bound - avatar oc x oc

part 18

Akaia awoke to the warm glow of sunlight streaming through the canopy overhead. She blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting, and turned her head to find Mak'korro still beside her—his arm wrapped securely around her midsection.

Carefully, she shifted to face him. His ears twitched slightly in his sleep, and she smiled at the small, endearing motion. She felt safe. Comfortable. For a rare moment, the weight she always carried wasn't crushing her.

Mak'korro stirred. His brow tensed against the sun before his eyes fluttered open, settling on her with a drowsy grin.

"Good morning," he murmured, voice rough with sleep as he pulled her gently against his chest.

Akaia let out a quiet giggle and rested her head against him. "Morning," she echoed softly. They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's presence, unwilling to break the spell.

Eventually, Akaia sighed. "We should probably get going. Our parents are probably going crazy."

Mak'korro groaned in protest as she slipped from his arms and stood, stretching her limbs. She offered him a hand, and he took it with a weary grin.

"My parents are going to kill me," she muttered.

"If it makes you feel better, so will mine," he replied.

She smirked. "Then we'll be dead together."

They laughed as they made their way to the shoreline. Mak'korro called for his Ilu, and within moments the creature surfaced. They climbed on, diving beneath the waves and beginning the journey home.

⸻

When they arrived back at the village, Mak'korro offered to walk Akaia home, and she didn't hesitate to accept. They strolled hand in hand, their fingers laced in quiet comfort. But as they neared the marui, raised voices from inside made their ears twitch.

They exchanged a glance.

The moment they stepped inside, silence slammed into the space. Four pairs of adult eyes turned toward them.

Tonowari stepped forward, jaw tense. "Mak'korro, where have you been?"

The young man stood tall, ears flat, refusing to flinch. Behind him, Ronal stepped into view, her expression unreadable as she moved to circle them. Akaia's heart pounded as Neytiri suddenly grabbed her by the elbow, yanking her away from Mak'korro and breaking their joined hands.

"Mak'korro," Tonowari snapped. "Answer me."

"We went to the island past the reef," he said calmly. Ronal stepped forward, drew a slender needle from her necklace, and pricked his chest. He winced.

She sniffed the tip, then met her mate's eyes. "They are not mated."

Jake exhaled sharply in relief.

Mak'korro and Akaia exchanged a look, their expressions dimming.

Jake stormed toward Akaia and gripped her arm. "What the hell were you thinking? Going past the reef? Staying out all night? Did you learn nothing from what happened with Lo'ak?"

Mak'korro stepped forward, jaw clenched. "Sir—with all due respect—this wasn't her fault. I asked her to come with me. I didn't tell her where we were going. If you want someone to blame, blame me."

Ronal snapped, slapping Mak'korro lightly on the arm. "Enough. We're leaving." She tugged him back, and Tonowari grabbed his other arm, guiding him out.

As the Metkayina left, Jake turned back to his daughter, eyes still burning.

"Dad, please—just let me explain—"

"You crossed a line, Akaia."

"I know," she said, voice steady. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't enough!" he thundered. "I'm trying to keep this family alive, and I can't do that if my eldest daughter keeps sneaking off to who knows where! I already banned you from flying, and you disobeyed me—twice! What's next? Do I have to forbid you from even leaving the marui? Because I am this close—" he held up two fingers, trembling with frustration.

Akaia's mouth opened, but no words came.

Jake's eyes narrowed. "Or maybe I should ban you from seeing that boy altogether. That seems to be your main concern these days."

Her heart dropped.

"You will do no such thing," Neytiri said sharply, stepping between them.

Jake turned to her. "If that's the only way to make her listen—"

"You think taking away the one thing that makes her feel joy here will help her listen?" Neytiri snapped. "We are not here to just survive, Jake. What is the point of surviving if you take away everything that brings us peace?"

He ran a hand down his face. "Neytiri..."

"Dad," Akaia cut in gently. "I know you love me. I know you're just trying to protect all of us. But I'm not a little girl anymore. And you can't protect us from everything. Mom's right... surviving means nothing if we're miserable. And Mak'korro makes me happy."

Jake stared at her, emotion swelling in his throat. Her words struck a place in him he didn't want to admit existed. He had already lost so much... The thought of losing her to love, to war, to anything—it terrified him.

He looked at Neytiri, then back at his daughter. The fire in his chest dimmed.

"Go find your siblings," he said quietly.

Akaia hesitated, searching his face, then nodded. Neytiri gave her an approving look as she turned and stepped out of the marui.

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a/n

i dunno how i feel about this...