Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

SPIDER

It has been a solid two days since Neteyam’s death and it’s been two days since Neytiri has held a knife to Spider’s chest. 

A son for a son.

The words are still fresh in his mind and the feeling of the edge of Neytiri’s knife cutting into Spider’s chest linger more than he thinks it should. The fact those feelings are being toppled by his overwhelming guilt of saving Quaritch makes Spider wish Neytiri had cut his neck instead. He can’t get the feral, grieving look in the mother’s eyes, the way it seemed like she was the executioner in that moment.

On one hand, Spider understands Neytiri’s anger and desperation. He would put his life in danger to save Kiri as well, the girl was his best friend and sister for Eywa’s sake. Spider would kill himself if anything happened to her. On the other hand, Spider feels a bit unfair. Why would Neytiri want to kill a boy who was close to her own, now dead, son? It’s a question the naive part of Spider asks, so very clueless, he chastises his inner child. Though, he doesn’t realize it, but his selflessness and sheer self awareness is why he’s in this mess now. It’s the reason why whenever he looks across the beach at the Sully family still mourning, he doesn’t dare waste his time staring as he feels like his mere glances are interrupting the family’s private moments.

So, Spider sits in his own little part of the shore, subtly drowning in his own self-deprecating thoughts and pushing away the urge to just swim out to sea in hopes of a shark latching onto his frail body.  Two more days pass and in the midst of those two days, Spider is trying to make himself useful as much as he can. He helps out making nets, clearing small ship parts from the sea, anything that will drive away the large stone upon his heart that seems to grow heavier each passing day.

Soon, Neteyam’s funeral will happen and… Spider is in a dilemma. He wants to go to the funeral, to watch Eywa take Neteyam into her arms and have him rest finally. But, Spider can’t bear to withstand the disappointed glances of the Sully family. Especially Jake and Neytiri. He doesn’t want to see the utter pain in Jake’s face, the man he’s looked up to since he first saw him as a young boy. He doesn’t want to see that same look from all those days ago return to Neytiri’s face, see her grasp that same knife and lunge for Spider. He fears the scenario happening because he knows if it does, nobody will stop her.

Whilst Spider is contemplating and spiraling deeper into his dark thoughts, a large shadow approaches from behind him. Seeming confused to see such a small figure so alone.

“Child?”

Spider gasps and coughs immediately after. It’s been so long since he’s let out any loud noise or spoke any words, so his throat itches as it contracts. Though, upon turning around swiftly to find the source of the voice, Spider’s heart drops into his stomach as he comes face to face, well face to legs, with none other than the Olo’eyktan, Tonowari. The young human boy is quick to clear his throat and shakily stand to his feet, despite his bones screaming at him to slow down. He straightens his posture and bows his head towards the man, wanting to show respect.

“He- Hello, sir .” He speaks it in na’vi, his words are clear but his voice sounds ragged almost.

To spider’s surprise, a small smile forms on Tonowari’s face as he places his staff(?) on the ground, crouching down to measure to Spider’s height. He holds his hand out to basically tell the human boy to not fear him. “It is okay, little one. Your nervousness is not needed, and I do know English so don’t worry.”

Odd enough, that causes Spider’s feelings to ease just a bit, he nods stiffly as his gaze slides down to stare at the sand beneath their feet. It’s dark in the sky by now and everyone else seems to be getting ready to turn in for the night. “Sorry, sir.” He immediately apologizes because he always have so why stop now?

The apology makes Tonowari’s ears perk up a bit and his eyebrows raise with confusion. “Little one, why are you apologizing? You’ve done nothing but just speak to me.” The obvious concern in Tonowari’s voice makes Spider’s heart squeeze and his mind ache. He’s never heard that type of concern coming from anyone in a while, let alone an adult. The boy shrugs in a nonchalant way, but his gaze still remains on the grains of sand. He doesn’t explain and Tonowari takes that chance to let his eyes wander as he inspects the boy’s body. What he sees makes his blood freeze. 

