The Bond of The Forest - Lo'ak X Reader

Chapter 11

After frantically searching the sea and village for hours, Lo'ak finally turns up covered in cuts and bruises. The whole clan gathers round the dock to look at Lo'ak and hear about where he's been. Horrified at the state of him, I run up and leap into his arms.

'Skxawng. Where the hell have you been? Oh thank you great mother, I was so worried' I pull him tighter not caring that the whole clan is staring at us right now. Tonowari clears his throat causing me to disconnect from the embrace but he takes my hand instead.

'My son is in the wrong here' Tonowari states to Jake. I'm furious, I look at Ao'nung who is looking at his feet. Jake was about to step in when Lo'ak spoke out,

'Sir, it was my fault.'

I watched An'oung's head snap up in disbelief. Mine did the same. What in the hell was he doing. Lo'ak felt my confusion and squeezes my hand before continuing,

'Ao'nung told me not to go beyond the reef but I didn't it anyway.' Before he could say anything else Jake's voice boomed filling the air with anger.

'I'll deal with him.'

He drags Lo'ak away ripping my hand out of his. My hand felt lonely now so I clutched it with my other. Neteyam gave me a knowing look as we walked towards the pod to hear what Jake is saying to Lo'ak.

'Why would he do that?' I exclaim to Neteyam, 'why would he take the fall for Ao'nung?' Neteyam shrugs and replies,

'That's the kind of guy he is. He's selfless. Stupid, but selfless.'
We hear Jake talking in the pod to Lo'ak.
'You've brought great shame on this family.'

Ouch. That has got to hurt.

'Can I go now sir?' Lo'ak replies, hurt staining his voice. Neteyam and I hear his footsteps approaching, We leap back pretending to have heard nothing.

'Great. An audience, because that's just what I needed.' Lo'ak looks at us with a look on his face I don't see often.
It's a face mixed with hurt and anger, but also a great deal of sadness.

'Lo'ak, I'm sorry we had just arrived we didn't hear it all.' I protest trying to console him.

'No, but you heard the worst of it. He wishes I was you bro, but guess what, I'm not, I'm me why can't anyone fucking seem to get that.' Lo'ak looks at Neteyam before walking away.

'Go' Neteyam says to me.

I find Lo'ak in a palm tree not far from the beach. He sees me and wipes his eyes. I pretend not to see, that's not what he needs right now.

'Oh Lo'ak' I say taking his hand.

'The whole clan hates me Mai.' Lo'ak says rolling his head back and gazing at the darkened sky.
'I don't hate you.' I reply simply, 'I'm part of this clan now too, and I don't hate you. I think you're wonderful. In fact you may just be my favourite person' I reply and reach over taking his hair out of his tied back style letting the braids fall over his face.

'Your favorite huh? Out of all these amazing people? Such an honour Mai.' He replies sarcastically. I try not be stung by his words as I know he's hurting right now.

'Come here moody, I brought some cleaning stuff for you, come on get down.'

We climb down the palm tree and I wipe the blood dripping from his arms. My hands graze over his skin intimately and I catch his eyes staring.

'What? You're staring at me' I say at him continuing to touch his wounded skin.

'You're beautiful.' Lo'ak replies causing me to pause my actions and meet his eyes, 'so, you're pretty hard not to stare at.' Lo'ak gives me a soft smirk which makes me melt.

He brings his fingers up to my chin and tilts my head upward towards him. His other hand pushes the braids back away from my face and caresses my cheek with his thumb.

There it is, the feeling of being the missing piece of the jigsaw fitting right in. My face and his hand, slotting together. It's perfect.

'Mai' Lo'ak whispers moving his face closer to mine.
'Lo'ak' I respond nervously, anxious about what's about to happen.

Lo'ak kisses me and it was perfect.

The glow of the nights sky reflected on the white spots of our blue skin as our lips moved in unison. It was a soft kiss, a little one, but it's all that mattered to me in that moment.

We pull away and glance at each other shyly unsure of what to say.

'You're blushing,' Lo'ak teases causing me to hit his arm. I accidentally had hit the part of his arm that was bruised and bloodied causing him to cry out in pain.

'Oh my Eywa, Lo'ak i'm sorry are you okay im such an idiot,'

His frown from the pain broke into a smile and he started laughing causing me to join in. Of course that would happen. He catches my eye once more causing our laughs to come to an end as he leans in and kisses me once more.

'You are beautiful and I mean it Mai,' Lo'ak whispers pressing his forehead against mine. He takes my hands and holds them up to his chest.

In that moment, I felt infinite.

I see you Lo'ak Sully. More than ever before.