, “Hey, I’m not in a wheelchair anymore, so don’t start a fight you can’t finish.

“I kind of miss when you were in a wheelchair though. It was so much easier to make fun of you.” You retorted sarcastically.

Jake sucked a breath in through his teeth, and you surrendered, “I’m joking! I’m joking, okay? Don’t be mad. You know I’ve always respected my elders.”

Neytiri couldn’t help but laugh along with your joke, so entertained by the two of you as she watched you interact. Even Mo’at was smiling, her heart warmed at seeing Jake with you again, remembering his agonized desperation to revive you all those years ago.

The children were all watching from above, the oldest ones so baffled to see their father so carefree, but Tuk hardly noticed, her concern mainly being on you. Without another thought, Tuk ran off, making her way to the tent, all her siblings groaning as they followed her, calling her name.

Neteyam stopped Spider though, “Maybe you should stay behind bro. My father meant it when he said he did not want her near humans.”

“And that includes me?” Spider asked, hurt and offended.

“I’m sorry. It’s my dad’s orders.” He replied, patting Spider’s shoulders before running after his siblings.

“I’m so glad you’re okay!” Tuk said as she ran into the tent, and as you heard her voice, you crouched down -: she wrapped her arms around you sloppiy.

“Tuk be careful!” Neytiri scolded, worried about your shoulder.

You stood up, Tuk taking hold of your hand as she apologized, “Sorry,” Then gently, she pulled your hand forward, “Come on! You have to meet my sister... and Spider too!” Her excitement too great to remember what her father had asked.

Jake attemted to stop her, “Tuk no-”

But she had already led you out of the tent, everyone gathered in front of the entrance. Jake let out a sigh of relief seeing that Spider wasn’t with them. Since Tuk had given no context to who Spider was, you thought she was talking about some sort of pet, and you looked around for something on the ground before your eyes landed to the girl in front of you. Your face dropped as you looked at Kiri, the spitting image of Grace, so eerily similar that you felt as if you were looking at her ghost, your vision flashing between your memory of her and the reality of who was in front of you.

Kiri stepped forward, her own curiosity about you encouraging her words, “Hi, I’m Kiri. I’m Grace’s daughter.” She began nervously and you were even more shocked, her voice even holding the same intonations as Grace, the sound sending goosebumps down your spine.

The tears that had left you before arose again as you took in Kiri’s appearance, noticing immediately the necklace she had on her neck.

You inched closer, pointing at the necklace, “Your necklace. It was your mom’s.”

She put her hand over it, touching the pendant, “How did you know?”

“I made it for her when I first came to Pandora.” You explained, “She was teaching me how to speak Na’vi, so I gave her this, as a gift.”

You stepped backward, taking note of her age in your mind. She wasn’t that much older than you, and you were reeling, filing through all the scientific possibilities in your head.

You looked at Jake, your eyes begging for answers, “How is this possible? You told me that the Great Mother couldn’t save her.”

“Actually,” Kiri began, “I was hoping that maybe you would know.” She paused, gulping down her expectations as she tried to maintain her calm, “Do you know who my father is?”

Everyone’s eyes went to you, but you kept yours on Kiri, her eyes so desperate for an answer as she looked at you, like your mere existence could fill in the missing pieces that laid like stones in her heart.

You reached into the depths of your mind, the memories of every instance with Grace appearing before you, the last making you wince, the pain of remembering her death agonizing how you felt in front of Kiri. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Your apology rang deeper than your ignorance of her conception. You stood in front of her knowing that she had no mother and that it was your father who had done that to her. You averted your eyes, taking refuge in staring at your fingers.

Kiri tried to hide how embarrassed she suddenly felt, her eyes downcast as she scolded herself for being so hopeful, “Oh. You don’t have to be sorry. It’s okay, really.”

You wanted to give her some comfort. You owed it to her and casting that horrible feeling aside, you put a hand on her shoulder.

“Look, I was brought back by science, but you weren’t, you couldn’t have been,” She looked up at you, her expression pleading for you to continue, “Your mother loved Pandora with everything she had, and if that love somehow made you, then you’re a miracle, something Grace’s science, my science can’t explain.”

Kiri felt a warmth bubble inside her at your words and she looked at you with a cherished gratefulness as she clasped her hands around yours, “Thank you.”

You smiled at her, squeezing her hand before letting go. You looked down at Tuk, “So...where’s Spider? Is he a pet or something?”

“I’m not a pet.” A voice spoke from behind you, and you turned your head.

Jake glared at Neteyam and Lo’ak, mouthing his disappointment, Neteyam giving his father an apologetic expression while Lo’ak hardly cared, pressing his lips together in feigned regret.

He jumped down from where he was, approaching you, his appearance baffling. He was human, blue stripes painted on his body, his hair shaped like a lion’s mane, and the only clothing he had on was a loin cloth, similar to Lo’ak’s.

“I’m Spider,” He said, crossing his arms, “Socorro.”

Socorro.

The name was littered between the grief and sorrow that laid within you since you had woken up, the name so deeply buried in your mind that its sudden rise gave way to a singular memory, your body frozen as your mind’s eye displayed it in front of you.

You felt as if you were really there, the smell of the base filling your nose. Your father was beside you with his arms crossed, and you were standing in front of an operating room, the iodine smell wafting out as the door opened.

When the doctor came out, his surgical gear bloodied from the procedure, he pulled his mask down, meeting your father with a smile, although your father didn’t return it.

His frown projected how he felt as the doctor announced, “It’s a boy, Colonel. You have a son.”

Uncrossing his arms, he looked into the operating room, Paz Socorro, one of the pilots in the regiment, lying in the bed holding her son, their son. Paz motioned for him to come in, but he had his feet planted on the ground, tearing his eyes away from Paz and toward the doctor, his eyes moving swiftly to you.

“I ain’t got a son, doc.”

You couldn’t remember much after that, but you did remember Paz, and not fondly. She held nothing against your father for rejecting Spider, too in love with him to bear any hostility. Instead, she focused her hatred on you, blaming you for what had happened. She hadn’t always been so cruel to you, but how could you put her at fault? You were the reason why Quaritch didn’t love his son.

“Are you okay?” Lo’ak asked, your blank stare giving way to the concern that was filling his heart.

“Y-yeah.” You looked back at Spider, just the sight of him pinching at your heart, “I’m y/n.” You paused, attempting to joke, “You definitely don’t look like a pet.”

“Thanks,” Spider replied, laughing.

You managed a smile at him, but Jake could see the pain in your eyes. Lo’ak had seen it too, recognizing it as the same face you had when your father was calling out for you. You had become scarily silent, so lost in the pain of that memory that when Jake put a hand on your back, you didn’t move, your breathing staggering as you stood.

Worried, Neytiri took you by the shoulders and in your daze, your feet moved on their own as she escorted you back into the tent.

They all attempted to follow but Jake put his hand up, glaring at his two sons, his anger showing in the ferocity of his whisper, “I asked you to do one thing. One thing.”

Spider, feeling the guilt rise in him, spoke, “No, Jake it was me. I didn’t listen.”

Jake closed his eyes, frustrated as he let a breath in, “Go to bed. All of you.”

“But dad-” Lo’ak pressed on, moving forward, but Jake outstretched his arm, blocking the way.

“Get to bed.” He repeated himself, the firmness in his tone making Lo’ak back away.

Mo’at, who had kept her ear open as she sat on the floor of the tent, ascended from her position, “Do as your father says, my grandson. You’ll get to see her soon enough.” She seemed to be hinting at something, and Lo’ak only half-caught on, still annoyed by his father.

“Let’s go.” Neteyam said to his siblings, and they all reluctantly followed.

Spider trailing behind them at first, but he stopped, the call of his dangerous curiosity influencing his steps back toward the tent. Spider had watched your reaction when he said his name, your face turning pale and your eyes going blank. You were remembering something, and he had to know what it was.

When Spider darted off, Lo’ak followed. “Spider!” Lo’ak called after him, “Wait up!”

Neteyam grunted in annoyance, “Kiri, take Tuk home please?”

She agreed as her brother ran, but Tuk refused, “I want to go with them!”

“Tuk no! Come back!” But Tuk had already let go of her sister’s hand, passing the many tents to catch up to her brothers, and with no other choice, Kiri hastened her pace chasing after her.

Lo’ak and Spider took to the top of the rock they were at earlier, eagerly listening to your conversation with Jake.

As Jake approached, he looked apologetic, “Look, I know how you must be feeling and-”

“Do you really, Jake?” You exploded, pushing him away from you as you pounded at your own chest, “Do you know how it feels to look your own brother in the eye and know that it was your fault he was orphaned?”

Jake fell silent, battered by your agonized rage.

“My father didn’t want him because he already had me. He picked me off the street on earth, but Spider is his flesh and blood,” Your voice was breaking, so disgusted by the words you were saying that you thought you could feel bile fill your throat, almost drowning you.

“Does he know? Does he know who his parents are?” You questioned, giving him an accusatory look.

“No,” Neytiri piped in, shaking her head.

You squinted your eyes at Jake, “How could you not tell him?”

“You know your father, y/n. Would you have told him?” Jake pleaded, wanting for you to understand his decision, “I thought he would be better off not knowing.”

You were wrong to do that, Jake. No matter how much of a monster Quaritch is, Spider deserved to know.”

Lo’ak watched as Spider took everything in, his face twisting and scrunching as he tried to convince himself that everything you said wasn’t true. All he ever knew was that his parents had died in the battle with the Sky People, and he always wondered, allowed himself to explore those curious thoughts that longed to know who his parents really were. But as he listened to you, every word that you spoke like a knife in his chest, inching and inching further and further into his heart, he wished he had just left well enough alone.

Inside of him, like a disease that seemed to invade his mind, he was overcome with envy, his mouth in a snarl as he looked at you in your Na’vi form, Neytiri next to you as she took your hand into hers and even Mo’at regarded you, her concern shown as she stepped forward too.

Everything he ever wanted you had.

You were one of The People, accepted by Neytiri and Mo’at, and even before he was born, you were inducted in worthiness, your legacy so grand, so perfect, that the father you shared didn’t even bother to try to love him.

Neteyam came up from behind them, placing his hands on both of their shoulders, distressed as he whispered, “You cannot be here. Dad will skin us if he finds out.”

Spider pushed Neteyam’s hand away, storming off. He looked at Lo’ak, astonished by Spider’s reaction and Lo’ak got up from his crouched position, running off in the direction Spider ran off to.

Tuk climbed up onto the rock, Kiri behind her, as she crouched beside Neteyam, whispering innocently to him, “What’s going on?”

Kiri gave her brother an apologetic, sheepish look, but he let out a long frustrated sigh, pinching his temples together in frustration and mentally scolding himself for not anticipating them. He got up, picking Tuk up and carrying her, Kiri beside him as they both ran off to catch up with Lo’ak and Spider.

He had run off toward where he slept, the quarters for both humans and avatars clustered between the rectangular metal sites, identical to the shack in the other part of the mountains.

Before they reached the perimeter of it, Lo’ak stopped him from continuing. “Spider!” Lo’ak taking hold of his arm, “Are you okay?”

“Of course I’m not okay!” He pushed Lo’ak away, his breathing heavy as he said his thoughts aloud, spilling haphazardly in anger, “Did you not hear what she said? Everything I know is a lie! I thought that my parents had died for something right, but t-they were the enemy. My father killed Kiri’s mom and tried to destroy everything here.”

Kiri went to his side, kneeling down as she tried to calm him down, “You’re not him, Spider.”

Neteyam pushed for reason, abating how dumbfounded he felt hearing the truth, “Kiri is right and you cannot change the past. He’s your father.”

“And he’s her father too. Y/n is my sister, if I can even call her that,” Spider buried his face in his hands, so angry that he couldn’t help from tears falling down his face, “I’m nothing to him, just the son he never wanted, while she got to be his daughter. He chose her.”

“She couldn’t have wanted that for you, Spider. Did you not see how hurt she was over everything? You can’t blame her for what he did.” Lo’ak explained.

Spider scowled at him, “So you’d rather defend her than your best friend?”

“It’s not like that, okay? You don’t know her, Spider. You don’t know the whole story.” Lo’ak argued.

“Oh, and you do?” Spider inquired with fury in his eyes, “Whether I know her or not, it’s just like Neteyam said, it won’t change anything.” Too angry and too hurt, Spider left without another word.

Kiri stood up, her heart aching as she watched Spider go, Neteyam put a hand on her back, “You know him. He will cool off eventually.”

Tuk, who was confused about what was happening, agreed with Neteyam out of concern for Kiri, “Yeah, Kiri. Don’t worry.”

Kiri glared at Lo’ak, her own disdain showing in her voice, “How could you let him just listen to all of that? How could you not be more sympathetic toward his situation?”

Lo’ak argued back, just as fiercely as his sister, “He wanted to go on his own, okay? And besides, what should I have done? Hold his hand? I was trying to be reasonable, Kiri.”

He stepped forward, his voice stern, “Ask yourself this question, do you think it’s her fault? After everything you learned about her, after what she told you about your mom...do you think that Spider’s right for making her the bad guy? The bad guy is her father, the guy that would have killed Tuk and I if she wasn’t there.”

Lo’ak had so much more to say, the tension between him and his sister as she maintained her glare, her pride too great to admit that he was right.

Neteyam subdued the tension, interjecting as he stepped between them, “That’s enough. Let’s go home before dad notices.”

In his anger, Lo’ak had forgotten about his dad, “Ugh, dad’s gonna kill us when he finds out.” He groaned, dreading the long-winded lecture he knew was inevitable.

“No, he’s gonna kill you.” Kiri spat, her voice laced with attitude as she walked away.

“How much did he hear?” Jake was rubbing his forehead, agitated as his children were in front of him.

Lo’ak paused before responding, “All of it.”

“And where were you? I told you to take them home.” Jake asked his oldest son, so obviously disappointed from the way his voice cut so callously through the air.

“Sorry, sir.” Neteyam let out, his hands behind his back.