There are bruises and cuts. Not bruises close to healing or small cuts that the children would get when playing around too much. No, these—

These are big , dark but faded bruises and there isn’t just one, there are many. By eywa, Tonowari almost hisses when he sees a bruise the shape of a hand upon the boy’s arms. A hand that looks close to the ones those Avatars have. When he finally speaks, his voice is low and grave. “Child, who hurt you?” It’s a simple question.

It’s just one, simple question that anyone with a brain would ask and yet that is what makes Spider break. Before he knows it, his shoulders begin to shake and his hands tremble. An ugly and heart wrenching sob escapes his lips as tears gathered from those past few days finally come out. It all comes out simultaneously and Spider can’t help but just cry.

Tonowari is instantly taking the boy in his arms, his hands holding him tight yet gently as he shushes and rubs the boy’s bare back. He makes sure that he doesn’t apply too much pressure, not wanting to hurt the boy more.

His heart breaks even more as he hears another sob of pure anguish leave Spider.

“Oh, child. Shh, it is okay now, you are safe. Breathe with me, okay? I want you to copy me and breathe.” Tonowari instructs the young human whose so torn that when he nods he whimpers and his quiet cries grow heavier. Tonowari pulls away to look the boy in his eyes past the glass of his mask, breathing purposefully in a slow and calm way. The Olo’eyktan feels a soft spark of pride form in his chest as the child mimics him, slowly calming down gradually until his throaty sobs turn into hiccups and whimpers. 

Goodness, the boy is about the size of the youngest Sully and his sounds of pure pain makes Tonowari feel oddly possessive as he now wishes to hurt whoever caused this child to cry so badly. He’s never heard such pained sounds from a young before, it makes his skin prickle at the thought of hearing his own children cry like this.

Tonowari’s voice takes on a caring tone. A tone that Spider has only heard Jake and Neytiri use whenever he comforted his children. It makes Spider sniffle and he wants to rub at his face badly right now. 

“Your name is Spider, correct? I remember you when Jake Sully introduced you. I expected you to be his own as he said so, but right now you are far from their pod, why is that so?” 

Spider sniffles and his voice hitches as he begins to explain, though he doesn’t know why he is suddenly so comfortable with Tonowari. “I- I didn’t want to.. be- be a burden to them. They are mourning..” When he finishes, he feels like a toddler again, crying to Jake about how Norm is mean because he won’t let him go outside like the adults do. He feels embarrassed, ready to step back and not make the clan leader any more uncomfortable until Tonowari tsks under his breath and he frowns, a true sympathetic look on his face as he hugs Spider once again. He begins to rock back and forth sideways slowly and the feeling makes Spider go limp and suddenly, he’s tired. The exhaustion has caught up with him finally and he’s ready to sleep it all away.

But he doesn’t want to burden the Olo’eyktan, he already has started crying in front of the man, he didn’t want to give the adult na’vi metkayina more reasons to kick him off the island. 

“Noo..” He pleads, so soft and child-like it makes Tonowari smile fondly as he holds Spider close. “Shh.. rest little one, you need your strength. You’ve more than earned it.” The leader speaks in a calm, nurturing tone as his arms move Spider around to hold him like you would with a tired 4 year old. Spider lets him, too weak right now to debate against it. His eyelids flutter close a few times before his world goes black.

You’ve more than earned it.

Chapter Text

Tonowari cannot remember the last time he held any child this way. His hand upon their back, a grounding and gentle weight whilst his other hand gives them the safe reminder that he has them, he will never let them go. 

And right now, as he holds Spider close to him and listens to the soft hissing of the mask, Tonowari realizes how much he’s missed this. He remembers carrying Aonung around when he was first born, seeing the boy as literal glass. The same happened with Tsireya, he remembers seeing Ronal’s amused expression whenever Tonowari would become overprotective of her for the tiniest reasons. And now, he’s become protective of a young human boy who he thought was apart of the Sully family.

