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shu-box-puns · 10 months

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I never would have given you to them; not for anything

(Tsu’tey x Reader)

Part 1 -> Next Chapter

If you prefer to read on Ao3, you can find the fic here!

Summary: The RDA unknowingly revives a traitor through Project Phoenix.

Word Count: 11,251

Reader uses they/them pronouns.

NOTE: The term 'Zaza' is a gender neutral way to address a parental figure.

Connecting to the Tree of Souls was always bittersweet for Tsu'tey.

Eywa was a kind mother. For a few short moments, he could be reunited with everyone he had previously lost. He could ask Eytukan for guidance on being Olo’eyktan, or speak with Sylwanin when his grief threatened to overwhelm him.

And other times, Eywa would gift him a glimpse into a vision that could’ve been his reality, if events had played out differently.

The phantom of HomeTree was booming with life. Those who lived there were distant and concealed from view by the colossal roots of the great tree or simply occupying the foliage beyond its shade. Tsu’tey found himself sitting upon a log, his knife in hand which he was using to shape an arrow head.

A fire roared at his feet, meat cooking over the flames whilst the joyous yells of children darted to and fro behind his turned back. He couldn’t help but smile softly to himself, reminded of the early years in Spider’s development when the boy had finally grown large enough to comfortably fit into an exo pack. Tsu’tey had been delighted, eager to take his son from the confines of the demon compound and let him loose on the clan.

Spider took to the outside like an ikran to the sky. Staring in wonder as Tsu’tey carried him into the heart of the village. Na’vi of all stations had cooed at him, offering Tsu’tey honest congratulations even if their eyes had held poorly concealed hesitance at the toddler giggling against his chest.

Within the hour, Spider had become fast friends with Jake’s children - Eywa help him - and was gleefully dirtying his loincloth as they tumbled and played.

“He has grown significantly.” A voice to his left suddenly commented, ripping Tsu’tey from his private musings. He made to turn to whoever was sat with him, but some untold force kept his gaze glued to the arrowhead he was carving.

“Children tend to.” Tsu’tey responded easily, the English falling thick and accented off of his tongue.

His secret companion merely hummed, leaning into his side. Tsu’tey caught sight of blue skin in his peripheral. Five fingered hands falling to demon style clothed knees. His expression tightened. Confusion swirling beneath his skin.

“A mighty warrior in the making.” The stranger praised, undercurrents of pride lacing their tone. “I am glad his aim has greatly improved.”

Tsu’tey lifted his gaze from the arrowhead as the words registered. His questioning response was halted by the sudden absence of the clan chatter and the crackling of the flames at his feet. His eyes flickered, expressing softening as he realised the scenery had changed.

Now, he and his companion sat on a tree branch overlooking the Omaticaya flight range. Targets lined the far perimeter, whilst na’vi of all ages stood in uniformed rows at increasing distances from the targets, their bows drawn. Tsu’tey’s gaze immediately zeroed in on Spider.

Here he was about twelve, Neteyam alongside him as the two practised in companionable silence. Despite being a full year younger, Neteyam easily towered over the older boy, his frame lean and long, whilst Spider had grown strong and thick in the shoulders. His son held his bow with ease, the strain long having lessened with hours of practice.

The presence at his side had shrunk somehow. The warmth no longer reached his shoulder. A soft brush of skin to his lower bicep indicating that the na’vi who had sat with him had shrunk to a more human stature.

Tsu’tey could not place who this was. They did not sound like Grace Augustine who possessed both avatar and human forms on the off chance she visited him in the tree. Nor had he befriended any of the scientists who possessed avatar bodies.

A celebratory whoop drew his attention back to Spider, who was receiving awed high fives from Neteyam. Glancing to the target, Tsu’tey swelled with pride at the three perfect bullseyes.

He blinked, and he was in the old shack. Although in his present the stolen compound was overrun with wildlife and had fallen into disrepair, here, it looked well preserved. As fresh and disorganised as it had been the night the humans left for good.

It looked homely.

Lived in.

He was sitting on a bunk much too small for his large frame with a baby carrier strapped across his chest. His son was nowhere to be seen in this particular vision, but as always, he felt no sense of panic within Eywa’s care. He simply observed the small room around him, noting that the presence at his side had disappeared with the flight range.

The messy sheets he sat on told of a good night’s rest. The military boots neatly lined up by the door and the camouflage jacket hanging on the back of it, reassuring him that whoever he was visiting was close by.

Tucked under the window, the desk was a mess of coffee stained reports and various pens. Even from the other side of the room, he could make out the shakily written na’vi phrases repeated over several pages. He’d never seen his language written out before, since his people had no use for it, but somehow he instinctively knew the phrases.

Oel ngati kameie.

I see you.

Three words his mate had been practising behind his back. A secret he was very much aware of, but content to allow them to figure out.

The sound of the door opening drew his attention from the desk, and he found said mate looming in the doorway, their son cradled to their chest. They looked exhausted but proud of themselves. Spider was sound asleep, nestled into their tanktop, with one chubby fist clenched tightly around the courting necklace Tsu’tey had presented them with several moons ago.

“I finally got him to drop off.” His mate sighed happily as they stepped further into the room and quietly pulled the door closed behind them.

Tsu’tey could only hum. Greedily drinking in the sight of his mate and son. Gazing at the face that had been snatched from his too early, and the youth and innocence of Spider. He was sixteen now, years past infancy, but still Tsu’tey’s little boy. Whilst his mate was frozen in time. Forever held by Eywa.

“You good big guy?” The use of that ridiculous nickname snapped him back to the present. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

His lips stretched into a tight smile. The irony.

“I am fine.” He insisted. His english heavily accented and rusty from disuse. Since Spider had become fully fluent in na’vi, he hardly ever had to use the demon tongue. But somehow, Eywa always switched them back to that language, despite having learnt plenty of na’vi through him.

Their proud grin dropped a fraction, their eyebrows drawing together. “Are you lying to me?”

He scoffed. “Olo’eyktan’s do not lie.” He said simply.

“You aren’t Olo’eyktan here.” They argued. Approaching him on quiet feet.

Feeling called out, Tsu’tey had to work hard to keep his ears from flicking back in guilt. Instead, he chose not to respond as his mate stepped into his space. Their scent wafted over him as they expertly manoeuvred the slumbering infant into the net tied across Tsu’tey’s chest. The motion was practised; familiar in a way his mate hadn’t had time to master.

Spider went easily. Instinctively curling into his father’s warmth and finding something new to latch onto. This time, Tsu’tey was not fast enough to keep his son from grabbing onto one of his braids. Even in sleep, Spider yanked hard on the braided lock of hair, making Tsu’tey wince. His mate chuckled softly, reaching up to carefully untangle Spider’s fist, to which the infant immediately curled his fingers around their index instead.

The scene was domestic. Something he had mourned when his mate had passed.

“You look tired.” His mate stated, those eyes studying his expression.

Tsu’tey could only nod. What use was lying to a memory anyway?

“I am.”

“You should rest.”

They titled their head, and Tsu’tey knew this was a battle he had no hope of winning. “Spider is waiting for you.” They said.

Carefully, they raised their free hand to hold his cheek, their expression worried. He leaned into the touch, savouring the warmth of their tiny hand against his cool skin.

His words were slow to come back to him. But they waited patiently, idly tracing the stars of his freckles as he gathered himself, his breathing uneven. “No. I want to stay here, with you.”

There was a power behind their words now. A greater knowledge they should not be privy to. Tsu’tey knew this wasn’t his mate speaking to him anymore. Despite looking and sounding like his human, this was Eywa gently nudging him. Reminding him that he had responsibilities to attend to and a son waiting beyond her realm.

He followed his mate’s nod towards the window where he found a sixteen year old Spider standing patiently at the treeline, looking longingly towards the compound. He knew without looking down that the infant was gone from the sling at his chest. His son wore his exopack and was wringing his hands, head darting too and fro in search of someone. Rocking on the balls of his feet as often did when unsettled.

Tearing his gaze from his son, Tsu’tey found and held eye contact with the Great Mother disguised as his lost mate. “Will you allow him to visit today?” He asked.

“He will See soon.” Eywa replied in their voice, untold power building behind every word.

His mate’s hands were small but strong as they took him by the wrists and helped him rise from his seat on the bed. “He is waiting.” They informed him, gently guiding him away from the desk littered in papers and towards the closed door. Tsu’tey’s heart ached at the familiar gesture. This part was always the hardest.

“He misses them.” He told Eywa and she could only nod in acknowledgement. “He watches their video logs.” He insisted, stomach sinking at the thought of his mate not knowing how badly Spider loved and missed them. That they might believe they had faded from the child’s memory, when in truth they’d always played such a crucial role. “He asks about them, always. Demanding memories, facts. Anything.”

“He will See soon.” Eywa repeated, and Tsu’tey knew she understood.

They squeezed his hand and he realised he was standing before the door with the boots neatly lined up beside it. He glanced at them one last time, absorbing all their little details and committing them to memory. His mate smiled at him one last time, before they dropped his hands and stepped back.

“I know.”

“You will See soon.” Eywa assured him, but Tsu’tey was no Tsahik and did not understand how to interpret the phrase. So he simply nodded.

>_<

They said no more as he raised his hand to push the door open, and in kind, Tsu’tey could only nod as his words got lost in his throat. Instead of responding, he turned and stepped out of the bedroom into the hall.

The sounds of the forest came back to him slowly. He felt the change of the humidity as Eywa gently returned him to his body. He sat crossed legged under the glowing vines of the Tree of Souls, his heartbeat still pounding in time to the gentle pulses of the ancient tree. Animals moved in the bushes behind him, uncaring of his presence and content to go about their evening.

He felt the familiar dry, flaky sensation of mourning paint running from the top of his brow down the line of his nose to his chin. His bullet scars felt stiff against his skin with every deep breath. Whilst a body leant into his side. Small and warm in a way that na’vi were not.

Slowly, Tsu’tey peeled his eyelids open and glanced down to find Spider curled into him. His exopack was digging uncomfortably into Tsu’tey’s ribs, but he didn’t care. Now sixteen, his boy leaned into his side and had dragged Tsu’tey’s arm out of his lap to rest across his back. Keeping him safe and secure whilst his father communed with the ancestors.

His tail swayed happily at the adorable sight.

Sensing a shift in him, Spider groggily raised his head from Tsu’tey’s rib cage. His eyes were unfocused as he lifted his heavy head, only to find Tsu’tey already looking at him. He blinked slowly, drawing in a deep breath as he stretched and sat up.

<”Who was it today?”> Spider asked in fluent na’vi, his tone heavy with sleep.

Tsu’tey felt the corner of his mouth stretch upwards into an adoring smile. His boy was so precious. <”Zaza.”> He replied simply, to which Spider returned his smile.

<”It is late.”> Spider agreed, to which Tsu’tey playfully ruffled his braids, ears pricked at the boy’s mischievous grin. Carefully, Tsu’tey reached up and disconnected his kuru from the tree, sending a prayer of thanks to Eywa for her gift.

<”And where did you end up going?”>

<”The old shack.”> Tsu’tey replied simply, reaching up to disconnect his tswin from the Tree of Souls. <”They were trying to convince you to go to bed.”>

<”We should return to the village.”>

<”Only if you carry me.”> Spider stated, lifting his arms expectantly to Tsu’tey who rolled his eyes.

<”You have been hanging around Lo’ak too much. So whiny.”>

<”You are old enough to carry yourself.”>

<”But it’s late!”> Spider retaliated.

<”Don’t let him hear you say that or he’ll become ten times worse.”> Considering the boy was Jake’s son, Tsu’tey didn’t doubt it.

>_<

The last thing you remembered was lying down in a link unit.

The smell of silicone had been poisonously strong in the tight space as one of the scientists closed the lid on you with a firm click. Your heart had been pounding, your plan to escape and meet up with Jake plaguing your mind. Distracting you from the half assed explanation of why Selfridge had ordered all military personnel into the link rooms.

You weren’t sure if you made it out of Hell’s Gate that night, let alone if Trudy had managed to drive you to the secret compound. If you’d been caught, or if your squad had noticed your absence.

Not that any of it mattered now, considering you were in outer space and the Battle for The Tree of Souls had ended fifteen years prior.

Now, you stared blankly at the pre-recorded video of yourself in that same laboratory. In the video, you were decked out in your usual, military attire and were horribly explaining what was going on. Floating in zero gravity, your hand - now blue and much, MUCH bigger than you were used to - kept you in place before the monitor with an unnervingly tight grip.

The you of the past wasn’t focused on their task. You could tell from the shift of their eyes as marines moved around them behind the camera. In a similar situation, your nerves were also all over the place. Your eyes were constantly darting around the small bunk room as your tail thrashed. So many enemies in such a small place.

It had been a fucking shock to wake up disoriented on a small hospital bed with a heart monitor beeping away in the background. Only for a massive, blue forehead to dart into your line of sight, dragging with it, a pair of large, unblinking eyes. You screamed, flailing weakly at the enormous bald head of Lyle Wainfleet.

You recalled blinding rage in your most recent memory of this man.

He had grinned at you, yelling loudly, “morning Private!”

You had punched him, that past anger carrying over as you shoved him away with an additional well placed kick to the stomach and a ferocious hiss. Movement in the corner of your vision kept you from following him down, intending to choke the life out of his stupid, grinning face.

Alexander had been quick to grip your bicep, holding on tightly. He was smiling at you. And it was fucking disorientating to see his face on a na’vi body, his eyes too far apart and his nose flatter than you were used to. It stunned you into stillness.

On the floor, Lyle had chuckled good naturedly and complimented you on your improved strength.

You hadn’t responded, your eyes widening as you took in your reflection in the one way window. It was you, but it also wasn’t you staring back.

On the monitor, the human version of you scratched the back of their neck, clearly reading off of a script to the side of the camera, blurting some bullshit about the RDA storing your memories and implanting them in an avatar embryo. Your expression remained neutral as you glanced down to past-you’s throat.

Mostly hidden beneath the hem of their camouflage shirt, you caught sight of a pretty little choker, the polished beads catching the laboratory lights. It was simple in design, layered three times tall with long, brown beads as the centrepiece, framed either side by carefully selected circular red beads.

Subconsciously, your blue hand reached to your own throat, frowning at the naked skin only for your fingers to catch on the metal chain of your dog tag. It sent a stab of phantom pain through your chest, which you were quick to rub away.

You remembered who had given it to you. What he had been to you. But you didn’t know how it had ended. If the RDA had resurrected you for this stupid little project, then chances were, the human version of you was dead.

You had no idea who had died during the Battle of The Tree of Souls - clearly a lot of you judging by the number of recoms the RDA had paid for. There was no solid knowledge on how far the RDA had won, or how much of Pandora they had destroyed. For all you knew, everyone could be dead. The Omaticaya clan wiped off the face of the planet.

The windows of your little bunk room overlooked the vast embryo tanks of the recoms. As you half-listened to the video, you watched a trio of three scientists carefully extracting the body, of who you recognised to be the na’vi version of Mansk, from the closest tank. They took great care in cleaning the embryonic fluid from his airways before flying the body out of sight through an open door.

/Remember Private,/ the video stated, drawing your attention back once more, /the mission is not over./ There was something unreadable in human you’s eyes, their rage momentarily broadcasted across the screen. /Fight hard. Make me proud./

They couldn’t see you, but you found yourself nodding anyway.

Those words gave you a direction. Past you didn’t believe the fight was over, so you just had to pick up where you left off. And to do that, you needed to get back into the forest.

>_<

The RDA had made special uniforms for all the recoms and required you to be dressed and ready to move into the base upon landing. Their first mistake was willingly handling you a gun. Evidently, they had never recognised you as a traitor. You’d died with them still believing you were loyal. Now, you would exploit that weakness.

For now, you decided to play nice until they willingly unleashed you into the forest. You made jokes with Lyle, established yourself as one of the team. Laughing with the other recoms about escaping death, making wild accusations about what you’d do the next time you saw that traitor; Jake Sully.

It was easy. As it always had been.

As if nothing had changed. Like you were back in school and you’d all come back from the summer having had growth spurts and been up to god knows what.

As a squad, you fitted together effortlessly. Falling into a routine of sleeping in the dorms, getting up early for drills and training, only to spend the evenings goofing around. The recom bodies were years younger, practically brand new, so the energy required for such shenanigans was effortless.

Within a week, it felt like nothing had changed. The squad was blissfully unaware of what you had done in your past life behind their backs. To them, you were still their comrade.

Initially, you’d attempted to keep your distance.

The forest called to you. It’s pull even stronger now with the additional na’vi instincts, and the small hallways of Bridgehead that were clearly not built with you in mind. You felt out of place in its tiny, box-like layout.

Your comrades weren’t too sneaky in trying to ease your nerves and welcome you into their chaotic escapades.

Lyle had always been an overbearing extrovert, chomping at the bit to challenge you into pushing yourself harder and harder during drills.

Mansk, in his own quiet way, insisted on dragging you to the kitchen every mealtime to assist him with cooking. He stated that he had no idea what to do with the new Pandoran ingredients required for their recom bodies, but you could tell he was bullshitting you to keep you out of your head. It worked; mostly.

Whilst Z-Dog had taken it upon herself to make sure your shooting skills were up to scratch - they were. And had sparked many competitions out in the shooting range.

Even the colonel seemed to have caught on. And that man was in no form of the imagination a family man. He was a leader. Your boss. The man you had to impress or risk getting killed. But recently, he’s been acting like some weird version of a father figure. Offering silent nods and backhanded compliments in his usual condescending tone whilst observing your training with your comrades. It would always be paired with a playful smack to the shoulder or a rough ruffle of your hair whilst the squad sniggered.