“Ma Jake. It has been a long day and the children must sleep.” Neytiri let out, keeping her voice mellow.

“I’ll deal with Spider tomorrow, alright?” Everyone nodded and Jake, satisfied, told them to get ready for bed.

Rolling out their mats, everyone quickly laid down, wanting to leave behind the heaviness of the day. Eventually, sleep overtook them all, but Lo’ak, who had tried so hard to succumb to that heaviness, couldn’t keep his eyes closed, his thoughts naturally wandering to you.

He couldn’t help it as he wondered if you were okay, wondering if you were sleeping too or lying awake like he was. Lo’ak couldn’t leave his inner questions unanswered and without hesitation, he slowly lifted himself up, quietly ascending and carefully stepping toward the entrance of their tent and slipping away.

He quickly made his way to the tent you were in and once he made it to the entrance, he pulled the curtain back slightly, peeking his head in, the light of a small candle illuminating the tent in a dim amber hue. He didn’t expect to find Mo’at there, still awake and seated on the floor in a meditative state.

Somehow, she didn’t even need to open her eyes to know that it was Lo’ak, talking quietly as she acknowledged him, “Why are you here, my grandson?”

Lo’ak walked through, closing the curtain and stepping forward, his eyes going to you in the hammock, and although you were lying down, you were wide awake, only pretending to be asleep. You were afraid to, expecting the nightmares to come again, and after the day that you had, you knew that they would be worse this time around.

And with those nightmares also came your infiltrating thoughts, thoughts consumed with problems that were ahead of you—your father, your brother, and your struggle with your new life—sleep couldn’t cure those problems, leaving you to feel guilty to even just rest.

But hearing Lo’ak come in distracted you, and you listened to him intently, focusing on him and the unusually long pause that occurred after Mo’at’s question. Lo’ak was thinking up an excuse, and in her curiosity, Mo’at opened her eyes.

Lo’ak was teetering on his heels and remembering you had given him those pictures, he pulled them out of his pocket, “Her pictures, I wanted to give them back.”

“Really?” Mo’at asked, raising an eyebrow, “Why do I feel as if you are here for more than that? You are concerned for her, no?”

Lo’ak didn’t have a response to her question, any words he was thinking of saying getting caught in his throat.

She looked behind her, her head still pivoted toward you as her eyes landed on her grandson, who had focused his gaze back on you. As if that didn’t make things any more obvious to Mo’at, she could sense his quickened heartbeat and his underlying nerves by her own motherly instinct.

Mo’at got up, a hand on her heart as she grinned at Lo’ak, her next words trusting in the voice that she felt in her soul, “Why don’t you watch her until morning for me? Your grandmother must sleep.”

“Really?” Lo’ak replied, his excitement bouncing off his final syllable.

She lowered her eyes at him, “Yes, but I can stay here if you do not wish to-”

“No, I’ll watch her. You go and rest.” He interrupted.

She put her hands on his shoulders affectionately, “Good, good. I will be back in the morning.”

When you two were finally alone, he placed your pictures neatly on the table before slowly and quietly making his way to you. He leaned against the wall, admiring you. Even in your other clothing, your appearance rugged from the forest and blood dripping from your wound, Lo’ak thought you were pretty. But in the candle light, you were luminous, its rays cascading its amber colors onto your skin, most of your body now exposed to drink up the hues.

You still had your eyes closed, and you could feel his eyes on you. You cleared your throat, startling him as you spoke, “I know you didn’t come all the way here just to stare at me.”

“Have you been awake this whole time?” Lo’ak asked, stunned.

You finally fluttered your eyes open, “I couldn’t sleep. So what’s your excuse?”

Lo’ak stood up, “Didn’t you hear? I wanted to give your pictures back, that’s why I came.”

He kept his tone as nonchalant as possible, despite how much he could feel his heart pounding against his chest and his palms becoming sweaty with how nervous you were really making him.

You still looked at him with a suspicious expression, “In the middle of the night?”

“They’re important to you, aren’t they?” Lo’ak scoffed, trying to keep his composure.

Everything he was saying was defying any reasonable logic, but you were amused by him, smiling as you walked over to the table, questioning him further, “So you woke up just to give me these?”

Lo’ak crossed his arms, dedicated to maintaining a cool demeanor as he responded, “Well, yeah, but my grandma asked me to watch you too,” He paused, watching your reaction as he took the opportunity to tease, “She’s an old woman, you know. She needs her sleep.”

Although you knew he was making excuses, you played along, “Are you always this thoughtful or are you trying to impress me?”

He circled around you, his gaze fixated on you as he took a seat in the hammock, laying his back into it and resting his hands beneath his head, “Why? Are you into it?” He genuinely wanted to know, his eyes glinting with a ferocious curiosity.

You couldn’t take him seriously though, laughing as you approached, taking a seat beside him, “You’re in my spot.”

He put a hand on his chest, fake pouting, “And you don’t want to share? After I interrupted my perfectly good night to come here?”

You let a breath out, and to his surprise, you actually did lie down next to him, so unconcerned as you carelessly let your arms and legs touch his, the feeling igniting his cool skin.

“You’re lying.” You said, “Come on, why are you really up?”

Lo’ak gulped, adjusting himself slightly to give you more room, but you stayed still, only moving your head to look at him. Your foreheads weren’t even touching, but they might as well have, the effect of your proximity creating a tension that only Lo’ak seemed to notice.

Even though he was curious, he didn’t bring anything up about your old life, about Spider, not wanting to make you feel uncomfortable. Lo’ak found refuge in the ceiling as he responded, “I couldn’t sleep. I was too busy worrying about you.”

He glanced back at you, looking for a specific reaction in your eyes, hoping that you were feeling the same tension he was. You seemed immune to his continuous charms as your gaze gave him no indications, unreadable as you simply listened to him, your expression as calm as before. But you did feel it, unsure of what it was and unsure of how to react to it, having never felt anything like it before.

He suddenly felt awkward, clearing his throat, “So what about you? Why aren’t you sleeping? You can tell me…or don’t. Whatever you want.”

For a moment you hesitated, not wanting to share your troubles with him, to burden him with that unbearable weight. But Lo’ak had managed to make you feel lighter and you somehow found yourself talking to him easily.

“Nightmares.” You let out, “I always had nightmares when I lived on the base, but when I moved to the shack with your dad and everyone, they stopped.” You paused, “I guess I’ve still got my old habits wired in this new brain.”

“Well, not all your old habits,” Lo’ak began slowly, adjusting himself and giving you his full attention as he turned, “You know, I never thanked you for saving me, for protecting Tuk, so thank you.”

You did the same, shifting yourself as you looked at him, “You know, it’s weird. All of you have no problem seeing me as one of you, but I’m still having a hard time believing it.”

I’ve lived here my whole life, and I still have a hard time too.” Lo’ak held his hand up, wiggling his fingers, “Ketuwong, alien—it’s all they see, even though everyone denies it. “

You softened your expression, saddened by how he had said it, his voice desperately wanting to sound detached, indifferent to the problem, but despite how hard he tried to mask how he felt, you saw right through his attempt at apathy.

You held your hand up, aligning your fingers and touching your palm to his, “It’s okay. That means we match.”

Lo’ak’s mouth parted in surprise before he quickly pressed his lips together into a smile, not one of his usual smirks, but a real one, one he rarely ever showed, “Yeah, we do.”

You hardly realized the implications of what he said, your mind rationalizing it as your heart acted on its own, beating rapidly, so moved by the way your hands touched and the way he was smiling at you. Everything stirring inside of you felt like uncharted territory, the matters of the heart having never been traversed by your soul.

Yet, that territory did not resemble harsh landscapes or scary, rocky heights. It felt more like you were crossing through the bluest and calmest of waters, freely flowing and fluidly ferrying those feelings in you, easing and rocking them as they slowly settled within. And while you eased into those affections slowly, Lo’ak didn’t have to. He knew exactly how he felt about you, and he felt confident in his ability to make you realize the potential of your growing connection.

You retracted your hand slowly, resting it on your chest as you looked at the ceiling again, a blush settling on your cheeks. You both found yourselves in comfortable silence for a moment, peace finding the both of you just as it had when you were lying on the grass in the forest. Lo’ak was thinking of something to talk about, wanting to take your mind off of the nightmares and what had happened earlier that day.

His mind finally settled on a question and shifting his gaze from the ceiling to you he began, “So, what are you…” His voice quickly trailed off when he saw your eyes were closed.

You had fallen asleep.

He couldn’t believe it, and since you had fooled him once before, he uttered your name in a faint whisper, to which you held no response to, only breathing steadily as you laid still. Lo’ak felt the heaviness of his own eyes, but waited to fall asleep for as long as he could, ready to be there for you if the nightmares crept up in your mind again.

But they never did.

You awoke as light peeked through the tent, the rays from the sun infiltrating the space and signaling the morning’s arrival. You didn’t want to open your eyes, too comfortable in the position you were in. It wasn’t until you felt slight movement from next to you and the touch of a hand around your waist that you finally opened your eyes. You were lying on your side and looking over your shoulder, you found Lo’ak, still sleeping, his arm comfortably snaked around your waist and his other one positioned where your head had been.

You put your hand over your mouth, shocked and wondering how you let yourself fall asleep with him last night. Carefully, you tried to lift Lo’ak’s arm from your waist, but the movement only made him pull you in closer, the feel of his breath sending goosebumps down your spine as your back hit his chest. You tried again with a little more force and you were finally able to slip out from underneath him, lightly touching your feet onto the ground as you cautiously looked back at him, making sure he was still asleep.

To your relief, he was, and you wasted no time walking out of the tent, pulling the curtain back quickly and shutting it. You let a breath out, patting your cheeks and closing your eyes as you tried to process what had happened, trying to distract yourself from the scene in front of you. Life was already active in the camp as you saw everyone begin their daily routines, warriors already meeting, families preparing meals for their families, bundles of materials being carried around between women and men, and lastly you saw the very few children wandering, their eyes still tired as they yawned.

“I assume you slept well in my grandson’s arms?” Mo’at spoke from the right of you, the suddenness making you jump.

You felt your cheeks turn pink, your eyes darting to her. You greeted her properly, touching your hand to your forehead and extending it to her as she did the same.

Seeing the slight panic in your eyes, she put a hand up to reassure you, “Do not worry my child. I only tease.”

Her idea of a joke made you feel queasy with nervousness as you let out a weak laugh, “Ah, you’re funny Mo’at.”

She had her hands clasped together, an amused smile on her face, “But I am right, no? You were able to sleep.”

You scratched your head, looking away from her, “I was sleeping before Lo’ak got there.”

She raised an eyebrow at you, “You did a poor job fooling me.”

You gasped, “You knew the whole time? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Sometimes silence is better than talk.”

She looked back at the tent, placing a hand on the curtain as she pulled it back, revealing Lo’ak, still soundly asleep, “But, it was not my silence that calmed your heart, was it?”

You turned violently pink as you struggled to respond to her, “Well-I mean-I-”

“Do not worry. This will be our secret.” Mo’at whispered.

In her excitement, she was getting ahead of herself, spewing her words out with pride, “But, do not hold shame over this, y/n. My grandsons are the most handsome of all the men here. If you realize you are not too fond of Lo’ak, then I’m sure Neteyam would be very good for you.”

You still didn’t know what to say, your mouth parting to speak, but no words falling out. Your shock only allowed you to nod, as you barely even registered what she had said, your mind and heart racing to catch onto the words to understand their heft.

She gave you a pleased smile, putting an affectionate hand on your cheek before she drew the curtain fully, the pouring light from the entrance into the entire tent, the abruptness of sunshine instantly stirring Lo’ak awake.

Rubbing his eyes, Lo’ak sat up and Mo’at approached him, her hands clasped together, “I suggest that you run back home Lo’ak before you get into more trouble.”

Planting his feet on the ground he stood, grunting, “I’m always in trouble, grandma.”

He looked over to where you were, and when you made eye-contact, Lo’ak smirked, “At least this time, it’ll be worth it.”

Author’s Note

My lovers,

Okay so many things happened but round of applause for mo’at, your biggest shipper ~ SHE IS PLAYING HER GRANDMA DUTIES WELL

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!! PLEASE let me know what you thought of it in the comments! I really love reading your predictions and how you felt :)

~ ~ I hadn’t originally planned on putting Spider in my story, but I wanted to add more depth to the reader’s arc and intertwine their fates together— Spider who desperately feels like he belongs and tries so hard, and then there’s YOU who didn’t even try at all to be one of The People and has already been accepted even though you still feel like you don’t deserve to. I just couldn’t resist it :)

again thank you all SO MUCH for taking the time to read my story and for leaving such wonderful comments and just showing your love on here!

i never expected anyone to even read any of my work and as more of you become part of my lovers clan i just feel like crying cause i just love you all so much !!

love,

nana <3

taglist [tumblr wouldn’t let me tag some of the blogs, but i didn’t want to leave anyone out!] :

@fifty-shades-of-mischeif @pretty-npeach @tonni30 @itsemy01 @23victoria @soobinsrose @starjane312 @valentineoxox @justlillythinking @mae-is-crazy @scarletrosesposts@paniniii @bloodyziggy @mister-police @mrs-sullys-blog @niiight-dreamerrrr @promiseofeywa @wilmalovegood @sssspencerrr @mochi-yu @d4rno @lovekeeho @dreama-little-dreamof-me @strawberryclouds22@tsunchani @sully-stick-together @scarletrosesposts @local-mr-frog @pirana10 @usernumder67 @im-kai-scotty @mae-is-crazy @ghoulbli @devil-on-acid @neteyamoa @iamparou @nightfalldia @a-queen-blr @aeclark041-blog1@justpassinbxx @mochi-yu @persondoingstuff @melatonindaydreamz @ducks118 @macncheese69420666 @rotten-toenails @rikidaily @extreamlycutecuban @iizx7y @bongwaterflavoredgatorade @lovekeeho @spicycloudsalad @perfectprofessorloverapricot @kind45 @skyri-revia22@blueblushedflwr @neteyamslovr @coldlamaspersonspy @jayinthecloset @lunamochii @littlethingsinlife @ok-boke @donaldsmac @slut4sluttybooks @zatarias-pandora @bol0-de-morang0 @dakotali @bajadotcom @bitchyzombienacho @siriusblackwh0re @wadiyatalkinabeetmate @eggyongies @galaxyfruits @kiricomics @fireflystoughts @reallysparklychaos @bwormie @fireflystoughts @kiricomics @n1ght5h4d3-24 @tojigirl @jiminparkk @larkkyoris @detectivesparrow @simp-erformarvelwomen @fairygirl-222 @kolsmikaelson @skyri-revia22 @junnniiieee07 @ashrocker123 @sassy-persona @chantelle-mh @https-izuku @kaealowri @sunsents @galacticstxrdust @graykageyama @liyahsocorro @aysenademir @k----a27s

@glitter-in-my-heroin @kirikuki @katkat1918 @0-0h-0 @imthefunniestpersonalive @my-name-duh @mayabritjohn @annoyingstrawberryballoon @sometimesminsan @pearlrosegardener @aestheticcraze @animetrash12 @sbfandom @hrlzy @vhobuu @urforevermore @larkkyoris @usersjs-world @vampsclassiffied @razor-blayde @doromoni @lizzyloo22 @jimfiqs @hunylew @dreamergirljen @champagnelovers101 @di0nlurking @sleepyharuka @dani111@nisha-potter@kaealowri@goddesslilithmoriarty@zilena9 @neteyamforlife

#avatar way of water #avatar fanfiction #avatar x reader #avatar #avatar loak #loak angst #loak fic #loak x reader #loak fluff #loak x you #nanasavatarfics #nanasilwefic!

