Chapter Text
Kiri opened her eyes slowly. Adjusting to the bright light that seeped through the pod, her eyes gazed at the peaceful view of the ocean. The wind that breezed by sent a shiver down her spine.She begins to stand up from the mat she was laying on, only to find herself being brought back down by an arm.
Wait, was that an arm?
Eyes widening. Being still half asleep she shrugs it off, just ignoring it, trying again only for the same result to happen.
Soon she’s engulfed in a hug.
What?!
She begins to panic. What was going on? Soon enough she takes a look around her surroundings again, this wasn’t her family's marui pod at all.
A voice whispers to her ear. “Ma’Kiri, why are you up so early?”
Kiri gaped. Turning around, slowly. She’s faced to face with the boy behind her.
“Rotxo??” She gasped.
The boy—No, the man, in front of her was definitely not the Rotxo she knew well. He looked a few years older, tattoos on his face and chest. A clear sign of his growth in his training. His eyes were still closed as he began to lean down.
Kiri felt all the blood rush to her face. Her hands awkwardly placed on his shoulder. “Rotxo, what are you doing?” She whispers, an odd tone to her voice.
“Can I not hug, my mate?” He replies. Tiredly. A small chuckle escapes his lips, Wrapping his arms tighter around her frame. Despite his large stature, his hold was gentle and soft, as if she were a fragile shell.
She gasped. “Mate?”
Finally, he lifts his head up. A confused look wore on his face. “Yes? What is wrong, Ma’Kiri? You look pale,” Rotxo pointed out, brushing loose hair out of her face. Concerned laced his expression.
Mates? Since when were they mated? They were definitely not mates last time she checked. Kiri began to stutter and trip on her words as she tried to think of an answer.
When she suddenly hears ringing in her ears.
Kiri…
The voice echoed in her head. She held her face with both of her hands as the voice in her head began to ring louder and louder.
….Kiri!
……..KIRI…..!!
________________________________
“Kiri! Wake up already!!”
Her eyes opened as she shot up straight, hitting the person beside her in the head. The collision made them both groan in pain.
“You skxawng! Why did you do that?!” Lo’ak whined. Holding his forehead. “If my forehead gets a huge bruise i swear to the great mother I will—!”
“—Oh shut up, Lo’ak! You dumbass why were you even waking me up so early!” She shouts back, entirely flustered. “And why are you so up close?”
Kiri rubbed her forehead, looking at her younger brother with glaring eyes. He could only smile at her in response.
“What?” She huffed. Pushing him away slightly. Annoyed.
He whispers. “He’s awake,” kneeling down. Taking her hand.
As soon as the words were out of his mouth she sprinted out the pod, pushing Lo’ak out of the way and nearly tripping on her own two feet as she made her way past the other Na’vi that were walking down.
Ignoring her brother’s call from behind to wait for her, she bolted immediately to the healers. Before she could even blink, she realised she made it there already. Nearly slipping as she halted.
She sees her mother and father outside.
“Can we see him?” She panted. Directing the question to her father, who looked at her bewildered, having noticed her barely dodge the other people as she sprinted over. “Kiri, calm down—“
“Can we see Neteyam?!”
Desperate to see her older brother, she clings to her dad’s shoulder. Lo’ak followed behind her, equally tired from running. He knelt down hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Mumbling something incoherent.
“—yes, in a moment, Ronal is still inside making sure everything’s fine, so please..” Jake put a hand on her head. “Calm down.” He smiled. “Take a breath,” he adds, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Neytiri, who watched the whole exchange, couldn't help but smile either. She too had missed her eldest, and ached to see him. Tears brimmed at the corner of her eyes and Jake notices immediately, moving to hug her tightly.
It had been months since the incident and the war against the sky people. Neteyam, who had been shot in battle, was successfully brought back in time for Ronal to heal him and had been in a coma ever since then. His healing process was gruesome and exhausting. He breathed but the sign of ever waking up wasn’t evident.
