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1
Tsireya and Lo’ak might've been the closest thing to “love at first sight” that either of them had seen in real life. Lo’ak had stepped onto the woven bouncy floor of the Metkayina dock and when Ronal grabbed his wrist and ridiculed him, the shame he felt washed away like the shoreline when he made eye contact with the eye catching Navi girl. The soreness of his bones pushed to the back of his mind as the girl smiled at him before disappearing into the crowd as the commotion around Lo’ak grew. He always knew he wasn't a real Navi but being called out like this in front of everyone made his insecurity deeper and darker. However despite the immediate hostility, he and his family had still been allowed to take refuge at the clan, getting appointed their own Marui and hammocks.
Lo’ak saw the same aqua skinned girl again, this time it was in a confrontation he and two Metkayina boys had when the finned boys insulted Kiri. Off to the side the girl stood tense while trying to break them up. It was to no avail and the physical fight she tried to stop still happened and that night when confronted by Jake and the same Tsahik that had ridiculed him, Lo’ak saw the girl standing near Ronal. And that's when he realised. The Metkayina Navi he was so entranced by was the chief's daughter.
After that he desperately tried to distance himself from her, knowing it would never work out but that plan only held up for so long. Due to Omatikaya living in the forest they were accustomed to swimming or fishing, so to help them the chief, Tonowari had asked Tsireya to teach the kids. While Lo’ak’s brother and sisters got it quickly he couldn't quite grasp the skill of swimming as instinctively. This was normal to the youngest son and even though his parents were there Lo’ak could feel the perpetual stares of disappointment that followed him like a shadow throughout his life. However when Tsireya was reexplaining how to kick your legs properly, all he saw in her eyes was…. adoration? No that couldn’t be it.. Maybe it was just more mockery.
Lo’ak kicked his legs exactly like she said and finally he grasped how to move with the water. As soon as he resurfaced Tsireya clapped with a genuine happy face.
“Good job! You did great Lo’ak”
He looked at her for a moment in shock at how happy she was for a demon blooded boy like him. Her expression quickly reigned in and she coughed awkwardly.
“Sorry.. I guess i got too excited”
Lo’ak quickly and vigorously shook his head.
“No no, it's fine! I was just surprised you aren't sick of my failed swimming attempts by now.”
He says, sarcasm masking the honest self deprecation in his sentence. Tsireya smiles again, a sickening, saccharine and sincere smile that made Lo’ak’s heart pound against his ribs while making his stomach sink like he just unintentionally committed a crime by his adoration for the Metkayina daughter.
The rest of the day Tsireya had shown Lo’ak what the way of water truly meant, swimming together with the boy and riding her Ilu through the water as he rode next to her. The whole day felt so natural even though she had never come close to experiencing this level of carefreeness. As the chief's daughter her life from the beginning was filled with responsibility and pressure that she had become accustomed to, however being relaxed with this boy who let her have fun felt like home more than the comfort of the woven fabric Marui’s.
That night when she got back the breezy air of the day had hardened into a tension filled abode. Her parents wasted no time to start their scolding.
“We told you to teach the Sully kids not befriend one of them! Specifically not the one who harmed your older brother!”
The hardened chief yells, gesturing to Aonung who sat nearby watching the whole interaction with neutrality spread across his features. On one hand he wanted to stand up for his younger sister but on the other hand, her hanging out with the boy who started a fight with him frustrated the eldest child. However he still opened his mouth in protest.
“Mother, Father, Tsireya does a lot of work and she doesn't take time to herself. She should've told you however you can't be that mad at her for a couple hours of downtime.”
The words of Aonung entered his parents ears and their anger died down slightly and with a sharp tone her mother spoke.
“We will not punish you this time but if this happens again you are grounded.”
Tsireya nods before apologising and walks to her room and sits on her hammock watching the waves outside reflecting the dark and desolate night sky. Before long she can see the village torches being put out and the clan retreating to their Marui’s for the night. As the sounds of her parents heading to their room she sighs wondering why they can't be as lenient with her as they are with Aonung. Before her thoughts can consume her she hears a hushed whisper, shaking her imagination away she's interrupted by another louder whisper. This time she looks to the sea only to see… Lo’ak?
Lo’ak wades in the water outside her Marui and waves once he's finally caught her attention, he beckons her over and she smiles and leaves her Marui to the water where he is at.
“Come on lets go”
He says and Tsireya giggles at him sneaking her out before they swim to a small cave nearby. The two sit together and Lo’ak lights a small fire on some dried driftwood, the warm light illuminating them and drying the salt water on their skin.