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vandnana · 1 year

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I cannot stop thinking about “in love with the enemy” it’s on my mind 24/7 I’m literally checking your account every couple of hours hoping there’s an update

my lovers!!

i promise chapter 2 is coming!! thank you so much for your patience!! i am working on it right now and i can't wait for you lovely, beautiful people to read it!

with all the love,

nana <3

#ILOVEYOUGUYSIMSORRYIMTAKINGFOREVER #nanasloversclan

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vandnana · 1 year

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In Love With The Enemy [I]

Chapter 1: Why So Blue?

pairing: lo’ak x female turned na’vi reader

genre: fluff, angst ~ slow burn, pining on lo’ak’s part

highlights: [lo’ak already having a crush on the reader after LITERALLY almost trying to kill her, jake and reader have their tearful reunion!, quaritch still in his toxic dad era, and lo’ak admiring reader in the bioluminescence of the forest]

word count: 9,332

note: hello! thank you all again for waiting for this part! a couple things...when i was writing, i got soo carried away, but i couldn’t help writing in moments of reader with lo’ak in their first encounters cause shes totally intrigued and he has an effect on her, but both of them are in that awkward staring phase??? with that being said, i hope you enjoy!!

[Prologue] [chapter 2]

Light infiltrated your senses, invading your shut eyes as you heard voices around you, the sounds distant at first, but slowly heightening as you came to. Opening them, the fluorescent lights stunned you, your hand instinctively finding its way to the front of your face. You pulled it away, the sight so shocking that you figured you were in hell, punished to be what you had failed to protect.

You were blue, a Na’vi, adorned in hospital gowns with wires attached all over your body.

You felt sharp pains in your head and pangs in your heart, endless memories flooding your mind in swarms, the happiness, the pain, the loss...you remembered it all as you took in your surroundings.

You got up instantly, pulling off the wires as you searched around, your vision becoming less blurry as you continued to blink.

You looked for Grace first before you realized she was gone, murdered by your father, the agony once cauterized now festering into an open wound as the memory sunk stones in your heart. You were looking around for Jake, Norm and, Trudy, but they were nowhere to be found. You were alone, heartbroken, and confused.

“Whoo! Looks like the baby’s awake!” You heard from behind the door, other blue figures walking in wearing full camo, all of them strutting over to you.

In your newly awakened shock, you had a delayed reaction to your body just waking up, your muscles suddenly feeling like jelly as you kept yourself steady on the bed with your hands. As everyone filed in, you hoped that at least one of them would be Jake, but you sunk your shoulders as you realized who they were.

Wainfleet, Warren, Zdinarsk, and Fike. They were the soldiers you grew up training with, all cut from the same obnoxious and arrogant rock.

Wainfleet shook your shoulders, laughing loudly as he looked at your expression, your teeth gritted as you did your best to hide how much you despised all of them, “Hey y/n, why so blue?”

The rest of them laughed aloud with him, and you rolled your eyes, pushing him off you aggressively, which only made him erupt with more laughter, “Still as feisty as ever.” Wainfleet sighed.

Lagging behind, one last person walked through the door, and unlike the rest of the regiment, he was wearing hospital gowns like you were. When he turned toward you, you recognized him right away.

It was Quaritch, your father, the man you owed your life to when you were human.

But it wasn’t really him.

He had become his worst nightmare and in seeing him, you were convinced that you really had been damned to hell. He was Na’vi too and a real sight for sore eyes, his movements awkward and almost repulsed as he approached, like he wanted to jump out of his own skin. The only comfort that he seemed to take refuge in was seeing you, his daughter, his prodigy.

He hugged you and for the first time, he smiled. “My little girl, real nice to see you.”

You hardly shared the same sentiment, the comfort you should have felt replaced by torment and pain. Your memories with your father were consumed by both, and in that moment, that was all you could feel. It was rare for him to ever hug you like this. You never felt any warmth from his embraces, just a temporary sense of relief that you had done something right, that you didn’t disappoint him. You had endured it all your life, desperately clinging to the good things he did, your gratefulness to him for saving you from a worthless life overwhelming any rational thought.

Your father seemed to be the one savoring the feeling of holding you, the roles unexpectedly reversed as he, for the first time in his life, clung to you, like you were the only tether to who he once was.

Before, you would have considered yourself lucky, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and savoring that feeling. But as you sat on the bed, you kept your arms at your sides and your eyes glued to the ceiling, biting your cheek as you fought every urge to give into your anger, to push him off you and make him pay for what he did to Grace.

You took a deep breath in, relaxing as you faced forward again, “I’d be stupid to believe that we were brought back for a simple reunion. Why are we here? And how are we avatars?” You had a firm tone, almost emotionless besides your lifted syllable at the end to indicate your question.

Quaritch let go of you, a proud, satisfied grin on his face as he pulled back, “Perceptive as always.”

He crossed his arms, “All of us got our ticket punched the last time we were on Pandora, and for the sins of our past we have been brought back to life in the form of our enemy to complete one simple task.”

“What’s the mission?” You remained stoic, mirroring your father as you crossed your arms.

He chuckled lightly, his tone suddenly confident as his eyes reflected his renewed sense of purpose, “We’ve been ordered to eliminate the leader of the Na’vi insurgency known as Toruk Makto.”

The emotion you held in burst out in the surprise you showed in your widened eyes. Unfolding your arms, you felt a flit of relief settle in your heart, “Jake’s alive?”

He turned his head, the rest of your regiment whooping with excitement, their smirks irradiating a sinister aura as they gathered around your father.

“That’s right, y/n. Sully’s alive.” Your father gloated, his eyes ferocious with vengeance, “And we’re gonna kill him.”

He gave you no chance to protest, walking out with the rest of the regiment as he pointed to the clothes beside you, “Now, go on and get dressed. We got an hour before Pandora insertion.”

You grabbed the clothes from the table, your hands tightening around them and your breathing ragged as you could feel your frustrations finally spill out.

You had been born again, but at what cost?

The same people that sent you to Pandora were the same people that made an unholy decision, reaching into the past and plucking you out of the comfort of death just to reclaim the glory they still believed was theirs.

When you had awoken, you had figured you had damned yourself for all eternity, and in learning about your new mission, you were right. You were thrust back into your own nightmare, a horrible repeat of the life you had once known, your orders betraying what you had in your heart, just like it did before.

You wanted no part in reclaiming glory and rewriting your father’s failure, but it was the only reason why your heart was even beating. Your mind was only just catching up on your grief, the loss so fresh and so vivid that you felt guilty to have that heartbeat.

You were the Colonel’s daughter.

Why did you deserve to live when Grace was dead? Why did you get a second chance at life when your only reason for breathing was to destroy Jake?

Everything about your life now was born from selfishness, the selfishness of Sky People that had no respect for philosophies regarding life and wholly disregarded the notions that dead things should stay dead.

You didn’t know what happened to Trudy or Norm, but you naturally thought the worst, and that made your mere existence even more unbearable. You weren’t sure how long it had been since you died, but for you, you never felt that time pass, never felt the pain of being gone from those you love. It felt cruel to be alive, the torment of it aching you as you thought of how Jake must have felt when you died and how much it must have hurt.

You looked up, your eyes catching a glimpse of your reflection in the metal lining of the walls. You touched your face lightly as you stared, so bewildered by how you looked. You weren’t the old you anymore, only the shell of your humanity in the semblance of your features.

And for the first time since you woke, you smiled, “If only Grace could see me now.” You mumbled to yourself, the sadness of losing her still lingering behind the calm that settled over you at having thought about her.

You got up, finally deciding to change out of your gowns, and you could have sworn you heard Grace’s voice in the back of your mind, telling you what she always loved to tell you, how you were smarter than you let yourself believe and how you had a heart bigger than the soldiers you were surrounded by.

You took a look at yourself again, those words that felt as if they were just spoken yesterday shrouded over you. It felt unfair to be alive, and that guilt was deep inside of you, but you pushed that feeling aside as your own sense of purpose triumphed over it.

Whatever it took, whatever you needed to do, you were going to save what was left of your family.

You were going to save Jake.

It was two minutes until Pandora insertion, your breather on as you waited for your descent onto the planet. You were quiet, keeping to yourself as you rode along with everyone else, absorbing every detail of the plans until you could figure out the best way to help Jake.

When you had finally reached the ground, the hatch opened and getting up, you walked out, expecting to find yourself surrounded by the forest you loved so much.

Pulling your breather off though, your smile dropped, your eyes unwilling to process the inconceivable truth. In front of you was the reckoning of humanity in full form, its destructive touch creating an unhallowed grave of the once-rich earth below it. Flashbacks filled your mind as you remembered your early life on earth, the desecration of the forest mirroring the desolation that you had escaped when you left for Pandora. Sky People had killed their Mother, holding onto the little that she could provide before finally destroying Her integrity.

Back then, Selfridge was all about the money, and while greed was still very much a part of the new frontier you had found yourself in, humanity’s motives had suddenly become desperate for something else--a new home.

The air no longer held a healthy vigor, a gray density taking its place and expelling a putrid, metallic smell that filled your nose. You were in horrid disbelief, the sight in front of you giving reason to the smell as you rubbed your eyes, still not wanting to believe that the damnation in front of you was real. You were witnessing an entire infestation, complete with insect-shaped machina, their hardware programmed to build the towers and towers of future buildings that would make up what would be known as Bridgehead City.

Behind you, you felt slight relief to see that forest still remained in the distance, but with how quickly the machina bugs were building, it was only inevitable that their work would continue southward and beyond. The General in charge, General Ardmore, although satisfied with the progress that they had made in a year, was still taking losses thanks to Jake’s raids, his forces the only reason that the land had not been fully conquered.

You were looking at the footage from his recent raid, Ardmore’s hands on her hips as she explained the situation, “Jake’s raids are becoming bolder and more frequent.”

Putting a hand on your chin, you let out a weak chuckle, “Looks like Sully’s giving you a run for your money.”

Wainfleet nudged you in the ribs with a disapproving look, but you shoved him away, crossing your arms, “I’m only speaking the truth. He was a Marine, guys. I’m not surprised. He knows exactly how you all think.” Your tone was condescending as you glared at General Ardmore, who seemed to only tolerate your consistent interruptions.

She glared back at you, “Are you questioning my methods, Lieutenant?”

Quaritch was taken aback, putting a hand up to your chest, to stop you from continuing. You looked at your father and defiantly you spoke again. “I am questioning your methods, General. You may have been able to tame this frontier in a year with your bionic bugs, but these...savages with their bows and arrows still have you all by the balls.”

She scoffed, “I’d watch that tone, Lieutenant,” She paused as you kept your glare on her, and she turned, another holographic projection of the Hallelujah Mountains emerged, “Although, what you said does hold some truth. We’ve come to believe that he’s holed up somewhere in these mountains within one of its cave systems, but every time we go up there, we take losses. Can’t be more than ten minutes in enemy airspace without stirring up the hornets’ nest.”

You watched as helicopters were swarmed with hoards of ikran, and you were instantly fascinated, your mind querying the possibility of such a hive mind response by animals, “How odd. They never used to do that before.”

“Our only hope of finding Jake’s base is you guys. We think that you will be perceived as indigenous and won’t trigger the immune response, but that’s only our theory.” General Ardmore

“And how might we test that theory?” You asked, crossing your arms.

Tight-lipped, she sucked a breath in, “The hard way.”

Quaritch snickered, a cocky smirk on his face, “Outstanding.”

“Good. No time to waste. Let’s fly.” She replied with a pleased grin.

Ardmore ordered for a helicopter to be prepped and escorted you toward the hangar. When you entered it, the pilot was just getting into the helicopter and you instantly thought of Trudy, your best friend who loved to raid the caf late at night with you and begged you to fly with her all those years ago.

Quaritch interrupted your thoughts as he pulled you back, “What’s wrong with you? You don’t talk to your superiors like that again, you understand me?”

Reluctantly you nodded, “Yes sir. I understand.”

“You better. Now get in.” He let go of your arm, motioning for you to enter the helicopter.

Wainfleet had a dumb smile on his face, asking curiously, “Where we headed first, Colonel?”

“Where it all started.” He replied, his eyes lighting up with his inspired rage, “W

Touching down on one of the mountains, a stream of nostalgia flowed through you as your mind replayed the first day you had ever landed there with Trudy. Site 26 was only a couple meters away, but each step was like a remnant of the past, scenes flashing in front of you as if you were only there yesterday.