“Jake sully,”
A deep voice interrupted them. Tonowari emerged behind them, Tsireya and Ao’nung following suit. Kiri and her family greeted them respectively, in return so did they.
Kiri noticed another boy following not too far behind the two siblings.
Rotxo..
Her face turned a deep purple, the memories of her dream rushing to her head as she turned away to listen to her father and Tonowari’s conversation. Unbeknownst to her, Tsireya had noticed her sudden change of emotions.
“I hear your boy has awoken,” He began. A small smile on his face. “I am happy for you and your family, i know these times have been hard for all of you…for all of us,”
Jake nodded. “Thank you…for—for helping us. I know it was a hard decision, knowing that it was gonna be putting your people in danger,” he said, solemnly.
“It was, but you are metkayina now, you and your family are one of us. You are part of the clan,” Tonowari replied. Putting a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “We must celebrate when Neteyam has fully recovered, in honour of his awakening from the coma,”
Jake nods agreeing, liking the idea.
Suddenly, the cloth that was blocking the entrance to the marui pod opened. Ronal, in all her glory, stepped out. She gazes at all of them, her eyes glistening with an unknown emotion and with a simple nod, Neytiri was the first to push through.
Kiri slowly stepped inside, she couldn't believe her eyes. Her brother laid in a mat on the floor, bandages were wrapped around his chest, there beside him were some herbs on. He looked pale and thin. Frowning, she felt uneasy looking at the state of his body.
She knew her brother was strong, but seeing him like this shook her to her core. The memories flashing in her mind when they first brought him here.
Her thoughts were then interrupted by her mother’s cries.
“My son,” Neytiri sobbed. Cradling her son’s head in her arms.
“Mawey, mama, Mawey…” Neteyam croaked out with a smile. “I am fine. See? Not hurt…no pain, mama,” he soothes her. Showcasing his chest.
Jake, who was next to her, let out a sigh of relief.
“You look like shit, bro” Lo’ak grinned, but tears threatened to spill from his eyes. Sitting next to his brother, holding his hand. “You look like shit,” Neteyam laughed, groaning in pain. But smiling it off.
Neytiri hissed at the two of them, “Language! Tuk is right here,”
“Yeah, shut up Lo’ak” Kiri laughs. Ruffling his hair. Lo’ak hissed at her playfully pushing her hand away. The tension deflating. Neteyam hummed, “It is nice to see you all in such high spirits,” rubbing circles on Lo’ak’s hand in a comforting way.
“You gave us quite the scare, son,” Jake mumbled quietly, his eyes held a deep look in them, running a hand through Neteyam’s face. “I’m sorry, sir—“
“Do not apologise,” Neytiri interrupts. Jake nodded. “She’s right son, none of this is your fault,” he agreed. “Never apologize, my boy.”
Kiri once again looks at her older brother with mixed emotions. Her throat was feeling tight and she could feel her heart burn. The way her brother laid on the mat felt all too wrong, his chest was wrapped tight and his body was thin. Way too thin.
”How long...” Neteyam began. Before trailing off, he looks at his father, expectantly. Jake inhales sharply, eyes clenched shut. “Almost seven months,” he replied grimly.
A silence befalls on the family.
Neteyam was the first to break it. “I see,” he sighs. Clearly surprised. “I supposed i’ve missed a lot of Lo’ak’s shenanigans,” he jokes, trying to lighten the mood.
“Hey!” His brother laughs. They all do.
Soon, night fell on them.
The Sully family jumped conversation from conversation. Telling stories of all sorts of events, Neteyam each had a different reaction, laughing and scolding them. He had given Lo’ak quite the lecture when he learned he blamed himself for the incident. It was quite the scene.
“Ya know, big bro, our Kiri has a little something going on with a certain fish boy,” Lo’ak cackled. Changing the subject quickly.
Jake raised his eyebrow, “Oh?” Feeling sceptical.
“W-What?!” Kiri stuttered. Her mouth was gaping. “What are you talking about, you skxawng!” She swats at him.