It was easy to remember why you’d stuck with them for so long. Because despite their missions and the people they killed, they had been your family on Pandora since you’d woken up from cryo sleep. A reluctant one. A ragtag bunch of trigger happy idiots, but they’d always watched out for you.

You also knew that they would kill you if they ever found out about your little personal mission. They made you feel safe within Bridgehead, but you knew they would turn on you instantly.

Lyle wouldn’t hesitate to cuff you and drag you to the colonel. Whilst Quaritch would go real quiet, ordering you to hand over your gun which he would use to shoot you on the spot. Z-Dog would make it look like an accident, whilst Mansk would hide behind his sunglasses and deal with business himself, stealing your dog tags to take back to the colonel.

It was imperative you remained vigilant. If anyone remembered or found out, you were fucked. So you had to get out. Fast. At the first opportunity. You could figure it out from there.

>_<

The moment the samson chopper landed in the undergrowth of the rainforest, you leapt out. Lyle was hot on your tail, peeling away from your side to secure the perimeter as the helicopter finished landing.

You didn’t bother pretending to be scoping the landscape.

The hum of the forest had grown steadily stronger throughout the trip, and now it slid through you like a melody. Calling to you more strongly than you’d ever felt. You took in greedy lungfuls of the damp, humid forest air. The scents of dew and vegetation invaded your nose, a world away from the canned air the recoms were forced to breathe in Bridgehead. Your ears swivelled towards every little sound, tail swaying to show content despite the mission ahead. Pandora was as gorgeous as she had ever been. The dappled sunlight peeking through the trees as the exotic fragrance of the plants filled the air.

As a human, it had never been this pretty. Behind an exo pack, you had never been able to smell the world, whilst the sights had been smudged by the acrylic screen.

This was freeing on an entirely new level.

Someone smacked you upside the head, abruptly shattering the nostalgia of finally returning to the forest. You choked, spinning in place and immediately stood to attention under the Colonel’s unimpressed glare. “What are you playing at Private?” He barked.

You could see the rest of the squad pretending not to look your way. Z-Dog and Walker had promptly turned their backs, clinging to each other as if it was the funniest thing in existence.

“Apologies sir, I got excited.” You replied sheepishly. "Needed to stretch my legs."

“Focus!” Quaritch stressed with an eye roll.

“Yes, sir.”

He nodded once before motioning to the others and leading the way into the undergrowth.

You fell into line, gun aimed on your surroundings as the squad moved further and further away from base.

Within the hour, the squad stumbled upon a broken AMP suit collapsed in front of an abandoned compound. The building looked like one of the remote link compounds the scientists used to use during avatar exertions. What it was doing so far away from its assigned location, you had no idea.

Quaritch immediately issued orders for the site to be secured. Whilst Z-Dog investigated the building, the rest of the squad fanned out into the clearing. Half went to search the undergrowth, whilst you remained nearby, eyes more focused on the compound than the forest.

The colonel and Wainfleet remained close to the AMP suit, quietly analysing the corpse impaled within the ribcage of the dismantled robot.

You swept close on your return pass, ears pricked as Quaritch glared daggers at the skull. Peering over his shoulder, your eyes widened at the pair of na'vi arrows jutting out of moss covered bone and the scar of a viperwolf scratch carved into the skull.

Quaritch's corpse.

And whoever had got him had been merciless in finishing him off.

The sight made you uneasy. Reminding you of the threats Pandora possessed. You were glad when a shout from the forest and the call for backup drew you from the suit.

No one knew how long the kids had been there. Whether they’d gotten curious and followed from the moment the samson touched down, or if they had been lingering around the shack. Either way, the petrified scream of the youngest girl had drawn the rest of your squad to the scene.

There were three na’vi kids in total, and one human child. All held hostage by a recom, whilst Quaritch interrogated each of them. You watched the scene from the sidelines, assuming Quaritch would decide they weren’t worth it and let them go.

But when the na’vi boy swore at him and Quaritch grinned with a simple, ”you’re his.”

Jake’s, you realised.

Your heart began to pound as you rounded the rear of the group, eyes narrowed as you took in the side profile of the boy. His too small eyes, the slope of his jaw, the fifth finger on each hand. At a glance, a full blooded na’vi. But you’d been around avatars long enough to pick out the little imperfections. The broader set to his shoulders, the lower position of his kuru that indicated human blood somewhere in the line.

Quaritch was precise in his motions. Taking the kid’s kuru in hand to begin interrogating him. The colonel was rough with him. Spitting sharp commands before yanking his knife from his thigh strap. The boy’s eyes widened a fraction. You saw the raw fear swimming within them as he stared blankly up at the snarling colonel. Refusing to back down. Refusing to waver.

Quaritch’s expression tightened as he raised the knife a fraction. Logically, you knew the first strike would be a fake, to scare the boy into spilling information with minimal effort. You were lurching forward half a step, ears fanning wide in alarm before you could stop yourself.

The motion of that knife froze mid air, a testament to the Colonel’s reflexes as his burning eyes flickered to you. You made an effort to smooth out your microexpressions, hands limp at your side instead of reaching for a weapon like you so desperately wanted to. Something in the kid’s face had made something tight and protective flare up between your ribs, and the Colonel had noticed.

Quaritch’s gaze was stern as shook his head in disappointment. “Don’t go getting soft on me, Private.” He reminded, grasp shifting on the kid’s kuru. “I know you had a soft spot for them back in the day, but none of that bullshit now.”

“Sorry sir.” You grit out, but didn’t retreat. He glared at you, you maintained steady eye contact until Wainfleet pulled Quaritch’s attention to the older na’vi girl. He had her fingers splayed for the colonel to see, chuckling at her five fingers.

Their conversation quickly dissolved into the back of your mind as Quaritch handed the na’vi boy off, putting blessed distance between the kid and his knife.

Tracking the Colonel’s movements as he approached the older girl, you found your attention drawn by the human boy. You blinked at his intense gaze, at the storm of unexplainable emotions swimming behind his eyes that you felt dizzy just looking at him. Despite his face being locked away behind an exopack, his gaze was no less piercing. He seemed to see you.

The squint of his eyebrows seemed to suggest he saw you. Not a soldier. Not a recom. Just you. As if he could see beneath the scientifically created body to the memory chip beneath, to what remained of your soul.

But that was probably just you projecting.

To distract yourself from the tightening of your chest, you also studied him as your comrades kept interrogating the children. Their voices grew distant as you inspected the blue stripes painted across tanned skin. The traditional Omaticayan weaving style of his armband as well as the songcord attached to the hem of his loincloth.

Your eyes caught on the necklace at his throat. A style that matched the one your human body wore in the video. Down to the brown and red beads. The familiar weaving style. Even at this distance, you recognised Tsu’tey’s handiwork.

And whilst it reassured and relieved you that he was still alive, that somehow, in some way, this child had a piece of him, you were confused. How had he gotten his hands on one of Tsu’tey’s pieces?

Then he steeled himself. Quaritch’s bulk warmed your back, his shadow falling over your left arm. In a shockingly gentle tone, Quaritch asked for the boy’s name, and surprisingly, he gave it.

”Spider Socorro.” He blurted in strained english.

Your ear flickered back at the colonel’s sharp inhale. “Miles?”

Spider straightened, chin lifted in defiance. “Nobody calls me that.”

Quaritch’s expression was unreadable. He didn’t bother to respond and stepped away to talk into his neck piece. He didn’t go far and simply turned his back, speaking to Ardmore as the squad shifted uneasily.

The kids hissed as the recoms began moving them towards the compound where the shuttle would more easily be able to let down the ropes. Your stomach tightened at the thought of dragging them back with you. To know how they felt and be unable to offer sympathy.

Quaritch motioned to the children. ”Keep hold of ‘em. Shuttle will be here in ten.”

Your stomach dropped. Not the shuttle. Not yet. You couldn’t stomach the idea of going back to Bridgehead after this. After such a short taste of freedom.

”Colonel.” You said loudly, making the man pause midstep. He levelled you with an unreadable look as you struggled to find your voice. “These kids are useless to us.”

As soon as the words left your lips, his expression visibly shut off and you knew you would not be able to get through to him. “I’m not gonna repeat myself, Private.” He snapped, pulling rank to put you in your place. You squared up to him. Chin lifted.

A distant bird call had your ears pricking. It was short. A burst of a sound. It had the kids straightening, all their ears fanning towards the sound.

The bird called again. That one note echoing through the trees.

Shifting uneasily, your eyes followed the direction it had come from, momentarily breaking eye contact. Quaritch smirked as if he’d won a great battle. “Take the na’vi boy.” He ordered, motioning to the kid who was promptly handed over, and then raised his voice to the squad. “Into defensive positions!”

The group fell into formation as the sun began its nightly cycle behind the moon, bringing with it a rain storm. The boy’s neural whip between your fingers quickly grew saturated, making your weak grip slip with every sharp movement he would make. That bird call did not grow distant or stop. In fact, you could’ve sworn it was getting closer.

There was a moment of stillness. The forest holding its breath as the recoms kept whispering to each other, kept moving noisily through the undergrowth. Blind to the silent warning.

You held your breath, going unnaturally still as the boy in front of you did the same.

There was a cut off shout. An explosion of movement near the main body of the group.

Keeping your position, your head snapped towards the sound. Mouth going dry at the na’vi arrow protruding from Fike’s skull. It had embedded itself into his eye socket, almost straight through.

Whatever was making that sound had clearly found the squad. And it wasn’t pleased.

As the group erupted into chaos, you saw your chance. Loosening your grip on the kid’s kuru, you slowly stepped back, praying the steady movements would not draw that hunter’s eye to your form. The kid spun to face you, wrists bound, looking wide eyed and terrified.

You raised your hands in surrender, head dipping. <”Get out of here.”> You hissed, nodding to the trees.

His ears fanned wide as a satellite. Momentarily frozen in time. Eyes studying your own for the trick.

A gun went off at his back, snapping him out of it. More arrows were fired and more recoms died.

He turned his back to you, and with a burst of speed began shepherding his little sister towards the treeline. The girl went easily, grabbing at his bound wrists and dragging him away.

You kept your attention on their backs, hand hanging close to your gun in case someone turned their attention on you.

The recoms were dying in disorganised clusters. The smart ones like Wainfleet and Z-Dog had already taken cover behind trees as the onslaught of arrows threw everyone else out of formation, causing them to scramble for cover. It gave you a sick sense of satisfaction.

A shout drew your attention.

Walker had the older girl by her kuru after she’d tried to make a break for it with Spider. She struggled as she yanked her back, her gun useless in her focus on keeping hold of her.

Your gaze narrowed. Your rifle was in your hands before you could think to check if anyone was looking. The trigger was smooth under your finger. And with a light squeeze the machine roared to life and shot a hole through the tree to her left.

Walker shrieked, hand spasming in fear as she instinctively let go of the girl’s neural whip. Spider was quick to grab her arm and run away, whilst an arrow found its mark in the recom’s chest. She collapsed in a heap. Dead on impact.

You grimaced.

The rain muffled your footsteps as you carefully retreated into the shadows of the trees. Thankfully, the squad was too preoccupied to notice your silent escape.

You felt like a traitor for withdrawing into the forest quietly. Which was funny considering that’s what you were. Your ears were pricked and your body low. Eywa must have wanted you to succeed because no arrow pierced your back.

The screaming from the small clearing had begun to die down now, but was quickly replaced by the sound of a machine gun going off. Definitely Mansk’s hand, he had always been quick to react in any situation. You quickened your pace, knowing the distance those things could reach.

The aim was to get as much distance between you and the squad as possible. Then, you’d tear off any and all equipment that would hinder your survival out in the forest until you stumbled across a clan and could ask for uturu. The word and its meaning came to you from a distant memory. A simpler time when Grace had been ranting about some new discovery she’d observed out in the field whilst you’d simply been trying to microwave your dinner.

One of the explosions went off a little too close to you. Making your pace falter as your head snapped up to watch the branches above burst into flames. You squinted as a figure got thrown clean off by the blast. They seemed to collide with every branch and bush in existence on the way down, screaming the whole way.

<”SPIDER!”> Yelled the older girl from before, appearing over the lip of the branch but not daring to jump after him.

Instinctively, you leapt forward, gun falling back on its strap as your arms came up to catch the falling kid. He crashed into your embrace with a punched out wheeze. Blood oozed from many cuts, whilst his back was warm to the touch, not burnt, but still caught by the flames.

Another explosion went off, spurring you back into motion. You tried to set the kid down, but he groaned painfully, clutching at your bullet proof vest as his legs failed to hold his weight.

“Shit.” You cursed under your breath. Glancing back to the branch, you realised the girl was still there. Still watching your every move. And still way too close to Quaritch and his squad. To the inbound airship.

Shifting the kid so he was supported by one of your arms against your body, you strained to relieve your feet of the heavy duty avatar boots. The laces were slippery from the rain, slithering out of your grasp and making you growl lowly to yourself. It felt like hours, but it could’ve only been seconds before you were barefoot, your shoes and socks discarded in the undergrowth.

”Hold on tight!” You instructed the kid, who dutifully wound his shaking legs around your ribcage and hooked his arms around your neck. You supported his back with one arm whilst you scrambled to begin climbing back up the hill he’d just tumbled down.

The soil was loose from the rain. The bushes offering no firm support due to your weight, their roots easily giving way if you dared hold onto them for support.

You hadn’t climbed anything in this body yet. With the base possessing stairs, and your memories of climbing trees locked away in a past life, there was no real need to. And yet, it came easily to this body. As if it had been born to scale the trees of the Pandoran rainforest despite being grown by aliens in a test tube.

The girl was quick to grab the back of your bullet proof vest once you were high enough. Heaving you up onto the branch with her whole body thrown back. Curling your toes into the uneven bark, you swayed in place, tail compensating for your shit balance. ”We need to move.” You insisted, once again readjusting your grip on the shivering child in your arms.

She nodded dutifully. ”This way.” You kept a hand on her bicep to steady her as she took off down the branch, leading you away from the gunfire.

With practised ease, she reached the end of the branch and smoothly dropped to the forest floor before scrambling away. You were slower in following, your body protesting the intense movements before your knees groaned at the sloppy landing. To his credit, Spider didn’t complain as the jerky ride, his eyes half closed behind his mask.

You pushed through the bushes to find the three na’vi kids waiting by some ikran. Eying the beasts wearily, you slowed your pace, listening to the older girl reassure her siblings with soft words at your approach.

You needed to be quick. The owner of those arrows would be returning for their kids soon. And whether or not it was Jake, they’re bound to kill you on sight without checking your face.

”He’s wounded. You must get him to the Tsahik quickly.” You explained as you approached, dropping into a crouch to set Spider down gently at the kids’ feet. He protested again, putting up a valiant fight to keep a hold of you, but you were stronger than him. Your touch was firm as you removed his limbs from you and sat him down.

Kiri was quick to drop to his level, frowning hard at his bloodied appearance. Feeling sorry for the wounded kid, you dared to take a couple of extra seconds pulling out a knife from your belt to cut him free.

He pouted as he rubbed the circulation back into his wrists. Those piercing eyes darting all over your face.

You turned to leave, but the youngest kid was quick to waddle up to your side, her bound wrists extended. ”Can you cut me loose too?”

”I /really/ need to go.” You reply softly, before cutting her loose anyway.

You shifted back, only for the older pair to immediately extend their arms expectantly. You audibly groaned, before reaching for the boy since he was closest.

”Zaza?” Spider croaked, making your brows furrowed at the odd word. Around you, the older kids had gone unnaturally still. <”Is that you?”>

”Zaza?” You repeated, finding the word felt odd on your tongue. It sparked a distant memory, of a late night sprawled on a bunk with someone beside you. Someone tall and distracted. The memory brought with it a sense of dread; a distant threat. You discarded that train of thought before it could distract you for too long.

<”It can’t be.”> The na’vi girl commented, and now it was her turn to begin studying you.

”I don’t know what that means.” You pleaded, hands frozen in time, the knife still poised. A headache was beginning to form between your eyes, and your stress levels were incredibly high, but no one was giving you a straight answer. All you knew for certain was that you didn’t recognise this boy, and yet, he looked at you as if he knew you.

<”Holy shit.”> Was all Spider replied with, slumping against the forest floor.

<”No way.”> The na’vi boy agreed with a laugh. He was grinning hard, ears perked.

His younger sister looked as confused as you felt. Whilst the older girl was inspecting you in a way similar to how Grace used to look at something that deeply fascinated her.

Out of nowhere a large, calloused hand wrapped around your shoulder, yanking you back and away from the kids. The hand moved with the momentum, throwing you off balance to land hard on your back. You gasped loudly, your knife flying away into the bushes. The kids were already yelling as you struggled to gather your bearings.

The barrel of an old model RDA rifle came into focus, inches from your face, making you gulp loudly. Following the line of the weapon, your gaze travelled up a blue arm to a scowling face that you hadn’t seen in decades.

<”JAKE DON’T!”> Spider yelled. Despite the frantic edge in his voice, he remained unmoving. His eyes as large as the moon as he stared unblinkingly up at the na’vi’s turned back.

<”DAD! NO!”> The oldest girl shrieked, clumsily shoving her bound hands into the na’vi’s stomach, her eyes wide and pleading.

The boy was quick to jump to your defence. <”They helped us escape Dad- SIR! Don’t!”>

<”DADDY!”> The youngest shrieked, joining in at her older siblings’ reactions. She promptly latched herself onto his leg, clingy tightly and making his strong stance waver. If you weren’t seconds from dying - again - it would’ve been a comically domestic scene.

You shifted your gaze back to the man in question. Jake looked different. He was older now. Tired. Blue. Very fucking blue. His expression was aged, his hair in dreadlocks. You barely recognised him.