You suddenly felt like you were home once again.

The forest had grown so much, the plant life around you like a warm blanket as the trees enveloped your figure everywhere you went. The soft earth squished down as you took a step while the intertwining branches and brambles gave you a hearty challenge as you maneuvered. Your ears twitched at the range of sounds, some delicate and others obvious, those ones keeping the rest of your crew on edge, their guns readied pointedly in every direction.

You were merely keeping protocol, not planning on shooting anything as you trudged carefully through the forest. Even with all that you had learned about Jake, you still had no plan. Any hope you had of going out to find him alone was futile, knowing that Quaritch would notice your absence instantly.

Approaching Site 26, Wainfleet took his place beside your father, joining him as they both stepped into the clearing. You hesitated, yet to brush past the infiltrating brush as the gaps in the leaves gave you a skewed view of the shack, which had clearly been abandoned, any sign of life nonexistent.

You could hear slight rustling in the trees, the movement calculated and quick. Craning your neck, you looked upward, catching an unmistakable shimmer of blue as you watched the figure of a young man maneuver behind a thicket of green foliage above.

There was no use in hiding, you had already seen him and in his boldness, he brushed the leaves away, staring down at you with his bow already drawn back in his hand, and behind him was a younger girl, the side of her face only visible to you.

As he continued to look at you, you put your gun down, your figure still as you squinted up at him, his face holding so much familiarity to you that you fell silent.

He was unusually hesitant to kill you, convincing himself that he was only being strategic, but truthfully, he just thought you were pretty, unable to contain a flush in his face. The younger girl he was with, looked up at him, her eyebrows furrowed as she watched his odd behavior. He looked hardly older than you, but you still couldn’t figure out who he was, and you knew that the longer they were there, the more danger they were in.

You put your hands up, whispering as you spoke to them in Na’vi, “You both shouldn’t be here. Go back. They’ll kill you if they see you.”

He kept his bowstring taut, conflicted as he faced you, his voice barely audible as he whispered, “Why not let them kill my ass then?”

“I’m not your enemy.” You replied simply.

Quaritch looked over, seeing your figure behind the brush, calling you through his telecom device, “You got eyes on something, y/n?”

Placing your fingers on your own device, the young man drew his bow back again upon instinct, “No sir.” You shook your head, “There’s nothing but trees here.”

Giving them both one last glance, you made your way into the clearing, the young man’s eyes following you as you left, glued to you as you made your way to your father.

“Why are you just staring, Lo’ak? You heard her. We should go.” She pulled at him, trying to get him to budge.

“Not yet Tuk. I have to see what they’re up to.” He warned, glancing at her from the side and shushing her.

Carefully, he advanced forward, climbing to a higher branch with Tuk following behind him quietly. From a higher spot, Lo’ak watched as you, Quaritch, and Wainfleet gathered near your father’s AMP suit.

You were towering over it, your father frowning as his eyes were glued to his own battered skeleton staring back at him like an undead taunt. He put his hand on the arrows sticking out of his body, the two of them embedded into his chest mocking him scornfully too.

You looked down at the AMP suit, a relic of your father’s failure and you noticed his dogtags, pulling them off his skeleton. Your father always wore his, but he always had a copy of yours too. Handing them to him, he took them, his fingers gently brushing the metal and reading the engravings before he put them around his neck.

He looked up at you, “Check the old shack. Wainfleet and I are gonna look around some more.”

You nodded, obeying the order. Pushing away the vines, you hopped in through the broken window. You were too big to stand tall, crouching as your eyes settled on everything, no longer seeing the reality of the wreckage in front of you, but rather the scenes of your memories.

You felt as if you had traveled in time, back to the best days of your old life as you trailed your hands along the pods and going further toward the west-end you stopped, seeing your old bunk. You had decorated the frame with a few pictures and removing them, you wiped the dust away.

You held them up to the peeking light in the shack as you traced your hands over the pictures. One of them was just of you and Jake flipping off the camera, making you laugh to yourself. The other was your whole family, you squished between Jake and Grace, Norm and Trudy standing behind you, all of you grinning widely, your happiness caught in the stillness of one shot.

That was the thing about happiness, it could vanish in an instant, the once pristine shack you had always remembered disappearing as you were faced with the reality of what it actually was. You were in a wreckage, your despair sinking into the broken glass that littered the floor. You hugged the pictures to your chest, savoring the memories before putting them in your pocket.

“Roll out, roll out! We got movement!” An urgent shout rang from outside.

Hopping back out, you followed after Wainfleet and the Colonel, both of them charging toward the forest.

Multiple shots were fired as you navigated through the forest floor and above, you saw the two Na’vi that you had seen earlier, frantically running through the branches and dodging bullets.

Climbing up the tree, you chased after them, hoping to put enough distance between them and the rest of the regiment, “Ardmore was clear about what she wanted. If they know where Sully is, these two are no good to us dead.”

You were pleading on the side of reason and logic, lying through your teeth as you pretended to be on board with a mission that you only saw as immoral insanity.

Quaritch rattled off commands, “Secure the girl! We only need one of them to draw Sully out. Kill the other one if you have to.”

You were catching up to the both of them, impossibly fast as you navigated through the branches, keeping your balance as you hopped from one to another. The younger one looked behind her, her foot suddenly catching on one of the branches and and sending her plummeting to the ground below with a hard thump.

Watching her fall felt like everything was happening in slow motion, your mind teetering on what to do as you continued to run after the young man, watching as Zdinarsk and Warren took her by the arms, dragging her off toward the shack per your father’s orders.

“In pursuit of the Na’vi male. No need for back up.” You quickly let out in your telecom, sprinting toward the young man as he was about to jump off the branch.

You tackled him, his back landing harshly on the bark as he yelled for his sister, “Tuk!”

His eyes immediately went to you, enraged as he hissed at you first, maneuvering himself from under you and pushing you into the bark, his hands pinning your arms down.

“I’m trying to save you both.” You retorted, kicking from underneath him, inflicting a sharp pain in his legs that loosened his grip.

“Like hell you are. I should have killed you when I had the chance.” He wrestled you down again, but you punched him hard, catching him off guard as he placed his finger to his lips, now bloodied.

“Then you’d be dead and so would she.” You spat, grabbing his arm and securing him onto his back once more, your grip on him strong as he fought you off with all his might.

You brought your knife to his neck, forceful as you pushed it against his skin, “I’m not your enemy.” His eyes were fearless, challenging you as you stared into his eyes.

You huffed, lifting your knife from him and striking the bark so close to his ears that you nicked him slightly, blood drawing from where you had caught him.

You put a firm hand on his chest, catching your breath as you calmly talked to him, “I don’t want to fight you, okay?”

He placed his hands on your waist, swiping his leg from underneath yours to press you back into the bark, his eyes narrowed at you, his face smug, “Then what do you want to do? Dance?”

You scoffed at his arrogance, “I want to help you.” You put a finger on his forehead, your teeth gritted, “You need to get it through your thick skull that if I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead already.”

“I need to save my sister.” He was panting, still stubbornly persistent, but in his desperation, reluctantly loosened his aggressive grip on you.

You lifted yourself up too, your face so dangerously close to his as you glared at him. “You have no fear. I see it in your eyes. But that won’t save you or your sister. Even with all that courage, you have no chance against my regiment. Not alone at least.”

Your voice sent goosebumps down his whole body, his cheeks reddening as he tightened his jaw. He scoffed listening to you, his pride too great to acknowledge that truth. You stood up, putting a hand out. He hesitated to take it, and you rolled your eyes, leaning down to pull him up. He blinked at you, the feeling of your hands in his warm and kind, a sudden stark difference to how they felt when you were fighting.

You had a determined expression on your face, your speech hurried as you cautiously looked around you, “I’ll keep your sister safe. You have my word, but I can only think of one person who’ll know how to deal with my regiment.”

He sighed, your hands still intertwined, “Who?”

“Your Olo’eyktan, Jake Sully. My father, Colonel Quaritch, has orders to kill him, and your sister is his best bet at drawing him out.”

The young man’s face paling in shock, his mouth parted in utter disbelief, “Why does your father want to kill mine?”

You withdrew your hand, blinking as your brain could hardly process what he had just said, his reason for feeling so familiar slowly being committed to truth. In your shock, your mouth spewed your thoughts in an almost inaudible whisper, your face paling as you stared at him, “Had I really been dead that long?”

You couldn’t help but stare at him and looking down, you scolded yourself for not noticing his hands before, too encapsulated by that initial familiarity you felt about him.

He tilted his head, squinting at you, “How do you know him?”

“Look I-” You began, but your father’s voice in your ear interrupted you, startling you out of your deep thought, “Y/n, what’s your traffic?”

Putting your hands to your telecom you answered, “Returning to the rally point.”

You grabbed your knife that was stuck in the branch frantically, giving the young man one last look, soft and reassuring even amidst your seriousness, “Don’t worry about your sister. You have to go now! Hurry!”

Without another word, you jumped off the branch, your pocket snagging on it and sending the photos you had put in them flying into the air. The young man caught them in his hands, and seeing you, he was taken aback. He had seen your face before, but as he searched his mind, he found nothing to satisfy your mystery. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his head, pocketing the photos as he ran in the opposite direction of the shack, calling his ikran and darting away back to base.

When you had arrived at the shack, Tuk was bound to a nearby tree branch while Fike held her by her hair, ignoring her squirms as she tried to keep her cries silent.

Quaritch walked over to you with a satisfied grin, patting you on the shoulder, “We got a prisoner thanks to you, but you were gone a while. That savage didn’t give you a hard time, did he?”

“No, sir. I let him go.” You responded simply.

“You what?” Quaritch yelled at you, furious.

“What good would he be dead? Eclipse is almost nearing and we’re in enemy airspace. We don’t have time for a full night-op. If I had let killed him, then who would be the one to tell Jake?” You argued back, your voice poised as you spoke.

“And how can you be so sure they won’t just leave this brat to die?” Wainfleet interjected, the question marking curiosity in everyone.

You glared at Wainfleet, biting your cheek as you hesitated for a moment. You didn’t want to reveal their identities, but with how bloodthirsty they looked, you knew that they were practically begging for any excuse to kill her.

You sighed, “They’re his children.”

Quaritch’s expression turned sinister, his eyes lowering toward Tuk, whose face was scrunched up in fear, “Is that right? This is Sully’s kid?”

You nodded, your father awed by his own dumb luck as he looked up at the sky, laughing, “It must be my lucky day.”

Looking back at you, he put a hand on your shoulder, “I’m calling for extraction. We take her on board if Sully’s late.”

Calling the general through the telecom, he confirmed the helicopter’s arrival and turning toward the clearing, he called out, “Lyle!”

Wainfleet, rushed over to him, your father pointing to the suit, “See if you can pull some data off that suit, and y/n, keep an eye on our prisoner.”

You nodded, walking over to her as your father and Wainfleet disappeared into the clearing once more.

Fike who was snickering as he watched Tuk squirm stopped once you cleared your throat, “Piss off. I’m sure you’re tired of daycare duty.”

Fike let go willingly, “My arm was getting kind of tired. Thanks.” He replied jokingly.

He walked over to the others, talking amongst themselves loudly. You crouched beside the girl, who hissed at you, her pain manifesting itself in her eyes.

You remembered her name as you tried to comfort her, “Tuk, your brother is safe. You don’t need to be scared.”

Hearing her hiss, Zdinarsk was about to stomp over, but you stopped her, covering Tuk’s mouth with your hand. She turned around again, slinging her arm around Fike’s shoulders as she continued the conversation.

When she finally looked away, you took your knife out, tampering with the binds on her hands and loosening the seal, “I sent your brother to find your dad. He was once of the Sky People, but now he is Na’vi. Only he can stop them. Do you understand?”

She couldn’t believe what you were doing, her gaze darting from you to her wrists, you continued to talk soothingly, “When the time is right, you’ll be able to get out of those no problem.”

“Is my dad really coming?” She sniffled, her expression begging for you to be telling the truth.

You met her eyes kindly, “Yes. He is. I made sure that he would. And as long as you’re here with me, you’re safe.”

She relaxed, her expression relieved, a smile adorning her face finally, “Thank you for helping me and Lo’ak.”

You smiled at her warmly, “Ah, so that’s your brother’s name.” She nodded and you couldn’t help but chuckle, remembering your fight on the branches, “I’m y/n.”

“Y/n. That’s pretty. How did you know my name?” Tuk asked innocently.

“I heard Lo’ak call you. Your name is pretty too.”

She blushed, “Thank you.”

She looked at her wrists, “How will I know when the time is right?”

Returning your knife to where it was, you put a hand on her shoulder, “You’ll know, Tuk.” You smiled, “Your dad knows how to make an entrance.”

As you looked at her, you saw more of her parents in her. You had been so focused on the thought of being brought back to life, that you didn’t even bother to notice how long you really had been dead. You felt it first looking at Lo’ak, but it had finally sunk into you.

It felt surreal, and as you sat on the soft, rich soil, you realized that you had probably died somewhere in the forest, your body a relic of the past just like your father’s was.

Quaritch walked out of the brush with a disgruntled expression, his eyes irradiating with an unkempt rage. When you saw him, you stood up, placing yourself between him and Tuk.

"What happened? Why are you-” You stopped as your father pushed past you, kneeling as he put a knife to Tuk’s throat.

He pulled her head back, seething, “Listen here little girl, the only reason why you’re breathing now is because I wanna see your father’s face when I kill you.”

Tuk froze, petrified as fear overtook her body, so stunned that she couldn’t even utter a whimper.

“What the hell are you doing? She’s just a child!” You yelled at your father, something you had never done before, the height of your voice making him lift his grip on her.

Slowly he ascended, his eyes squinted at you in disbelief, “I don’t care if she’s a child. She’s his. Sully’s gonna pay for what he did to us. To our family. Nothing’s over. Not while we’re breathing.”

The hatefulness in his words trapped you as you felt his manic desperation suck the fresh air around you, the world feeling as if it was sinking into abysmal darkness as you couldn’t shield the horror in your eyes.

