bound - avatar oc x oc

part 34

As she was cuffed to the railing, Akaia held Quaritch's gaze, refusing to look away. Her eyes were cold, unwavering, even as he stared back with smug confidence.

"You okay, sis?" Lo'ak asked softly from beside her.

She exhaled sharply as Quaritch finally broke eye contact. "Never better," she muttered, turning her head toward the sea.

"What's going to happen to us?" Tuk's voice trembled with fear.

Akaia's expression softened as she looked down at her youngest sibling. "Nothing's going to happen. We're going to be okay. I promise," she said with a reassuring smile, masking the dread clawing at her chest.

Suddenly, war cries echoed across the water. Akaia's head snapped toward the horizon, eyes wide with hope. A fleet of Metkayina warriors raced across the waves on their tsuraks.

"Na'vi inbound! Spread out! Weapons up!" a voice shouted from behind.

Tuk's face lit up. "Dad!" she cried, pointing to the familiar figure among the warriors. Akaia's eyes locked onto her father—his tall frame and dark blue skin unmistakable as he led the charge.

But movement beside her made her turn. Quaritch stepped behind Lo'ak and without warning, ripped the boy's earpiece and com from his neck. Akaia growled low in her throat.

Quaritch raised the com to his mouth, stepping behind Akaia. "Jake, tell your people to stand down. If you want your kids back, you come alone." He then reached for his gun, raising it and firing a warning shot into the air. "You know better than to test my resolve."

Akaia froze as the barrel of the gun pressed against the back of her head.

"No!" Lo'ak and Tsireya shouted, but Quaritch ignored them.

"I took you in, Jake," the colonel said coldly. "And you betrayed me. Killed good men. Good women. I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your eldest. She's been a pain in my ass anyway." He jabbed the gun harder against her skull.

Akaia focused on her father, her breathing sharp and shallow. Jake stepped forward from the group of warriors, alone, just as Quaritch demanded.

"Easy shot," one of the avatars murmured behind her.

"Wait till he's on board," another warned. "You fire now, and they'll attack."

Lo'ak clenched his fists. Akaia's mind raced, desperate for a way out. Then, movement in the water caught her eye.

A massive shadow swam beneath the ship.

Her eyes widened. "Payakan!" Tuk screamed, right as the tulkun burst from the ocean, slamming into the ship with earth-shaking force. Sky People screamed as debris and bodies flew in every direction.

The chaos erupted instantly. Payakan wreaked havoc, destroying weapons and personnel before disappearing back beneath the waves. The distraction was all the Metkayina needed—war cries erupted as the Na'vi charged.

"Sound the alarm!" Quaritch barked. "Sullys inbound! I want eyes in!"

As avatars scrambled to mount their ikrans, Akaia looked up, hearing the roar of an aircraft. A sudden spray of bullets rained down from above—then a single arrow pierced the pilot. The aircraft spun wildly before crashing in flames.

Akaia let out a breathless cheer as she saw her mother diving through the sky on her ikran, bow in hand, eyes burning with fury.

Neytiri struck again, targeting another gunship as she loosed arrows with terrifying precision. Akaia beamed with pride—her mother was a warrior of legend.

Then the ship jolted violently, hurling the teens against the railing as it launched forward, crashing over rocks and waves. They all screamed as the ship slammed into the ocean, water spraying across the deck.

"You guys okay?" Lo'ak shouted.

They nodded, dazed but alert, already pulling at their cuffs.

"Neteyam!" Tuk gasped, spotting their brother sprinting across the deck.

Relief surged through Akaia as she saw him.

Neteyam grinned, knife in hand. "Hey baby brother, need some help?" he teased while cutting Lo'ak free.

"Shut up. Just hurry," Lo'ak replied, rolling his eyes.

Neteyam turned to Akaia next. "Who's the mighty warrior? Come on, say it."

Akaia huffed as he cut her loose, then immediately pulled him into a tight hug. "You had me terrified, Netty," she whispered.

Neteyam chuckled softly. "You haven't called me that in forever."

"It slipped out," she smiled, rubbing her wrists.

"Come on!" Lo'ak called. They rushed toward the edge of the ship—until Akaia paused, noticing Lo'ak wasn't with them.

"Lo'ak! What are you doing?"

He ran to a fallen avatar, pulling a gun from the corpse. "They've got Spider. We can't leave him."

Akaia's stomach twisted. "No. Absolutely not. We have to leave, now."

Lo'ak ignored her, eyes on Neteyam. "Bro, come on. We can't just leave him."

Neteyam looked between them, torn. Then he groaned in frustration. "Come on, Akaia!" he said, sprinting after Lo'ak.

She stood frozen for a second, a deep, gnawing dread settling in her chest.

Something was wrong.

Something felt... final.

But despite every instinct screaming at her to stop, she ran after her brothers. She couldn't let them go alone.

Not this time.

———

a/n