Kiri x Reader | Avatar: The Way of Water

Sibling Banter

As Kiri and Lo'ak faded into the sunset, Y/n walked the opposite direction along the beach. She spotted Ao'nung and Rotxo, her brother and brother's friend. They were chatting, sitting on the large, woven platforms that connected the mangrove roots, some with their feet in the water. Ao'nung spots Y/n walking to them and his eyes widen, not in fear, but surprise. He seemed even more surprised when Y/n didn't walk past them, but to them.

"Hello, brother," Y/n said softly, "hello Rotxo. May I sit?"

Ao'nung simply looked at Y/n with a dopey stare, mouth hanging open slightly.

"Of course, sit, sit!" Rotxo beamed, shuffling over for Y/n.

"What have you two been up to?" Y/n asked, sitting beside Rotxo.

"We were talking about you, actually," Rotxo replied, voice pleasant as ever.

"Good things I hope," Y/n smiles, attempting to be friendly.

This same friendly chatter continued for some time. Ao'nung noticed Y/n's eyes sparkle, the corners of her mouth flip up, even her shoulders relax. It was strange seeing the usual village hermit be so expressive... at least for her. As time went on, the sky darkened. The ocean shimmered in a similar way, moonlight reflecting into their eyes. Y/n glanced to the stars.

"Oh," she sighed, "it's already eclipse."

"Race you!" Rotxo grinned, jumping up onto his feet. He promptly pulled Y/n's tail and ran, which was followed by a yelp.

"Rotxo!" Y/n cried in surprise, pouncing and running after him.

"Get back here skxawng!" Ao'nung yelled.

The three Na'vi ran after each other to a marui pod, over the water, through the mangrove roots. Rotxo got there first, sitting triumphantly cross-legged inside the pod. Y/n had quite the lead on Ao'nung, hearing him yell assorted profanities the less he caught up. While Y/n did get there second, it was close, with Ao'nung closing in at only a couple seconds in between second and last place. Rotxo and Y/n giggled together upon seeing the crease between Ao'nung's eyes and the little tilt of his chin.

"You had a head start," Ao'nung huffed, breaking the silence.

"Still beat you!" Rotxo grinned, flicking Ao'nung's hair.

Y/n laughed, a usually rare noise, yet seemed to be coming up frequently tonight.

"Hey, I beat you too!" Rotxo beamed, playfully punching Y/n on the arm.

"Be quiet, you," Y/n chuckled, ruffling Rotxo's puffy hair.

"Stop flirting," Ao'nung complained.

"I would never do such a thing!" Rotxo gasped in mock surprise.

"Me neither," Y/n chuckled, "what, are you jealous, fish-boy?"

"We're all fish people!"

"Reef people, actually."

"Ughhh... shut up Rotxo!"

***

That night, Y/n slept in Ao'nung and Tsireya's marui pod. Rotxo left as it was getting late, followed by Tsireya. It was a cold night, the Na'vi children wrapped in woven blankets. Y/n had no idea how she had slipped back into the Metkayina society so easily, but it did grant her peace of mind. Countless nights she had considered returning from her 'exile', yet there was always the question of how many heads would be turned.

Maybe Tonowari was right after all. She'd have to remember that for the future... to put more faith in her father.

That morning, Y/n was woken by a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes flickered open, vision blurry. There was a Na'vi kneeling beside her, shaking her shoulder gently. The Na'vi removed their hand as Y/n stirred, rubbing her eyes and sitting up. It wasn't Ao'nung - who Y/n assumed would wake her up that morning - but someone else. She knew this because despite her blurry vision, the Na'vi in question had a blue complexion like her own, the skin of a Omaticaya clan Na'vi.

It was Kiri. She looked somewhat disgruntled, a crease between her... eyebrows? How strange, Na'vi did not have eyebrows. She must really be descended of Sky People, Y/n considered. She observed Kiri's eyebrows and five-fingered hands curiously. How wonderfully unique.

"Are you done staring?" Kiri asked dryly.

"Hm?" Y/n asked, looking up, "oh, I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Kiri rolled her eyes and exhaled. "That's actually why I'm here. Well, aside from Ao'nung forgetting to wake up and begging me to do it. Skxawng."

Y/n tilted her head. So Ao'nung had forgotten to wake her after all. "You are here to apologise?" Y/n inquired in confusion, remembering her previous statement.

"Yes. For knocking you over," Kiri muttered, "I didn't apologise. You're fine, though, so what's the big deal..."

The tone in her voice indicated to Y/n that Jake had most likely told her to apologise. Y/n allowed a slight smile to form on her face.

"It's alright... Did you catch your brother in the end?" she smirked.

Kiri chuckled softly and stood up. "Yeah, I did."

Y/n stood up too.

"We're even, then?" Kiri asked. She didn't seem to care too much, but still, she did ask the question.

"Not exactly," Y/n exhaled. 

Kiri raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. She was legitimately confused. Y/n exhaled and brushed some hair from her face.

"I apologise for... being rude in regards to your... 'best friend', Spider," Y/n stated, looking Kiri in the eyes.

The room was silent for a moment. Y/n's words hung heavily in the air. Kiri exhaled. "Look, I... I get it. Mum doesn't really like him either. But... how about this," Kiri decided, "answer me a question, and I'll forgive you."

Y/n nodded. "Yes?"

"How do you know my mother?"