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The aftermath of the destruction brought upon by the RDA and Mangwakan Na’vi would continue to overshadow the Kinglor Forest for days, maybe months. You were not sure, but you believed that in the end Eywa would make it right. Rebuild.
Just like your clan would. Not so long ago you had found Rasi and only yesterday So’lek had officially joined you. You could still distinctly remember the soft skin under your fingers as you painted the Sarentu mark on his cheek, how by accident they brushed over the rougher structure of his scar. You were proud of him, but there was more.
You knew So’lek had rejected joining other clans before. He had continued to move forward as Trr’ong. And yet for some reason now he changed his mind. Maybe it was all that you went through together. Maybe he found solace with those who knew what loss meant as much as he did. Or maybe it was all connected and more.
It didn't matter. You were happy and the five of you were stronger than ever.
For now you stuck with the survivors of the Aranahe clan, doing the little jobs around the makeshift camp, helping out wherever you could.
You were just coming back from your gathering expedition.
“Shelter fruit as promised,” you said softly to Etuwa, passing her your gatherings. She was still grieving the death of her Ikran Talu.
Despite that she gave you a weak smile and her honest thanks.
You then turned to the part of the camp currently occupied by the Sarentu. Ri’nela was discussing something with Rasi, while Teylan annoyedly shook a piece of tech.
“What is it, Teylan? Can I help?” you approached him.
“Oh Tamtey. No, no. It’s just,” he shrugged, “all the dirt is getting into the devices. I’ll need to store them better if we want to still have some technical insight into what RDA are doing. How was your mission?”
“Just gathering and I got everything Etuwa needed.”
“Good, we’re all done with our tasks for today as well.”
“All?” You raised your brow ridge, sweeping your gaze through the little part of the camp. “Where is So’lek?”
“Enjoying his alone time?” Ri’nela chuckled. “You would think joining a clan would change something, but he’s still the same old So’lek.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” you grin at the rest of the Sarentu, “but I still think he’s had enough of it, since he was supposed to patrol by himself today. I’ll look for him.”
“And same old Tamtey,” Rasi smiled proudly. “Making sure everyone is alright.”
You just waved at them and spun on your heel walking towards a slightly more open space so you could summon your ikran Telisi. One call was all it took. Your bonded hung around and clearly demanded pets and some attention. You didn’t take her when you were gathering today, since shelter fruit grew nearby.
You gave Telisi a snack and swiftly hopped on, connecting the tsaheylu.
“Fly, Telisi,” you spoke under your breath, feeling her through your bond. A moment later you were soaring high through the sky. It was beautiful and you didn’t wish to look down. See the ash, the destruction the sky people and the Mangwakan brought. It hurt. It brought back memories of the time you were captured.
Of course you had stayed strong. You had known So’lek and the others were coming to save you. You had believed and yet later when you heard about everything your new clan member had to go through, the enemies he had fought to find you. He could have died. You never wanted his sacrifice. You could not imagine how you would have taken it.
It… You had no idea how it made you feel.
Or you knew, but you didn’t exactly know how to confront it. The feelings, which you didn’t fully understand and had no idea how to go about them. But you knew that things have changed over time between the two of you. Subtly. At least that was before,
You glanced at your songcord. So’lek had kept it safe. More than that he had it tied to his arm the whole time he had been searching for you.
This didn’t seem as subtle.
You didn’t even realise that by some intuition you were flying towards So’lek’s hideout. Good place to start looking for him as any, actually maybe better than most.
Telisi screeched when you approached greeting Iley, who suddenly flew from between the rocks in the upper parts of the shelter. It was around where your Ikran had hidden while you were taken.
It warmed your heart that your bonded out of all the places in the Kinglor Forest had chosen So’lek’s retreat. She had to feel safe here. Trust him.
You smiled. Iley’s presence meant that his Na’vi had to be nearby.
As you descended, you swiftly jumped off to let your Ikran chase after Iley with friendly squealing.
“Stay safe you two!” You shouted chuckling at the ikran playing. Then you turned around put your hands on your hips.
Despite all the metaphorical weight from everything that had happened, somehow you felt lighter here. More yourself, safer and it’s not like you’d forgotten how to smile.
So with a small smirk on your face you descended down inside the camp. You were sure So’lek had heard you, then why didn’t he go out to greet you.