“You okay?”
Lo’ak asks, his concerned voice breaking the silence.
“Yea my parents just weren’t happy with today”
Her normally bright tone takes a sour finger at her strict parents. With a scoff, Lo'ak responds.
“Oh come on! You spent all day teaching us how to swim and they made you take a couple hours to yourself?”
Tsireya laughs a defeated laugh.
“They say it's unbecoming of a future Tsahik…that I should be more responsible.”
“Thats bullshit!”
Lo’ak says frustrated at the girl's unreasonable parents, seeing the shock on Tsireya's face he reels himself in.
“Sorry i just mean… you're going to be Tsahik one day, so why wouldn't they want you to live a carefree and fun childhood before you're stuck with that title?”
The simple but true sentence struck Tsireya in the heart, she had never thought about it that way but now that the notion was in front of her she couldn't help but deny its truth. The two head home shortly after, The cold water splashing on their recently warm skin like a slap. Lo’ak dropped Tsireya off at her Marui and with a wave he swam away and she dried herself off before lying down in her hammock. That night she fell asleep with a truly content feeling inside her. As if something she had never understood clicked that night.
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2
Life at the Metkayina clan had slowly gotten better after a week's time. Ignoring when Aonung and his friends left him in the middle of nowhere to get attacked by an Akula. Life wasn't overly bad, even being abandoned out in sea and almost dying had its benefits as Lo’ak met Payakan.
The outcast Tulkun reminded Lo’ak of himself in many ways. Whether it was the drive to protect his family in reckless ways or his isolation from everyone else, Payakan truly felt like a Tulkun version of him. While Lo’ak has an older brother, Neteyam couldn't be more different from him. Unlike Lo'ak, Neteyam is the perfect son, selfless, helpful and caring and everyone in the family knows it. When he's with Neteyam the selfish part of Lo’ak can only think of how he wishes he was like his older brother, however with his soul brother Payakan, Lo'ak is allowed to be himself.
That was until Lo’ak returned from meeting with Payakan only for his dad to grab him by the arm and drag him to the Chief’s Marui. At first Lo’ak thought this was about Tsireya however The look on Tsireya’s face proved it was not. Tonowari quickly broke the silence with his authoritative voice.
“Lo’ak boy have you bonded with the Tulkun Payakan?”
Lo’ak stills at the mention of his soul brother, he looks back and Jake and Neytiri are standing and watching him. He remembers how they had Tsaheylu where Lo’ak saw Payakan’s grief and guilt.
“Yes..?”
Lo’ak replies and Tonowari sighs and Ronal shakes her head before the chief continues.
“You are not allowed to continue to meet with your soul brother.”
Tonowari states, his tone firm. Lo’ak’s entire body was still in shock as the words hit his head.
“What? Why?!”
His tone filled with frustration and sadness, Jake lightly wacks Lo’ak’s head to tell his son to mind his attitude towards the chief. But Tonowari doesn't show any sign of offense as he replies.
“Payakan was outcasted from the Tulkun because he had killed sky people”
“But he did it to defend his family.”
Lo’ak retorts before Ronal speaks.
“Sadly the reason doesn't matter, in the eyes of the Tulkun matriarch Payakan is a killer and you cannot see him anymore”
Lo’ak shakes his head in refusal. If there's one thing Lo’ak won’t agree to, it's being prohibited from seeing his brother due to him being an outcast.
“I'm sorry but I won't stop seeing Payakan.”
Without another word Lo’ak gets up and leaves and Jake shakes his head and sighs at his son's rebellious nature.
“Hopefully he will understand soon Toruk Makto”
“I hope so too chief.”
Jake follows after Lo’ak while Neytiri goes back to the Marui to check on the kids. After catching up with his son near the shoreline as Lo’ak was preparing to jump into the water to see Payakan.
“Lo’ak what the hell was that?!”
His father yells, angry at his son's behaviour much less in front of the Tsahik and Chief of the clan. Lo’ak turns around to face his Father.
“Payakan is an outcast but he only killed humans cause they hunted and murdered his whole family!”
Jake scoffs and shakes his head.
“I don't give a shit about that Tulkuns morals right now, if the Chief and Tsahik of the clan we are guests in tell you not to do something, guess what? You don't do it!”