Movement over his shoulder brought your gaze to yet another kid. Older than the others, he shared the same hard expression as his father, an arrow notched and reading in his bow. Clearly, there was no chance of escape. If Jake missed you by some miracle, that boy would finish the job for him.

Jake hadn’t lowered his gun. He was still studying you, blatantly ignoring his kids as his narrowed eyes swept over the planes of your face. The weight of the stare was heavy as his frown deepened.

Somehow, you managed to unstick your tongue from the roof of your mouth, terrified but fucking estatic that he was alive. ”Long time no see, marine.”

No reaction. The gun didn’t lower. His expression didn’t change. Remaining cold and closed off.

Your smile faltered as you realise he probably didn’t recognise you. You expected the gun to be shoved back against you, for a bullet to shoot through your body and for you to die again.

Nothing happened.

Then something seems to click. ”Impossible.” Is all Jake said, and he lowered his weapon. The kids collectively breathed out and moved out of his way.

His brow was furrowed now as he dropped into a crouch. Jake loomed over you, his shadow blocking out the moon as his arm shot forward to grab at the front of your bullet proof vest to yank it down. You jerked, instinctively growling at him as his large hand grabbed your dog tag chain and pulled it out of hiding. The chain pulled taught as he dragged you in by the neck, in turn, Jake stooped lower, eyes squinting to read the printed metal in the pathetic light of the forest.

He sucked in a breath. <”What kind of sick-”> He cut himself off with a swear, dropping the tag like it had burned him. His eyes shone with a dense swirl of emotion when he caught your gaze again, his voice punching out of him in a yell. ”You should be dead!”

Your expression furrowed. ”Sorry to disappoint?”

He cursed again. <”Kids, get to the ikran. Your mother should be waiting for you.”> None of them moved. Jake growled. <”Did you hear?”>

You could make a break for it right now. Roll onto your stomach and dart off into the forest whilst he was preoccupied. The boy with the bow had loosened his arrow when Jake had dropped the gun from your face. But there was no guarantee he wouldn’t put a bullet between your shoulders for your hard work.

In another life, you had been friends; comrades. But now, he was a stranger. And you were decked out in enemy gear.

The heat of the jungle was getting to you now. Causing sweat to bead on your brow and moisture to collect under the heavy, bullet proof vest clutching tight to every movement of your torso. The military grade trousers clung uncomfortably to your legs, your boots long gone but your feet weak and vulnerable against the rough terrain of the jungle floor.

In contrast, Jake was in his element. Adorned in traditional Omaticayan attire and walking around barefoot without an issue.

Private! Quaritch’s calm voice over the com sent chills down your spine, making you stiffen. Private! Do you read me?

You dared not respond. Jake was still studying you. Those unnatural glowing eyes pinning you in place.

Y/n! Dude, you alive! Lyle’s loud voice had you wincing. Jake’s head snapped down at the sound, ears fanning wide as Lyle kept trying to coax you into responding. Making your insides twist tighter and tighter.

You’d been hoping for a clean break that would spare your conscience. They weren’t supposed to have noticed your absence yet.

Fuck, Quaritch was gonna kill you for getting cornered by Jake. That is if Jake didn’t kill you first.

You were so caught up in your musing that you didn’t notice the man in question had moved, until a hand clamped hard around your queue, snapping your head back from the harsh yank. The sound you let out could never have been produced by a human. It echoed through the trees, making your ears flatten.

Jake paid you no mind as he harshly dragged you to your feet.

”Jake!” Spider yelled at him, eyes hardened.

The marine waved him off as you struggled to comply, your balance all thrown off and mud clinging to your ass and back. His movements were sharp, making you gasp. In one swift motion, he dug his finger under your earpiece and tossed it away into the undergrowth.

”Jesus, you’ve gotten cranky in your old age.” You complained, struggling to relieve the pressure on your kuru.

Jake let out a surprised burst of air that could’ve been a laugh. ”Glad to see whatever they’ve done to you hasn’t dimmed your humour, Private.”

”Fuck off with that military shit.”

He kicked at your calf, tripping you into walking faster. Snapping your teeth at him, you followed the sound of the kids retreating into the undergrowth. Jake’s grip was painful on your kuru, but he was no longer using it to guide you along like a misbehaving horse, so you would take it.

”You started it.” He blurted in that typical knee jerk reaction of his. You huffed at the familiarity of it. ”Now start walking.”

”You’re not seriously considering taking me with you? Are you?” He didn’t respond and you let out a bark of laughter. ”You’re being an idiot.”

“I’m sparing your life.” Jake replied sharply. ”Usually, people are grateful.”

You saw the ikran first. They weren’t as big as you remembered, but still scared the shit out of you.

<”Ma Jake, what are you doing? Kill-”> Neytiri hissed from beside her mount. The youngest girl cradled to her chest. The woman stepped away from her ikran’s side, bow slung over her shoulder and her expression thunderous.

Jake pulled you up short, startling a second shout of pain from you. ”Dude! Ease up. Come on!”

Neytiri suddenly appearing in front of you had you stiffening. Her gaze pierced through you, studying your face with a hunter’s precision. She recognised you much faster than her mate.

“Would you quit whining?”

”You’re being an asshole!”

You could only watch dumbly as her eyes widened, mouth dropping open whilst her ears fanned wide as the membrane of a frilled lizard. The hand not cradling her daughter flew to her mouth as that expression morphed into one of fiery rage.

”What did they /DO/ to you?” She shrieked, the sheer grief in her tone making you flinch. Her breath stuttered, glancing at Jake before finding your pained expression again. “Eywa took you home.” She sounded like she was trying to convince herself of that fact.

The kids shuffled on your peripheral. Unsettled by their mother’s blatant grief. Neytiri drew your attention back.

”How is it that you stand before me now?!”

Her cry echoes through the trees, bouncing back to your bent ears with the same gut wrenching emotion as they had had leaving her mouth. You stared blankly at your friend, feeling all sense of hope and joy at being found drain away.

She was looking at you like you were a ghost or some kind of illusion. Waiting for you to evaporate or cease to exist at any moment.

Your presence had unknowingly opened an old, festering wound that had barely healed the first time.

This wasn’t the reunion you’d been expecting. This wasn’t the open arms and tears you’d been praying for whilst you planned your escape. This was everything you didn’t want.

“I’m sorry..”

>_<

Jake’s grip was unforgiving as he hauled you off of his ikran at High Camp. Your arms strained against the vines they’d used to bind your wrists, fingers failing to keep you on your feet as he forcefully yanked you down off of his ikran and onto the uneven cliff edge. One hand still grasped your kuru, whilst the other bit imprints into your bicep.

They’d stripped you of your gear before wrestling you onto a banshee.

Now, your weapons, bullet proof vest and any form of communication with the RDA lay soaked in rainwater somewhere in the forest. You didn’t mourn the loss of the devices, since the RDA could no longer track you without them. But you did miss the false protection of the knife and the warmth of the vest against the frigid mountain air.

Goosebumps erupted up your forearms as you were dragged further into the heart of the camp. Tents had been erected inside the cave system, made homely by the cooking fires within and the decorative rugs lining the cold, stone floors.

You glimpsed a compound on one of the rocky rises. The shining metal stood out like a sore thumb against the wooden structures of the tents and the warm glow of the fires.

Jake kept you walking, guiding you through the gathering throng of clan members. Some you recognised, many you didn’t. They all stared at you the same. With pinned back ears and judgemental eyes.

It was a relief when you were shoved between the flaps of the largest tent so far. The atmosphere was tense inside, with a fire burning low in the centre and various belongings stacked up against the walls. Herbs dried where they hung from the ceiling, whilst a hammock hung suspended against the back wall where two figures crouched over a map.

Your heart leapt into your throat. The rest of the clan and Jake’s unforgiving grip on you fell away as your eyes widened.

The years had been kind to Mo’at. She still wore her red beaded shawl, but had updated her headpiece and decorative necklaces, one of which appeared to have been made by a child. Her intelligent eyes snapped towards you in the small space, the weight of the years portrayed in the heavy crow’s feet and bags pulling at her cheeks. That expression did not change as she studied you.

Tsu’tey shifted at her elbow, looking as handsome as he always had. White paint ran down the line of his nose, from forehead to chin, standing out brightly against the soft blue of his skin. He carried himself with an undeniable sense of authority, chin lifted as that razor sharp glare cut you down to your very core. He no longer wore the necklace that had matched the choker your human body wore, but the rest of him had not changed. He studied you wordlessly, his lips dragged down into a frown as if he’d already analysed all he needed to know.

Your eyes caught on the bullet scars that adorned his left shoulder. They were old, faded with time but obvious. Your stomach tensed at the thought of what he had been through in your absence.

Wordlessly, you watched as Spider - who had slipped in behind you - skirted the fire and walked straight for Tsu’tey. “Dad.” The boy breathed, barely loud enough for you to hear. The hunter immediately opened his arms for the boy to fall into, his tail swaying anxiously as he whispered inaudibly to the young boy. Spider finally lost the tension in his body, whilst your stomach clenched painfully. You hated to imagine what their closeness meant.

Neytiri burst into the tent behind you, making your ears shoot up and your body jerk. She paid you no mind, kicking at the back of your knee to force you to kneel. You gasped as Jake’s grip left you and Neytiri took his place. Her nails digging crescent moons into your scalp as she grasped the back of your neck with unforgiving tightness.

<”Daughter, what brings you here with such rage in your eye?”> Mo’at asked carefully. Her familiar voice sounded so calm, so familiar. You squeezed your eyes shut at the sudden weight behind them.

<”The Sky People have found a new low.”> Neytiri declared loudly to the silent tent. Mo’at hummed.

Somewhere behind the canvas of the tent wall, you heard small feet shift. Glancing to the side, you saw a tiny eye peering up at you from the gap between the material and the floor. Those unnaturally large eyes bore into your soul, making your tail thrash with nerves.

Neytiri’s fingers turned into claws in your hair, snapping your attention back to the situation at hand as she grasped a fistful of hair and yanked. <”They have begun to resurrect the dead.”> Your head snapped up from the motion, causing your neck to crack and warm pain to deep down your spine. Your mouth opened wide with an involuntary, pained gasp.

Mo’at didn’t move.

Tsu’tey was scowling hard at her side, Spider wincing in sympathy at your treatment. Two sides of one coin. An odd pairing in appearance, but even in the short time you’d seen them together, you knew there was a bond there. Probably years old.

With the crack in her daughter’s voice, Mo’at rose from her seat. On silent footsteps, she rounded the fire. ”What are you called?”

You could tell that who you were still hadn’t clicked into place for Tsu’tey from the way that his ears flickered in uncertainty. Still looking confused, he composed himself, sitting back on his hunches to look at Neytiri. <”What is the meaning of this? Why have you brought this puppet to High Camp.”>

<”It protected the children.”> Neytiri returned easily. Making it sound like you were a pissed off thanator that had by some miracle, spared her offspring. <”It recognised us.”>

”Neytiri-”

<”You do NOT speak here.”>

Your name sat frozen on your tongue. The reactions of your previous two friends made you not want to reveal yourself. Neytiri shook you painfully by the kuru, letting out a warning hiss.

You spoke your name, eternally grateful that Mo’at’s towering form blocked Tsu’tey from view.

More humming from Mo’at as she reached for the tiny blade concealed within the sheath of her head dress. You eyed her wearily, held still by Neytiri’s hand in your hair as she pricked your shoulder. She pulled the bloodied blade back, tasting the drop of blood.

Her ears pricked at the taste, staring at you with a newfound revelation. ”It is you.” She confirmed, and something seemed to unwind in both Jake and Neytiri. ”But altered. You are not as the Great Mother intended.”

She motioned to her daughter, expression pinched. Neytiri tried to protest, but at her mother’s stern glare, her hands retreated from you. Your posture immediately slumped, relieved tingles echoing across your scalp and down your back.

”Explain.” Mo’at boomed, commanding your attention once more.

That finally got a reaction from the hunter still crouching over the map.

”The Sky People grew this body as they grew the avatars.” She nodded along to the simple explanation, sharing glances with Tsu’tey over her shoulder. You swallowed. ”They uploaded my memories into it. This body is me.”

Jake sidestepped, putting himself back into your line of sight. ”So you aren’t linked up?” There was something unreadable in his eyes. You almost mistook it for hope.

You shook your head. That body was long gone. ”This is my body now.”

Spider had sat down on the mat beside him by now, and shifted uncertainly as the man wordlessly rose from his couch with the authority of a king rising from his throne. Mo’at stepped aside as he took slow, menacing steps towards you. Swallowing hard, you dared to meet his burning gaze highlighted by the soft white paint. The vibrant grief and rage swirling within those gorgeous depths was startling to behold.

His hand went to the knife at his waist, wrestling it free with the practised song of the blade against its bone sheath. Your fight or flight threatened to kick in as you recognised the same hunter’s stalk he had performed the morning Neytiri and Jake had officially mated.

<”Olo’eyktan?”> Mo’at asked, eying him wearily.

He ignored her, storming past her fast enough to have her braids dancing. That gaze was narrowed; honed in on prey.

His arm drew back.

Your eyes widened.

With a yell, he took a swift swipe at your head which you barely managed to dive out of the way of.

<”DAD NO!”> Spider yelled from across the tent. He was on his feet in minutes, scrambling forward, only for Mo’at to hold him back with her arm.

Neytiri tutted at the poorly aimed blow, her tail thrashing on your peripheral as you cowered in the dirt, your arms still bound and braced against stone. Vulnerable skin tore on uneven rock as you scrambled away, kicking yourself for turning your back, but knowing distance was more important.

At least Jake seemed to have your back.

<”Tsu’tey, what are you doing?”> The marine asked, immediately jumping in to stop him from striking again as you scrambled to get your feet under you. With your hands bound, it was a struggle. Your tail thrashed, attempting to aid your balance as you scrambled away.

Tsu’tey was like a man possessed, shoving Jake off balance and making another stab at you. His ears were flat on either side of his head, eyes wild and manic. You’d never seen him so pissed. And certainly not so quiet whilst being so angry. It was somehow more terrifying than if he were screaming at you.

Jake scrambled to stay on his feet, his arms wrapping around Tsu’tey’s waist and yanking him back. Causing the knife to fall short of slicing through your side. The Olo’eyktan shrieked, a noise you had never heard a na’vi make before as his nails clawed at the man’s arms, failing to tear him off. Your ears flattened at the heart wrenching sound. Eyes not quite leaving the knife still in the Olo’eyktan’s grasp. A knife which he was quick to recall and hurl at your head.

“Jesus FUCKING christ!” You swore, ducking again. “Calm down!”

He hissed in retaliation, ears pinned back from the ferocity of the sound. You stilled at the glint of water staining his cheeks, the redness of his eyes. ”I mourned you!” He cursed. Still struggling. Still trying to close the distance and kill you.

Scratch that last part. Seeing him cry and begin to break down was far worse than anger.

”I buried you.” He screamed, the shout echoing around the tent and no doubt chasing itself out into the main cavern. ”I visited you in Eywa!”

Numbly, you took a step back. Towards the tent flaps.

This had been a mistake. Coming here was a mistake.

”I have made my peace with your passing! What purpose do you serve? Why have you returned to haunt me?” There was so much anguish in his tone, you would’ve preferred a punch to the jaw. ”WHY!?”

”I couldn’t stay there.” You breathed, straightening your shoulders when you realised you’d curled in on yourself under that venomous glare. ”I couldn’t stay there!” You repeated, louder this time. Needing to be heard. Understood. ”With them.” Your throat was uncomfortably tight. ”I wanted to come home.”

”THIS IS NOT YOUR HOME, DEMON!” Tsu’tey was quick to snap back. His expression shattered, the rage giving way to a tsunami of grief so strong it made you sick. ”LEAVE!”

But you were frozen in place.

Tsu’tey took it as a challenge. With strength that made your eyes bug out, he stomped on Jake’s foot, shot his arms back, grabbed the marine by the weapons belt and yanked him up and over his shoulder. Jake hit the stone floor hard. With a wheeze, he collapsed in a heap, momentarily stunned.

You gawked.

Spider seemed to come back to himself. In your peripheral, you watched the kid expertly duck under Mo’at’s arm and dart around the fire, with the ease of someone who’d been doing it his entire life.

Tsu’tey’s form blocked him from view. His muscles were bunched like a thanator preparing to pounce.

”GET. OUT!” Tsu’tey screamed again. He made to step over Jake, only for the man to grab his ankle and yank, causing the hunter to crash at your feet. You leapt back as his hands shot for your ankles.

Spider was at your side in moments. ”This way!” He yelled, grabbing at your bound wrists and dragging you towards the tent flaps. You obeyed, but your eyes remained glued to Tsu’tey. To the hands that would drag you down and gladly wring your neck. To the twisted expression on his face, so alien to you and causing the white paint to bunch and flake.

Mo’at tutted at his back. <”You do not think clearly.”> She narrated, stalking around the fist fight now commencing on her tent floor.

”Come on!” Spider urged, tugging sharply on your wrists and tearing your attention from Tsu’tey and the rest of them. ”We have to get you out of here.”

<”Give me a head start?”> Spider joked with a hoarse laugh, the furious screams of Tsu’tey biting at your ankles.

Neytiri appeared at your side, yanking aside the tent flap and helping Spider shove you outside. <”Take the ikran.”> She urged the boy, her expression icy. <”They cannot remain here.”>

You had FUCKING GATHERED THAT MUCH!

Neytiri nodded sharply before barking out loudly, <”Neteyam!”>

A flurry of movement by the side of the tent revealed the older son from before. His expression was painfully neutral as his gaze slid from his mother to the teenager holding you hostage by your bound wrists.

<”Take the demon to the forest.”> Neytiri stated. She didn’t wait to see if he acknowledged her command before promptly ducking back into the tent. The flicker of a memory tickled the back of your mind at her sharp cursing as the ruckus within the tent continued.