But, it appears he was wrong. Very wrong at that.

Ronal is still awake when he returns to their pod, making his steps quiet so he would not wake his children. His wife looks at him with confusion in her gaze before her eyes finally realize what, or more like who, her husband is holding. She immediately begins to frown, her eyebrows furrows and she leans back a bit while Tonowari places the child demon on their sleeping mat.

“My love, what is this.. demon doing here?” She hisses.

Yet, Tonowari is unfazed by his lover’s hesitance as he sits beside the sleeping human, idly running his fingers lightly through his braids. “Dear, I’m sorry but your anger will have to wait. There is something wrong with this boy, terribly wrong.” He finishes but his eyes remain on Spider the entire time he speaks.

Ronal doesn’t notice her husband’s protectiveness of the child yet and she feels her irritation grow. Her voice is low but her tone is clear, she is annoyed by the mere presence of Spider. “I will not help a child of those demons… do you not remember the carnage they created just days ago? I refuse.” 

Tonowari sighs and finally looks away from Spider, his eyes now on his wife. He looks into her eyes, his concern peaking out a bit. “Ronal… he is only a child. No younger than Aonung.. please.”

She is still not fazed. 

“If you will not do it for him, do it for me. I cannot bear to see the boy in such pain.” That makes Ronal’s thoughts halt. She slowly slides her gaze down to the child and stares at him, like really stares at him. Behind the glass, she sees Spider’s resting face and sees him in his features, but then she notices his size, the shape his body is in, how truly vulnerable he looks… and she gives in. Ronal lets out a sigh, akin to the one she lets out whenever she decides to indulge in her children’s mischievous behavior. 

The female metkayina turns and grabs a bag full of the medicine she used to help one of the Sully daughters. Ronal then turns back and crawls over to Spider, but it’s obvious she is subtly still keeping her distance. Her hands reach out and lightly place themselves upon the boy’s body, and her eyes close as she begins to access any injuries. 

While she does this, Spider’s face scrunches up and he whines low, but the sound is so weak that Tonowari instinctively grabs the boy’s hand gently while still caressing his hair. Ronal notices this and for a second, her irritation subsides, letting her concern show. 

Her hands glide across his skin, finding the main points and parts of damage. Spider’s chest seem to be fine, the surface area has a couple bruises, but that is not what makes Ronal’s blood boil. It is the obvious injuries around the boy’s abdomen, where it is clear those areas are the main sources of physical pain. She looks down at Spider’s face one more time, she sees his thin figure and sickly skin, and makes her decision.

“My love, we must get Jake for this. There is truly something wrong with this boy.”

Spider wakes to the sounds of the waves crashing against each other softly, in the background, voices of members of the clan flood in and out every so often. His eyes peak open and his vision is a bit blurry for a bit before it settles. All he sees is big blue eyes staring down at him and he yells in shock, immediately sitting up and scrambling back. 

Though it isn’t any type of curious creature who wants to inspect their food before eating it. Spider lets himself relax as he looks at both Aonung and Tsireya, who are a bit startled themselves. It is silent except for Spider’s breathing and hissing of his mask until Tsireya speaks up.

“I am sorry, we didn’t mean to frighten you, we were just curious. Your name is Spider, right? I am Tsireya and this is my brother, Aonung.” She finishes with a smile, her show of kindness makes Spider calm his nerves and he slowly nods, flickering his gaze from the young female metkayina to her brother. Though, Spider can tell Aonung isn’t quite fond of him since the other boy is staring harshly at him. Tsireya notices and quickly slaps the side of her brother’s head.

“Ow! What the—“

“Stop looking at him like that, you’re gonna make him think you hate him.” Aonung scoffs and rolls his eyes at his sister’s words. 

“Is it that obvious?” “Aonung!”

Then, Spider clears his throat softly. “I’m not offended, don’t worry. I’m actually kind of used to it.” He speaks with a self-deprecating tone, trying to sound lighthearted.