He took the dogtags you had given him earlier and put them around your neck, “This Na’vi blood’s making you soft. You wear this as a reminder, y/n, a reminder of who you are and where you came from.”

Quaritch stomped off, barking orders to Fike as he left the perimeter, leaving you with those dogtags on your neck, mocking you. You clasped your hands around the dogtags wanting to rip them off your neck and cast them far from you, but you stopped yourself, your shoulders sinking as you sat beside Tuk again.

Your expression matched the darkening sky, the light that cascaded through the trees slowly succumbing to eclipse, and unsure of how to comfort you, Tuk put her hands over yours, your hearts anxious for what was ahead.

“Where’s your sister, Lo’ak? Where’s Tuk?” Jake yelled, his tone abrasive as he aggressively took his son by the shoulders, Neytiri behind him, her eyes filled with worry.

His brother Neteyam went to his side while his other sister Kiri took the other, both of them teeming with worry.

Lo’ak brushed them both off as he made eye-contact with his father, the urgency in his voice showing in his hurriedness, “Colonel Quaritch. He took her, but this girl, she’s keeping her safe and she told me to find you.”

Jake squinted at his son, enraged by such nonsense. He raised his voice in anger, “What the hell are you talking about? Quaritch? A-a girl? That’s impossible. Answer the goddamn question, Lo’ak! Where is your sister?”

"Where is Tuk?” Neytiri repeated, the slowness in her voice giving intense warning as she glared at him.

“Tuk is at the shack, but you have to listen to me, dad. They’re all avatars. They were wearing camo and they had guns.”

Jake and Neytiri looked at one another, unwilling to believe such a nightmarish thing. Still, they were sure of one thing. Tuk was gone, and whether they believed what Lo’ak had said, it didn’t matter. They’re daughter’s life was on the line.

“Let’s go get our daughter.” Jake said to his mate, who nodded, calling her ikran, Jake doing the same.

Lo’ak reached the edge of the camp, mounting his ikran and almost darting off before Kiri and Neteyam showed up at his side.

Kiri groaned in annoyance, “What are you doing? You’re gonna get in trouble!”

Neteyam grabbed Lo’ak’s arm, glaring, “Don’t, Lo’ak.”

Lo’ak shoved him off, mounting his ikran, “Just come with me and stop being such a wuss.”

Lo’ak flew off, Neteyam grunting as he followed his brother, cursing at him under his breath.

Eclipse had finally taken over the sky and with it came a steady rainfall, giving Jake and Neytiri an advantage. Neteyam and Lo’ak followed not long after, and in his fury, commanded them to both stay by the ikrans, Neteyam reluctantly obeying, while Lo’ak agreed halfheartedly.

Jake and Neytiri moved in silence, calculating every move with precision. Neytiri took to the trees and Jake covered the ground, his tomahawk firmly ready in his hand. Carefully and silently, Jake disarmed the soldiers guarding the perimeter while Neytiri waited for the opportune moment to strike.

Everyone else took their positions when dusk fell, the usual calm of the forest becoming eerie, the slight movements of the nature surrounding you making the crew jumpy, their guns at the ready, expectant of any attack. Earlier, when no one was looking, you loosened the binds around her wrists, telling her that when the time was right, she would be able to escape easily.

Tuk kept that in mind, her eyes glued to her wrists as she waited that perfect time. The noises around you had been constant, the rain, the occasional rustling of the leaves, certain animal calls. But, a new sound broke in the wind, making your ears twitch. Tuk heard it loud and clear, looking up at you, and you understood what the sound was. It was a call, a signal that Jake had finally come.

After the wake of that new sound, the unmistakeable twang of an arrow burst through the thick air, sending Fike backwards and killing him instantly. Bullets rang through the air from another direction, sending the other soldiers flying to the ground. Tuk, who had figured this was the perfect time to set herself free, squeezed her hands through the binds and ran in the opposite direction of the fire, screaming when she ran into someone, but sinking with relief when she realized it was Lo’ak and Neteyam.

Neteyam took Tuk into his arms, holding her as Lo’ak grabbed her by the shoulder, “Where’s the girl, the girl that helped us?” He asked her.

Tuk pointed opposite his direction, “Y/n! She’s over there!”

Lo’ak, without any hesitation ran toward where Tuk had pointed, carefully maneuvering as he approached.

You and the rest of the soldiers took cover as bullets continued to sweep the forest floor, bullets that you knew could only be coming from Jake.

Quaritch, who had taken cover behind a log, saw the arrow, his voice sinister as he attempted to draw her out. “Is that you Mrs. Sully?”

She instantly recognized the voice, but she kept a poised anger, despite the ghostly chill she felt down her spine, “I will kill you as many times as I have to, demon.”

Quaritch huffed out cockily, reloading his weapon, “Looks like you’ve been busy while I’ve been gone, but don’t worry Mrs. Sully. Pretty soon, you won’t have a family to protect.”

Looking at Warren and Wainfleet, Quaritch gave his signal, the two of them putting their eyes in their scopes to search for Neytiri as he continued to talk, taunting her with unbearable arrogance.

She was stuck where she was, any movement marking her for death as guns in all directions were targeting her. You used your scope to watch your crew intently from the opposite side. Warren’s eyes were fixed on the trees, and you knew he caught sight of her when he stopped, aiming as he pointed his gun at her. You aimed at Warren ready to pull the trigger, but an arrow came flying through the sky behind you, shooting through Warren’s chest and sending his body instantly to the ground.

Wainfleet immediately turned toward the arrow’s origin and you followed his line of sight to find Lo’ak behind you. You stepped in front of the line of fire, attempting to stop Wainfleet, but he had already pulled the trigger. The bullet had landed above your clavicle, a seemingly fatal wound as your body dropped, Lo’ak catching you as you fell.

Wainfleet’s eyes widened, turning his head to the Colonel, who hadn’t seen what had happened, and in his flustered state, Wainfleet backed away slowly, running to your father’s side.

At that same instant, Quaritch took his shot, gauging where Neytiri was and releasing a detonation of bullets that bursted with deadly fire, the area engulfing in a massive explosion that ruptured the area, pieces of bark flying all throughout the forest like shrapnel. Taking her chance, Neytiri ran, and seeing her movement, Quaritch ordered the crew to follow. Jake followed too, disarming soldiers from where he had taken cover and using the last of his bullets to secure Neytiri’s safety.

You were lying on the ground, Lo’ak breaking your fall as you both tumbled to the grassy floor, “Shit!” He yelled out once he noticed the blood dripping from the wound.

Shifting to your side, he put pressure on it, talking to you gently, “Hey! Stay with me, okay?”

When your mind finally caught up with your body, you let a deep breath in, sitting up abruptly, the boy retracting his hands as your own touched where your wound was, the blood smeared on your fingertips as more poured down your chest.

Quickly, you ripped pieces of your shirt as he watched, eyes blinking in confusion as his face flushed, “What are you doing?”

You almost laughed, a smirk on your face, “Relax, I’m not getting naked.”

Looking around, you took your knife out, slicing off a piece of the bark from a nearby tree, pressing the blade into its flesh as it seeped out sap. You wiped the sap on your wound, feeling the slight sting as Lo’ak watching in confused awe.

Lo’ak let out another question, “Where did you learn how to-”

“I had a great teacher.” You replied, “Yanna bark sap has great healing properties.”

You gave him the pieces of cloth that you tore, “Just wrap the pieces around.”

He took the cloth from you, covering the wound, “Wrap it tightly.” You ordered.

“Ow!” You yelped as he pulled the cloth taut.

“You said to do it tightly.” He mumbled, continuing to wrap your wound.

You took his face in your other hand, brushing his lip with your finger, the bottom of it cracked and the blood crusted from when you punched him, “Sorry about that.”

He could feel his heart beat faster, your fingers still on his lips as he placed his gaze on you. The way he bore his eyes into you made you feel shy, and having never been looked at like that before, you pulled your hand away, but he grabbed it, “It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt.”

Blues, greens, and purples illuminating your shimmering skin as the plants around regained their bioluminescence. Anyone from the outside looking in would have thought you two were sharing affections, the plants livening around you, sanctifying the air you shared, that small, fleeting moment between the two of you peaceful amidst what had just happened. You cast your eyes away from him quickly though, unable to let yourself slip too deep into that peace, the horrible truth of reality striking at it like vipers.

Your ears twitched, voices coming through your telecom, immediately you turned around, craning your neck as you saw the bright, white lights of the extraction helicopter in the distance, snuffing out the glow of the plants. You could hear the general’s urgency as everyone was ordered to return to the helicopter.

“Get down. They might shoot if they see you.” You pulled him into the nearby brush, the tall, hanging leaves giving cover for you and Lo’ak.

As the helicopter neared and neared, its rotors whirred loudly, silencing the rest of the noises and filling your ears. Through the leaves, you saw the helicopter descend just above the tree line, multiple ropes dropping to the ground for extraction. Immediately, Quaritch stopped his crusade, falling back to the rally point, everyone else following after him. Grabbing onto the rope, he counted who he was with, but let go when he realized you weren’t there.

“Y/n? Do you read me? Get back to the rally point.” He commanded in his telecom, his voice desperate.

You were about to put your hands on your telecom but you stopped, your fingers hovering over the buttons. You didn’t expect to hesitate. From the moment you woke up, you felt scorned by the presence of your father. But as you heard his voice calling to you so desperately, what was left of that old you, who loved him so much, found its hold on your heart somehow.

“Y/n? Do you hear me? Get back to the rally point, now!” He yelled out. You could see him in front of you, frantically looking around.

General Ardmore was barking orders too, emotionless, “If she doesn’t come up Colonel. We’ll have to leave and come back tomorrow.”

Despite the whirring of the helicopter, your father’s voice was all you could hear in your head as he continued to scream out your name, the voice that taught you your every move and molded your every thought.

Still, you did nothing, eyes glued to your father in the distance, uncharacteristically panicky as he turned to the rest of his regiment, throwing his hands up, “Where’s my little girl?”

Lo’ak put a hand on your arm, his voice low, “Don’t tell me you’re gonna go back. That guy over there shot you, then left you.”

You looked at him, feeling the guilt within you rise, “Am I not so different from him? From all of them? I don’t belong here on Pandora and I don’t deserve to. If I stay here, I’d still be endangering you all.”

He kept his eyes planted on you, the sadness in your voice reinforcing him to be strong, “And if you go back, then what will happen to you? Will you just obey orders and watch your dad kill mine?” You looked at Lo’ak, your expression still conflicted and too aghast by his boldness to offer any protest. Yet, Lo’ak knew he got through to you, your expression softening as you let him lower your hands gently to the grass.

“Look, you chose to save me and my sister when you could have killed us.” He lifted his hand up, his palm grazing it as he took the earpiece out of your ear, his fingers traveling to your neck as he unclipped your telecom.

You froze, your senses wholly attuned to him as your mind could only focus on his voice, calm and slow as he spoke to you, “You told me yourself. You’re not the enemy.” He smirked at you, pressing a finger into your forehead, “Get that through your thick skull, won’t you?”

You couldn’t help a light laugh as your lips upturned, “I got through yours, so it’s only fair right?”

About to lift your gaze back on the helicopter, you stopped, rolling onto your back instead, relinquishing the ties of who you no longer wanted to be, unwilling even to grant them your eyes as they left you. You felt as if the tether to your father was being severed as the helicopter flew away, its whirring becoming distant and distant until finally, the tranquility of the forest returned as the bioluminescence reawakened around you. The feel of the grass and the air immersed you into that bliss, and no longer focused on the anger and hurt, you only wondered how you endured it for so long, how that tether was able to mark trauma into your skin and bones.

Lo’ak, although confused by your actions held no qualms about joining you, lying down, his eyes only on you the whole time. You turned your head slightly to look at him, and you felt that peace from before, no longer skewed but welcomed by you as you smiled at him, your gratefulness emanating from it.

Under your gaze, Lo’ak felt himself get shy, getting up quickly to hide the blush that would surely make itself known among the illumination of the flora around you.

“W-we should uh...look for my dad.” In his awkwardness, he was seemingly unsure, his tone expelling his words like a question.

Lo’ak put a hand out and you took it, “Yeah, Jake and I have a lot to catch up on.”

Once you stood up, you heard bellowing rustles in the distance, and immediately you took your defensive position, taking your knife out. Lo’ak also had his knife out, his back against yours as you both searched your perimeter. The rustling became footsteps, the sound approaching closer and closer until you saw a flash of blue rushing toward you, the lifting of a tomahawk making you dodge immediately.

“Jake I-!” He swung again, your knife barely blocking the weight of his tomahawk as you staggered backward.

“Dad! Stop!” Lo’ak yelled out, and hearing the rest of his family come, Neytiri already drawing her bow, he ran to her, pleading for her to put it down.

You ducked again as Jake continued to swing, backing away as you put your hands up, “Jake! It’s me! Y/n!” You yelled.

The adrenaline pumping in his veins was too prominent, not allowing him to recognize you as he continued to swing at you, each one more forceful than the last. Neteyam had also drawn his bow, but Tuk clung to his arms, disrupting his attempt at shooting you.

You fought back vigorously and when you had finally knocked the tomahawk out of his hands, you let go of your grip on him, kneeling on the dirt with your hands up as you spoke again, out of breath, “Jake. It’s me, y/n. You have to believe me.”

Blinking, he could finally hear you, your unmistakeable voice warping Jake’s mind, unwilling to accept the possibility, your appearance betraying the very memory of you, splicing who he remembered you to be from the mystery of who was kneeling in front of him.

He put a knife to your neck, his eyes pained as he tried to ignore the memories coming back to him in response to your voice, “You’re not! Y/n’s dead. She’s dead, okay? So, who are you?”

What proof did you have? Even if you showed him those photos, they wouldn’t be enough. All you had were your memories, and as you looked at Jake, so happy to see him again, you reached into your past in hopes that he would remember too.