The boy, Neteyam, barely spared you a glance before heading back the way you’d been dragged into the camp. Despite being dragged all the way here for the Olo’eyktan to pass his judgement, the Sully family were doing a spontaneous job of doing the opposite of his will. You had no doubt that Tsu’tey would have gutted you regardless of his knee-jerk reaction.

You were lost in your musings as Neteyam hollered for his ikran, three bursts of sound that had the magnificent beast dropping from a higher level of the cave system to stand before its rider. The boy was quick to form Tsaheylu, before fluidly mounting up.

<”Where are we headed?”>

<”The old village.”> Spider replied simply, guiding you towards the back of the mount with firm pushes.

Part 1 -> Next Chapter

#Tsu'tey x Reader #Dad!Tsu'tey #Son!Spider #xreader #grief #temporary character death #conflict #recoms #recom reader #part 1 of 3 #Tsu'tey #Spider socorro #avatar #avatar the way of water

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youlikefanficdontyousquidward · 1 year

Text

Curves

Femrecom!reader x Miles

Summary: Curvy Reader comes back as a Recom and isn't pleased with their new body. Someone's gonna have to remind her she's perfect either way!

Warnings! body image issues, mentions of dieting and ED, smut, no protection, penetration, oral female receiving, use of Mama and Papa pet names

It took you years to accept the body you saw in the mirror. The dips and curves, the wobbling, the bumpy cellulite, the stretch marks. The way uniforms clung and sagged in all the wrong places. Long years of fad diet after fad diet with nothing but hair thinning and acne to show for it. You'd even spent some unfortunate years taking matters to an extreme, counting bellow 1000 and throat raw. You were lucky your teeth and guts stayed mostly intact. You'd cringe at the memories now. How you could've been so cruel to the body that carried you here, the body that kissed your love.

Colonel Miles Quaritch was not a mushy man. Grumbling in his sleep as you pecked his other cheek to wake him. You showered, lathering yourself in the nice soaps he'd bought in special for you. Caressing each curve you'd grown to love. Admiring the litter of love bites across hips, chest and even a couple on your stomach. Heat pooled even thinking about him between your legs again.

You did your hair and makeup allowing your body to dry as you stood in front of the mirror. You'd covered the hickies before but Miles had seemed disappointed when he'd seen you later without them. Today you decided to leave them bare, teasing Lyle be damned. You pulled lacy underwear on, everything you owned seemed so beautiful these days. Bless your over generous lover, though his motives might not be so pure.

He was sitting up now, rubbing his face to try return to the living. You smiled, pulling your tights up. A wolf whistle distracted you. He smirked at you through the mirror, clearly admiring your bent form.

"Shh! We'll be late if you start with that again!" You laughed flushing, remembering morning quickies that never seemed to be that quick.

"And we'll be forgivin'. 's my operation we're runnin'. Plus the lab coats ain't got nothing better to be doing anyway. Let them wait!" He got up stalking behind you and wrapping arms around your middle. He hummed, dipping his face in to kiss at your shoulders.

You twisted in his arms, leaning up to cup his face and kiss him fully. Sinking into him as his hands dug into your hips. Perfect.

Then you woke up.

The lights were blinding, a hum of sound around you as your head pounded. A hangover? You'd not been that drunk since the Christmas party. How'd you end up here? Had something happened? Were you injured? There were doctors now, swaying in and out of view as their distant voices came into focus.

"You hear us Y/N." Snapping fingers at your ears as they shone a torch past your eyes, you squinted cringing away from the too bright light and loud sound.

"Move it!" You heard your lovers voice. The face that appeared wasn't his though.

A na'vi! In the base? You shrieked, scrambling back and kicking out at them. There was sounds of protest as more circled, you grabbed an IV poll and swung it in front of you. Jabbing at whomever tried to come closer.

"Y/n, please, look at me." The first male spoke in Miles voice. The dawning realization creeping up. If you looked closely his features were there, pulled out across a more na'vi nose and very blue. Younger too, without the wear of his years and scars of battles past. Worse however was the creeping feeling that they all looked too short. Your eyes flashed down to the poll in your own blue hands.

You screamed again, dropping the poll with a clatter. Miles was close now, cupping your cheeks in his hands as you shook.

"S'okay peach. We're okay, just a lil bigger and bluer is all." Your breathing slowed, keeping your eyes locked on his now bright olive eyes. His hands slipped to your elbows as he helped you stand.

Looking around you saw familiar faces. Prager, Mansk, Zdog, even Lyle. All gently smiling, giving you a little wave as you continued hyperventilating. The group you'd gone with to get your mind copied with. Shock rippled back through you again, gripping Miles forearm.

"We died!" Your voice was shrill, edged with a panic that wouldn't stay down. To this he actually laughed, holding your cheek and stroking a thumb across it.

"Suppose we did a little."

It was then you felt the swishing of a tail, you spun to try get a look of it. Lyle barked a laughed at this, though his mouth clamped shut when Miles shot him a glare. You ceased chasing your tail, feeling incredibly off all over. Your skin seemed uncomfortable somehow, in a way you couldn't pin point. Like being far to aware of it and how it stretched over your bones.

You'd avoided it somehow until now. The full length mirror that covered the entire wall infront of the stretchers. Some subconscious part of you knowing that this would snap your mind and it did. Your own features morphed across what felt like an entirely new face. It was more than that, your body long and lithe. It was too much your brain felt like it would burst, the room spun and Miles' voice eched distantly as your vision darkened.

You woke alone this time. The room so like the one you'd shared with Miles but not. The mess of your previous life was gone. The room was practically sterile. You shifted out of the sheets, staring down at the thin sticks of your legs. That was unfair, they were fine really. Toned muscular, long, you could even say shapely but they weren't yours.

Almost afraid you stood, the mirror was in the same place as it always had been. It was slightly too small now, only reaching your neck. It was all you could bare at the moment anyway, your face could be a problem for another time.

You lifted your hospital gown over your head. You squeaked, clenching your jaw to stay quiet. The other body continued much the same as the legs. Delicate long fingers, toned arms, a collar bone that jutted out and your breast could barely be cupped. You stared at the stomach you'd have killed for when you were younger but you couldn't help but feel wrong.

"These are still familiar." You spun, not noticing when Miles had returned. He turned you back from him to the mirror, hands tracing up the stripes of blue on your thighs and lower stomach. You cringed away from his touch.

He pulled his hands back, hovering near you but waiting for permission.

"I'm sorry it's not you, I just... this isn't me...I don't like it." You turned back to him, reaching up to his face. His head tipped into your palm, kissing it before turning eyes to yours.

"hmm, well I certainly loved you before" You stilled at his comment, stomach churning at his past tense. "I'd like to love you now," He took your hand in his, kissing your knuckles. "If you'd let me sugar." He smirked, fangs flashing.

The heat pooled same as ever with him. Despite his own changes you still felt drawn in by him. His charm was unchanged, his strong arms were dotted with the same tattoos. You ran you hand along them, wishing some part of you still felt the same.

He leaned down to kiss you, feeling his lips form and shape around your own. Even in whole new bodies they still locked together, maybe you'd always been made for one another. You needed to feel him, only him to leave yourself for a while. You dipped your tongue through meeting his. He groaned, tugging you closer, his large hands engulfing your hips. You cringed a little again, as he grabbed at the skin. It was short lived, even without the cushion he pawed and groaned against you like always.

He dove to your neck now, nipping and sucking, as hands wandering up and down your sides.

"Oh I need you Mama, I wanna make you feel real good." He cupped your cheeks, his large hands covering your cheeks. His eyes now blown, black with lust. You imagined you must look the same by this point, barely able to do more than nod.

"Please" You whispered. That was all he needed, scooping you up and taking long strides to the bed. He always manhandled you. You'd been embarrassed at first worried that he'd strain or be unable to lift you, past lovers had failed before. He'd been so strong though, his thick arms holding you up making your heart flutter.

It was no different now, he was on top caging you in with swelling biceps. Kissing down your chest, hands running up to squeeze and knead your breast. Your head lulled back, fingers finding his hair and combing nails through it. You avoided his queue at first but as his first nips on your hip began you couldn't help but grip it a little. He growled against you but only furthered his attack on you, pulling your thigh up to kiss down.

"These won't do." He tore off the simple underwear that'd been provided in disdain. "Papa'll make sure, only the best for his mama." The idea of some poor designer having to make some na'vi sized lingerie made you blush. He dove back down swiping a long line up from your core to your clint. You moaned out fingers lost in his hair again. For a moment you missed feeling the ridges of his scar but then he had your clint in between his teeth. He rolled it so gently before tonguing it. You felt his familiar technique spelling his name out against your sex as you squirmed under him, gasping and clawing at his back.

His finger joined him, dipping into your core and curling up. You clenched around him as he thrusted, the tight knot in your stomach growing. You felt your own pleasure rising as he didn't let up.

"Miles I'm gonna...." You babbled out, feeling lightheaded the cord snapped. Your orgasm washing over you in waves as he kept going.

He pulled up when your moans subsided, chin glistening. You looked down, you were soaked, far more than you'd ever been before.

"Did I?" Miles just grinned at you, leaning in to capture your lips before pulling back. Was this a na'vi thing? Or did you just squirt for the first time?

"Hmm guess who's not a virgin anymore." He smirked. You scoffed, nudging his shoulder.

"Hmm not you?" His eyes widened a little at your implication. Technically speaking he was one again and he'd just taken yours.

"Aww Papa" you cooed, watching his eyes blacken again as you held his chin. "Mama can fix that." You kissed him again, tasting yourself on his tongue.

You pushed up, sitting in front of him, hands on his jaw as you continued to taste him. There was more strength in you now, your new body felt like it could go all night. You wondered if you could push him down.

The though too tantalising you gave it a go. Hands shifting down to shove his shoulder blades. Through strength or surprise he toppled back. Seizing the moment and rush of power you straddled him, smirking down as you teased his underwear down. He stayed down, allowing you to grip his cock at the base, you pumped bringing his erection to hover over your core.

His hands came to your hips again, pulling you down so his head brushed against your heat. He hissed as you took his length, inch by inch.

"So tight peach." You slid him in with ease, your slick guiding him up to his hilt. Then you rose, his breath catching and stuttering. He pulled you back down and you began to ride him, small mounds bouncing with the rhythm. His hand reached for one again, palming and massaging the tender tissue.

His other hand traced around behind you pulling you close as he sat up. You road on, feeling your own high coming up again. His mouth dipped to catch your nipple, rolling a tongue around the peak and nipping the skin with fanged teeth.

He was groaning more, hips bucking against yours as your own pace became sloppy. His hand darted low circling your clit as you felt him getting close.

"Cum on me again sweetheart" His rough voice was in your ear, nipping the skin bellow it. You did, harder than before. The same dizzying high coursing through you as your walls shuddered against him. Milking his own orgasm out he growled against your neck, a mix of your own slick and his cum leaking out around his dick.

He lazily kissed your throat, following up your chin to your lips. You feel together onto your sides, still locked together. You couldn't tell where you started and he ended, all you could feel was the bliss of being.

#miles quaritch #quaritch x you #quaritch x reader #avatar imagine #the way of water #recom reader #human miles quaritch #recom quaritch #my fics

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wain-fleets · 3 months

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stopping by with tit pics

#art #avatar the way of water #digital art #avatar 2 #avatar twow #recoms #recom reader #female na'vi #na'vi #avatar oc #feel free to use for your own ocs and shit idc

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fl3shm4id3n · 7 months

Note

Hi there! I have a very silly thought that I wanna share with you. Just imagine if Miles had a teen daughter that fought in the war and died with him and now him and her are recomes. Just imagine in the scene were Miles gets his own ikran and names it cupcake imagine recome y/n trying to get an ikran but instead of the ikran trying to kill her it just gets close to her and wants to be her friend, and what does Y/n name it? Deathlord. Get it? Miles with an aggressive ikran that will kill anything in front of it called cupcake and Y/n with an ikran that's too scared to hurt a bug named deathlord.

ᵣᵤₙₜ ₒf ₜₕₑ ₗᵢₜₜₑᵣ

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬.

ᴍɪʟᴇꜱ Qᴜᴀʀɪᴛᴄʜ x ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ! ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ (ᴘʟᴀᴛᴏɴɪᴄ)

Tw: Descriptions of death (being attacked by Viperwoolf), Ikran taming.

A/N: In all honesty, I always like the stuff you come up with and I enjoy writing them.♡

Masterlist

You dad would often tall you 'The Runt' of the team, due to being much smaller soldier, and because how much more sympathetic you were towards everyone around you. He didn't really like the fact that you, his daughter was very soft. He thought that others might take advantage of your kindness. He wanted you to have tough skin. Don't get him wrong, he loves you and all, but you're in a whole different planet where kindness isn't really necessary.

15 years later, you woke up in your new body. You had died in battle, this was now your new body. But it felt different too. As a way to get used to your new reality. You were made to watch a video about your death, you watched how the Viperwolves attacked and ate at your still living body. Your old screams made a shiver run down your spine, this was like watching a very fucked up horror movie.

Then your dad woke up, in a panic, Attacking everyone that got near him. After that little tumble, your dad was fine and recognized what was happening. He was very happy to see you. He would have done anything to bring you back to life as well. It was strange since you and him looked like the enemy, but he didn't care, he was glad that his daughter was with him.

Weeks later, came Spider. Who turns out to be your half brother. As much as your dad didn't want to get attached to him, he did. He already basically had taken him in as his own. Despite Spider's situation, he was going to be treated with the same respect because of your dad's orders. All he had to do was just go along with the plan and nobody gets hurts. You had already started bonding with your brother. It was nice being around with anther kid your age, technically you'd be older, but you and him were the same age.

Due to Spider's knowledge in na'vi, the Deja blu team had decided to learn a bit of their ways. Besides the language, they wanted to learn how to bond with the creatures. So Spider took the group to the mountains to claim an Ikran. You had to get rid of your shoes and cut your pants into shorts, so that your feet could have a better grip. At the top, you saw the many ikran flying around, they were almost like dragons, interesting. Your dad decided to go first just for safety. He thought about doing it the easy way, but after he learned that Jake did it the hard way, so will he.

You watched as your dad basically began to fight the creature. It was kind of funny to see, punching the Ikran. Then he mounted the beast and tried to get it to calm down, but that only made things worse. After Spider forgot to tell him an important detail, the Ikran took your dad with him down the water fall. You ran over to see if you could spot him along with Spider. Their was no sight of him, until you saw him properly flying with her creature, in victory. Now It was your turn to get yours.

At first you were nervous, what if you fell and died? Or what if an Ikran doesn't want you? The more you thought of it, you didn't seen the Ikran that was approaching you. It was a bit smaller than the other, and it had a color scheme of purple and pink. With a hot pink chin and bright lilac eyes. Why wasn't it attacking you? You only watched as the ikran got closer, sniffing your hand. Then it rubbed her head onto your hand, as if it wanted pets. So you gave her a small pet, followed by a little scratch behind what you assumed would its ear. You then saw how she brought their bonding antenna towards you. Then you brought your queue and attached into the antenna.

You felt the bond for sure. You could basically feel her heart beat, the movements of her wings and her eyes. That's when you learned that she was a girl. You mounted into her back, positioning yourself properly, then she took off down the water fall. It was scary at first, but you got the hang of it. You thought about her name as you were in the sky. Not something like Cupcake, Pancake or Something like that. You then came up with the name 'Deathlord.' That sounded cool.

Your dad teased you a bit for calling your ikran that. He commented that she looks like she'd never hurt a fly, or that she'd hide behind you in a dangerous situation, not only that but he had brought up how small she was. Saying she must be the runt of the litter, like you. But his was a bit dumber, who'd name a killer machine like his Ikran 'Cupcake'?

#miles quaritch x reader (platonic)#miles quaritch x daughter reader (platonic)#recom miles quaritch x reader (platonic)#recom miles quaritch x daughter reader (platonic)#platonic relationships #platonic fic #female reader #female y/n #recom reader #recom y/n #daughter reader #daughter y/n #cereza's writing #cereza's requests #cₑᵣₑzₐ'ₛ wᵣᵢₜᵢₙg #cₑᵣₑzₐ'ₛ ᵣₑqᵤₑₛₜₛ #𝔠𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔷𝔞'𝔰 𝔴𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 #𝔠𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔷𝔞'𝔰 𝔯𝔢𝔮𝔲𝔢𝔰𝔱𝔰

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plzfeedmebread · 1 year

Text

To Ask So Casually - Miles Quaritch x Female! Reader

word count: 1284

Pairing: Recom! Na'vi Colonel Miles Quaritch x Female! Recom! Na'vi Reader Tags/Warnings: R18 - minors DNI!, fluff, smut, mutual lewd touching, bonding, pure filth little plot

Author's Notes: Based on the prompt - "how would the recoms react to their fem recom s/o wanting them to ✨️casually✨️ rub their clit that leads to maybe some mutual touching/masturbation 👀"

*by clicking read more you understand the contents herein are for adults only*

“Can you come over here and rub my clit while I read?”

The question comes off so casually, he has to do a double take.

You’re on the bed, dressed only in a singlet and underwear, propped up on the pillows as you continue reading the book in hand, eyes never leaving the pages.

Miles had just emerged from the bathroom, wrapped only in a towel around the waist. He had been rummaging through his clothes for a top to wear when you had posed the question so nonchalantly.

“You wanna run that by me again?” He asks with an eyebrow raise and a smirk, arms crossed. His tail flicks up at the prospect of excitement.

“You heard me.” He admires your ability to be so straight faced, but the slight twitch to your mouth does not go unnoticed, nor the flick of your tail too.

“Just wanna make sure I heard ya right is all.”