Lo’ak sighs, knowing his father won't understand his side. Ever since Lo’ak had been old enough to have conversations, the father and son frequently found themselves arguing with each other. The most common reason being Lo’ak’s recklessness and Jake’s paternal worry of what might happen to his youngest son. In a way Lo’ak was exactly like Jake when he first entered Pandora, curious, reckless and hard to control. But now that Jake was a father, he saw the behaviour as disobedient rather than normal.
“Yea i get it, you don’t care.”
Jake exhales in pure frustration.
“You and me both know that’s not what i said but fine pretend you heard whatever you want”
Jake says walking away knowing he can't reason with his son at this moment. And he hears Lo’ak’s footsteps splash in the shallow water, eventually disappearing as he starts swimming. Entering the Marui he makes eye contact with his wife as she holds Tuk in her lap, braiding her hair while humming a song. Neteyam immediately walks up to Jake with a question in his eyes.
“Dad, where's Lo’ak?”
Jake kisses his teeth before replying, the frustration still lingering in his tone.
“He went for a swim with his Ilu.”
Neteyam nods hesitantly before resuming his meal with Spider and Kiri. Neteyam was smart beyond his age and he knew that his father and Lo’ak probably had another argument and needed space from each other like always. The routine had become like clockwork, Lo’ak does something Jake doesn't like, Jake yells at Lo’ak, Lo’ak yells back and then Lo’ak goes to a secluded area and comes back a couple hours later and they pretend nothing happened. While Neteyam wishes he could change the cycle he knows how stubborn the two were and he lets them figure it out on their own.
The water rushes past Lo’ak like a river, if there's one thing Lo’ak loved about living with the Metkayina it was being in the water. Riding an Ilu through the currents felt so freeing, it was flying an Ikran but more.. Powerful. As if time stood still and the only thing living and moving was him and the animal below him. He was in control, if he got injured that was his fault, if he wanted to go left or right it was his choice. One thing Lo’ak will never admit was his underlying love for control, in a life where all he seemingly did was get yelled at and commanded having control over anything felt like the same cold water he was swimming through. Refreshing and providing clarity to his anger and frustration filled life. So what if Lo’ak found this control in unhealthy ways like flying his Ikran dangerously fast, swerving his Ilu as late as he could before he crashes or even digging his dagger into his skin to feel a pain he was in charge of. The sensation of him having the ultimate choice felt like a drug he could not resist.
That night Lo’ak reached the same secluded cave he took Tsireya to and he sat on the cold damp stone floor, not bothering to start a fire. Maybe he deserved the cold like he deserved the cold looks from his father. Reaching into his belt loop Lo’ak took out his dagger, the same dagger he carried since he was young and the same dagger that had tasted his blood more than anything else. He methodically slid the cool blade upon his forearm, adding a little pressure when he felt like it, however his “Session” was cut short when he heard ripples through the water outside the cave. Before he could hide the blood Tsireya walked into the cave, this beautiful and wise girl who Lo’ak felt sorry for her having to deal with him. He watches her expression drop at the blood and she quickly runs to him and kneels next to him but before she can touch him he pulls his arm behind him, the sticky warm liquid spreading across his back.
“Lo’ak… why would you do that to yourself”
The innocent questions almost broke the Omatikaya boy right then and there. Something about her tone, her genuine care made these hard walls crumble just enough to open up to her.
“I…its just a habit”
He says revealing the half truth, Tsireya looks at him with concern in her eyes and Lo’ak sees it.
“Listen, I don't need your pity, I'm fine.”
He says like a nervous dog pretending to be mean to scare a predator away. Tsireya does not falter, with the authority and grace of a future Tsahik she cuts him off.
“Even if you're fine I want to check on you.”
She gently but firmly pulls his arm out and Lo’ak lets her, his head turned to the side avoiding seeing her reaction to his self mutilated skin. To his surprise she gently reaches out and places her other hand on his cheek, bringing his sorrowful gaze to her kind one.
“I see you, Lo'ak. I'm here for you as you were for me.”
Tsireya holds his hand tightly and the two relax in silence as Tsireya washes away the blood from his blue skin. The casualness of the interaction creates a calm and almost domestic atmosphere. The next morning the two don't bring up the previous night however the look in each other's eyes shows the mutual understanding of each other's experiences.
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3
Tsireya has lived the same routine most of her life. Wake up, brush her hair, teach the young Navi how to swim or ride Ilu’s, help her mother out in the medical bay and then go to sleep. A monotonous and boring system she had grown tired of lately, however change came in the form of a friend. Lo’ak had brought a new and spontaneous energy to her life and she found herself having more variety in her daily experiences. For the past 2 weeks that they had been hanging out daily without fail Lo’ak would manage to find Tsireya and break her free of the duties she had for at least a couple hours.