“You’re not bored of your alone time yet?” You chirped.
“I am busy,” you heard So’lek grunt, but at this point you knew how to recognise when he was better left alone and when simply grumpy. At that moment it was the second case.
“What are you doing?” You clasped your fingers behind your back and approached him, swaying your tail. Your ears flicked in curiosity, when you saw him face his weapon and gear racks.
So’lek gave you a short glance.
“Reorganising.”
“Why? I thought you liked your camp the way it was.”
“Well,” So’lek’s gaze landed on the floor as he scratched the back of his neck. “If I move these there could be more space for other things.”
“Such as..?” You blinked.
“Tamtey…” He sighed, reaching for one of his bows and then putting it to the side.
“I really don’t know,” you shrugged, “and I’m curious.”
“I decided~” was that a blush? Did you see a blush? It looked nice with the Sarentu mark, the one you painted yourself you had to add. “That the Sarentu needed a place to stay,” So’lek shrugged, grabbing another bow. “At least while we’re in the Kinglor forest. The clan has always moved around. And if I moved my gear there might be enough space for a few more hammocks and all of Teylan’s electricity.”
“Oh,” you took a step back.
So So’lek wasn’t having his alone time, wasn’t hiding, separating from his clan. On the contrary. He was trying to give them home, at least for a while, at least a small version of it, inviting you all to his space.
You would lie if you had said this didn’t make you feel things. Pride, admiration, fondness, feelings…
You gulped, now being the one who was blushing.
“What?” So’lek brought you back from your train of thought.
Right. Here and now.
“Awww. You care for us,” you teased.
“Well, of course I care for you,” he shrugged slightly annoyed, moving more gear. “I wouldn’t have joined your– our clan if I didn’t. I’ll have you know I am thoughtful.”
“And still sooo easy to bait,” you playfully nudged his shoulder, letting your hand fall on it.
So’lek looked up at you, maybe a bit embarrassed you once again got your way, but then his expression turned into the smallest smile.
“I know you care,” you admitted truthfully, putting more meaning into your touch to his shoulder. So’lek glanced at it, glanced at you. Were his eyes always this pretty yellow? You felt your heart beat pick up its pace. “That’s why I’m going to help you,” you broke the moment, pulling away.
“Yes of course,” So’lek collects himself. “Thank you. You can take down the armor. I’ll finish up with the bows.”
You nod, turning away. Heartbeat not quite at its normal rate.
However if you saw correctly and you were perceptive if anything, So’lek had reacted similarly.
Maybe what you were seeing this whole time wasn’t wishful thinking on your side, but real signs. Signs that he could also feel more. You gently touched the bead he had gifted to you what felt like forever ago.
You approached the gear racks, right away moving to the armor you have seen him wear the most. The Dog Tag Warrior armor, now without the dog tags as he had rid himself of them some time ago. You unclipped the metal, slightly straining to pull it up. There were scratches and paint on its surface. So’lek now would wear Sarentu clothing.
He really had grown, hadn’t he? And you as well. Of course you did. No longer mentor and trainee. Equals. You’ve been equals for a while. Great partners as So’lek would accompany you on multiple missions.
Could the two of you be also great at… more?
Your thoughts kept circling back to the same thing. You would be a fool not to notice that. When you were captured you thought of the other Sarentu, the Aranahe, but So’lek was on your mind a lot. At first when you were thinking he had died you grieved in silence, but then Major Bukowski gave you hope.
You picked gear from the next rack, neatly folding the cloth.
You realised you didn’t know your future. You didn’t know what could happen, but you knew how you felt. So maybe it was time to confront it. Maybe it was time to stop being a…
“Chicken,” you put away So’lek’s gear on the pile and looked up.
He had already turned to face you with an unimpressed expression.
“For the last time…” So’lek sighed. “I do not know what a chicken is.”
You snorted. This time you actually didn’t mean him and it was even funnier So’lek took it personally.
“You laugh and you keep making that weird, chaw-kaw noise.”
His reaction and attempt at mimicking only made you chuckle more.
“See?” He rolled his eyes, but couldn’t hide fondness in them.
“I see, I see,” you calmed yourself down, but your smile didn’t falter. You stepped closer towards So’lek, so you would face him. “So chicken is an earth animal.”