“I heard you this morning! You were mumbling his name in your sleep” He snickered. “Oh Rotxo!—Hey ow!” He yelped when Kiri jumped on him, putting a hand on his mouth. Glaring at him.
“You shut up, you little insect!” She glared.
“Rotxo?” Neytiri hummed in thought. “He is a good boy, good hunter. I hear he is excellent,” she praised. Nodding in approval.
“Oh yeah?” Jake questioned. Grumbling. Seemingly against the idea of the boy.
“Mom! It’s not like that—!”
Tuk giggled at the exchange. “Rotxo is nice! He makes pretty necklaces!”
“Sure it isn’t—“ Lo’ak then teased, poking his sister’s side. “I bet you’d do anything for fish boy! You two are always alone together—!”
Slapping his hand away, she angrily mumbled, “I told you to stuff it, Lo’ak!”
Chuckling at his family’s display, Neteyam raised a hand to stop the commotion between the two, a sly grin falling on his lips. “You know, Rotxo used to ask about you, right when we first arrived he—“
Kiri groaned in defeat, as she began to leave the pod. Her sibling’s laughter echoed through.
The cool night air brushed against her. Sighing, she relaxed her tensed shoulders. Trudging her way to the beach. She walked slowly, humming a tune as she sat down on the sand.
Watching the shoreline, listening to the waves crash by.
The stars seemed to look brighter tonight. She smiled.
In her opinion nothing could beat the views up in the forest, but now having seen the ocean, she began to think otherwise. She never grew tired of it. No matter how many times Kiri had seen this view over and over again.
She held herself, putting her chin on her knees. Still watching the sea with a glint of happiness. Shivering at the cold air, her mind wanders but once again was interrupted.
“We have got to stop meeting like this, forest girl,”
Kiri turned her head so quickly she could have sworn she broke her neck. Rotxo stood next to her with a grin.
Rotxo, spoke softly, “Do you mind?” Motioning his hand.
“N-No…not at all,” she replies quietly. Turning her attention back to the ocean.
“How are you?”
“Fine,”
He hums, “doesn’t seem like it, forest girl. Tell what is on your mind,” Rotxo asked.
He looked at her with big eyes, full of emotion. She catches his gaze, Rotxo tilts his head, beckoning her to go on. She frowned.
“Why must you be so curious, ocean boy?”
“We are friends, no? I can be concerned about a friend,”
Kiri felt her stomach turn at the word friend. Ignoring the feeling, she only shakes her head as a reply.
“You are bothered,”
“Do you always go up to people like this?” She barked at him.
He fired back, “Do you always have to question my concern for you?”
“Stop that,”
Rotxo laughs. Kiri could feel her stomach turn again at the sound of his loudness, she looked at him, her brows furrowing in frustration.
“I do not think so, forest girl,” he says. “Now, tell your worries,”
Silence fell on them, Rotxo looked at Kiri and patiently waited for her response. She sighed, giving up on her stubbornness. “When I saw Neteyam today I..”
She breathed in.
“…I felt…uneasy—I cannot see him like that…and, and knowing how I wasn’t able to help him. I just froze,” Kiri mumbled. Staring at her hands. “He looked so thin…so worn out, like a discarded cloth. Oh great mother.” She hides her face in her palms in clear distraught.
The memory was fresh in her mind, it felt like yesterday.
Yelling, shouting commands, her father and her younger brother rushed Neteyam’ unconscious body to the healer’s pod. She was following suit not too far behind. Everything was moving too fast, she nearly tripped on the sand trying to keep up with them.
Her mother was a mess. Blood splattered on her face. Poor Tuk was trying to distract their dear mother. Traumatized but still doing her best to comfort.
The events of the war had finished but to the Sully family it wasn’t over yet.
Ronal had walked in with her supplies, kneeling next to her brother. Various herbs and other tools.