“You know me, Jake Sully, and you know my father. He’ll stop at nothing to kill you and your family.” Jake gritted his teeth, his knife dipping into your neck more. You became teary-eyed as you continued to speak, but you were fierce in your tone, “Do you remember what I told you before the bulldozers came?” You asked.

“A father protects. It’s what gives him meaning.” You looked over at his family, their stares burning into you, “You have a family now, Jake. Let me help you protect them from my father.”

Jake dropped his knife, his mouth parting, the words he had lived by in all the time you were gone breathing life back into you, his eyes no longer looking, but Seeing. Every doubt he had in his mind disappeared into the night air as he said your name, the breath he expelled so soft in the wake of what he felt was another reality. You were alive, and when he had finally accepted that fact, he lifted you up from the ground, pulling you in for a hug.

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you before.” He said softly, “Blue never really was your color.”

You buried your face in his shoulder as you hugged him back, “Yeah well, it was always yours.”

You felt tears brim in your eyes as you lifted your head up and you could feel your whole body relax for the first time since you woke up. In the midst of your comfortable silence you suddenly heard him sniffle. You became moon-eyed, pulling back to see that he had tears falling from his eyes too.

You smiled at him, your old joking self returning as you laughed, “I see fatherhood’s turned you into a sap.” You put your hands up to his forehead, “And look at all the wrinkles on your forehead. You’re ancient.”

Scoffing, Jake pushed your hand away, tousling your hair, “You come back from the dead, and you’re still a little shit.”

“Whatever old man. I know you missed me.” You snarkily replied, weakly punching him in the arm.

He scoffed at you, winding his arm to punch you back when his face dropped, noticing your bound wound, “What happened? Did I shoot you?”

Lo’ak piped in, “It was one of the other soldiers. He was trying to kill me, but she took the bullet instead.”

He looked between you and Lo’ak. If there was still any doubt in his mind about who you were, it was easily erased. What you had done for his son directly mirrored what you had done for him all those years ago, every detail so ingrained in him that goosebumps adorned his body as he thought of it. Neytiri, who took her place beside Jake softened her eyes, having felt grateful to you for saving Jake’s life before, and once again for saving her son.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry. I’ve already put yanna bark on it. It’ll be better in no time.” You put your hands up, attempting to ease Jake.

He glared at you, “We’re going.” Jake turned to his eldest son, “Neteyam, take y/n back to camp.”

“No! I’ll take her back.” Lo’ak instantly protested, earning a knowing look from Neteyam, “It’s the least I can do after she took the bullet for me.”

“Fine Lo’ak,” His eyes were ensnared with warning, “You fly straight and slow, alright? Don’t be reckless in the air.”

“Yes sir.” Lo’ak answered, although he hardly meant it.

Everyone called their ikrans, all of them coming in like a swarm and gracefully descending to the forest floor. Jake flew off first, Neytiri, who was holding Tuk, followed after, then Neteyam ascended as well.

Making sure you were secure before taking off, Lo’ak looked over his shoulder at you, “Have you ever been on an ikran before?”

“Never.” You said, suddenly excited, wrapping your arms around his waist tightly, your chest hugging his back, “I don’t care what Jake says, I don’t want to go slow.”

Lo’ak couldn’t control himself as a satisfied grin took over his lips, “Good, ‘cause I wasn’t planning to.”

The minute he kicked off, you felt the exhilaration of being in the air hit you as you flew through the mist of the night, Lo’ak taking extra detours around the mountain, commanding the wind as you felt it underneath you. You had merely felt free before, but as you embraced the touch of the swirling air, infinite and timeless in its beauty, you knew you really were.

The day had felt excruciatingly long, and you felt so burdened by just being alive, the guilt, the hurt, and the pain encompassing you. But, being in the air with Lo’ak made those burdens feel like mere trivialities, and while you knew in the back of your mind that you would have to face them again, you let yourself feel that freedom you always longed to have and in its simplest form, you understood what it was you were really feeling.

You were happy.

But the thing about happiness is that it can vanish in an instant.

Your father was still out there, and having already been motivated to complete this mission by his own disposition, a new rage had sunk into his soul, catalyzing the torment he so desperately had to inflict.

Wainfleet finally admitted to your father what had happened to you, but in his deceitful cowardice, he left out one large truth.

“What did you say Lyle?” Quaritch asked impatiently.

“Sully. He shot her. She’s dead, Colonel.”

—

Author’s Note:

My lovers,

LYLE WAINFLEET IS A BITCHHH ISN’T HE???

let me know how you felt about chapter 1!! i’d love to hear your thoughts :)

endless thanks for all of you who have waited and continue to wait for the next parts!

for all those that wanted to be tagged for this next part, i’ve listed you all below! thank you so much!!

love,

nana <3

taglist [tumblr wouldn’t let me tag some of the blogs, but i didn’t want to leave anyone out!] :

@fifty-shades-of-mischeif @pretty-npeach @tonni30 @itsemy01 @23victoria @soobinsrose @starjane312 @valentineoxox @justlillythinking @mae-is-crazy @scarletrosesposts@paniniii @bloodyziggy @mister-police @mrs-sullys-blog @niiight-dreamerrrr @promiseofeywa @wilmalovegood @sssspencerrr @mochi-yu @d4rno @lovekeeho @dreama-little-dreamof-me @strawberryclouds22@tsunchani @sully-stick-together @scarletrosesposts @local-mr-frog @pirana10 @usernumder67 @im-kai-scotty @mae-is-crazy @ghoulbli @devil-on-acid @neteyamoa @iamparou @nightfalldia @a-queen-blr @aeclark041-blog1@justpassinbxx @mochi-yu @persondoingstuff @melatonindaydreamz @ducks118 @macncheese69420666 @rotten-toenails @rikidaily @extreamlycutecuban @iizx7y @bongwaterflavoredgatorade @lovekeeho @spicycloudsalad @perfectprofessorloverapricot @kind45 @skyri-revia22@blueblushedflwr @neteyamslovr @coldlamaspersonspy @jayinthecloset @lunamochii @littlethingsinlife @ok-boke @donaldsmac @slut4sluttybooks @zatarias-pandora @bol0-de-morang0 @dakotali @bajadotcom @bitchyzombienacho @siriusblackwh0re @wadiyatalkinabeetmate @eggyongies @galaxyfruits @kiricomics @fireflystoughts @reallysparklychaos @bwormie @glitter-in-my-heroin @kirikuki @katkat1918 @0-0h-0 @imthefunniestpersonalive @my-name-duh @mayabritjohn @annoyingstrawberryballoon @sometimesminsan @pearlrosegardener @aestheticcraze @animetrash12 @sbfandom @hrlzy @vhobuu @urforevermore @larkkyoris @usersjs-world @vampsclassiffied @razor-blayde @doromoni @lizzyloo22 @jimfiqs @hunylew @dreamergirljen

#avatar #avatar x reader #avatar way of water #avatar fanfiction #avatar loak #loak #loak sully #loak x reader #loak x you #loak x y/n #nanasavatarfics #nanasilwefic!

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vandnana · 1 year

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absolutely amazing you are for making this list 😙❤️ thanks for uplifting writers on here!!

Avatar | ATWOW: FIC RECOMMENDATIONS

This is for anyone else who is searching for certain avatar (wotw) fics; I’ve got you.

note: Reminder minors please remember to read authors notes and warnings, majority of them should be sfw blogs; Also remember to check out the tagged authors blogs for more of their amazing work and support them ✨

**will keep updating this **

Second: LO’AK FANFICS | Catergory: A-Z

• A •

Anything for you @naughtyforneteyam

As long as it's with you. @loakismine

Avatar the story of us @tonni30

A misunderstanding - lo'ak x reader @readerxlol

• B •

Being human + dating lo'ak @lo-aksgf

Best friends. @atokirina-writings

bounce @snoopdogsnip

boys dont cry @outsideofthegarden

burning love @p0w3rzz

• C •

childhood bestfriends to lovers @lola-bunn1

clueless @starkeysmoon

Come to you @whatisthatmae

• D •

dull | lo'ak @bonnibuckets

• E •

Empathy @mochi-yu

• F •

failure @m1kasawps

first kiss with lo'ak @livelaughloak

Five things lo'ak loves about you @tinkerbelle05

Fmokx @/loakismine

• H •

Happier @littlethingsinlife

Him Being insecure @sxmpforneteyam

hurt @bruisedcupids

• I •

Injured || lo'ak x reader @budgiesunset

In love with the enemy @vandnana

it's always been you @/lola-bunn1

I see you @hearts4neteyam

I see you @bibibelly

I see you lo'ak @loaksbitch

• J •

jealousy @lxvvvllyy

Just Dance @/snoopdogsnip

Just the start @sunandsstars

• L •

lo'ak getting jealous @/livelaughloak

lo'ak learning hiw to read @/livelaughloak

Lo'ak @marvelsage

Love at first sight @yapeachys

• M •

Me Gustas Tu @starriluvs

My First @/loakismine

• N •

nebula @tysukets

nightmare @eywascall

not funny, didn't laugh @/tysukets

• O •

Ocean breeze @/rslytherinesinner

Only one. @starriluvs

• P •

partner in crime @astr1dblogs

perfect @/sunandsstars

• R •

Rivals to Lovers with Lo'ak @angelltheninth

• S •

scream @sethcertified

Sharing same music taste @/hearts4neteyam

sneaking out @/snoopdogsnip

starlight lovin' @/tysukets

sugar crash @/snoopdogsnip

• T •

teach me @/loakismine

Together again @otherperson12

the chase @/starkeysmoon

The perfect pair @mooooonnnzz

The pink promise @/vandnana

• U •

Unrequited Love @shanaurrr

• W •

Worthy @white-girl444

• Y •

you idiot. @urjanedxn

You're perfect @/shanaurr

Your killin me @slutforavatar

You were just a child.... @/atokirina-writings

#- 123 - REQ (untitled)

lo'ak x female reader @price45

lo'ak x metkyina!reader @marastarz

Lo'ak x Metkayina!GN! @imagineitcreateit

lo'ak headcannons @rainymoodsworld

lo'ak x non-binary @klefansklaroline

angst to fluff @/lola-bunn1

loak x insecure reader @loveysmoke6998

lo'ak x reader @/loveysmoke6998

lo'ak x human!reader @beannmx

lo'ak x polar opposite twin @/beannmx

lo'ak x bestfriend reader @/lola-bunn1

Omatikaya, Metkayina hybrid! reader @/ilikeballs

Lo'akxFem!Metkayinareader @avatarl0v3r

Headcannon of Lo'ak @/angelltheninth

Lo’ak x Female Na’vi Reader Headcanons @woalain

Yo this list is slightly longer than others.

#THANKYOUFORMAKINGTHIS #YOUARESOWONDERFUL #avatar the way of water #avatar 2

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vandnana · 1 year

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In Love With The Enemy [Prologue]

Prologue: Playing Scientist

pairing: lo’ak x female turned na’vi reader

genre: fluff, angst

highlights: grace being like a mother to you and jake being like your father figure while quaritch is in his toxic dad era

warnings: mentions of blood, war, violence, adult language

word count: 6,265

note: thank you to everyone who has been so excited for this series! i wasn’t originally going to make this prologue, but i really wanted to establish the reader’s old life before she was revived and how close the reader was to jake and grace first before diving into the rest of the series!

[chapter 1] [chapter 2]

The forest of Pandora holds many dangers, but the most dangerous thing about her is that you may grow to love her too much.

You were the youngest in the regiment back then, too young for war and far too young for what was in store for you in Pandora. But, Quaritch took you in when you were a child. You had no family, no home, and no promise of a real future. He had seen himself in you: cunning, willing, strong, and unafraid. You were everything he could have hoped for in a daughter, but you were real. His prodigy. And not a day went by when you didn’t live up to those expectations. You loved being with Quaritch. He had become your father and he always thought that nothing could ever change that.

Then you met Grace.

You were only a child when you first met her, and having been around army dogs your whole life, meeting her was a breath of fresh air, air that you never knew you were missing.

She was hesitant at first. You were Quaritch’s kid, an actual carbon-copy of the worst trigger-happy moron out there. Yet, even with all your harsh military training, you maintained an unmistakeable innocence in your eyes, an innocence that Grace couldn’t ignore when you asked her to teach you about Pandora, about the Na’vi, about the avatars. You were curious, genuinely curious and for Grace, although she would never admit it, it was refreshing too.

“You know, for a little Marine, you’re actually pretty smart.” She was watching you with her elbow resting on the lab table as you took notes of your findings, your eyes glued to your notebook

You didn’t look up at her, “I don’t know about that. I just did what you told me to.”

She put a hand on top of your notebook, halting the pen in your hand, “What I told you to do was simply look at the sample.”

You looked at her with confused eyes, and she sighed, taking the notebook out of your reach.

Holding it up, she displayed your work in front of you, eyes flitting from your notebook to you, “I did not tell you classify your observations and make a surprisingly accurate diagram of the snaketree’s cellular levels.”

You nodded, acknowledging your mistake. You had disobeyed a direct order and unsure what else to say, you apologized on instinct. “I’m sorry, ma’am. It won’t happen again.”

Grace looked at you in awe, laughing suddenly, “This isn’t military training numbnuts. What you did was good work, real good work. I’m impressed.”

“Are you serious?” You were still in disbelief, but the feeling in your chest was one you’d never had before.

She smacked you lightly on the head, “Yes! You’re smarter than all the idiots in your squad, especially your father. And from now on, don’t call me ma’am, okay?”

You rubbed where she had hit you, smiling as you nodded, “Yes ma- I mean, yes Grace.”

Suddenly, you understood what you felt in your chest. It was different from the feeling you would get when you were praised by Quaritch. This feeling, it was like being recognized by a mother. Yes, you were that cunning, willing, strong, and fearless girl that Quaritch adored, but you were also smart beyond what you were told and you had an admirable moral compass that put the rest of your squad to shame.

Grace never let you forget that.

Still, you were Quaritch’s daughter, and being his daughter meant that you had to take on the role of who you always were. His perfect soldier.