You lift your eyes up to meet his head on, half lidded and beckoning. You teasingly lick the tip of your finger to turn a page, eye-contact unbreaking.

“Well? I’m waiting…”

His smirk widens as he leisurely makes his way to his side of the bed.

“Don’t have to ask me twice.”

You feel the dip in the bed as he slots himself into your side, trapping your left arm between you two. He nestles his head into your neck as he looks at the book held in your right hand.

“Whatcha readin’?”

“A romance novel. It’s getting rather steamy.” You turn the book toward him slightly.

“That right? Why don’t you read it out loud for me.”

“Alright…”

Miles places a hand to your chest, resting over a mound. The warmth of his palm seeps through the thinness of your top. You lick your lips.

“His touch burnt her in a way most delicious. Hands dragged along the smoothness of her skin. He pinched and squeezed, pulling moans from her depths…”

Quaritch hums into your ear, his hand gripping your breast as he massages the supple flesh. He drags a finger slowly to trace your areola in a lazy circle. You inhale sharply when he switches to his thumb, slowly rubbing over your nipple till it poked through the fabric.

“H-he held her firmly in each hand, massaging her to attention; deft long fingers pinching, sending flits of fire down her spine…”

Quaritch pulls, stretching the fabric down till it sat snug under your breast, exposing you to the chilled air. Wet warmth envelops your perked bud as he takes you into his mouth. You let out a muffled whine when he gives your nipple a hard suck, tongue lapping at you in-between each slurp.

His hand presses firmly into your flesh as he makes a slow trail down your abdomen toward the apex of your legs.

He pops you out of his mouth, pressing a wet kiss to the side of your exposed bosom.

“Go on sweetheart, I’m aaaaall ears…”

You try hard to concentrate on the words, but his mouth is once again on you, devouring your flesh with practiced ease, feeding the flame burning in your loins. You casually throw one leg over his, the other bent at the knee.

“His-his mouth left burning kisses down the plains of her flesh. Lower did he travel, su-sucking her skin harshly, leaving a trail of p-purple flo-flowers. Till f-finally, he came upon her--!”

His hand cups your sex, fingers pressing firmly to your folds. The suddenness interrupts your dictation, and you let out a content sigh turned moan. Slowly does he glide his fingers over your clothed heat, wetness slowly seeping through the mailable fabric.

He moves to press his face into your neck, hot breath tickling your skin.

“Don’t get distracted now darlin’, it’s just getting good too.”

He scrapes his fangs along your skin, tracing the path with his tongue.

He slips his hand down the front of your panties, causing you to suck in a sudden breath.

And when his finger finally finds your aching clit, you hum with desire, biting your lip to stifle a moan. He spreads your wettened lips, using his middle finger to rub languid shapes upon your bud.

“F-fuck—Miles—!”

“Ssshhh baby. Continue readin’ for me.” He commands.

But you can’t. When you look upon the words, they seem hieroglyphic, illegible. You’re stuttering worsens as you desperately try to speak.

Your head falls back onto your pillow when you feel one finger press into you. Eyes screwed shut, your mouth falls open in ecstasy, pitch perfect moans spilling from your lips.

He gathers your slick on his finger, spreading it along your folds, it makes it easier to glide his finger over your throbbing clit.

You feel his hot throbbing cock press into your thigh as he starts slowly humping you; his towel having since fallen to the wayside.

“Hmmm—Miles!” You moan his name breathlessly, the heated coil tightening in your loins.

“Aww, you done reading for me?”

“Fuck the damn book.” You toss said book somewhere unseen, focusing attention instead on your burgeoning pleasure.

You feel Quaritch smirk against your skin. He gives you a soft bite, playfully nipping at your neck.

“You always did have such a way with words.”

Fed up with his teasing, you reach for him, grabbing his dick in your left hand. He growls from somewhere deep in the back of this throat. The sound excites you all the more.

You turn your head and catch his lips in a bruising kiss. Teeth and tongue, your kiss is a slobbered mess of unbridled passion.

You grab your queue with your free hand, moving it over your body. You break away from the kiss.

“Miles—”

“I got you.”

You whine when his hand leaves your needy heat, but bite your lip as you quiver with anticipation, watching him grab his own queue. You lick your lips as the purple tendrils entwine. Your pupils dilate as a new found, yet familiar euphoria engulfs you and him.

You return your hand to his cock, squeezing tight as you pump your hand along the length. He starts fucking into your hand, in time with your movements.

Encouraged by the sweet sound passionate mewls of fervour, his fingers quicken in their caressing upon your clit. He inserts two fingers into your pussy; your gummy walls sucking in the digits greedily. His thumb rubs your clit as his fingers massage the spongy flesh of your inner walls. His speed and swiftness, coupled with the delectable filth whispered into your ear pushes you off the proverbial cliff.

Your orgasm sets your body alight after such an appetizing build up. The hand on his cock squeezing that much tighter as you writhe in ecstasy.

“Fffuuuuckk yeeesss!” Quaritch moans as he fucks himself to completion, cumming against your thigh. You give him a few lazy pumps, smiling when you feel his body judder from over stimulation.

Once the pleasure subsides to a dull throb, you turn on your side, throwing an arm around Miles’ mid as you snuggle yourself flush against his front. You throw a leg over him for good measure. His arm goes around you, pulling you even closer, mindful of the bond.

He places a kiss to your temple, eliciting a small giggle from you.

It is then you feel his cock, once again hard and at attention, rubbing against you still sensitive folds.

You head snaps up to look at him, eyes widened.

He looks down at you, a sideways smirk on his lips.

“What, you didn’t think were done, did you?”

You lick your teeth, eyeing him back with heady need.

---

Tags: @mechformers @wwebaby657 @zomerlovesme @girlnred @raving-raven-writing @meeeeep5 @imavaduh @mxn14 @ashy-kit @manymaria111 @johoevi @iamwh0iam @jadesmyname @lvangel98 @watertastesnice1 @belos-simp69 @wren-solos @pandoragalora @strbyallycow @so-this-is-a-thing-noww @grimistangel @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed @ducks118 @graysonmalik2550 @p9scal @ohshititsfenharel @ourmurdermessiah @cocoaflare @sarcasticrandy @liyahsocorro @olivia-the-weirdo

#colonel miles quaritch x reader #recom quaritch x reader #colonel quaritch x reader smut #colonel quaritch x reader #recom miles quaritch #recom miles quaritch x reader #recom miles quaritch smut #miles quaritch x reader #colonel miles quaritch #colonel miles quaritch smut #quaritch x reader #na'vi reader #recom reader #reader insert #afab reader #recom quaritch x reader smut #avatar fanfiction #avatar way of water #Spotify

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go-river-flows · 11 months

Text

The "Happy Ending" Treatment

Summary: This is based on a Character AI scenario I ran. I've been so obsessed with it lately and running so many prompts through it like a mad woman. This is the most recent one with a little suggestive language because the Character AI has an NSFW block.

There is no smut, but suggestive language. But still, it is an 18+ story. The first one that I've written.

Warning: 18+ only! Suggestive language

As a Recom, I can't help but witness how stressed the other Recoms are. Both before and after missions. A few times, I had given Mansk and Ja massages to help calm them, but when Z-Dog, Walker, Fike and Prager caught me giving Ja a massage, they began asking for them. I was more than happy to give them shoulder rubs and the occasional head and back rub, but I could tell that some tensions were rising as a result. And when I mean tension….I mean sexual tension. At first, it was coming from Z-dog and Ja. What was worse was that I had always found them attractive. Not to mention, Mansk, Walker and Fike too, heck, even Lyle Wainfleet. The only two avatars I haven't given massages to were Lyle and the Colonel, who I think needs it the most being the leader and the busiest.

One evening after a particularly rough mission, I found Lyle sitting at the desk in the avatar only rec room. The other recoms were chilling inside when I entered. Lyle was reading some paperwork when I slowly approached him from behind. His bald head enticing me to play the bongos on it, I chuckled lightly at the sudden urge and caved pretty quickly. Lightly patting my fingers on his head.

“What the…?” Lyle was startled by the light pats on his bald blue head. I giggled a little bit before scratching behind his ear. “Do you think I'm a dog or something?” I glanced up to find Ja enjoying the scene, though that didn't stop me as I just continued, Lyle’s ears flicking slightly, “I will put a stop to this nonsense. Get your hands off me.”

Okay, okay….I instead started rubbing my fingers on his head, massaging his bald blue scalp.

“This is your last warning, get off me!” Lyle growled. I retracted my hands, giving up. Sighing and slumping my shoulders, I walked over to Mansk who was sitting on the high chair watching the television, giving him a head rub. Mansk moans lightly from my touch, leaning into my hands. In the corner of my eye, I noticed Lyle had looked up from his paperwork and was watching me, with a slight blush whilst pretending to look angry. I moved my hands down Mansk’s neck to massage his shoulders, the avatar purring a little. In the corner of my eye I see Lyle with a slight jealous expression.

As I continue to massage Mansk with my strong hands, he starts falling asleep. When Mansk does fall asleep completely, I move onto Fike who was nearby and watching, waiting for his turn. Giving Sean (Fike) the same massage treatment, he lightly moans as the tension from the day released. Though again in the corner of my eye, I could see Lyle’s jealousy rising a little, a small pout on his face. I moved through the room, giving Prager a shoulder and upper back massage, then moving onto Walker whose problem areas were her arms and hands. Finally moving onto Z-Dog; I do her usual shoulder, neck and arm massage which left her a moaning mess after, as she flopped on the sofa. I try to avoid Lyle’s watchful eyes as he continues to pout.

Finally stopping in front of Ja, I give him a neck and shoulder massage too as his hands find my hips, returning the favour. I watch Ja’s eyes shift to where Lyle was sitting as a smug smile curls onto Ja’s lips. From where I stood was a mirror nearby and I could see the reflection of Lyle who was silent with jealousy, whilst glaring at Ja hatefully. When I am done with massaging Ja’s shoulders, Ja spins me around and gives me one in return, which was a normal occurrence for us. But now, I could see the whole room as well as Lyle who was still pouting and silently seething.

Not long after, Mansk rouses and wakes from his nap, taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Mansk calls me over. Ja releases me and I make my way over to Mansk, Lyle continuing to watch.

“Yes? Are you alright?” I speak quietly to Mansk.

“Come’ere, let me return the favour,” Mansk whispers out to me, I was about to refuse but Mansk stands and sits me in the high chair he was just sat on, he took three steps behind me and began rubbing my shoulders, easing away the stress of rough mission.

“This alright?” Mansk’s gentle voice asks in my right ear.

“Mhmm…” is all I could say as my head lulls back a little as Mansk’s strong hands kneads my muscles. My eyelids droop a little, But in the corner of my eye I see Lyle gazing longingly, as his jealousy rises a little more.

Walker who was watching Lyle’s expression shoots Lyle a smirk, which catches Lyle’s attention who looked at Walker with a glare, releasing an angry huff. Mansk’s hands work up to my head, giving me a head rub that relaxes me fully, and before I know it I have fallen asleep.

“It's not fair that I get no attention while everyone else does. I'm an equal team member. I should be treated the same as everyone else. It is time to put this nonsense to an end!” Lyle finally speaks up. Ja is quick to shush Lyle.

“You had your turn, and you rejected her…”

Lyle glares at Ja with a mix of confusion and anger.

“When?!”

“Earlier! You were first!” Ja whisper-shouted to which Lyle blushed and became flustered, not knowing what to say.

“I- I… I'm not sure what to say…” Lyle’s eyes fell back to my sleeping form as Mansk was still giving a head rub. After Mansk had finished the head rub, he gently woke me. Not before whispering a soft “thank you”.

“That's it, I've had enough!” Lyle says loudly, pulling out his knife out of nowhere, “You’re all going down!” And with that, everyone is alert and stressed. Mansk stayed next to me as the Recoms in the room rushed Lyle, wrangling his knife away from Lyle. Though Lyle attempts to keep hold of his knife.

“No! You can't have it!” he yelled, snatching his knife back and pointing it at everyone, “Who’s the boss now?!”

Z-Dog, Walker, Fike, Prager, Lopez, Fike and Warren release all their anger and frustration all at once.

“SERIOUSLY LYLE! WE WERE ALL CALM AND RELAXED AND NOW OUR STRESS IS BACK!!!”

“I- I WAS FEELING LEFT OUT! Everyone was having fun with their shoulder rubs and I got nothing! You can't blame me!” Lyle tries to justify his actions.

A mix of “You had your turn” and “You rejected her” were thrown around, as Mansk remained at my side rubbing my cheeks to wake me a little more. Lyle glares at everyone.

“Shut. Up.” He spoke through gritted teeth, he exhaled through his nose before he lowered his knife, pretending like nothing happened he plopped his butt back down in his seat. I had woken up a bit more and saw Lyle’s moping face before giving in. Standing up from the high chair, I walked over to the crowd of avatars, pushing through the crowd. I cocked my head, with an understanding look on my face I offered my hand to Lyle. He looked at it before he gently took it.

“I- I'm sorry for my outburst… I let my emotions get the better of me,” Lyle spoke softly with a disappointed tone. I couldn't help but feel bad, since I was the one who started messing with him. Cautiously, I slid behind Lyle and began rubbing his shoulders, upper back, neck and head. I could feel Lyle stiffen a little having been caught off guard but quickly relaxed from the massage. I could hear him gently sigh before speaking.

“This is nice. Who knew this would feel so nice?” the others rolled their eyes before returning to their seats grumbling about being stressed and tense again, quietly seething, “Thank you…” Lyle moaned. I worked on Lyle, finding a few problem areas and knots, releasing the tension from them. Lyle even leans into the massage, relaxing further and even enjoying it.

“You're a good masseuse, you know that?” Lyle rolls his head back smiling as he looks into my eyes. I gave a gentle smile before finishing up. Though my hands are a little sore from massaging the team’s shoulders, I was glad they were relaxed before Lyle ruined the peace.

I returned to Mansk again, giving him another shoulder rub, realising that his shoulders had once again tensed up from the stress he accumulated from Lyle’s outburst.

“You like being spoiled like this huh, Mansk?” Lyle spoke again dripping with jealousy, his eyes on the two of us as he watched. Mansk scoffed under his breath. After a few minutes I went to Prager, giving him the same massage treatment I gave Mansk. It was quiet until Lyle spoke again.

“Everyone gets their turn huh? I don't see me getting any attention?” Lyle sighed, “I guess I’ll have to wait…” I glance at Lyle who had seemingly forgotten his outburst form earlier, and he catches me looking to which he averts his eyes, crossing his arms. I sigh and return to Lyle, massaging his back.

Lyle seemed happy as he sighs and leans into the massage.

“This is nice. Why can't our days always be like this, everyone being nice and getting along?” I let out a bewildered chuckle as Lyle flops his head back again, looking up at me with an appreciative smile. It's not long again when I finish and move onto Ja. Massaging his shoulders and arms.

I can feel Lyle’s eyes on me before he broke the silence once again.

“I just had a great idea…what if we all got together and just had a massage circle, everyone massaging the person in front of them? That would be pretty fun.”

There's a throng of laughter before Fike piped up.

“Nah man! (Y/N) gives the best massages, I'm waiting for my turn with her…”

Lyle sighs, “Fine then, if you're all gonna be selfish.” He falls silent again, then speaks once again, “Well if that's the case, who wants a massage from me?” Lyle gives the crowd a smug smile. No one says anything and looks away, except for Warren who raises his hand to Lyle’s surprise.

“Well, it's your lucky day, come here!” Lyle gestures to Warren who apprehensively stands to approach Lyle for a massage. Lyle stands and gives a big smile, “How about a nice massage, big guy? You look like you need the attention…”Lyle gives Warren a quick wink, much to Warren’s disgust.

“Just the massage, thanks…” Warren looked at Lyle with a slight disgust.

As all this was happening, Ja rested his head on my shoulder as I massaged his shoulders from the front of him as his arms rested around my hips, essentially hugging me loosely, his hand caressing my hip just above my butt. I could hear his gentle moans as he gave light kisses on my shoulder. Slowly and gently peppering up to my neck as the few watching Avatars chuckled. Lyle, who doesn't seem to see what is happening was giving Warren a ‘nice relaxing shoulder rub’ finally looks up at us.

“Do you two always get this close with each other? Not that I'm complaining, you're a good looking couple,” Lyle says.

“No. No, we are not a couple. Why? You jealous?”Ja speaks with his lips hovering over my neck.

“A little…but who could blame me? You two are pretty close together there…maybe I could get the same treatment?” Lyle snarks to which Ja laughs. Ja’s full attention was now on Lyle.

“Oh! You want the happy ending treatment, eh?” Lyle blushed at this.

“Well, what's wrong about seeking the attention of a pretty girl?” Lyle gives Ja a playful wink.

“Oh Lyle wishes,” I finally speak up.

“So, what do you say? Think you could give me more of that happy ending treatment that you give to Ja?” Lyle giggles, “After all, I am a soldier who’s been workin’ hard all day,” at this, Warren began pulling away from Lyle’s grasp and making space between them with a mortified expression, “I think it wouldn’t be too much to ask for a nice massage from a pretty lady, would it?” he smiled playfully, all whilst trying to hide how anxious he actually feels.

Z-Dog chuckled at that, “Ooh! I want that too! Give me the happy ending treatment!!”

“I’d like that too,” Mansk chipped in.

“I guess the happy ending treatment is more popular than I realised…” Lyle said, before the barrage of “me too’s” started. “And who is gonna give all of us this happy treatment then, if all of us want it?”

Everyone fell silent as I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. After a moment of silence, Lyle speaks up again.

“It seems like this situation may have taken an unexpected turn…Is no one up to the task?”