Tsireya tilts her head a bit, a small frown forming on her lips as she listens. She’s never heard such sad words and her heart breaks for the human boy. But, Aonung…

“See? He’s used to it.” “ Aonung ! Will you please—“ And soon, the two siblings are bickering, not paying attention to Spider who is slowly sneaking towards the entrance of the pod. 

He should not be here. Spider wants to slap himself for his stupidness. He thought he had fallen asleep on the shore, but as he remembers last night’s events, the tips of his ears turn a bit red from embarrassment. 

Right in front of the Olo’eyktan too? Really, Spider? Good luck staying on the island after this.

He’s about to go rushing out from the entrance when Ronal stops him, he backs away so as to not bump into her swelling belly. Spider looks up at her with surprise before averting his gaze, showing respect in his own way. Yet, Ronal doesn’t yell at him nor hiss, he doesn’t see it but her eyes soften at the sight before landing on her two children behind the boy, instantly she becomes the stern mother she is.

“Tsireya and Aonung!” Her tone reminds Spider of Neytiri whenever she scolds Neteyam or Lo’ak for playing around too much or disobeying orders. It makes him tense up.

The two teens immediately stop arguing and turn their attention to their mother, looking at her sheepishly. “Yes mama…?”

“What have I told you two about fighting? You are brother and sister, you shouldn’t fight over mindless things. Now, go and finish your chores.” 

“Yes mama…”

Spider picks his head up to glance at the two teens as they leave. Aonung doesn’t even acknowledge him whilst Tsireya gives him a small, reassuring smile before leaving to obey their mother’s orders. That now leaves Spider with Ronal, and he can practically feel her gaze on him. 

She stares down at the young boy before walking past him into the pod, sits down near her bag of medicine, and begins to crush leaves into a bowl. She adds some liquid and other things that Spider has no idea what it is, but he doesn’t stick around to ask. Though when he’s about to leave again, the woman stops him.

“Where are you going?”

Suddenly, Spider’s mouth is dry but he swallows and forms a response, turning around to look at the woman fully. “I was just leaving, I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable, I know that you dislike sky people as much as anyone else does. Thank you for letting me sleep here though.” 

Ronal sighs as she hears the boy’s words, “I have not kicked you out and haven’t shown any dislike towards you, so why are you leaving? Sit down, please.” Spider wants to protest but, he takes advantage of the odd kind gesture, nodding then laying back down on the sleeping mat. Soon enough, Ronal comes over with a bowl and kneels down near him. Her expression is blank, a bit stern looking but her eyes have a soft touch to them, it confuses Spider more. 

“Here, drink this. It will help with the medicine already in you from last night, just until your humans get here.”

My humans? Does she mean Norm and Max? 

Spider has no time to question the woman before she is lifting the bowl to his mask and giving him a look that basically tells him to not try to go against her decision. So, he lets out a sigh, reaching back and taking a deep breath before drinking the liquid in the bowl, which is surprisingly sweet. Not only is it surprisingly sweet, but it is also shockingly effective. Spider is already feeling his joints and head rest by the time he slides the mask back on and breathes in, his eyes feeling droopy.

It doesn’t take long for him to pass out, and when Tonowari steps into the pod to check on him, Spider is already fast asleep on the large mat, covered by a woven blanket Ronal once made for Aonung when he ripped his sleeping too wildly one night.

She pretends to not notice the subtle relief that washes over Tonowari’s face when he glances down at the young human, and she definitely doesn’t comment on it, but she does store it in her memories. In time, she will come back to dwell on the small observation, then she will discuss with her mate as always.

Tonowari comes over and pecks the top of her head, before sitting down beside her and rubbing her swollen stomach, a fond look in his eyes.

“How is he?”

Ronal hums softly, leaning into her husband’s embrace. “He is fairing well for right now, but I cannot do anything else.” She finishes, surprising Tonowari just a little when he notices the hint of helplessness and subtle guilt in his mate’s voice. But, he only smiles warmly.