“Uh-huh,” So’lek didn’t seem convinced.
“What?” you laughed. “I’m not teasing you this time.”
“It has two legs, wings, and a beak.”
“So like an ikran?” You could hear some curiosity in his tone.
“Far from it,” you tried to picture the creatures next to one another. “The chicken would probably not survive long and ended up as ikran lunch. They’re small feathery, creatures, which make that noise. They lay eggs so sky people can eat those. They eat chicken too.”
“They sound…” So’lek seemed to be looking for a word. You knew he was kind to all the creatures and didn’t want to offend even an Earth animal, “like they could not survive on their own for long.”
“True,” you agree. “That’s why sky people breed them, for food, they’re not free… nothing there seems to be,” you remember your teachings from TAP and bite your lip.
“Tamtey?” He pulls you out, before you even allow yourself to follow that dark path of thoughts. Good. Now it was not the time for that. “So why call me chicken?”
“It’s a human saying actually,” you explained. “You call someone that when you think they’re afraid of something. It can be playful, like I do with you–”
You took a deep breath. It was now or never. You weren’t sure you would get the courage any time later. And now you were close.
You slowly reached out your hand. So’lek didn’t pull away, but he followed it with his gaze until you gently put it on his cheek. The one with his scar, the one with the Sarentu mark.
“And now–” the words seemed stuck in your throat. “I called myself chicken, but I’m not one, because I’m talking to you.” You look up seeing his ears flicker slightly with a bit of confusion, his eyes wide and unsure.
You brush So’lek’s scar, follow it slightly higher only to go back to rest your hand on his cheek.
“Tamtey–”
“We work great together, So'lek. We both know that. And we both care for each other. This is obvious. I just…” You stare him in the eyes, lowering your voice to a whisper. “I just wish to know how much.”
You aren’t sure what emotions flicker through his face, but you give him time. Time to lift his own palm and put it over yours. He didn’t pull it away, just pressed gently. Time to close his eyes and slightly tilt his head, but your hand stayed close.
“It’s complicated Tamtey,” So’lek admits. “I have history… there are years… and what would the rest say? I’m–” he pauses.
“Bukowski could have killed me,” you state decisively, moving even closer so you’re centimeters apart.
“I would never let that happen,” So’lek growled. You felt his facial muscles tense under your palm.
“What I meant to say is that we don’t know what the future might bring, we will fight of course, but… I won’t have any regrets, that I didn’t try, because–” you take a deep breath. “I have feelings for you, So’lek. I care for you more than as a member of my clan.”
He opens his eyes again to lock them with yours. You feel him gently stroke your fingers. Now you are almost sure you can hear his heartbeat being as loud as yours.
“And I think you do too. You are just afraid,” you pause,” but it’s okay to be afraid, it’s something new, something that scares me too, but–”
“That’s why you call me chicken?” You see a hint of an unsure smile on his face.
“Now I do,” you laugh, all at once feeling the tension leave you, because this? This wasn’t a bad response. Right?
You feel So’lek pull you closer. Bring your forehead to his and you let your eyelids flutter shut. You enjoy the moment. The closeness, the way his hand now touches your cheek and feel the warmth in your growing inside of your chest.
“And you are chicken too?” So’lek makes sure.
“No,” you giggle, pulling away. “I confessed first. This shields me from being a chicken indefinitely.”
He smiles, before settling into a more serious expression.
“I still have some reservations,” So’lek admits, “but I am willing to take things slow and see where it takes us.”
“I wouldn’t ask for anything more,” you confirm, “and I’m happy with taking it slow, for myself too.”
But not that slow, that you wouldn’t kiss him at that moment. You wrapped your arms around his neck, taking him slightly by surprise and pulling close, smashing your lips together.
The kiss felt awkward at first, you're not surprised, you hadn’t kissed before, but then So’lek seemed to have come to his senses and he kissed you back, gently guiding you, allowing you to adjust, learn. And you were always a fast learner.
When So’lek pulled away, he cleared his throat.
“You surprised me.”
“Always do,” you grinned.
You slid your hand down his arm to interlace your fingers together. You didn’t miss the way his gaze hung on your joined hands.
“Come,” you pull him towards his gear rack. “I see you’ve finished with your bows, but we still have the rest of the hideout to redecor, so we can invite the rest of our clan.”