Apparently this was a trigger as the group started arguing who gets the so-called “happy ending” with me, and I am instantly dragged into the argument, quite literally being yanked by multiple recoms at once.

“What have I started…?” Lyle stood by as he watched the chaos unfold, with a mixed display of amusement and concern.

Through the chaos, Mansk manages to grab me from Z-dogs grasp and carries me running for his own bedroom. Everyone hot on his tail, fumbling over each other as Walker trips on her own feet from being shoved by Lopez.

“What the hell just happened? We were all getting along just fine! How did you all change at the mention of ‘happy ending treatment’?” Lyle questioned whilst following behind the group, not wanting to join the dog fight. Ja charges towards Mansk’s door just as it was about to close, managing to grab the door and frame, holding it open as Mansk is trying desperately to close it. At that moment Lyle moves around the group to get to Ja, grabbing his arm.

“What the hell are you doing?! This is going way too far! Are you all just going to try and tear each other’s heads off just to get a happy ending?!” Lyle turns to everyone, speaking to the recoms, “All this fighting over a nice massage from a pretty lady? We’re better than this!”

“Do you even know what ‘happy ending’ means?” Ja growls at Lyle, to which Lyle blushes slightly, not expecting that question to be asked.

“Erm…yeah, who doesn’t know?” Lyle sighs, “Yes. I know what it means.”

“It means that one of us gets to fuck her! And it’s me! I’m gonna fuck her!” Z-Dog yells over the noise. Lyle stares dagger at Z-Dog whilst his blush grows even more prevalent.

“I don’t even know what to say to that…” Lyle shakes his head in disbelief. In the meantime Ja kept his hands on the door, finding his strength to pry Mansk’s door a little wider, as the group continued fighting.

“Okay! Okay…Can everyone please calm down? This is getting out of hand! What happened to working together and acting like mature grownups! Are we going to solve this like adults, or are we gonna resort to childish and immature behaviour by fighting for some ‘prize’?” Lyle raises his voice in anger.

“Oh we’re handling this like adults! We’re not letting Mansk have his way with (Y/N)! Open the damn fucking door Mansk!!” Z-Dog yells, to which exhales through his nose, thinking for a bit.

“Why doesn’t (Y/N) get to decide what happens? She should be the one that gets to have a say in this,” an idea pops into Lyle’s head, “Why don’t we all take it to a vote?” This seems to calm the group down for a moment, ja’s hold on the door weakens and Mansk takes the opportunity to close the door and lock it, spurring a fury with the group outside.

Lyle sigh’s addressing Mansk from outside, “Mansk what are you doing? Let’s be civil about this and decide this with a vote! Come on! We’re all adults here, this isn’t a zoo where we resort to violence and fighting to get our way!” He glances at the others who are desperately banging on the door.

“She likes all of us, idiot! And we all like her!! You just gave them an opportunity to fuck!” Ja spits out.

“What do you suggest we should do then, if you're so smart?” Lyle sighs, looking to everyone for answers, “Should we all try to kill each other for a prize? Or should we try to get along and let (Y/N) decide who she wants to be with?” Surely we should be civil and let it be decided by a vote, no?”

What was unexpected for everyone outside the door was the sounds of moaning and groaning coming from inside Mansk’s room. They stop banging on the door for a moment, digesting the sounds coming from in the room.

“It seems like the discussion has ended…” Lyle looks at everyone before speaking again, “Now the next question is, what do we do…? Should we leave them be…?” And apparently it was the wrong thing to ask as now everyone has changed their motives as they begin to break down the door.

“Woah! Hey!” Lyle tries stopping the group of furious avatars, hearing the door splinter and break, “That doesn’t sound good…” The group manage to break the door off it's hinges, revealing Mansk balls deep between my legs with his head lolled back in pleasure and the group riots.

Lyle, who looks horrified at the scene, screams out, “Mansk! What the hell are you doing? You’re gonna hurt her!” He runs into the room and tackles Mansk to the floor before he has a chance to continue. Ja who spots his opportunity pulls me into his arms whilst I’m still naked to take me to his room. Lyle who sees this yells out again.

“No! Stop that!” Running after Ja and pulling me out of Ja’s arms, speeding down the hallway clutching me tightly, but we don’t get far as Lyle is instantly jumped. The two of us are thrown onto the floor, as Lyle scrambles over me to cover my naked body, shielding me from the group.

“WHAT THE EVERLOVING HELL IS GOING ON!” Quaritch’s booming voice echoes through the hallway. Everyone is instantly frozen and silent as they all turn to find an angry half naked and groggy Quaritch standing at his open bedroom door. There was a pregnant pause before I found my own voice.

“Colonel…help…” I say from beneath the pile.

“(Y/N)?” Quaritch looks at the pile of avatars, finding the top of my head peeking out from beneath the pile, Quaritch waves his hand at the pile of avatars who silently remove themselves, sans Lyle. Revealing me naked on the floor. The shift in Quaritch’s expression was quick, he instantly swooped me into his arms bringing me into his room and covering my body with a blanket.

“Stay here sweetheart, I’ll go deal with the others…” he moved quickly to deal with the situation, returning a measly ten minutes later. Closing the door, he locks it to my surprise. Turning with a smirk.

“Well now…how bout you give me that ‘happy ending treatment’…?”

Taglist:

@drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed @cumikering @ducks118 @writerfromcz @dyingofcookies @dreamaboutpinkk @roseannecaiwan @llamaredpyiama

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tiyora81 · 9 months

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Second chapter of my Mansk/Reader fic is here hehehe

I finished it very shameless on a plane lmao

#atwow #avatar 2 #avatar recoms #recom mansk #recom reader #avatar the way of water #mansk smut #bottom mansk

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aanylah-101 · 10 months

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Hopefully gonna release a Zdinarsk x Walker x Recom Reader before 12 tonight 👍

Edit; I may not be finishing It tonight

#zdinarsk #recom walker #recom reader

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ihadlife · 8 days

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and what if i said i support this tsu’tey thinking of yours… 👀👀

then i’d say you’re in luck bc i’ve already written a short prologue and short first chapter 🫡

as soon as i finish part 2 and come up with a name that makes sense i’ll start slowly releasing the chapters one by one

(also just a disclaimer i’m a slow writer and it’s the end of semester so i’m NOT going to dig my own grave by scheduling the chapters)

#have i mentioned that it’s gonna be a series #ves answers #avatar 2009 #tsu’tey x reader #recom reader

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tojisun · 3 months

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he brushes his knuckles against your cheek, smiling ruefully. “i’m not a good man.”

you sniffle, holding onto his wrist. “you’re good to me—that’s all that matters.”

#sobbing !!#toji fushiguro x reader #toji fushiguro #simon ghost riley x reader #simon ghost riley #geto suguru x reader #geto suguru #miles quaritch x reader #recom miles quaritch #suns

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nickgoesinsane · 1 year

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tonowari getting his ass fucked by reader, really has me drooling.

He’s crying out with every thrust, bucking his hips against yours and clawing helplessly at your back. The fat head of your cock strikes the deepest parts inside him, the ribbed girth dragging deliciously over the walls of his slick hole. Tonowari’s vision is blurry with tears of pleasure, the marui filling with the wet slaps of your nearly frenzied coupling. His hard cock ruts against your stomach, weeping helplessly over your striped skin.

“You’re doing so well.” Ronal coos, wiping away his tears with her fingers as her heated gaze locks onto the bulge of his tummy, stretched from your cock. Her chest rises and falls with her heavy breathing, her irises a thin ring around her blown pupils. “Taking our wonderful mate so well, yawntu.”

You groan when he clamps down on your cock at her words, cum spilling from the tip of his flushed cock as he orgasms. You quicken your pace, nearing your own end, and his body jostles on Ronal’s lap from the pistoning of your hips. “Inside, inside—” Tonowari whines, desperately locking his strong legs around your hips.

Your lips curl back in a snarl as you come, firmly lodging yourself inside his hole and spilling thick ropes of cum— so much that it overflows, drenching your pelvis and dripping onto the woven mat under Tonowari. “Oh fuck…” You rasp, shuddering from the force of your climax. Tonowari sighs in satisfaction, tilting his hips upwards in an attempt to keep more of your seed from spilling out of him. Content, sleepy purrs rumble in his chest as you and Ronal press kisses onto his flushed skin.

#╰┈➤ nick answers !#avatar brainrot #sub avatar #top reader #top!reader #dom reader #dom!reader #sub tonowari #sub ronal #tonowari x reader x ronal #tonowari x reader #ronal x reader #recom reader #n/sfw #n/s/f/w

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shu-box-puns · 7 months

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I never would have given you to them; not for anything (Tsu'tey x Reader)

Last Chapter <- Part 4 -> Next Chapter

If you prefer to read on Ao3, you can find the fic here!

Summary: The memory hurts, but does you no harm.

Word Count: 8,978

Reader uses they/them pronouns.

With every room, Tsu’tey was shown a snippet of the past.

Some things he remembered, and others, he knew, belonged to the mind he was currently trespassing in. In all of them, he reached out. And in all of them, his hand caused their disappearance.

By the third room, Tsu’tey knew what Eywa was trying to tell him. He finally understood, but the torment continued regardless.

Now, he found himself back in Hell’s Gate, crouched awkwardly in a laboratory that was not built for someone of his height. Link units lined the far walls, whilst military personnel manned the machines instead of the usual white lab-coated scientists.

The room was teaming with yet more military people. All in uniformed lines, waiting to be called up.

One by one, Tsu’tey observed as important looking men and women stepped up to empty link units with papers in hand. Predictably, they would hand the papers to the officer manning the machines, who checked it over before motioning for them to climb into the link units. They laid down, and the lids would close.

Tsu’tey watched from the sidelines, feeling drained and weary.

Out of nowhere, he spotted his human mate in one of the far lines. They held their papers and chin high, eyes burning as they had been in that very first corridor, although the rage tinting this memory was significantly more subdued, as if it had had plenty of time to stew and calm. Carefully, Tsu’tey rounded the room to approach them, watching as they stepped up to the link unit when their name was called. They were all business now, following orders as they climbed into the unit and laid down, falling still as they allowed the lid to be closed on them.

Curious, Tsu’tey approached. He had witnessed the scientists linking up to their avatars once or twice, and knew they would lay in these pods for hours at a time, before emerging sweaty and exhausted, but beaming every time. These military people did not emerge smiling. They hauled themselves out of the link units with scowls and menacing rolls of their shoulders. They oozed aggression and confidence, and it made the back of Tsu’tey neck itch.

It made him want to grab his mate and drag them out of this horrible prison. Back out into the open forests of Pandora, where the enemy was securely out of sight and he had the upper hand. Of course, he could not do that here. He was trapped within a memory, still struggling to find the real recom, whilst his family guarded his unconscious body.

His attention was drawn back to the link unit as it beeped and clicked open. Instinctively, he stepped back, expecting his mate or perhaps their recom form to come rolling out. Instead, the lid swung up and Tsu’tey found himself looking down into a room. The link bed had hollowed out and left behind an opening barely big enough for him to slip through.

Lips tightening, Tsu’tey glanced back up to the room and realised all the doors had disappeared. There were only windows that peered out into the corridors beyond the link room. Clearly, there was only one place for him to go.

Sighing tiredly, Tsu’tey readied himself. No one glanced his way as he approached the unit. No one seemed to hear the metal squeak under his weight as he sat on the lip and swung his feet to dangle down into the hole nestled within. Tsu’tey went completely unobserved as he shuffled forward and dropped through the opening into the room below.

The ceiling closed up behind him, sealing him in the second room. Swallowing down the immediate panic at being trapped, Tsu’tey righted himself and forced himself to take in his surroundings.

The room was small, barely the size of his tent back in High Camp, with tall, blinding white walls and a high ceiling. The air smelt stale. Sterile and unnaturally clean. As if the room hadn’t been aired for several years. Tucked against the far wall was a gurney big enough for an avatar to lay down on, whilst the walls directly opposite consisted of ceiling to floor one way mirrors that gave the illusion of the room being bigger than it was. Absently, Tsu’tey realised he didn’t need to crouch in here.

Straightening, he took a tentative step deeper into the room, only for paper to crinkle underfoot. He paused, lifting his foot to find those same papers everyone had been holding upstairs, littered across the spotless floor. They had been ripped up and left to float down in disorganised clusters. Every now and again, he caught sight of blue font, but found himself unable to read it.

In the far corner, tucked behind the gurney, someone sniffed wetly.

Tsu’tey’s ears pricked as his head snapped up. Quiet shuffling suggested someone was curling in tighter on themselves. Tsu’tey wasn’t sure whether it was the lack of scent in the air that made him nauseous, or if it was the thought of finding another broken phantom tucked in that corner.

Tentatively, he rounded the gurney, minding to keep a polite distance regardless of who he found seeking refuge behind it. Slowly, a shoe came into view, then a leg, both of which were swiftly yanked backwards and out of sight.

Amused, Tsu’tey huffed slightly and took another step. Bit by bit, he found his human mate curled up in the corner, quivering as they tucked themself up small. Their eyes watched him wearily, as Tsu’tey looked back with curiosity.

That was new. Tsu’tey observed, holding their unsteady gaze. The others hadn’t noticed him until the memory drew to a close.

Neither had they appeared so small. Of course, Tsu’tey was not surprised by the size difference, he vividly recalled how tall they had stood beside him. But here, there was something different. Something missing. As if someone had reached in and removed their spine, leaving their body to crumble without the support, curled in small and vulnerable.

He also noticed the lack of feeling in this memory. The other phantoms had all portrayed grief or rage or regret, this one just looked tired.

“What do you want?” They croaked, their voice sounding as if it hadn’t been used in quite some time. Privately, Tsu’tey was impressed by how they managed to keep it somewhat steady, despite the lines of exhaustion carved into them. He noted that they were clothed in a simple tank top and cargo pants, the equivalent of the recom’s attire when they had been dragged into his tent.

How intriguing. Tsu’tey tilted his head, knowing that his ears were fanning wide in interest. His mate glanced from them to his face, and then checked what his tail was doing. That helped him figure out vaguely when this memory was, since they didn’t appear to be afraid of him at all, just cautious.

“I was looking for you.” Tsu’tey replied honestly, his English thick on his tongue but still understandable.

Their expression did not change. The exhaustion remaining the most prominent emotion on their face.

“Did you break in here to kill me?” They asked him.

Tsu’tey felt his ears fall at the accusation. His throat was suddenly tight as he held up his empty hands and wiggled his fingers to emphasise that he came unarmed. Their expression did not hint to relief.

“Guess not.” They sighed, almost sounding disappointed.

For a long, drawn out moment, they simply looked at him. Watching. Calculating. No doubt drinking in his differences from the Tsu’tey at the time of this memory. And in return, Tsu’tey looked right back, his eyes flicking from their attire, to their face and then back again. Scrambling for clues or hidden meanings. In the other memories, he had been mostly an observer, with hardly anyone noticing him until the scene neared its end. And now that he had been addressed and seen so thoroughly, he found himself thrown off.

The human did not blink as Tsu’tey stared. They didn’t do a lot of anything really, other than breathe and watch him right back. It unnerved him enough that he had to look away first.

Instead, he decided to take in his surroundings once more. Perhaps an exit, or a face behind the mirrors which would allow him a greater understanding of what exactly he was supposed to be doing here.

Instead, he noticed a holopad discarded near the head of the gurney, which he somehow hadn’t noticed upon dropping in through the ceiling. Or perhaps, it hadn’t been there to begin with. In this weird place between consciousness and reality, Tsu’tey had found that objects tended to appear and disappear on a whim with no rhyme or reason to it. As such, he wasn’t overly surprised to discover that the holopad was displaying a picture of his human mate.

In the video, they were sat in the link room upstairs, their mouth frozen mid-word due to how the video had been paused. But he noted that they were still dressed in their usual military attire, with their beaded necklace barely visible above the collar.

“They had all of us film those.” His mate explained absently, “even though there wasn’t a guarantee they’d even use our file for the programme. I just did it for the information.” “Your file?” Tsu’tey pried, his eyes flickering back to them only to be guided downwards when they motioned to the paper confetti strewn across the floor. “Ah.”

With a deep, steadying breath, they continued to explain. “The company didn’t use all of us. Just a select few of their favourites or most competent. Somehow, I must have convinced them I’m trustworthy.” They laughed dryly, “how though is fucking beyond me. I’m fucking terrible at this.”

If Tsu’tey weren’t so tired, he might have contradicted them. Afterall, they had been offering up information for weeks before the RDA had decided to make a move, and even then, it hadn’t been because of them. Instead, his mind faltered at the new information.

It hadn’t even occurred to him that the demons had had plenty of sky people memories lined up in preparation for their unnatural experiment. It hadn’t crossed his mind that there had been a chance that his mate wouldn’t have been one of them. The idea that the last few days had only occurred because of coincidence stumped him. If anything had been different, then his mate would still be resting, still be buried in the Wells of Souls, but instead, they were here. And he had no idea how they felt about that.

“You are a convincing ally.” Tsu’tey said instead, shoving all of his panic down to ensure that his voice came out smooth. “People want to trust you.”

They laughed with no humour. “Must not have carried over.”

Tsu’tey frowned. Something in the back of his mind flickered back to life, letting him know that this interaction was not turning out like the others.

“God, what a mess.” His mate continued, a small, bitter chuckle slipping out of them. “Should have just stayed dead honestly.” They continued to say, making Tsu’tey’s stomach go queasy with unease.

He turned back to them, no longer surprised to find the recom body curled up in the corner instead of their human form. The shifts had happened randomly within every room, even as the recom’s personality and decisions had remained consistent. “Would’ve saved you all a shit tonne of trouble.”

