Work Text:
~Kas'e's POV~
Seven times. Seven times Hawk circled the camp before she landed on top and fell asleep. Three more than last night. Was she stressed? Am I not flying her enough and she has excess energy? Or was she happy? Did she know how important this day was? Did she care? What am I thinking, of course she cared. I care for her as much as she cares for me. But what if she's losing interest in me after all these-
My thoughts were cut short by the footsteps of So'lek coming up behind me. He sits down next to me at the edge and wordlessly offers me a Roasted Salad, which I accept and start to nibble on. The warmth of the fruit heats up my soul, which makes me ease up as I close my eyes. A few moments later, I hear So'lek speak but I'm not sure what he says. I pause and open my eyes, glancing to him.
"You were thinking again." He repeats, watching me. I smile a bit and look down at the salad in my lap, nodding. "I... was. How can you always tell?" So'lek smiled a bit and motioned behind me "Your tail tenses into a wave when you are deep in thought." he says as he takes a bite of his own dinner, looks like a skewered salad. I glance back at my tail and watch it for a few moments, before looking back at the view of Pandora.
I could tell the question on So'lek's mind before he even said it, so I answered him as I picked up a slice of fruit. "I was thinking about Hawk. Do... ikran ever get fed up of the Na'vi they choose?" I glance at him as I take another bite of food. He chews for a few moments before he swallows as he looks at me. "Ikran do not get tired of their rider. After all, they're the one that choses. Hawk is a strong, fiesty ikran. What makes you think she is tired of you?"
"I don't... know. She had a lot of pent-up energy today and I... feel bad. Am I not exciting for her? Was she bored today? It was a... big day for me but she still has her own… opinion on things." I take another bite of food as I feel So'lek chuckle next to me. "Hawk knows it was a big day for you. She can feel your every emotion, desire and wish when you form the bond. It's likely she was celebrating with you, not showing she is tired."
"... Oh." I sit in silence for a few moments, chewing my fruit as I think on what he said. Of course she can feel how happy I was today... why would I assume she hates me? If she did, she wouldn't answer my call. We wouldn't fly across Pandora together. "Kas'e." I blink and look up at So'lek, my hand frozen as I'm just about to take another bite. "Stop thinking. Hawk loves you just as much as you love her. Worrying about these things is not bad either, it shows you view her as an equal with her own views than a pet. Just relax."
I nod and smile softly as I finally take another bite. "Thank... thank you, So'lek. You... know what I'm like. It's... very easy to get me questioning." He nods as he eats his own food. "I know I should be more confident, especially now but I just…it's hard to... know everything... even after all these years, there's still things I'm learning about Pandora... but shouldn't I... know it? So when the others are confused... they can come to me?"
"It is alright you are still learning, Kas'e... you, and the rest of the Sarentu had an upbringing that kept you from the knowledge of the Na'vi, it's only natural you do not understand everything... Remember, you have Rasi and I if you need help... you are not alone in this life, Kas'e... " I smile a bit and slowly lean against So'lek's shoulder as I put my empty bowl to my side.
"Thank you... I'll... try not to feel as alone... I just... don't want to bother you with silly questions... " I watched the nights creatures fly by below us as I spoke and So'lek gently leaned against my side in return. "There is no such thing as a silly question. Why do you feel alone... ?" I glanced up at him and shrugged a bit. "Oh, I don't... know, it just... Y'know how Teylan is trying to court that Zeswa boy? and... Ri'nela and Nor always stick together? It... makes me feel... more alone... especially since our clan is still... so small... we have to... to make it grow to the size it once was and I…I... don't know if... if anyone would... want me too... " I fiddled with my songcord as I spoke quietly, staring down at my lap.
"Kas'e... you do realise that you are one of the most well known Na'vi in the Western Frontier? You strike fear into the RDA and helped lead the Sarentu back into Pandora... You are a powerful warrior, a diplomat that brought the Kame'tire out of hiding and you drove the RDA from the Western Frontier. Many Na'vi are interested in you... it is just a case of you being interested in them... " I feel my cheeks start to warm up at his praise and I look up at him in surprise.