The more time you spent on Pandora, the more you began to see past the façade you let yourself believe for so long. The mission was never about finding diplomatic solutions or building alliances. It was about destruction, money, and humanity’s wretched twist on glory, a misguided glory that Quaritch was more than happy to fulfill.

When Jake came on board, your father saw that potential, a soldier in with the wrong crowd, the thought invoking a vile taste in his mouth. Yet, with all his personal notions aside, there was an opportunity to be poached.

Jake was the key to the glory he was chasing.

Quaritch spared no time asking you to summon Jake. He was going to offer him a deal, one that he simply couldn’t refuse. You obliged to the simple request, but your heart was heavy. Six years you had been on Pandora and relations with the indigenous were only getting worse, and with Jake, your father finally found a reliable mole to fulfill his duties.

You made the short journey to the lab, the way so embedded into you that your legs were working on pure muscle memory. It had been a while since you had been there, too busy with AMP suit duty and perimeter watch to have any time to stop by. You commanded attention instantly walking through the door, the scientists greeting you warmly as you brushed past them.

Jake, who looked unabashedly lost among the labcoats, immediately looked your way, and seeing you in your full camo, he almost seemed relieved, the pristine, formalin smell of the lab permeating his nose was enough to suffocate him as he sat there, bored out of his mind.

“Jake Sully?” You approached, your demeanor intimidating at first, but betrayed by the smile on your face when you looked past him, waving.

He looked behind him to see Grace with a disapproving look in her eyes, “Shouldn’t you be playing soldier, little girl?”

“I am playing soldier...unfortunately. Which is why I’m here. I need to borrow yours.” You replied, turning your gaze to Jake.

Grace sighed, “Go ahead and take him. He’s pretty much useless here anyway,” Jake looked up at her, but he said nothing, merely scoffing.

“Don’t worry. I’ll return him to you as soon as possible.” You said sarcastically, putting your hand out in front of her and extending your pinkie, “I pinky promise.”

You laughed as she rolled her eyes at you, pushing your hand away, “I’d actually rather you keep him, but Selfridge seems to think I need another idiot with a gun.”

“Come on, play nice, Grace.” You reasoned.

She crossed her arms, lowering her eyes at such a hopeless request, “Just get the Marine out of my sight, will you? You’d be doing me such a favor, y/n.”

You glanced down at Jake, who was holding back all the snappy responses that were just at the tip of his tongue.

“Favor granted.” You replied simply with a smile, walking away, Jake following behind you.

As you reached the doorway, you halted, turning your head back, “I saw those samples you got earlier. I’ll sneak back here after dinner, just don’t look at them without me, okay?”

Looking over her shoulder, Grace couldn’t help but concede to a grin, “Wouldn’t dream of it, but it’s Max you really have to worry about.”

You put a finger out pointedly, your tone stern, “Tell him I’ll shoot him if he touches them.”

Grace chuckled, “Alright, alright miss Marine. I’ll pass along the message.”

With a final wave, you left, navigating through the halls with Jake beside you, “Sorry about Grace. She’s always prickly at first, but she’ll warm up to you eventually.”

“No kidding.” Jake huffed, looking up at you curiously as he kept up with your pace, “Where are you taking me anyway?”

“The Colonel wants to see you.” You replied, the heaviness in your heart suddenly obvious as you walked, the hallway widening out into one of the base’s hangars, the multiple flyers and AMP suits becoming your audience as you passed them.

Jake maintained his inspecting tone, eyes flitting from the path in front of him to you, “So, what are you? A soldier or one of the science sorties?”

“Oo “science sortie” I haven’t heard that one before.” You replied sarcastically, but you maintained your placid grin, “I’m y/n.”

He nodded, but still he continued, his tone so arrogant that it almost felt insulting, “Okay y/n...you didn’t answer my question. Playing soldier and playing scientist are two completely different games.”

You scoffed, making eye contact as you pointed to his legs, “And what’s your game? Are you a Marine or are you a cripple?”

He was stunned, having no clever retort, resorting to a simple shrug, “May be out, but you never lose the attitude.”

Having heard all the military cliches, you chuckled, “Look, there’s no game here. Not on Pandora. These RDA goons and this greedy company think they’re on the winning side of a pointless war. To be honest with you, I’d rather be doing what you’re doing.”

“So why aren’t you?” Jake asked, stopping to face you.

You halted, meeting his gaze, your expression visibly troubled.

“Lieutenant Quaritch.” A deep voice called from behind you, and you turned receiving the soldier’s salute.

“Warren...what can I do for you?” You asked.

The soldier pointed to one of the flyers just ahead, your best friend Trudy waving to you as your eyes stopped where she was, “I’ve been relieved of doorman duty. Trudy wanted me to tell you the spot is open for the taking.

Turning your attention to Jake, you asked, “How do you feel about being a doorman? Trudy flies all your “science sorties.”

Immediately, Jake agreed, “I’m your guy.”

Warren saluted again, acknowledging Jake with a nod before returning to the flyer.

The disgruntled expression on your face only lasted for a moment, but Jake saw it right away, his eyes softening as he looked at you. He wasn’t all that convinced of his position being covetable or about this war you had talked about, but he did understand the pressure you were under.

Choosing to lighten the mood, Jake took an opportunity to tease you, clearing his throat before speaking, “Lieutenant Quaritch, huh? That must get you a lot of dates.”

Somehow, Jake knew that it was exactly what you needed, wanting to avoid the conversation in front of too many prying ears. You gave into your own laughter, you responded snarkily, “Probably the same amount as you, old man.”

Jake scoffed, “Old man? I’m not that much older than you.”

Your eyes darted upward as you put a finger to your chin, your expression filled with feigned wonderment, “Really? I mean, you look like you’ve earned your senior discount with that wheelchair.”

He chuckled to himself, amused as he retorted, “I’m sure my senior discount doesn’t do your kids meal justice.”

You threw your head back in another fit of laughter, “I’ll give you that one Sully. For now.”

Stopping, you outstretched your arm, “The Colonel is right through there.” You pointed, seeing your father bench pressing in the makeshift workout room the soldiers created. Although its black, metal bars made it feel more like a prison.

Jake thanked you, and you nodded, putting a fist out, which he proudly bumped.

“Hey Jake,” You began, and he looked over his shoulder, waiting for what you had to say.

The seriousness in your voice was stark as you gave him a curt expression, “I meant what I said earlier about a pointless war. Whatever my dad offers you, he’ll mean it. My dad takes care of his own. Just don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

He squinted at you inquisitively, “Wasn’t planning to.”

You turned your heel, looking over your shoulder before leaving, “See you around, old man, unless you want to go back to your retirement home on earth.”

“Go crawl back to your crib, won’t you?” He yelled after you, and with your back turned, you flipped him off, his chuckle becoming fainter and fainter as you walked away.

You stopped by Trudy and she stopped what she was doing, getting up from her crouched position, “Hey, hey what’s wrong? You’ve got that look in your eye.”

Looking back, you watched as Jake talked to your father, “I don’t know. I just have a bad feeling, Trudy.”

Trudy put a comforting hand on your back, “Why don’t we go to the caf and raid the dessert pantry? That always makes you feel better.”

“Can’t hurt.” You replied, the two of you hastily walking to the cafeteria.

You felt slightly better because of Trudy’s efforts, but that bad feeling still plagued you. When night fell, you walked to the soldiers’ quarters, making your way to the far end of it to find your father in his room.

“What did Sully say, sir?” Keeping your nonchalance, you showed no heightened emotions, standing perfectly as your father turned his attention to you.

He had a smirk on his face, which gave away his answer, “We’ll have these savages by the balls in no time.”

“What exactly are you having him do?” You pushed on, maintaining your stoic expression.

Quaritch walked over to you, “I thought about sending you instead. Don’t think it didn’t cross my mind seeing as that Augustine bitch is trying to brainwash you into believe her tree-hugging bullshit.”

Still, you gave him an unreadable expression, waiting for him to continue what he was saying.

“But, you don’t have an avatar. Sully can gather intel that we need from the inside. Understand?”

“Yes, sir. I understand.” You stood with perfect posture as silence enveloped you.

He smiled at you, putting a hand on your cheek, “Now, go on to bed baby girl. We got a long day ahead of us.”

Could you blame Jake for taking the deal? He didn’t know that he was really making a deal with the devil.

Jake was like you at first. Ignorant. He didn’t fully grasp the world he was entering into, clinging onto the comfort of what he had always known. He was a Marine who figured it was just another hellhole, another tour that would add to his long list of sins.

He would get a reversal, his old life before a big hole was blown right through the middle of it. Reporting intel was a cakewalk to Jake, and if that meant the promise of his legs back, then there was nothing to lose.

Three months. That was how long Jake had to negotiate the Na’vi’s relocation.

It didn’t take long for Grace to find out that Jake was talking to the Colonel, Max rushing in to deliver the news to you all, his mannerisms frantic as he threw his hands up. Grace had her usual cigarette in her mouth, and in her burning rage, she almost bit down on it, her teeth barely sinking in as she grit her teeth.

Taking it out of her mouth, she let a puff of smoke escape and you all felt her rage as her smoke cloud engulfed you all, “Those idiots have no business sticking their noses in my department.”

The rest of you were silent, listening as she continued her rant. Jake was untouchable, strangely chosen by the Omaticaya, and unfortunately, her only way back in with the clan. You could see her thinking as her eyes went to the ceiling, her forehead furrowing as she considered what her next move was. Seemingly, she had found the answer after her mental contemplation, immediately ordering everyone to gather everything up.

Quickly, she walked over to her station, her eyes scanning the contents of the table.

You followed after her, “What are you doing to do?”

She handed you her cigarette, her hands at work as she began to organize what was in front of her, “We’re getting out of Dodge. I’m not about to let your brainless father and that ass-hat Selfridge micro-manage this thing.”

She had handed you the cigarette so haphazardly that you almost grabbed the part that had been lit, cinging it on your belt once she gave it to you, “So, where are we going?”

She stopped, facing you with a warning look, “We? You really think daddy dearest is gonna let you out of his sight? He already gets that ugly vein in his forehead every time you do anything that involves me.”

“Let him have his ugly vein because I’m not staying here if you’re not.” You protested, searching her eyes for approval, but she only looked at you with a pessimistic expression.

She put a hand on your cheek, her steely tone betrayed by the concern in her eyes, “Don’t push it. “

You placed a hand over hers, “You can’t change my mind. So, just tell me. Where are you thinking of moving everything?”

Grace groaned at your stubbornness, letting go of her hold on your face as she pulled her tablet out to show you, “Site 26, up in the Hallelujah Mountains.”

Your eyes lit up as an idea sprang into your mind, “I have to go.” You said abruptly making your way back to the hangar, your eyes avidly searching for your father.

When you caught sight of him, he was about to get into an AMP suit, but the sound you calling him made him jump back down, his head turned in your direction.

He immediately gave you a toothy grin, pleased to see you as he put an affectionate hand on your back, “Is my little girl keepin’ everyone in line?”

“I’m practically walking intimidation to these people, sir.” You joked, but he took you seriously, looking at you with such pride.

“Nothing wrong with being feared. That’s how we Quaritchs get it done.”

“Speaking of getting things done,” He leaned in closer, attentive as he waited for you to continue, “The scientists are about to have a change in scenery. I know you got Jake in there, but let me fly with Trudy. With me around too, you’ve practically got your dream team.”

Facing you, he put his hands on your shoulders, his smile even wider than before as the corners of his eyes crinkled in pure regard for you, “Taking initiative. I wish I had ten more like you.”

You smiled back, “So, I have your approval?”

“You’ve got my approval,” His tone changing ominously as he stared down at you, “But don’t let these limp-dick science majors fool you. There ain’t nothing worth saving here. You know the mission, y/n.”

Hugging him, you let the smile on your face fall, the graveness in his tone sending a whirring ache in your stomach. “You know me better than that, dad. I’m your daughter.” You reassured him, your voice so convincing that even you had almost believed the lie you were feeding him.

He leaned back, looking at you with a pleased grin, “Damn right you are.”

“After all this time, we finally get to fly together. Ain’t that a bitch.” Trudy said, handing you bags as you set them into the back of her flyer.

“Better late than never.” You hummed, overjoyed to finally be away from the base.

After everything was secured, everyone’s avatars were loaded on, their impossibly large stature so lifeless that they almost seemed like statues. Flying through the mountains, you all looked around in awe, Trudy laughing at you all as your mouths gaped open, too consumed in absolute wonderment to even process her laugh. This wasn’t the first time you had seen the mountains, but that didn’t make them any less remarkable. Landing, you all wasted no time making yourselves comfortable, picking out your bunks, setting your stuff down, and inspecting the entire place.

Over the next few weeks, Jake stayed true to what he was ordered to do, diligent and detailed with every report after his excursions using his avatar. Sometimes, he would do them alone, always making sure that no one was watching, but other times you were right beside him, cringing as he attempted to make sense of the Omaticaya.

After the first month, you could sense Jake’s weariness as he closed his video log, his finger nervously hovering over the button to send it in.

Walking over, you placed a hand on the table, “Yeah, I’d be hesitating to send that in too. You look like crap, old man.” You snickered, hoping to subside his worries with your joke.

He met your eyes, annoyed, “Whatever, baby face. Don’t you have a kids meal to eat or something?.”

“I had to check on my favorite old guy. You know, make sure you didn’t keel over or anything.” You pouted, earning a scowl from him.

Taking a seat on top of the table, you tilted your head at him, What’s with the hesitation? You usually just send things in and walk away.” You prodded.

He pressed the button, not wanting to explain himself, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lowering your eyes at him, you scoffed, “It’s not a crime to like it here. Should I remind you how earth is practically just a ticking time bomb? The core is caving in on itself as we speak.”

“I want my legs back.” He replied, but even he wasn’t convinced by his tone.

Getting up, you let your arms fall to your sides, “You have legs.”

“Not always.” Jake snapped back.

“You know Jake, like it or not, blue’s always been your color.” You hinted, leaving him to contemplate your words as you went back to your bunk.