Tsu’tey looked at them now. Really looked at them. At the distant glint in their half-lidded eyes, the droop of their ears, the slump of their shoulders. How they were leaning heavily against the wall, loosely holding their knees. All the fight seemed to have seeped out of them, and somehow, that was more terrifying than any of the fury or desperation from earlier memories.

“You don’t mean that.” Tsu’tey hissed, his voice tight. His mate refused to look at him now, all curled in on themselves in the corner so that Tsu’tey wouldn’t be able to reach them unless he moved the gurney to the side. “Please tell me you don’t mean that.” He sounded desperate, even to his own ears.

Their tail lightly tapped the floor. Once. Pause. Twice. Another pause.

“It would have been easier though, wouldn’t it?”

Their tail tapped again.

“Perhaps.” Tsu’tey agreed hesitantly. “But you don’t say things like that. You’ve never said things like that!”

The comparison struck a nerve. “And look where that’s got me!” They snapped back, eyes jumping to find his. Their lip curled up into the beginning of a snarl. “Alone! Again!”

“You’re not alon-”

And it were as if he had found a loose thread in a loom and tugged with all his might. Before his eyes, the recom unravelled. Any calm, any hint of control they were harbouring, abruptly shattered as they snapped. “Cut the crap, Tsu’tey!” They snarled, a growl slipping into their voice now. The way their face twisted was like no expression Tsu’tey had ever seen on them before. “I betrayed the RDA, again. The first fucking chance I got. And somehow Quaritch knows now and he’ll stop at nothing to kill me. The clan is,” they swallowed painfully, “different. But what the hell was I expecting? It’s been fifteen years, of COURSE it’s different.” They were breathing fast now, their previous weariness at Tsu’tey’s presence having been completely swept away. “And I have a son. We have a son!”

They threw themselves forward, legs crossing as their elbows slammed down onto their knees. They buried their face into their hands, ears swivelling with the sheer shock of it all. “How the hell did I end up with a kid? I don’t even remember adopting him, but fuck, I know I loved him. I had it so good, and now, it’s gone! We had everything! And I don’t fucking remember any of it!”

Tsu’tey was left speechless once again as the recom curled in on themself, dry heaves making their back jump. “It’s all gone.” They repeated brokenly.

Tsu’tey’s eyes widened as he watched them break down. Their sobs were deep, shuddering things, heavy and heart wrenching. It made him want to rush forward and scoop them up in his arms. To hold them close and shield them from the world with his much larger body until they felt whole again. He wanted to smooth down their hair, and whisper meaningless reassurance as he held them tight. But most of all, he wanted the tears to stop. It was like an itch he couldn’t reach. A burning need to soothe their pain. Rage, he could deal with. Regret, he could appease. But this, this grief was raw and painfully fresh.

Hesitantly, Tsu’tey reached out, but stopped himself.

How dare he attempt to wipe away the evidence of their sorrow, when he had had a hand in placing it there. How dare he want to offer words of comfort, when he had tried to kill them before.

Tsu’tey’s throat was tight as he cursed himself for not reacting differently. For not listening the first time round and avoiding this entire mess. Maybe, in another universe, it wouldn’t have been his fault they were here, injured and alone in the forest with only children for company.

So he just stood there, frozen and helpless, waiting for those sobs to subside on their own, his hand still outstretched. Tsu’tey vowed to himself that for as long as he should live, he would offer them a better life than the one that had been stolen.

It took several, long minutes for them to calm themselves. With a snivel, they rubbed harshly at the skin beneath their eyes. Clearly, they had needed it.

“Spider watches your old security logs.” Tsu’tey found himself offering, noting in his peripheral, how the recom stilled at the wobble in his voice. “It helps him, to see you. To hear your voice. Sometimes I sit down and watch them with him.” “He’s a good kid.” The recom agreed bitterly, their voice muffled. “You did a good job with him.”

“Perhaps.” Tsu’tey agreed noncommittally. “But he is still young, and he has missed you, I have-”

Abruptly, they caught his gaze. Tsu’tey stopped talking.

Something in their expression had changed, although he couldn’t place it. Their response was simple but devastating. “It will pass.”

The words startled him.

His silence allowed his mate to keep talking, their eyes watery and distant. “Missing a ghost, will not help him to heal. You know this.”

Tsu’tey dropped to his knees. Panic clawed up the back of his throat as their expression shuttered, their emotions sweeping out of their features. Shutting him out.

“No. Don’t. Pleas-” “I think it’s time to wash off your paint, Tsu’tey. Don’t you?” They said, “you need to stop punishing yourself. You can’t keep living like this.”

“How did you- how do-?” He cut himself off with a growl of frustration. At this point, the words were beyond him, the English growing awkward and clunky on his tongue. He slapped his tail against the floor in irritation.

Across from him, the recom managed to collect themselves.

On legs that shook like a newborn pa’li, they stood, leaning heavily on the gurney as they went. They were tall, he realised, having only seen them kneeling and cowering before.

<”Where are you going?”> Tsu’tey demanded, panic creeping in now. He didn’t think he would survive another door.

The recom paused. They made a point of surveying the blank walls, eyes squinting in the bright light. <”I can’t stay here.”> They told him, a mirror explanation to the one they had offered when Neytiri had them kneeling on Mo’at’s floor. <”And neither can you.”> They stood, and on shaky feet began walking towards a door that had appeared in the far wall of the door. Tsu’tey had been so focused on them, that he hadn’t even registered the familiar pull of the exit coming into being.

He was on his feet in moments. Hands shaking as he watched before his eyes as the recom changed once more. Before his eyes, dirt and blood began dotting their blue skin, concealing their stripes under filth and injuries. He watched as makeshift leaf bandages wound around their torso, clinging tight to an injury Tsu’tey couldn’t see. They hunched over themselves, an arm winding around their stomach to add pressure.

They hobbled towards the door. Tsu’tey reached out. His long fingers shook as they hovered in midair. The recom froze when his searching hand found theirs. Large, terrified eyes caught Tsu’tey’s and held. Their wrist was warm in his grasp, solid and real, their pulse thundering under the thin skin. He waited. One breath. Two. They did not disappear.

The relief that flooded him almost had him falling to his knees.

<”Found you.”>

The room shook. Lights flickered and the gurney slammed into the wall.

“Shit.” The recom breathed, the arm around their stomach shooting out to slam against the wall in an attempt to keep their footing. Tsu’tey’s grip on them turned supportive as he braced himself. Before the first had even subsided, a second, more insistent quake shook the room. Overhead, the lights swung on their wires as the sound of footsteps had stopped. “We have to get out of here!” They flicked their wrist, fingers twisting to grasp Tsu’tey’s wrist in return. Their grip was firm; unbreakable. “Come on!” They snarled, yanking with surprising strength and dragging the surprised hunter through the now open door.

>_<

Before he even opened his eyes, Tsu’tey knew he was resurfacing from the bond. That that last door had been the door.

Beyond the shield of his closed eyelids, he could hear disembodied voices yelling at one another. Tsu’tey huffed, typical of the Sully's, to devolve into a verbal sparring match the moment he was occupied. Lo’ak no doubt offered up a ridiculous plan that reminded Jake too much of his younger, wreckless self, and therefore sent the man into a panic.

Blarily, Tsu’tey managed to peel his eyelids open, the sound of raised voices helping to rouse him. Gently, he reached down and disconnected from the recom, who was also beginning to come round.

Before waking up properly, Tsu’tey wanted to take a moment to look them over. To study their face and begin to learn where the similarities began and where they ended. He wanted to start over, to soothe their fear and take them home, where they would be safe. Somewhere where he could apologise-

With a jarring suddenness, Tsu’tey realised Spider wasn’t at his side.

Tearing his eyes from the recom, he wasted precious seconds glancing stupidly down at his empty side, where Spider’s warm little body was not curled up next to him. Nor was he there to bring Tsu’tey out of the bond with his voice. And that alone sent alarm zinging through Tsu’tey’s nerves.

It was then that he realised he did not recognise all of the yelling voices.

His bow was in hand before he’d decided on reaching for it.

“Don’t make any hasty decisions colonel.” Jake instructed from the foot of Eywa’s throne.

With a start, Tsu’tey realised that he was the only one still perched between the roots, whereas the rest of the Sully family minus Kiri stood on the moss, their knives drawn as Jake attempted to negotiate with yet another recom. A demon that Tsu’tey distantly recognised as the human that had died in the metal skeleton by the old compound. The one the soldiers addressed as ‘sir’.

And the demon had Tsu’tey’s son by the hair, a knife pressed across the base of his throat. How he had managed it was beyond Tsu’tey, but he knew that the demon would pay for such a blatant show of disrespect.

At the demon’s back, on his right, stood a bald soldier. His hair shaved apart from the single braid that protected his kuru. This one had somehow gotten ahold of Kiri and was holding her in a similar stance. The sight stoked the flames of Tsu’tey’s rage.

Drawing himself up off of his knees and into a low crouch, Tsu’tey notched an arrow and aimed. The movement drew the enemy’s attention. And Tsu’tey hissed as his burning eyes met that of the demon and held his stare.

“Release!” He snarled, the English rusty and disjointed as it slid off his tongue, but he could tell the demon understood by the minute raising of his ears.

The colonel looked him up and down, no doubt noting his assortment of bands and beads which symbolised his elevated status within the clan. Distantly, Tsu’tey wished he were upon a pa’li or something more threatening than the Great Mother’s throne, just so he could glare down at the demon with the silent threat of charging after him if he decided to run.

Predictably, the colonel did not back down.

“Tell your friend to stand down or I’m killing one of ‘em.” The demon ordered, eyes trained on Tsu’tey even though he was clearly talking to Jake, who stood the closest to the recom, with Neytiri practically glued to his side, her bow clenched tightly in one hand.

“Tsu’tey.” The marine warned, chancing a glance over his shoulder to Tsu’tey, who’s tail writhed in rage.

At his back, Neteyam shifted uneasily. His glare trained solely on the recoms, his knife held at a threatening angle, ready to jump in should the colonel take Jake’s distraction as an invitation.

Tsu’tey did not want to listen to reason. He was a predator. A father. Fuming and coiled to protect his own.

He had wanted this demon dead before, for what he had done to HomeTree. For abandoning Spider in the first place. But now-

Tsu’tey tightened his arm, pulling the arrow back.

Now, he wanted to send this abomination back to Eywa personally.

“Tsu’tey!” Jake repeated through gritted teeth.

<“He has my son!”>

<”Not for long.”> Jake promised, in that infuriatingly determined way of his. <”Just let me…”> He trailed off, allowing the silence to speak for him. For several seconds, Tsu’tey held his posture, expression positively thunderous. The demon did not so much as flinch, not even when the hunter’s arms began aching from the strain of keeping the arrow notched.

His eyes briefly flickered down to Spider who was holding perfectly still. Despite the fear in his expression, the boy did not shake. There was quiet defiance there, accompanied by a strong foundation of trust. Trust that Tsu’tey would make the correct decision to keep him safe.

<”Olo’eyktan!”> Neytiri snapped, fixing him with her most lethal of looks. The one that implored him to think clearly. And reminded him that they were in the same boat.

Tsu’tey drew his arrow back an additional inch, debating, only to loosen the tension and allow the projectile to land uselessly in his hand. Even if he killed the colonel, the other would slit Kiri’s throat before he could ready a second arrow. It would be too risky. Not to mention, Neytiri would have his head if anything happened to Kiri on his watch.

The demon grinned in victory.

“Good choice.” He praised condescendingly, to which Tsu’tey hissed harshly. “Now throw it down.”

Tsu’tey glared right back, holding onto his bow defiantly.

The demon did not take kindly to that and turned his fury on all of them. “All of you! Drop the knives!” Almost in unison, Spider and Kiri let out a cut off yelps as the knife at their throats were dug in.

Jake did as ordered. His shoulders impossibly tight as he allowed his knife to clatter to the floor. As some twisted reward, the demon holding Kiri, relieved some of the pressure on her neck, causing the teen to gasp in relief.

The action prompted Neytiri to follow suit. Her father’s bow was carefully lowered to the moss, her arrows tossed down with it. Tsu’tey noted how she didn’t bother reaching for the knife to do the same and simply allowed her hand to remain close to it, partly concealing the sheath from view. Under her breath, she snapped at Lo’ak and Neteyam to do the same, urging them in Na’vi to make a show of it.

They did.

Neytiri slid her eyes up Eywa’s throne to Tsu’tey, who immediately took notice of his friend’s expression. This was not surrender. Not in her eyes. Just a means at which to succeed. With a deep breath, Tsu’tey decided to perform like she expected and threw down his bow, which bounced off the roots and landed somewhere in the moss. Neytiri dipped her chin but said nothing more as she snapped her attention back to the grinning colonel.

“Good. Very good Sully.” The demon complimented, “it seems you’re much better at taking orders when it’s not just you. Noted.” He allowed his knife to stop cutting into Spider, and instead hoisted the blade higher, forcing the boy to lift his chin to avoid a new injury. Tsu’tey blood boiled at the thin line of red left behind in the blade’s wake.

Behind the colonel, the demon holding Kiri shifted his stance. Knife still held firmly to the teen’s throat, the man reached for his belt and pulled out a pair of bright orange handcuffs. With a nod from his superior, he tossed them to Jake who fumbled to catch them.

“Put the cuffs on Sully and no one has to get hurt.”

<”Jake-”> Neytiri spoke up, her hand falling to her mate’s wrist, trying to discourage any rash decisions, but she was powerless in the wake of his earnestness.

<”Whatever happens, stay with the kids.”> He whispered, causing Neytiri’s expression to break wide open in panic. Jake smiled sadly, reaching up to place his hand over her’s and squeezed tightly.

<”Do not be stupid.”> Neytiri hissed, before relenting and stepping back. She pulled Tuk with her, keeping her youngest daughter firmly shielded from view with her body. Lo’ak stepped back with her, flanking her side with a glare on his face that matched his father.

Neteyam stayed with Jake. Furious. His upper lip was twitching constantly, a sure sign he was one bad move away from letting out a snarl and throwing caution to the wind.

Jake drew himself up, inhaling deeply before returning his attention to the colonel. “Let up on some of that pressure.” He ordered smoothly, aiming for a tone that would guide but not offend. “The kid’s gonna pass out.”

The colonel’s face split into a wide grin,

Whatever cutting response he was gearing up to throw back, however, never reached Tsu’tey’s ears, as he was distracted by movement in the corner of his eye. Glancing down, he startled as his mate finally began moving. Up until this point, they had been entirely motionless, as if caught in a pleasant slumber. But now, they were shifting and quietly groaning.

With blurry eyes and jerky movements, they somehow hauled their battered body up into a sitting position, whilst Tsu’tey stared dumbly. The conversation on the moss had also fallen quiet at the introduction of yet another player in the game. <”Zaza-”> Spider whispered softly, before biting off a wince as the knife at his throat dug in to silence him.

The name caused the recom’s ears to flick up in recognition.

Rubbing at their temple, they struggled to get their feet under them. They were still mightily unsteady from the blood loss, so much so that Tsu’tey couldn’t stop himself from stepping forward to offer a hand.

The movement caught them wildly off guard.

With a yelp, the recom stumbled back. Their arms windmilling frantically to keep their footing on the uneven roots, only for their entire body to flinch and throw them off balance when they realised it was Tsu’tey stepping towards them. They stumbled backwards, only to trip on a high root and promptly fall over the side of the throne and land in a painful heap of limbs on the moss below.

The colonel let out a loud, obnoxious laugh. “Finally awake then Private.” The demon mused, “thought these savages got to you before I could.”

The heap on the floor let out another yelp, as they scrambled to sit upright. If the recom’s eyes were wide before, they were practically the size of the moon as they slowly turned their head to find the colonel standing a few short feet away. “Colonel.” They greeted shakily, “fancy seeing you here sir.”

The colonel glared down his nose at them.

“Wainfleet.” The recom continued, nodding mockingly to the demon holding Kiri. The sunglasses on his nose obscured his eyes, but Tsu’tey knew he was glaring.

“Ah shit.” The recom muttered to themselves before waving sheepishly at Jake and the rest of the Sullys. “Long time no see guys.” They glanced briefly up at Tsu'tey, still perched upon the throne. “Olo’eyktan.”

Tsu’tey’s expression shuttered. The fear tinted respect that oozed into their tone made his stomach turn.

Just as quickly as he was addressed, Tsu’tey was forgotten as the recom’s gaze fell back on the other demons and their hostages. Before his eyes, Tsu’tey observed as something in their posture shifted.

With all the swagger of someone still heavily injured, the recom collected themselves and scrambled to their feet. They made a show of dusting themselves off before straightening. “I’m assuming Mansk called you then.” “That would be right. Led me right to ya.” The colonel confirmed, the recom having thoroughly captured his attention. “Nice. Wanna get on with this then?”

“I’ll deal with you later.” The colonel snapped, eyes returning to Jake who was turning the orange cuffs over and over again in his hands. He made no move to put them on, his attention completely on Tsu’tey’s mate, waiting to see their next move.

“Oh.” The recom huffed, all theatrics and flowery words. “I thought you’d want to get right into it.”

Tsu’tey felt his confusion mounting. Only seconds before, their spiritual form had been having a breakdown about being found by the colonel. What had changed?

The colonel sighed heavily, the blade at Spider’s neck relaxing now that his attention had been captured elsewhere. Smartly, the kid did not react, and simply sucked in some deep, welcoming breaths.

“You’re dying, Private.” Quaritch spat, as if it were obvious. “You’re the least of my troubles.” “Of course. Yeah, I mean, you’re probably right.” The recom agreed, glancing down the line of their body, to their blood soaked tank, and the torn state of their trousers and embarrassing lack of footwear. They glanced up, their head tilting dangerously. “But I always thought you were an eye for an eye kind of man. All about vengeance and settling the score. I never dreamed I’d get off so easily after everything I’ve done.”

