Neteyam x OC
"Don't mistake my kindness for weakness, I would die for my family, I would kill for my family, I have killed for my family."
Nani'ite, daughter of the Metkayina Clan's leaders, spent her whole life trying to be the perfect daughter. No...
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The sound of waves woke Nani up, she peaked through the gaps of her room, and it was just before sunrise. She quickly got up and ready for the day, she loved being ready early before all of the villagers awoke. She loved the silence in the morning, and the sound of waves crashing to the shore.
As she made her way out of her home, she saw women of the village preparing breakfast for everyone, as they did every morning before the village awoke. She made her way over to them, but on her walk over something in the water caught her eye.
She paused and looked out to the ocean; she spotted a deep blue boy on an Ilu. She squinted harder and smirked when she saw Neteyam riding on top of the water and then diving back down. Good, she thought to herself, practice makes perfect.
It was only a half an hour later until the village awoke, all of the people gathering for breakfast before starting their day. She always helped her mother hand out meals to the people, it was her duty. Her sister was late to join, but she stood right next to Nani and began serving the people in the line.
"You're late." Nani stated over to her sister, who never got in trouble for being late.
"Good morning to you too sister."
Silence went by as the sisters served people in the line, one by one.
"Good morning, Lo'ak" Reya said, smiling at the boy in-front of her as she placed food on his plate.
"Hey," he smiled back, paused in place.
"Move! You're taking too long, Lo'ak. I'm hungry." Tuks voice rang out, pushing her brother to have her plate served.
"Nani'ite," a deep voice said, Nani looked up quickly and seen the Sully's father greeting her.
"Toruk Makto," Nani greeted back with respect.
"You can call me Jake, Jake Sully." She shook her head in compliance, "but hey, have you seen my son, Neteyam? We didn't see him this morning when we woke." Jake said.
"How would she know where Neteyam is?" Tuk's small voice asked.
"Because, cry baby, Neteyam wouldn't shut up about her all night. 'Oh, Nani said this, oh Nani said you need to call them like this and Nani-'"
"Lo'ak!" His mother said sternly, causing him to stop and walk away. Tuk following him along to find a place to sit and eat.
"No sir," she said, "well, actually I think I saw him this morning riding on an Ilu. Practicing, I assume." Nani answered to his parents.
"Thank you, Nani'ite." Neytiri bowed her head and followed her family.
"Do you think that's true?" Tsireya asked her sister as soon as the Sully family walked off.
"It is true, I saw him in the water this morning." Nani stated and she continued serving the villagers plates,
"No, that Neteyam was up all night talking about you!" She whispered excitedly.
"Probably telling them how mean I was." Nani chuckled to herself.
"That's not a good thing sister," Reya sighed.
"I know I'm just kidding," Nani said, "I don't mean to be rude. They just... they're just like babies, having to take one step at a time, one breath at a time. I already did that with you and Au'nong. I'm tired of always having to be the one in charge."
"How are you supposed to be a leader with that attitude?" The girls heard behind them; it was their mother's voice.
"Mother, I'm sorry." Nani quickly apologized to her mom.
"Here, go on then child," Ronal took her place and began serving the people food, "and don't be late to your session with the Sully kids. The last thing we need around here is more dead weight."
Nani'ite shook her head yes and grabbed her own food, making her way back to her home where she always ate. Nani was so similar to her mother, while Tsireya took after her caring father. Ronal was tough, but only because she had to be, and she raised her eldest daughter the same way. To put her people first, above all others, no matter what. Tough love at its finest.
"Breathe in," Tsireya instructed, "and now breath out. You must slow down your heartbeat."
She led the group of the 3 eldest Sully children along with Nani'ite. Reya placed her hands on Lo'ak's stomach and chest, instructing him again how to breath.
"Lo'ak, your heartbeat is fast."
"Sorry," he said blushing.
Nani looked up at Neteyam to see him grinning at his brother, causing her to clear her throat. Kiri rolled her eyes in response.
"I will see you guys later." Kiri got up and walked away, leaving the two sisters with the other two brothers.
"Let's try in the water now, shall we?" Reya asked Lo'ak, leading him into the water before he could even respond.
Then, it was just Neteyam and Nani'ite left alone sitting on the rocks by the water. "Should we-" Neteyam began.
"Let's see it," Nani said cutting him off, placing her hands on his chest and stomach as her sister did with Lo'ak.
"Breath in." She instructed pausing for a few seconds, "breath out."
Neteyam instantly tensed up and his heart began to speed up. Not nearly as fast as when she grabbed his neck yesterday, but fast enough for her to notice. She felt is breath tremble a bit when he exhaled.
"Just like your brother." She scoffed, removing her hands off of him and beginning to stand.
"Wait!" Neteyam grabbed her arm before she could get up, pulling her back down to sit next to him, "Please don't go yet, I really want to learn."
Nani raised a brow and sighed, she asked him, "What we're you doing up so early today?"
"I was practicing." He glanced over at her and back at his hands in front of him.
"Practicing? Well, can you ride?"
"I can, I just" he paused to turn towards her, "I can't breathe. Not like you guys, this is new to us, remember."
"Why are you so eager to learn anyways, forest boy?"
He didn't answer as quickly as he was before, but as soon as he gathered his reasoning, Neteyam expressed everything out to her. In hopes she would finally see eye to eye with him.
"This is our life now. I left everything I knew, and it's my job to look after my siblings. I can't do that if I don't learn the ways of your people. I can't protect them from what's out there" he pointed towards the water, "I can't protect them if I don't understand what I am doing. So please, please just teach me. That, I hope you understand."
That was the most Nani had heard the boy speak before, his usual shy and small demeanor was gone as he pleaded. And she did understand, she understood completely the ever burning need to protect her younger siblings. She knew the feeling all too well, so she caved. She looked down, disappointed in the way she was acting before and looked up at the boy starting back at her.
"Fine, I will teach you our ways." She said, "-but it will not be easy, and you will not like it."