So this morning instead of dreading the tiresome day like she would have before meeting Lo’ak she got up quickly and rushed through her morning routine so she could be free of her responsibilities sooner. She washed her face and used mangrove bark to brush her teeth and tongue before putting on her seashell accessories and spritzing her perfume. Despite her wanting to get outside quickly she also wanted to make sure she looked pretty and presentable. She would deny that it was for Lo’ak when Aonung questioned the reason, however deep down she knew she wanted to impress him.
After her breakfast of crustaceans and sea plants she headed out into the water, taking her Ilu and saddling the light purple and white animal. She rode out into a long shallow area near the clan where she teaches the young Metkayina children how to bond and ride an Ilu. After a couple of hours of helping various children to make Tsaheylu and board an Ilu the lessons are over and she heads to the medical bay Marui. Inside she sees her mother grinding different herbs and oils into a thick fragrant paste.
“Daughter, we need to treat a young girl who got attacked by an Akula near the three brothers.”
Tsireya nods and quickly goes to the bed that Ronal and said, Akula attacks were pretty uncommon as most Metkayina knew not to venture too far out without a weapon and Ilu. The whole scenario reminds her what Lo’ak had been through not even 5 days ago. She remembered bandaging and stitching up the gash he had on his calf, reciting how lucky he had been to escape somewhat unscathed. However when she approaches the bed of the injured girl she realises that this isn't the same case. The Navi who looks around Tsireya’s age lies weakly on the bed, laboured breathing and a wheeze with every inhale and healers rushing around her. On her abdomen was a large claw mark leaving 3 deep gashes that oozed blood into the gauze that was stuffed into the wound. Tsireya immediately got to work, disinfecting the wound with distilled homemade alcohol before she rushed to prepare a needle and clean thread to stitch the wound up.
But when she returned it was already too late.
The girl lay still and lifeless on the bed, her eyes glazed over and empty and her chest no longer rising with strain. Ronal walks in and sees the girl and the horrified expression on her daughter's face and with a somber expression the Tsahik walks to the bedside and gently closes the deceased girl's eyes before softly chanting a prayer. Ronal instructed Tsireya to go to the waiting room and inform the parents and her daughter obediently obliged, slowly walking to the parents with every step feeling like she was walking in quick sand. She watches the distraught expression on the parents face and the wails they let out while they hold each other.
“Im sorry, you can come see her”
Tsireya leads them to the body and the mother immediately collapses onto her knees next to the bed, desperately gripping onto her daughter's hand and covering her mouth. The father stands next to her with tears running down his face as he tries in vain to remain composed for his wife. Ronal looks at Tsireya and with a wordless nod dismisses her daughter and Tsireya quickly leaves the Medical bay, barely holding tears back.
She finally reaches her bedroom and shuts the curtains at the room entrance before silently letting her tears fall, she runs to her bathrooms as she washes her hands trying to scrub away the imagery of that girl's blood off her hands. She knows it's not her fault but she should have been able to do more instead of watching her die while her parents sat only a wall away. Through her panic she didn't notice the figure in her bedroom as she left.
“Reya?”
A familiar voice rings out breaking her out of her spiraling. Lo’ak stands in her room seemingly concerned at the girl's sad expression. Without a word she hugged the boy burying her face into his shoulder, Lo’ak stood there in shock for a second before hesitantly wrapping his arms around her back and keeping one hand on the back of her head.
“Hey hey its okay i got you”
She continues to cry and Lo’ak continues to hold her and whisper comforts into her hair. After a couple minutes she starts to calm down and Lo’ak pulls away slightly just to lead Tsireya to her hammock so she can sit down.
“You wanna tell me what happened?”
He asks gently and softly, not forcing an answer but encouraging one. With a sniffle she nods before talking, her voice breaking and trembling with every word.
“I was helping my mother in the medical bay… and, and there was this girl who was attacked by Akula and she- Eywa took her.”
Tsireya stops herself from saying dead, her stomach flipping as she even thinks of the word. Lo’ak puts his arms around her again, his thumb rubbing circles into her shoulder blade.
“You’re a great healer Reya you did everything you could”
The words roll off her like water off a duck's back as she pushes away from Lo'ak, her sad tone becoming angry.
“Lo’ak it doesn't matter! I should've been able to do more, I'm a future Tsahik!”
