𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐟 || ʟᴏ'ᴀᴋ

022

Se'aeylwa

I can't help but giggle at his adorable eyes as they try to adjust being out of water, he blinks a few times before wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, removing the warmth from one side of my waist.

"Why are you laughing, this isn't funny" he huffs, staring at me once he was seeing normally, in retaliation he did the first thing he could think of and he lightly bit the side of my cheek. He smirks in triumph at his small victory as I freeze. 

I held a hand to the cheek he had just bit as I blush immensely. I hear his boyish laugh as I turn, he tips his head back, chuckling to the sky, about my reaction.

"Why are you laughing this isn't funny!" I mock him, moving my arms in a flamboyant manner. He rolls his eyes playfully before his arms snake around my waist and he pulls me upwards, I scream in surprise as I'm placed behind him instead of in front.

"I'm not swimming on this Ilu if your steering it" He smirks, I huff at his reasoning as my arms cross over my chest in defiance. He looks forwards once more as he drags his braid over his shoulder, connecting the eager tendrils to the queue of the Ilu. He takes a few deep breaths as we slowly begin to glide forward, I feel comfortable sitting on my own, but Lo'ak's hand reaches behind him as he guides my arms around his waist. 

I feel the hidden muscles in his slim build as my hand reaches over his toned abdomen. I turn redder every second and I'm suddenly glad that he's in front of me instead of behind, where he could see all of my movements.

He pats my hands with his much larger ones as they return back to the saddles hold. I see one hand slide down from the saddle and onto my thigh as he held me securely, I'm slightly disheartened at the thought of not being able to feel it, but I push it aside, happy that I had at least a sliver of joy. 

"We have to go back to the marui, The Tsahìk is asking for you" He informs, pressing the hand that used to be wrapped around me to his neck, where a familiar device laid, I could hear the faint mumble of words through his ears as he nodded along, transferring the message to me clearly. 

I nodded along, continuing to process it as we slowly began to glide in the other direction, once he had finished the message of his fathers words he turned his head towards me as he smiled.  

"Are you joining us for the lesson tomorrow?" He asks, obviously hoping for a blatant yes. I take a minute to ponder his words before my face furrows. 

"What do you mean lessons?" I ask, I wasn't aware that they had to take any sort of lessons from a teacher, nor learn anything new, they seemed safe and settled into the culture. 

"It used to be all the time, but now it's only twice a week for a couple of hours at a time" He shrugs. 

"It's just to learn a bit more sign language and the customs around Awa'atlu"

I murmur a soft 'oh' as he still looks at me for an answer.

"It depends what the Tsahìk wants, she might be talking to me to put me in an intensive care marui for the time being, I'm not sure if I can make it." I solemnly respond.

"It's okay, maybe next time?" He asks as he reassuring strokes his thumb along my still connected hands around his waist. I find comfort in the small gesture as I comfortably rest my entire body onto his broad shoulders. 

Once we reach the shore he quickly notices that my new wheelchair wasn't there, so he rerouted a course with the Ilu to find the back of his marui's dock. 

After a search that took a tad too long he slipped off of the animal, taking the bond with him as he pulled himself up to the dock. I couldn't help but eye his thin waist and sturdy biceps as he does so, it would be a lie if I said he wasn't an attractive na'vi. I shake my head ridding the thought, he was only being nice because I saved his brother and now I'm paralysed from the hips down.

He knelt down on his stomach as he held both arms out, I connected our hands as he seamlessly pulled my body onto the dock, even if all of me was a deadweight. His hands found my hips as he lifted me and placed me into the wheelchair. 

I liked the feeling that I was once again in control of my own movements as I wheeled into the marui from the wooden dock, the Tsahìk, Ronal, and Tsireya where sat on the floor, laughing with the sully family, well, Tsireya was laughing with the sully family while Ronal remained calm and collected, showing no emotion but peace. 

Her eyes slightly widened in surprise at the sight of me as she quickly stood and strode over my way. I didn't miss the look of hurt in Tsireya's face as she saw Lo'ak and I together, and I soon rolled away from him to avoid a feud. 

I dragged my hand from my forehead downward as an 'I see you' as she replicated the gesture. She held a tightly woven basket in her hands as various tooth sizes varying in sharpness as well as large sacks of dark inks. 

"Tonowari and myself have agreed that a marking of your actions should be awarded" she softly smiles for what seems like the first time as she beckons me forward.

"What will it be of?!" Tuk exclaims, excitedly jumping on the spot as I'm lead out of the chair and onto the floor. Ronal whispers in my ear to lay on my front as I do so. Luckily we where placed in the corner of the marui, which allowed us to not be in anyone's way. 

She began to unclutter the teeth and ink sacks as she placed them next to her in a seemingly particular order. 

"It will be whatever Eywa decides it shall be" She answers kindly towards a curious Tuk...it was obvious that she had a soft spot for younger children. 

She turned her focus back onto me as I felt nothing, and then the first sting of pain along my waist. The sharpness travelling up and around my still healing bullet wound as she continued to go over the irritated flesh that was obviously now pink and tender. I let out a small groan in pain as I hide my head in my arms. 

This was going to take a while, and it was going to hurt.