“You have done all you can do, my love. For that, I thank you. Spider thanks you as well, I assume.” 

Now, that has Ronal feeling a little bit better odd enough. Never in all her years of living would she expect to look down at a child of the demons and feel nothing but pity and a rising tug of protectiveness. But, she has never questioned life too much nor has she anticipated the future and its events. She has always accepted that what Eywa does, is only fate, and fate is not to be questioned.

The two fall into silence after that, aside from the gentle hissing of Spider’s mask, they just sit there and enjoy the warm, comfortable silence. They have never felt this comfortable like this before since the birth of Aonung. Of course, they loved their children dearly, oh so very dearly, but it was sometimes a hassle dealing with so much… chaos . 

The couple’s calming moment screeched to a halt by the sound of choppers outside. They were yelling until Tonowari came rushing out calmly to assure the people of his clan that they mean no harm, they are the good kind of sky people. Soon after his words were said, Norm and Max came bursting out of the Samson after it landed, masks on and a determined look in their eye. Well, Norm was in his avatar form whilst Max had a mask on. They greeted Tonowari with respect and followed him to his pod where Ronal was now hovering over Spider, letting a bit of the mother side of her leak out slowly.

Yes, she wouldn’t say she trusted the scientists, but they had helped her people in many ways so if they were friends of the Sullys, if they were friends of her people, then they were friends of her. She was gently caressing Spider’s fuzzy and unkept locs of hair when they came in, carrying bags and equipment that reminded her too much of the RDA and she felt a low snarl rumble in her throat. Though, Tonowari was quick to sit beside her and gentle rub her shoulder, and soon she snapped back to the present, she wasn’t watching her spirit sister’s body float in the now darkened red waters, she wasn’t watching her children be taken by demons who looked like her people, Eywa’s children. She was home, safe, with her children still safe and her people still safe.

The scientists didn’t take note of Ronal's sounds of unease and began to diligently work to figure out what was wrong with the human boy. They started to scan, as they called it, to look for any internal injuries or fractures. By the look on their faces, it appeared they found a flaw. Norm sighed and he glanced up at Tonowari before Jake came bursting in, looking concerned and his worry only grew when he saw Spider, unconscious and laying still, chest rising and falling in a slow pattern.

He breathed out slowly, looking at his two friends with slightly widened eyes. He knew why they were here, though he still wanted to ask since Tonowari came to him, “What happened? Is he okay?”

Norm and Max shared a look then Max licked his lips before speaking, a pitiful expression on his face, he sighed, “Jake, Tonowari, Ronal. I don’t know how to best explain this in na’vi but he will need to go back to High Camp to get treated properly.”

Jake seemed a bit shaken from the explanation, he then hurriedly translated the difficult words to the couple, in which Ronal was the one to grip Spider close to her. The boy let out a whine of slight pain and she immediately went to rub his hair again, but her expression was frustrated, confused and a bit angry. “Why? What for? Is it that serious for him to be taken back to such a … place ?” She hisses out, clearly disgusted by the thought of Spider in a place that wasn’t blessed by Eywa.

Jake held his hands up in a way you would approach a frightened hexapede, about to explain when Max beat him to it. “His injuries don’t just stop at the bruises. He is showing severe signs of malnourishment and low blood sugar, he has the possible chance of fainting and never waking up. I am surprised the kid hasn't stiffened up and seizing by now.”

After Jake translated what Max had said, It was silent in the pod, everyone sat there with a heavy stone upon their heart, until Ronal spoke up, always the voice to break a silence. “Whatever he has, we can treat it with what we have.”

“Ronal…”

“ No !” She sounded almost too frustrated by now, pulling Spider even closer to her body. Her eyes were calm like always but they held a certain anger to them. “I will not let this child be taken to place … so far away ! I refuse , Tonowari!” She hisses at her husband, looking like a scared animal in that moment.