She sharply waves her webbed hands in accordance to her words before dragging them down her face, wiping away more of her everflowing tears.
“You already do so much, you help with so much”
He kneels down in front of the hammock where Tsireya is sitting holding her hand while staring up at her big turquoise eyes that make him wish he could jump in and swim inside the captivating colours of her Iris.
“You helped me Reya, whether it was when I got hurt by an Akula or when.. When I hurt myself.”
He exhales frustratedly with a shake of his head before looking at her shaky hands in his.
“I just wish you could see that”
She sniffles and wipes away some of her tears, Lo’ak’s uncharacteristic display of sentimental emotion snapping her out of her wallowing.
“Sit on the hammock, it feels weird talking to you like this.”
She says with a hint of humour in her tone catching Lo’ak off guard as he looks up at her abruptly before getting up and sitting next to her with a hint of purple blush on his face.
“Thanks for that Lo’ak… talking to you.. It helps a lot.”
She says rubbing her shoulder with one arm and fidgeting with her arm jewellery adorning her glowing skin like she was a carefully carved out marble statue. A hint of nervousness showed in her body language that Lo’ak caught and subtly smiled at before looking at her and replying.
“Anytime.”
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4
The peaceful tranquility of their evening escapades and soft interactions together would not remain however. As the normally clear blue sky where Polyphemus would be clearly displayed filled with smoke and the sound of waves crashing was blocked out by the sound of battle cries and shouts. As Lo’ak and his father heaved his brother's body onto the small rock island Lo’ak cradled his brother's upper body as he gently pulled Neteyam to lie down on the semi-drier land. The younger brother's once cold hands now warm with the crimson liquid pouring from his brother. ‘There should not be this much blood’ the thought rings out in Lo’ak’s head and as he looks at his father he can tell Jake is thinning the same thing.
“Lo’ak stop the bleeding!”
With a shaky nod Lo’ak presses his hands onto his brother's low left shoulder, Through the chaos and wails he feels his brother's heart beat as Neteyam looks up at him with a terrifyingly calm face.
“Brother, keep your eyes open! We are getting you help!”
Kiri kneels to the side in shock and horror watching her older brother slowly bleed out while she could do nothing but pray to Eywa. In the background she could hear her mother crying out while holding Neteyam’s head in her lap, cradling him as if he was a child once more. Jake tried to contact an aid helicopter from High camp but deep down he knew that even if Norm flew here as quickly as possible it wouldn't be fast enough with the rate his son was bleeding out.
Lo’ak continued pressing on the uncanny hole in his brother's flesh but he was broken out of his dissociation as he brother spoke.
“I.. I want to go home.”
The simple sentence struck the family like the bullet that struck Neteyam.
“Shh shh we will go home don’t worry”
Neytiri softly lied to her first born child, hoping the false hope might give her just another five minutes with her son. But to no avail, horrifyingly Lo’ak felt his brother's heart slow down then stop as the pouring blood slowly stopped as the heart pumping the thick liquid gave up. Neytiri looked to the sky and screamed in agony as if physically feeling her son’s death, Lo’ak slowly removed his hands from Neteyam's cold chest and as they lay in his own lap the stark dark colour covered his hands and wrists just like the self inflicted wounds he had.
He faintly feels as his father nudges him out of the way to get to Neytiri but he can't bring himself to focus on anything, as if he was trapped inside his head with no way out. He vaguely hears his father telling him he's done enough and he vaguely feels the guilt pooling in his body like the blood pooling around his older brother. He remembers his father mistaking him for Neteyam as he was about to drown and barely being able to save Jake. He remembers Jake telling him he saw him even though Lo’ak killed Neteyam with his reckless choices. He remembers the sorrow on his parents' faces as the golden sea anemones on the ocean floor covered and took his brother's body.
However now sitting in a secluded area in Awa'atlu near the sea wall terraces he wishes he hadn't remembered anything. He wishes he could have taken the bullet for Neteyam and he would be the one with Eywa instead of him. Neteyam was always the responsible one, helping Lo’ak and teaching him the thing Jake had neglected to do. He shouldn't be the one lifeless right now, instead he should be getting patched up with their parents and exchanging remarks about how glad they are to have gotten out alive. He barely recognises his own hand itching the leather wraps Tsireya had given him to hide the cuts on his wrist. Part of him wants to add more tonight, maybe spelling out ‘Neteyam’ just to remind him of how much he failed his older brother. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't because his dagger had been lost at sea so instead he sat slumped against the wall, frustrated and angry at himself.