Kiri could hear the ringing in her head growing louder and louder. She couldn’t move. She knew Ronal was telling her what to do and making her hold certain items, but the blood that was pooling out of her brother’s back freeze up instantly. She couldn’t hear, couldn’t even breathe.
She couldn’t even remember the moment she was ushered out of the pod.
“I feel like a failure,” Kiri finished. Already crying.
Flinching at the warm hand that caressed her face. Rotxo made her look at him. “You are no failure, it is not your fault, what happened that day…nobody holds you against it, Kiri.”
Kiri gritted her teeth in anger, “I can’t even heal my own brother,” her voice laced with venom, pulling away from him. “How am I to help others if I cannot do that? I am useless—“
“—You stop that at once,”
Two hands reached up, caressing her cheeks. Kiri could once again feel her face heat up and turn a shade of purple at the bold and intimate move. Rotxo was staring at her with eyes filled with determination.
“You are not useless, I do not know the full story of what happened that day. But I know for a fact that it was not your intention, you were scared that day, Kiri,” He spoke firmly. “You cannot force your emotions, you have been traumatized all throughout. The war got the best of us all—“
“—But I could have helped healing him…! I could’ve done something to—,”
“—But you did help, didn't you?” He quietly says, interrupting her.
She frowns. “What are you talking about, ocean boy?”
Rotxo grins softly at her, pulling away. “You stayed up all night right next to Neteyam when Ronal left, right? You took care of Lo’ak and Tuk when your parents were busy being with your brother. You aided them, you were there. You did plenty of help, forest girl,”
“How did you..?” She questioned. “I may or may not have…been observing you?” Rotxo awkwardly chuckled. Scratching the back of his neck. “Out, out of concern! of course,” he added. Fumbling over his words.
She stared at him, surprised at his honesty. But then let out a loud laugh. “Oh my! I can’t believe you…you…!” She cried out, holding her stomach. “Ocean boy, you are too honest..!” Kiri giggled.
“What? I couldn’t help it!” Rotxo blushed.
Kiri laughs harder at his response. “you could have…you could have at least tried to be a little dishonest…!” She said in between fits of laughter.
Soon the boy next to her was practically pouting and going purple from embarrassment. Holding her shoulders and begging for her to stop making fun of him. “You…! You are too funny..!” She snorts, almost falling over.
Rotxo, as embarrassed as he was at the moment, still smiled at the girl. Beautiful, he thought. Watching her laugh at him, if this was what it took for her to laugh this much, he would do it over and over again just to see this side of her. It didn’t matter how much it would probably ruin his image. Even having a glimpse of her beautiful smile was enough.
“Come on! Don’t be like that, forest girl” he laughs.
“Okay, Mr. Stalker,” she teased.
Rotxo gasped, flustered. “Don’t call me that!”
They both fall into a fit of giggles. “Okay okay, that’s enough teasing from you!” Rotxo points. “Let me walk you back to your family, they must be looking for you by now,”
Kiri nods. Still chuckling. “Thank you, ocean boy,”
____________________________________
The walk back was quick, too quick for Kiri’s liking.
Wait what? She frowned. Shaking her head, pushing her thoughts to the back of her head. Her family’s pod comes to view and she sees her father outside.
“He must’ve been waiting for you,” Rotxo speaks up.
Grumbling incoherently she walks up to her dad. “Hey dad,” she greeted.
Jake took notice of Rotxo next to her and raised a brow at Kiri. The two had a silent conversation with their eyes. As she tilted her head at him.
A squint Why’s he with you?
She glared it’s nothing
Rotxo awkwardly watched from the side as they exchanged looks at each other. He tended as Jake glanced at him.
“Get in, Kiri, it’s late you know you shouldn’t have—“
“—I know, dad! I’m not gonna disappear,” she rolled her eyes. Kiri turns her attention to Rotxo. “I’ll see you tomorrow okay?”
Nodding, they bid their goodbyes. Rotxo nervously spoke when he was saying his goodbye to her father. Soon he leaves them be.
Jake once again began grumbling under his breath.