Yet, Tonowari looked at her with an understanding gaze but also, one of which spoke of his own reluctance to let Spider go. He took her non occupied hand in his own and squeezed. “My love, we have to. If we don’t, he will surely pass and I can tell you do not want to see such a fate happen to this boy. So, let him go and let them help him…”

Ronal still looked so guarded, but she was considering it. Tonowari pushed though. “ Let him go , my love. You know Eywa will always watch over him no matter what. Trust in her.”

It took a moment, but Ronal begrudgingly nodded in a stiff and small way. Her eyes glances at Spider and his resting, peaceful face before she gently handed him over to Norm and Max, who had to use a bit of force when Ronal’s grip wouldn’t let up for a split second, but they took the boy, Norm holding him like you would with a sleepy toddler. They gave the couple a sympathetic look before thanking them in Na’vi. Max packed their things up, Norm held Spider close, they both hurried back to the Samson and before anyone knew it, they were gone up into the sky.

Jack had already departed from the pod. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t stand there and just look at Spider laying there helplessly . It reminded him too much of Netey—

Shit , Jake couldn’t say his own son’s name without feeling his throat begin to get dry and his eyes start to burn with more tears, because that is all he has ever been doing is crying, mourning, grieving since his son’s death. And seeing spider laying there like that, brought back the painful memory of the last time he held Neteyam before he slipped away from this world.

Jake didn’t even realize he was crying, until he sniffled out loud and immediately he was wiping at his face. His head hurt from all the sobbing he did in secret. He didn’t even hear the footsteps behind him until it was too late, but it was all good though.

He turns to see Tonowari, the sight of the other man would normally make Jake smile but the look on the Olo’eyktan’s face has the former Toruk Makto faltering a bit. Tonowari seems to want to scold Jake, but he also looks like a parent trying to understand their child’s behavior in a way. So, Jake starts cautiously.

“Brother…”

Jake has an instinct to rub at his face, he sniffles subtly and gives a kind smile. “Yes? What is it, Tonowari?”

“When your human friends treat the Spider boy and bring him back to full health, we must speak. Alone .”

Tonowari’s tone is serious, there is no room for argue but Jake doesn’t even want to argue because he has a sinking feeling that this is the conversation he has dreaded since he’s noticed Spider distancing himself when his children begin to slowly grow up into older teenagers. This conversation would prove his sins and make him uncover why he felt so guilty whenever he saw Spider hanging back whenever he marked his children’s heights on the pole. This conversation would have Jake face what he has been trying so very hard to ignore for so long.

Though, despite his internal panic, Jake nodded, sniffling once more. “Yes… yes, we uh- we should. Thank you, brother.” And he meant that. He meant that thanks, because Tonowari was doing something Jake couldn’t do, something he should have done since he first held Spider when he was a baby in that lab. For that, Jake has never been more grateful for Tonowari and Ronal even existing. They did something him and Neytiri was too scared and too reluctant to do themselves.

Hearing his words, Tonowari’s face remains the same but it softens just a bit. He says nothing more but he nods and Jake takes that as a sign, nodding once again too before leaving to his own pod.

When the Olo’eyktan turns around, he is faced with his wife, rubbing her belly almost self-consciously. Her look has changed, she is no longer the guarded, overbearing co-clan leader. She now has let some of the genuine, motherly worry for Spider spill out and by the looks of it, she realizes it too and she cannot stop it. Maybe she doesn’t want to plug it up and keep it covered again. “For the first time, I am questioning our future. Not just our children’s, our clan’s. I feel… slight fear for the boy. I do not know why, but I just do. What has happened, my dear?”

Tonowari simply smiles, walking up to his wife and kissing her forehead then pecking her lips. He grabs her shoulders and leans his forehead against hers. 

“It is called caring, my love. You care for the child just as much as I do. It will be okay. Like I said, Eywa will protect him. She will always protect.”

She will always protect her children, no matter who they are or what. Always.