In the moment of weakness he gets up and his legs carry him to Tsireya’s Marui without him asking them to. As he reaches the small window opening he had used to sneak her out before he instead waits there and watches as she unbraided her hair and took her armour like accessories off. He watches her careful and calculated movements and he thinks about how she had the same level of responsibility that Neteyam had in his family. He recalls how his recklessness got his brother killed earlier that day and he realises that his connection with Tsireya would just do the same to her. Before he can make up his mind Tsireya spots him in the water and her eyes widen as she invites him inside.
he quickly submerges himself back in the water, swimming away before she could catch up, the clear turquoise water reminding him of the girl he had grown so attached to. He goes to his family’s Marui and lies down on his hammock, the rest of his family already asleep and he waits for his dreams to take him but they never do. He spends his night staring at the Marui ceiling and he finally yawns, feeling his mind grow tired just as the sun starts to rise.
That night Tsireya couldn’t sleep either, her mind plagued with worries for Lo’ak, as much as she didn't want to admit it she could not deny the love she had begun to feel towards the Omatikaya boy. In her room she braids together thread and shells with different trinkets, making a necklace accessory for Lo’ak in hopes she could cheer him up. She wraps the necklace up in fabric before setting it on her nightstand, determined to give it to him tomorrow if she had the chance to even see the lanky dark blue boy she saw in her subconscious every night.
Lo’ak sighs frustratedly as he hears his family start to wake up and he pretends to do the same. Jake waits for everyone to get ready before talking to everyone.
“Theres a clan meeting today that we have to attend, afterwards im going to be trying to salvage whatever i can from the sunken ships…”
Lo’ak nods and without another word they leave the Marui, heading to the meeting area of the Awa’atlu carrying a somber tone of loss with them. They sit down near the front as Tonowari recites everything that happened the day before, the Tulkun Matriach behind him watching his exaggerated sign language movements. Across the seated audience Lo’ak watches Tsireya as she stares at her dad with concern on her face, however as her eyes dart to Lo’ak he quickly looks away and stays like that for the rest of the meeting. However, near the end Tonowari made one last announcement.
“Due to sky people targeting Toruk Makto and his family you are placed under temporary indoor stay, meaning you cannot leave the Marui for any reason.”
Jake scoffs but he holds his tongue and accepts the conditions and after the meeting they go back to their Marui. Neytiri with a huff rants about how they helped fight off huge ships and how unfair the action is and unlike normal Jake agrees. They would have to stay like this for a week; however, already in the first hour Lo’ak feels like he's going insane with the tense mourning silence and the itch on his wrists.
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5
After the meeting was adjourned Tsireya ran up to her father with pleading written on her face.
“Father, you can't enclose them in one Marui! They are mourning and without being able to go outside they will get worse.”
Tsireya’s point was valid and Tonowari knew that however he simply could not risk the whole clan if the RDA were to attack again.
“Im sorry Tsireya it must be done”
With an exasperated exhale her shoulders slump and she walks to her Marui to weave her boredom away. Because the clan was still recovering from the fight she had been relieved of her teaching duties so she had most of the day to herself. However she didn't want free time, she wanted time with Lo’ak but she knew if she were to hangout with him her parents would be upset at her continued affliction towards the “demon” blood boy. So instead she sat bored in her room, cleaning up things that didn't require cleaning and making nets that weren't needed, Anything she could do to pass the time.
Lo’ak’s day mirrored hers, he spent a couple hours with Kiri and Tuk practicing weaving Metkayina style baskets and plates. After that they ate lunch and Neytiri and Jake went to talk with Tonowari about Jake being able to visit Norm to update him on the battle. Lo’ak asked to go with but his father quickly shut him down, a familiar icy glare Lo’ak was accustomed to. For the rest of the evening he sat on his hammock sharpening a new dagger he had made to replace the old one, and ignoring the burn under the leather wraps when the blade was sharp enough.
The sky grew darker and their parents were yet to return home, Tuk was taking a nap and Kiri was on her hammock with her eyes closed as she prayed to Eywa for who knows what. He stared out into the sea, the waves eating away at the sand but something stands out in the crystalline waters, a smudge of dark kelp? The dark smudge emerges revealing it to be wavy hair, that Lo’ak knows all too well. Without another thought he looks around and plunges into the cold water and he sees Tsireya and her bright smile, her hand outstretched waiting for Lo’ak to intertwine his finger with hers. As soon as they connect Tsireya starts swimming, leading Lo’ak to the cave they had used to hide away from the world so many times. Normally it was him sneaking her out but now the tables were turned as they walked into the cave, their feet squelching under them. Lo’ak instinctively lights some driftwood to light the cave up and with a sigh he sits down against the wall next to Tsireya.