He was fighting hard denial, falling in love with the forest little by little, and everything it was giving him. Jake didn’t realize how much he missed running, hell even walking was a blessing. Things were hard at first, but with Neytiri pushing his limits, he couldn’t even complain, too grateful that he was even able to get back up from falling.

And suddenly, Jake finally had something to lose.

You watched as everything was backwards for Jake, the world he had thrust himself into for a simple mission becoming the reality, while his waking life had become the dream. Pandora was changing him, just like it changed you.

Learning the ways of the Omaticaya was the catalyst, but then there was also Grace, and Norm, and of course, you. While he had found unlikely friendships with Norm and Grace, you had become close friends since the day you first met.

In truth, you reminded him of his brother, Tommy, the science guy, the smarter one. But Tommy didn’t have that callous edge that Jake’s military background imprinted on him. It was the one thing about Jake that Tommy could never relate to.

You could though, and you did.

Every time.

You were practically cut from the same tree, and despite your usual dizzying scientific discussions, Na’vi lingo and occasional latin-rooted vernacular, you actually understood him without really trying.

You were younger than him, younger than everyone, a constant cause for concern because aside from all your one-liners and jokes, Jake felt responsible for you. You were better than him in so many ways, and he respected you, cared about you, more than he cared about himself.

And the longer you were around Jake, the more you got to know him, and the easier it became to see his internal struggle. He didn’t know who he was anymore, his concept of loyalty faltering as the burden of what Quaritch had asked him had finally laid stones in his heart.

Jake’s three months had gone by in a blink. To the disappointment of your father, his last report was more than three weeks from that deadline. Your father had called him back to base, Jake’s lag stirring his intolerance for deviancy, but you intercepted it, offering to talk to him yourself.

You waited for Jake by his pod, looking out at the Pandora forest through the window and taking in the tranquility of the scene before you. Beyond the clearing were the endless flora and fauna and amidst the air and soft dirt, were speckles of life in the form of the local insects and animals. You peered outside in awe, wondering what it would feel like to explore the forest without the confines of your feeble humanity.

Behind you, you could hear the pod open, stirring you away from your thoughts. You turned around, Jake’s expression completely contemplative as he noticed you.

You gave him an equally reflective expression, your mind carrying an unwieldy weight as you dreaded the conversation that daunted the both of you.

He pulled himself out of the pod, but you remained where you were. “My dad is starting to question your resolve. Will Neytiri and her people move from HomeTree?”

You knew the answer already, and Jake buried his face in his hands, “They don’t want anything. There’s nothing to trade, but what could they possibly want from us? Lite beer and blue jeans? They’re never gonna leave, and I don’t blame them.”

You hung your head low, “It’s not wrong for you to like it here, Jake. You didn’t do anything wrong. My father roped you into this mess.”

He lifted his head up from his hands, his expression so burdened and beaten down, “I can barely remember my old life y/n. I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

You leaned forward, putting comforting hands on his shoulders, “You know who you are Jake.”

He looked up, his eyes begging you to tell him who that was. “You’re one of The People now, and this forest is your home. You can protect it still.”

Jake never cried, but he almost did as he avoided your eyes, “You once told me not to make a promise I can’t keep.”he let out a defeated sigh, “Should have taken you seriously back then.”

“What matters is what you do now. Saving them, that’s all that matters. I’ll tell my dad what he wants to hear, but you know what you have to do, and you’re the only one who can do it.” You kept a meek smile, patting his shoulders.

He was silent for a moment, nodding as he took in your words, “Whatever happens, I’m not bringing you down with me. Who knows what your dad will do when he finds out you’ve gone rogue.” His face was etched in concern, his worry for you embedded in the lines of his forehead.

You shrugged, your expression grave as you frowned, “A father protects. It’s what gives him meaning.”

You paused, looking down at your clasped hands as you reminisced about the life you had back on earth, “I owe Quaritch my life, you know. My real parents didn’t want me and no one else did either. For a long time, he was all I had, and I thought that everything he did was to protect me.”

You met Jake’s eyes again, your expression fierce with determination, “But, kids grow up and they realize who their parents are and they either accept that or fight it with all they got. I choose to fight.”

Jake’s expression softened as you continued on, your emotion suddenly overwhelming as you felt your voice almost break, “You, Grace, Trudy, Norm, you guys are my family. I got your back Jake. No matter what.”

He put a hand on your head, a genuine smile on his lips, “Don’t worry about me. You’re the baby. It’s my job to protect you.”

You shook your head, “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“What can I say?” He sighed, shrugging, “I’m a stubborn old man.”

The next day, the bulldozers came and not long after that came the destruction of HomeTree. There was nothing you all could do except sit and watch as Quaritch ordered the columns to be brought down, the Na’vi scattering in waves of blue as they witnessed their home engulf in flames, the cataclysmic reds and oranges muting the once green landscape and settling into the soulless smoke cloud that rose above them all, its presence like a deadly omen.

Grace, Norm, and Jake were detained immediately, and just like Jake had said, he protected you, pretending you had no involvement in anything that happened. You, Trudy, and Max did you all you could to help them escape when you got the chance, and as you approached her flyer, Jake stopped, urging you to leave so you wouldn’t get caught.

You refused, insisting to come with them, but Grace had already made the decision for you, pulling you into a hug, she caressed your hair, “You need to stay here, baby girl.”

You could feel tears fall down your face as you wrapped your arms around her, savoring her embrace before letting go, unwillingly giving in to the urgency of the situation.

As they entered into the hangar, you ran back to the heart of the base, hiding while soldiers charged toward them, your father taking the lead. Later that night, you found out Grace was dying and you cried alone. You were beyond consolation, your grief consuming your heart, the ache tormenting you as you sat in the base, unable to do anything for her. You had seen death. Countless times. But not being with her for hers felt like you were the one you had been killed.

It was hard to feign your innocence after you found out that it was your father who shot her, and it became damn near impossible when Jake told you she had finally passed. Still, you were strong, playing the perfect soldier until the final battle came.

Fleets of ships entered into enemy territory, rows and rows of them creating an ugly, gray hoard amidst Pandora’s natural beauty. When you had entered, warriors on their ikrans swarmed, shooting left and right and bringing down the smaller flyers one by one.

You were with your father when he gave you the order to shoot Trudy down, her flyer adorned with war paint as she targeted your father’s ship, guns blazing.

“I won’t do it.” You refused outright.

In all your life, you had never been defiant, stunning him only for a second before he rose his voice at you, “Shoot her down, y/n!”

You got up, gritting your teeth as you spoke, your contempt silvery in your tongue, “I won’t kill my friend.”

Seething, he turned away from you, “If you won’t, I will.”

Before you could stop him he armed all pods, sending endless shots toward Trudy. You were frozen, unable to peel your eyes away as you watched her rotor explode, her flyer plummeting further and further down to the ground until she was engulfed in a deadly explosion. Still, you were agonized from the pain of losing Grace, but your loss became insurmountable watching your father murder your best friend.

He paid no mind to that pain as he continued his plight, too focused to care about what he had done to you. All felt hopeless suddenly, your heart breaking as you watched more destruction unfold before you. Ikran and Na’vi were being shot in the air and below you men and women were being shot down, the fits of fleeting light coming from the gunfire of the AMP suits still visible from so high up.

Then, as if a prayer had been answered, ikran were flying in swarms from all directions, their masses attacking ships and taking down sentries. On the other side of you, you saw Jake, landing on top of one of the ships, unleashing grenades and jumping off to land on the biggest ikran you had ever seen, Toruk.

You watched as Toruk maneuvered through the arching rock columns that surrounded the Tree of Souls and descended quickly to your father’s ship. With a loud thud, Jake was above you, unleashing grenades. Seeing him, your father steered the ship right, rupturing his balance as he fell backward. The grenade exploded, triggering the oxygen breach alarm. You grabbed an exo pack as you ran to the ship’s hatch, your father yanking you to the ground, his gun already in his hand as he stationed himself in the opening. Rushing, you took hold of the ladder, pushing past your father toward Jake, who was barely holding onto the ship, a missile already in his hand.

Jake threw the missile into the rotor as Quaritch fired a shot, the bullet meant for Jake hitting you as you blocked its path, the blood pooling in your chest instantly. In that moment, Quaritch dropped his gun, running toward you with his arms outstretched, his attempt at catching you futile as you already fell backwards.

A father protects. It’s what gives him meaning.

What Quaritch had failed to be, Jake fulfilled, scooping you into his arms as you both tumbled downward, tightly wrapping himself around your dying body to brace you from the impact. When you had finally fallen to the forest floor, you were heaving, your vision fading as he towered over you.

He was holding onto your limp body, tears streaming down his face. “No, no. You’re gonna be fine, y/n.”

You had never seen him cry before, and that made everything feel all the more heart-wrenching. There was no hope to save you.

You smiled at him like nothing was wrong, “You know me better than that Jake. I’m a scientist. I don’t believe in fairy tales.”

He let out a weak chuckle. It was the same thing that Grace had said to him when she lay dying, making his heart twist even more. He was in utter shock, his eyes suddenly drowned with tears while hugging you, as if doing so would bring back the warmth that was slowly leaving your body.

You stared at him, piecing your final words together as you could feel the creeping darkness approach. Putting a hand on his cheek, you finally knew what you wanted to say. “You’re a good man Jake. Thanks for being my family.”

“Y/n, you’re gonna be alright.” He cooed, his heart breaking as your face paled and paled.

Taking one final breath, you smiled, “You’ll make a great dad someday.”

“Y/n.” Jake’s voice quietly inaudible, but your eyes went blank and your hand dropped from his cheek.

Your body was cold and bloody as he held onto you, and as he tried so desperately to search for a remaining light in your eyes, he was only filled with more pain, an irrevocable pain welling inside of him, his heart blocking his mind from making sense of the fact that you were really dead.

You reminded Jake of his brother Tommy, and just like him, you were dead too. He felt like he had failed you, the pain and rage stirring inside of him becoming a strength as he went up against your father.

“Give it up, Quaritch. It’s all over.” Jake yelled out, his call becoming a perfectly timed distraction as Neytiri tried to free herself from the weight of a dead thanator.

“Nothing’s over while I’m breathing.” the Colonel spat, his words imbued with his pure hatred and scorn, “You killed my little girl, Sully. And for that, death is too good for you. I want to see you suffer.”

“It’s your fault she’s gone!” Jake hissed.

“She was my daughter, and I should have never trusted her with you. You think you’re one of them?” So blinded by his own rage, the Colonel blamed Jake for your death, the fuel of his grief giving him an unholy boost in his fighting spirit.

“Time to wake up.” Walking to the pod, he broke the window, filling the oxygen isolated space with Pandora’s air. Panting, Jake could feel his link go in and out, his body convulsing in response to the breach.

When Quaritch had turned back to Jake, he laughed maniacally, enjoying as he watched Jake struggle. Grabbing him by the hair, he pulled Jake’s knife out, “I’m gonna love cutting you up with your own knife.”

Jake even in his lightheaded state, managed to keep his resolve. Hissing aggressively as Quaritch inched and inched toward his neck, Jake could feel the imminence of blood being drawn until he stopped, Quaritch’s hands going limp, dropping Jake and the knife. As fast as the first came, so did a second, dealing the final blow. Neytiri watched as Quaritch died, satisfied as he became void of life, the misguided glory he was chasing dying with him.

Those who weren’t loyal to the Na’vi were sent back to earth, and in his last ditch attempt to save you, Jake had taken you before Mo’at, hoping that Great Mother still held your life in her intricate balance.

Mo’at pleaded for you underneath the Tree of Souls, the Great Mother’s roots glowing around your lifeless body, but dimming quickly.

Lifting her head up, Mo’at looked at Jake, choosing her words very carefully, “In this time of great sorrow, she cannot be saved Jake Sully, but the Great Mother still holds her in her heart. She is not gone from us forever.”

Neytiri held him as he stared ahead blankly, so struck by his grief that he hadn’t truly grasped what Mo’at was saying. When he had shaken himself out of his state, he picked your body up, burying you where they had buried Grace’s human body, the Omaticaya chanting to Eywa as Jake, Norm, and all the other scientists gathered to say their final goodbye.

And in that final goodbye, you too had become a relic of the past, but your memory lived on as Jake continued his life, your death a painful reminder that he must always protect his family.

You had told him something long ago, something he would never forget.

A father protects. It’s what gives him meaning.

Author’s Note:

My lovers,

how did you all like that prologue? please let me know in the comments!! i’d love to know what you think :) writing grace and trudy’s death hurt me in my soUL, ITS NOT THIS ANGSTY FOR THE LATER PARTS I SWEAR

again, i wanna thank you all for waiting so patiently for this series!!

part 1 is almost done as well and im beyond excited for you guys to see reader and jake reunite :) AND OFCCC READER AND LO’AK MEETING OMGGGGGG

for all those who wanted to be part of the taglist, you’re listed below

if you want to be tagged in the next parts, please comment on this post or send me a dm or an ask with your blog name!

Love,

Nana <3

taglist: [some of the blogs didn’t allow me to tag some blogs, but i wanted to include them anyways!] @fifty-shades-of-mischeif @pretty-npeach @tonni30 @kirikuki @itsemy01 @persondoingstuff @23victoria @soobinsrose @starjane312 @valentineoxox@imthefunniestpersonalive @justlillythinking @mae-is-crazy @scarletrosesposts @paniniii @bloodyziggy @mister-police @mrs-sullys-blog @niiight-dreamerrrr @promiseofeywa @wilmalovegood @sssspencerrr @mochi-yu @d4rno @lovekeeho @dreama-little-dreamof-me @bammtoli @strawberryclouds22 @neteyamoa @devil-on-acid @a-queen-blr @my-name-duh @mayabritjohn @annoyingstrawberryballoon @0-0h0-0 @glitter-in-my-heroin @katkat1918

#avatar loak #avatar #avatar x reader #avatar way of water #avatar fanfiction #loak sully #loak imagine #Jake Sully #jake sully x reader #loak #nanasavatarfics #nanasloversclan #nanasilwefic!

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