"Me... being interested? I... " I trail off and look down, feeling my face warm up even more. Oh, So'lek... I know I'm interested... whether I want to be or not... this hasn't faded after years... But I know you aren't talking about yourself….are you? I paused and looked up at him, staring into his eyes as I pushed myself to sit upright. He kept eye contact with me and sat in silence, waiting for me to continue. I could see an element of calm in his eyes, a hint of curiosity and…from the way he glanced away for a split second to look back at me, he was…scared? nervous? Why would he be nervous? This conversation means nothing to him, unless…... unless it does mean something to him.
"…Are you interested in anyone, Kas'e?" His voice was quiet and stable, but even past my hearing issues I could recognise his tone. The tone where he was hiding his emotions. At that moment, I knew. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest and I gulped quietly, before starting to nod slowly.
"For a very long time... They... are a very strong warrior... they are... caring, even if they don't show it often... They…lose terribly in every ikran race... " This earns a quiet chuckle from So'lek, who watches me. He's hanging onto every word, and I can see recognition in his eyes. "And... he has helped me in every step of my life, from the first time I opened my eyes in that pod... " He definitely knew now. We both stayed impossibly still, as if any sudden movement would cause the other to disappear. My heart was the only thing I could hear, but I knew there was one more thing I had to do.
"It just... depends on if he's interested in me, too... " I spoke slowly as I stared up at So'lek. He could probably see the fear in my eyes too as he took a deep breath, before he slowly nodded. No words, just a nod. He lifts his hands up to sign and all he signs is 'For a very long time, too'. Elation filled my body and a wide grin spread across my face as I sat up straight. I could feel my tail swishing around and So'lek started to smile too, his body visibly easing up after our confession. I could barely contain my joy as I stammered, wanting to ask him more or tell him more or do something- before So'lek grabs me and rolls backwards, tugging me into a hug as we rolled onto the wicker. "So'lek- careful!" I shrieked from the sudden movement.
I laughed in surprise and gripped onto him as we rolled away from the edge and he eventually propped himself up over me with a grin on his face "What, do you not trust me?" he had a joking tone to his voice and I grinned at him, flicking his nose "No! You just- scared me! We were right on the edge!"
He scrunched his face after I flicked his nose before he went back to smiling "And now we are not." I look to my left and he's right, we're a couple feet in from the edge. Now with no danger of falling to my death, I had only one question on my mind. "So'lek, ca... can we... ?" A wave of shyness flows over me and I trail off, my cheeks starting to heat up again and So'lek smiles, nodding. Before I could even think, my lips were on his.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and So'lek kept himself propped up as he leaned into the kiss. My eyes fell shut and the world seemed to fall silent, leaving only me and So'lek together. After years of waiting, I couldn't believe I was finally kissing So'lek. He was gentle and didn't push, didn't take control. Time seemed to melt away as we kissed, who knows how long we were there. We only pulled away when Íley made almost a laughing sound at us.
I spluttered a bit and looked over at the ikran and So'lek laughed quietly "Are you jealous, Íley? Sorry ma yawntu, it seems you're too slow... " I was speechless as I stared up at So'lek. "Are you saying that-" So'lek looked down at me and chuckled. "I am not the only one being slow in the races for a reason. We both enjoy seeing you both happy when you win."
I was still speechless. Not only were we crushing on each other, but our ikran were too??? Talk about a fairtytale! "I didn't…know…." So'lek sat up and I sat up too, staring up at Íley. "He can have his chance tomorrow, pay him no mind." He said as he watched me in amusement.
"I…yes... he ca…yes, they can... " My brain was stalling from the rush of emotions. I could barely get my words out and I looked at So'lek in almost desperation, falling silent with a slight pout. He chuckled and hesitated for a moment, before reaching to hold my cheek. My pout eased into a smile and my tail swished once again as I leaned my head into his hand. "I…So'lek... ca... can we do that again?" Once again I felt shy, but So'lek's smile washed the feeling away. He nodded, before glancing to the side. "How about... we move somewhere more comfortable? Then we will not disturb Íley when he needs to rest... "
I chuckled a bit at the idea of Íley being a jealous third wheel and I nodded, climbing to my feet. So'lek gets up too and I watch him, before slowly holding my hand out. He looked down at it, before taking it in his. He gently squeezed my hand, before I smiled and started to pull him into the cave. We had barely made it past his map before we started kissing again, but I wasn't complaining. After so long of waiting, unsure of our feelings, we have a lot of time to make up for.