“Thanks for breaking me out of that prison”
Lo’ak says jokingly.
“Well you always sneak me out of my Marui so now it's your turn… How has the day been?”
She hesitantly broaches the topic as Lo’ak replies with a deep sigh.
“Father is distracting himself with plans, Mother kept singing Neteyam’s song cord and Kiri, Tuk and Spider have just been distracting themselves with different art stuff”
“And what have you been doing?”
She asks, already guessing what based on the dissociation Lo’ak presented at the meeting and in his Marui.
“Nothing, just staring at the ceiling.”
He says not seeing anything wrong with his answer much to Tsireya’s dislike.
“Lo’ak i want to help you but i don’t know how..”
Lo’ak looks at her eyes with understanding and guilt filling his pupils.
“This is enough, just be present with me”
He says as he slumps against the wall, an arm over her shoulder as she leans into him. She reaches into a pocket in her loin cloth pulling out the tightly wrapped fabric bag.
“I made you something..”
She says handing it to him, he pulls away holding the fabric bag sitting upright and across from Tsireya as he slowly unwraps it. Inside lies a choker, a piece of jewellery so well made Lo’ak is sure he's never owned anything close to it. The middle section is constructed of braided leather strings and the edges have crystal and pearl beads mimicking the ones of Tsireya's necklace. He stares at the present with shock and awe in his eyes for a minute before he is pulled out of his thoughts by a sniffle.
Looking up he is met with Tsireya's face twisted with sadness, her nose slightly purple and her eyes red rimmed with tears.
“I'm sorry Lo’ak i-i wanted to make you something but i couldn’t make anything good even for a whole day. I just wanted to make you feel better and show my love-”
As soon as Lo’ak heard the word love he leaned in and gently kissed Tsireya on the lips before sharply pulling away in embarrassment.
“Sorry! Shit.. i shouldn’t hav-”
Tsireya returns the favour, cutting him off with another kiss. One more direct and passionate than the first. The two break away and Tsireya stares at him with a smile, her tears drying on her cheeks. Lo’ak smiles back as he takes the necklace and ties it around his neck with the help of Tsireya.
“Reya.. I love it... I love you”
He says, turning his head to look directly at her. With a wholehearted smile.
“I…. I love you too Lo’ak”
She says with a giggle as the two break into laughter at the tooth rottingly sweet moment.
After a while longer in the cave the two decide to head back, Lo’ak extinguishing the campfire before they start swimming back to Awa’atlu. Before Lo’ak could drop Tsireya off at her Marui their heads snap up as they hear a shout.
“There they are!”
Looking up, Lo'ak and Tsireya see Neytiri, Jake, Ronal and Tonowari awake as they seemingly end their search for the two kids.
fuck.
⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆
+1
As the two come ashore and onto the woven floor Jake immediately yanks Lo’ak by his wrist towards him and Neytiri, his frustration drawing out the sound of Lo’ak’s wince. Tsireya hesitantly walked over to her parents with her eyes facing the floor as Tonowari shook his head. However the Olo’eyktan’s anger did not stay towards his daughter for long, instead his eyes turned to Jake who was already yelling at Lo’ak
“Seriously Lo’ak you have one fucking rule and thats to stay inside and you dont even listen to that.”
Lo’ak doesn't make eye contact as Jake finishes and Tonowari’s voice cuts through the air.
“Toruk Makto, your son has not only broken rules, he has also dragged my daughter into his rebellion, I hope you know he will be punished.”
Tsireya’s eyes widen and she takes a step forward, turning around and facing her parents.
“Lo’ak didn't sneak me out….i.. I'm the one who told him to come outside”
Jake sighs and shakes his head.
“You don't have to take the blame for my son-”
“I'm not lying! If you want to punish Lo’ak you must punish me too, it's only fair.”
The daughter’s usually quiet and compliant voice is heavy with emotion and drive to protect Lo’ak.
“Reya-”
“First you sneak my daughter out and now you two are calling each other ‘nicknames’?”
Ronal accuses, Tsahik's voice is accusing and sharp.
“No! Lo’ak is not at fault here! Listen to me”
Tonowari stares at his daughter with a disgruntled and shocked expression covering his face.
“Tsireya you cannot talk back to me this way, it's incredibly unbecoming of a future Tsahik!”