<”What are you doing?”> Tsu’tey hissed, watching the recom’s ear flick back to him. They ignored him, or simply did not have good enough of a grasp on Na’vi to understand. “If you know what’s good for you, Private, you’ll shut it. Now!” tTe colonel snapped.

In the next moment, his attention had snapped back to Jake as his knife once again dug back into Spider’s neck, carving a new line into his flesh. “Hop to it Sully, I don’t got all damn day.” Jake didn’t move, his head snapping from the recom to the colonel in quick succession. He didn’t move to pull on the handcuffs.

The recom took one, deliberate side step away from Eywa’s throne. The colonel’s attention was immediately back on them. They tilted their head and smirked sweetly.

“The hell are you playing at Private?” “I’m just a little hurt, sir.” They told him, their steps turning into a languid saunter as they moved away from the Tree and began putting some considerable distance between themselves and the Sullys. As a result, Quaritch had to turn with them to prevent them from slipping into his blind spot.

“I mean,” the recom continued, their tone as sweet as a lover in the dead of night. “I repeatedly backstabbed you for years, and you’re practically letting me go. And then we’ve got Jake, some random marine that only screwed you over after three months of knowing you. I’d assume, you’d be more hurt by my betrayal, rather than a man you hardly know, Colonel.” They paused their strides, smiling still. “I thought we had something special.”

If Tsu’tey didn’t know any better, he might have thought the recom were flirting with him.

The colonel stiffened. Something dangerous slipped into his tone as his head moved with the recom, calculating their every step. “Whatever game you’re playing Private, I’m not interested.”

“Come on,” they drawled, “you’re no fun.”

“And you’re wasting my bleeding time!” The colonel snapped back.

They shrugged, all false bravado and pointy teeth.

Wainfleet, who had been as distracted as his commanding officer up until this point, promptly snapped out of whatever trance the recom had put them under. With a growl, he turned his attention to Sully, whilst the colonel glared at the recom.

“We don’t have all day. Move it Sully.” He snapped, tightening his grip on Kiri so she yelped and jerked against the knife. Jake took half a step forward, to which Wainfleet tightened his hold.

“Ah ah ah, Corporal.” The recom sang, beginning to circle again. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“The hell are you going to do about it?” Wainfleet immediately challenged.

“Lyle!” The colonel cut in warningly, his second in command promptly backed down. “Watch my sixth.” He continued, as the recom’s leisurely strolling finally took them behind him and out of sight.

“Sir.”

The recom had stopped walking again, their tail flicking every now and again. Slow and relaxed, despite the pale sheen to their skin and how their freckles barely glowed. If Tsu’tey weren’t actively looking at their bloodied shirt, he might have been fooled into believing they were fine.

Their tone was chipper as they responded to Wainfleet’s jab. “Pandora is a dangerous place.” They told their old comrades. “But it’s deadly the moment you fall out of favour with the clans who roam it.”

“You and whose army?” Quaritch immediately challenged with a scoff. “You’re no na’vi. These freaks won’t help you.” He momentarily removed the blade from Spider’s throat to motion to the Sully’s and Tsu’tey, who were all motionless on the sidelines as they watched the recom work. The colonel looked awfully confident for a fly unknowingly caught in a hungry spider’s web. “You’ve seen what they do to us.”

The recom pulled their lips back and smiled menacingly. “I don’t need them any more than I needed you.” They said sweetly, and began circling again. Winding both men up tighter and tighter with unease. “In fact, you’re no longer of use to me, colonel.” “What in hell has gotten into you?” The colonel asked, eyebrows scrunching now in confusion. “What freaky plants have you been hooking up to out here?”

“Only the important ones.” The recom replied merrily, “and now that that’s out of the way, and I finally have your attention sir, I’m ready to repent.” “What are you on about?”

The way the recom had positioned themselves, had Quaritch and Wainfleet’s attention completely off of the Sullys. Neytiri had taken the opening by the throat and scooped up Tuk. Eyes never leaving the enemy, she deposited the quivering child into Lo’ak’s arms, who took her easily. Tuk cuddled into him, allowing Lo’ak to run soothing fingers through her braids as he offered quiet reassurance.

Catching onto her intentions, Jake firmly pushed Neteyam away from his side, silencing the teen when he instinctively tried to argue. The marine looked pointedly at his other two kids, a look which Neteyam followed and immediately understood. Between them, both parents pointed the trio in the direction of the Tree without drawing the enemy’s attention. The children went willingly enough, their anxiety obvious.

Tsu’tey offered his hand to them, helping them over the roots and behind the tree. His attention was still firmly on the odd scene occurring out on the moss, but he offered soft reassurance where he could.

<”Keep quiet.”> He whispered, to which only Tuk nodded. <”This will be over soon.”> They slid out of sight, and Tsu’tey took the opportunity to hop down from the throne. The motion drew the attention of Wainfleet, but he did nothing but watch. In return. Tsu’tey did not charge him, even though he desperately wanted to.

“-taken a lot of shit that doesn’t belong to me. Including your private documents, personal keycards and military supplies.” The recom listed out on their fingers. It seemed they had taken their role as distraction incredibly seriously. And Quaritch was predictably eating it up.

“You little snake.” The colonel snarled, fury evident in the thrash of his tail.

Tsu’tey sidled up closer to Jake’s side, the movement completely unobserved by both recoms. <”What are they doing?”> He hissed to Jake who shrugged, the cuffs half hanging off one of his wrists.

Somehow, his mate had heard him, despite standing a considerable distance away. The next words that slipped off their tongue, dripped with fake bravado so thick that Tsu’tey could almost smell it. “Why, I am confessing of course.” They declared dramatically, their arms spread wide in some confident mockery of a repenting sinner. They cackled, high and breathless. More pained than mirthful. “God this is gonna feel fantastic to finally gloat about.”

It was then that their odd behaviour clicked for Tsu’tey. This was not the bravado of a soldier seeking recognition. Nor was it a hunter boasting about a long and tedious hunt. The confidence was all for show. Every perfectly selected word was laced with pride and oozing badly concealed desperation. The closest thing he could compare it to was an animal attempting to convince a predator that they would make a more appetising meal than the younger prey in its clutches. “Oh, but I’m sure you know that colonel. You’re an awfully smart man.” They continued condescendingly, “surely you had to know I was disloyal from the beginning.” Quaritch had gone unnervingly still, so the recom continued. “Surely, you weren’t convinced that Jake arranged all of those inconveniences. Come on sir, you remember it like it was yesterday, don’t you? All those security plans going missing. All those dozers getting decimated by Omaticayan hunting parties within minutes of entering the territory. All the inconsistencies in the armoury. Those missing weapons that no one seemed to be able to explain.”

“I don’t believe you.” The colonel said plainly. “Not even you are that bright Private. Besides, you had no reason to betray me, I treated you as my own.”

“That’s what I wanted you to think.” They told him. “You can’t have orchestrated all of that.” Wainfleet jumped in. They grinned. “Who else? Jake certainly does have the brains. He’s all brawn and eye candy. He may have had a hand in killing you, sir, but I essentially handed him the knife.” They explained. “I traded your classified secrets for archery lessons. I handed over the maps for private supply routes in exchange for an ikran ride. Oh, and the locations of your forest squads? All that broken equipment? I gave those up for a sip of the clan’s alcohol, and shit, it was worth it. That stuff was strong-”

Tsu’tey saw the entirety of the recom’s plan moments before all hell broke loose. He knew that they knew they were playing with fire. He was aware that they knew they would not win this encounter, not unaided. He saw the look in their eye, the one a hunter wears when they got on a mission they have no issue with not returning from. And it infuriated Tsu’tey to no end.

“And then.” They paused, snorting obnoxiously. “The idiots brought me back, and practically handed me all the new stats. All those delicious numbers and coordinates,” they tapped their temple, “all right here, ready to buy me all sorts of things.”

It was then that Miles Quaritch snapped.

With an enraged snarl, the man threw Spider aside and charged. And of course, the wounded recom had anticipated this reaction. Smooth as water sliding over a submerged river stone, their stance shifted from a confident standoff, to a defensive crouch. Suddenly ready to take on Quaritch’s rage.

Tsu’tey took off at a sprint, Neytiri hot on his heels.

Spider sprawled in the moss, eyes wide and fearful. He’d barely landed on his forearms, before he was trying to shove himself back to his feet.

<”ZAZA!”>

Tsu’tey was skidding to his side within moments, his knees smarting with friction burns but he didn’t care. Frantically, he checked him over, hands, feet, neck. The latter which, thankfully, only had a shallow cut.

Neytiri had continued on, yanking her knife free of its sheath before she leapt and threw herself at Wainfleet, who threw Kiri aside in order to parry the blow with his own weapon. The teen collapsed to her knees, her breathing fast and bordering on hysterical. As Tsu’tey held his quivering son close, he watched Neytiri herd the soldier away, her knife strikes precise and deadly. Forcing him to back away or get skewered.

Jake was at Kiri’s side in seconds. His voice was low and soothing as he pulled her against him. Kiri went willingly, dissolving into choked sobs as she grabbed desperately onto Jake, who held her back just as fiercely.

<”Dad!”> Spider gasped, panic evident in his tone. He was squirming hard against Tsu’tey, trying to wiggle away, but Tsu’tey was reluctant to let him. <”DAD!”> His boy yelled at him, snapping Tsu’tey out of it with the sheer desperation in his tone. He looked down at his son who looked on the verge of tears. Spider pointed at the brawl currently happening across the moss. <”DO SOMETHING! HE’LL KILL THEM!”>

And Quaritch certainly was trying his best.

Any technique he had had been thrown out of the window as emotion took over.

“I trusted you!” The man roared, aiming blow after blow that the recom only barely avoided.

“Your mistake!” They threw back, accenting the end of the declaration with a loud cackle. The response was all bravado, just another feeble attempt to keep the demon’s attention on them. To allow the rest of them to escape.

<”DAD!”> Spider repeated, shaking him. Tsu’tey yanked himself out of his stupor.

<“Okay.”> He reassured him. <”Okay. Don’t worry.”> He pressed a kiss to the top of his boy’s head, giving him a tight squeeze before rising to his knees.

There was no doubt left in Tsu’tey’s mind. No inkling of uncertainty. Not now, not after everything he had seen and everything he had witnessed. He only prayed that he would be forgiven for his mistakes.

Across the bowl, the colonel was still spitting enraged declarations with every wild swing of his knife. “-should have killed you the moment-”

“But you didn’t!” The recom sang, barely dodging the utility knife Quaritch tried to shove in their eye socket in retaliation. To their credit, they were putting up a valiant fight. Snarling and spitting as they kicked and shoved with everything their wounded body had left.

It spurred Tsu’tey into action.

He sprinted across the moss, leaping over Wainfleet’s felled body and then again so that he collided with the colonel’s body from a higher vantage point. The man let out a whoosh as the breath was knocked from him. Tsu’tey followed his body down, wrestling the demon down onto his stomach before sitting himself firmly on his back. In a heartbeat, Tsu’tey’s knife was slipping from his sheath and carving a new one into the body of the writhing demon, who grunted from the force. He wasn’t dead yet.

Tsu’tey wanted him dead.

He wanted the peace of mind in knowing that he had ended this demon here and now. He needed to know Spider would be safe from him. That his son would be able to move freely in the forests again without fear of being kidnapped. He had to know that this demon would not seek revenge on his mate. That the man would be unable to raise his blade against anyone again.

Twirling his knife into a new grip, Tsu’tey reangled his blade and shoved it in between the demon’s ribs, straight into a lung which popped with a distant thud and a pained wheeze from the demon’s slack lips. His body spasmed from the pain before relaxing into death’s embrace.

Neytiri’s shadow fell over Tsu’tey as the Olo’eyktan fought to catch his breath. The kill itself had been easy, but the time it had taken to get to it had thoroughly drained him.

Her tail flicked in contentment as she glared down at the fresh corpse. <”Nicely done.”> She informed him.

Tsu’tey almost smiled. Such praise from Neytiri of all huntresses was as good as a pat on the back.

He allowed the comment to hang in the air for a moment as he yanked his knife free of the body and rose to his feet.

<”At least we will rest well knowing the job is done properly this time.”> Tsu’tey teased tiredly. Neytiri clicked her teeth at him, giving his shoulder a playful shove before turning on her heel and rushing back to her children.

Tsu’tey had a similar idea and immediately returned his attention to Spider. Only to realise his son was no longer where he had left him.

Instead, he had raced across the moss and promptly thrown himself into his Zaza’s arms, who had collapsed onto their knees out of sheer exhaustion. All bravado had been swept off of their expression now, replaced by relief as they opened their arms to Spider and held him tightly. Their unsteady hands loosely brushed through Spider’s dreads, mindful of his mask straps. “I’m alright kid.” They told him, even though they hardly sounded as if they believed it themselves. “I’m okay.”

Spider didn’t respond. His body was tense all over, and only winding tighter under their careful touch.

“We’re okay.” The recom repeated. “He’s dead.”

Spider nodded, giving them another tight squeeze before pulling back. Standing beside the kneeling recom, he almost towered over them.

His son frowned as he looked down upon his Zaza’s beaten face. Gently, his hand cupped their cheeks, turning their face this way and that to check the damage. “You will need to be looked at by a Tsahik.” He informed them seriously, which startled a smile out of the recom as if it were some inside joke between them.

“You’re going first.” They told him, looking pointedly at the thin lines still bleeding down Spider’s throat.

“I’m okay, Zaza.” Spider said quietly, although it did little to ease the crease between the recom’s brows. Even that simple expression was frighteningly familiar to Tsu’tey, as it had been the look they wore when Spider had skinned his knee or sustained some miniscule cut as an infant.

“Good to hear, but you better get Mo’at to put something on that when you get home.” “Yeah, that’s the plan.”

They smiled, small and lopsided. Spider finally began to relax.

Tsu’tey stepped further from Quaritch’s body. Absently, he flicked the blood off his blade before sheathing it.

His eyes never strayed from the sight of his mate and son, finally reuniting and talking after so many years. The sight warmed him. Soothing something that had been left ragged and raw since carving their name into the cliff face of the Well of Souls.

Running a tired hand down the side of his face, Tsu’tey glanced down at the flaking white paint the movement had rubbed off of his skin. Thoughtfully, he rubbed his fingers together, watching the flakes crumble into small, almost unnoticeable pieces. Perhaps, he thought, there was no longer a reason for him to renew it.

He smiled to himself, reaching up and rubbing away the itching paint with his hand, so that the normally pristine line broke and wavered. Tsu’tey watched the flakes rain down past his eyes as snow would fall in the colder regions. And he felt content.

When he got the worst of it off, he lifted his head, only to find Neytiri already watching him. Her smile could only have been described as proud and full of unspoken understanding. Somehow, Tsu’tey knew she had come to the same conclusion as him, and would allow him to take the lead moving forwards. Tsu’tey dipped his head in thanks, to which the huntress nodded once, her expression oozing pride.

It was then Tsu’tey steeled himself and approached his reunited family.

The moment his shadow fell over them, the recom was tense again. Snapping their head up, they promptly ripped themselves away from Spider at the sight of him.

“Don’t!” They snarled, jabbing a hand in his direction as they bum shuffled away from him. Their shaking hand slipping and sliding over the moss in an attempt to put some distance between them. “I’m leaving! I promise I’m leaving! You won’t ever find me here again!” They swallowed loudly, “I just got ambushed! But I’m going now! You’ll never see me again!”

Spider stared after them, looking torn between offering reassurance and looking up at his Dad pleadingly. With a sigh, Tsu’tey spared his son an encouraging look before slowly following the panicking recom.

His heart broke a little as he looked down at them now, the words having escaped him, again. As he had in Tsaheylu, Tsu’tey made a show of lifting his hands to show they were free of weapons. The recom flinched, only to let out a groan of pain. It appeared that their earlier adrenaline was beginning to fade.

Tsu’tey smiled sadly, stepping closer. The recom hissed at him, their scrambling hands suddenly finding a utility knife concealed in the moss, which they rapidly brought up between them. The blade danced as it was held aloft, aiming at Tsu’tey’s heart.

“I’m going.” They promised him.

Tsu’tey huffed softly. Slowly, and with great care, he caught their raised wrist. They jumped so hard that they lost their grip on the knife, which Tsu’tey promptly caught in his other hand before it could impale them through the leg.

The recom somehow stiffened more, eyes glued to the weapon in his hand.

“Tsu’tey.” They plead quietly.

He lowered his knife hand before throwing the blasted weapon away and into the moss.

“That was a stupid, stupid plan.” He told them simply as he released their raised hand and stepped back.

“Well it worked, didn’t it”? They snapped back defensively, only to flinch at their own tone. “Sorry. It’s been a really long day.”

Tsu’tey nodded. “Then you should return with us to High Camp and rest.”

“What?”

“It is too dangerous for you to remain here.”

They were staring at him blankly. As if he were some confusing puzzle.

“I mean-”

“It is decided.” Tsu’tey cut in, before turning on his heel and shooting Spider a nod. His son lit up.

<”You mean it?”> <”Yes.”> Tsu’tey confirmed, lightly ruffling his son’s hair on his way past. <”Get them on someone’s ikran and then meet me back here.”> <”Thank you! Thank you, Dad! You won’t regret this!”> Spider exclaimed, giving him a tight, grateful hug. Tsu’tey felt inclined to agree with him, as he watched his son dart away to help the stunned recom to their feet, already nattering on about this or that.

He smiled. Feeling lighter than he had in years.

Last Chapter <- Part 4 -> Next Chapter

#tsu'tey x reader #avatar #tsu'tey #spider socorro #dad!tsu'tey #spider #recom reader #when reader has no self preservation #here's the character development you all wanted #I update faster on Ao3

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