“In all due respect, Tsireya spends all day working and trying to live up to your expectations. She might be a future Tsahik but she's a teenager!”
Lo’ak says, the bite in his words lost as he tried to sound reasonable and compelling. Tonowari and Ronal look at each other, a colluded expression tainting their usual authority, deep down Ronal knew she might be pressuring Tsireya too much, she remembered the burden she faced when she was her daughter's age. She looked inwards wondering if she really wanted the same for Tsireya.
“Daughter, are you feeling too much pressure..?”
Her mother asks with an understanding and pleading tone in her words and eyes, with deep hesitation Tsireya looks at her webbed feet before nodding her head fearing the next words her parents would say.
“We… We are sorry Tsireya, it was never our intention. We just wanted to prepare you, perhaps we have been too strict on you.”
Tonowari says, his large hand resting on his daughter's shoulder as he sees her life from a new light.
“Still this does not excuse breaking the rules and sneaking Lo’ak out.”
“I know father, I was just worried about him cause he might not be doing well with Neteyam’s…”
She trails off once she sees her message received by both the Sully’s and her parents.
“Toruk Makto is your son fine”
Tonowari asks, trying to understand if his daughter was making up excuses or rightfully concerned for him. Tsireya’s father knew that she had a crush on Lo’ak, it was obvious from the way she tried to spend more time around him or even wear more accessories to impress him, however he doesn't know how deep their connection is, which scares the Olo’eyktan father.
Presented with the simple question of how his son is doing Jake finds himself second guessing himself. He never had sat down and asked if Lo’ak was alright as he had done with Kiri and Tuk, a wave of guilt drowns Jake’s brain as he realises how disconnected he and his son had grown.
“He’s.. He’s fine, right Lo’ak?”
“Yea i’m-”
Before Lo’ak could finish the bitter lie that rolled off his tongue, Tsireya stopped him.
“No he’s not… no you're not”
She says her eyes darted to his wrapped forearm and his tired eyes. At her accusation Neytiris head snaps to the Metkayina girl.
“What are you implying about my son?”
A growl in her voice making Tsireya quickly shake her head, her gaze moving between her parents and Lo’ak’s.
“Your son is a great man however…. He is struggling”
“Re- Tsireya..”
Lo’ak says trying to get her to stop talking, as he feels his back burn with his parents eyes. Jake inspects his son, wondering what Tsireya could mean by ‘struggling’ they all were struggling with Neteyam’s passing but something in the way Tsireya had phrased it made Jake’s stomach flip. Right as he's about to question the Olo’eyktan on what his daughter meant his eyes land on a leather wrapping on Lo’ak’s forearm. Lo’ak was not the type to wear accessories unlike his brother and the leather wrapping stuck out like a sore thumb on his blue skin.
“Lo’ak show me your wrist”
He says, wanting to remove the sickening thought from his mind that his son could be harming himself. He watches as Lo’ak’s eyes widen like an animal caught in a net, further proving Jake’s suspicion. With a quick swipe Jake held his son's arm and pushed the leather down a bit so only he could see what Lo’ak was hiding. Under the tight animal skin lay rows of healed white line scars, some fresher than others, he pulls the leather wrapping back up concealing what he just saw. Neytiri, Tonowari and Ronal stare at him in confusion wonderinf what was on the boy’s arm and Lo’ak can only hear ringing in his ears and the blood rushing to his head making it hard to stand.
“We can talk about this later. Tonowari, your daughter has done well by helping my son… her.. Her concern was rightly placed”
He forces his voice not to waiver as he tries to temporarily forget the physical reminders of his failed parenting on his son's skin. Lo’ak avoids eye contact with his parents as he stares at the floor and Tonowari nods in acknowledgment before speaking.
“Lo’ak, Tsireya… while I do not agree with the way you have gone about this…. I can't deny the good intentions in your actions. From now on I will allow you to spend time with Lo’ak but you two must tell me first. Understood?”
Tonowari’s voice rings out and with a bright yet tired smile Tsireya nods vigorously as Lo’ak also agrees.
“We should all head back to our Marui’s, today has been long..”
Jake says and Lo’ak feels anxiety rise up his neck as he prepares for the upcoming conversation he will be forced to have with his parents. However as Tonowari agrees Lo’ak can't help but be entranced by his girlfriend's face, a mix of guilt but subtle happiness as she smiles and waves bye at him. Despite the fact it took a search party and a confrontation, the fact that their “friendship” was allowed to blossom now made up for all of it.