The Stars in Your Skin

Interlude One

Naawri stands next to Neteyam, watching as Tuk flutters about the home she shares with her two sisters examining each expertly woven basket, floor mat, and sash.  She smiles when the girl sits to examine a small tapestry gifted to her by Auntie, her karyu, intelligent eyes no doubt scanning the elaborately complex patterns. The memory of watching the woman weave the masterpiece on the Mother Loom with wonder while singing the Weaving Song with her fellow Weavers as she worked rises clearly. Receiving the tapestry woven with such care had been  such an honor. Perhaps one day she would do the same.

“Sorry about this,” Neteyam speaks. 

His voice, always so warm like freshly heated nectar, derails her thoughts.  It’s been three years and just as she thought he was the most eligible single tutan in the entire village. Several young female Na’vi threw themselves at him, finding any and every excuse to approach him.  

“This is the only place I can bring her that slows her down.” A sheepish expression crosses his face.

She shrugs, careful to keep her tail motionless when he shifts closer. “It’s fine.” Her brow furrows. “The only place? What about the clay workers?” Surely playing with wet clay was more Tuk’s speed.

He looks at her then, and Eywa why were his eyes so pretty? “You’re more tolerant.” He only smirks.

“Ah.” 

“So pretty,” Tuk exclaims.  

She ambles over to see what has caught the young girl’s eye. It’s a leather slingbag, handwoven and stitched with intricate geometric shapes of varying colors and trimmed with beadwork. She smiles. “You like that one?”

She nods, running her fingers carefully over the meticulously woven patterns. 

“It was mine when I was a little girl.” She remembers the day it was given to her. She picks it up and stares at it, fond memories swirling throw her mind.   “Would you like to have it?”

The girl's eyes go impossibly round. “Really?” 

She almost chuckles at the adorable expression on the small girl's face. She hands it to her. “Yeah." Her gaze automatically shifts to Neteyam when he stops next to her, looking down quickly when he meets her gaze with a small smile of affection.

“What do you say?”

Tuk takes it almost reverently, throwing her a bright smile.  “Thanks.”

She can only return the smile, tousling the girl's braids. “You’re welcome.”

Later they exit her tent to the balmy outside, Tuk proudly wearing the slingbag. Naawri follows them toward the village center, greeting those they pass. She doesn’t miss the looks thrown their way, some jealous ones aimed at her and the hungry ones at Neteyam.  Does he even notice the looks aimed at him?

She takes a moment to examine him. His posture is stiff, tail twitching, eyes purposefully straight ahead.  Yeah, he notices.  She opens her mouth to say something when Tuk shouts: “Hi Nuiya!”

“Tuk wai–” But it's too late, she’s already bolting towards a group of  kids her age several yards away. “And she’s gone.”  

“She’s a handful.”

He throws her a tired look.  “You have no idea.”

“Hey guys!” Naawri nearly jumps out of her skin at the unexpected voice. It’s Ha’ew. She turns and greets the tall Na’vi,  spotting the niktsyey in his hand.  “Are those new?” 

Ha’ew had a more than most affinity for arranging foodwraps. Some of them were delicious, others nauseating. Which is why he used them as testers. Oh joy. “They sure are,” he beams at them. “A new recipe I just came up with a few days ago. If you guys like them I will ask Mom to serve them at dinner tonight.”  He gladly hands them both one, expression expectant.

Neteyam unwraps his foodwrap, nose wrinkling when the pungent blend of spices punches his nostrils.  “It smells spicy.”

“I like spicy,” Naawri quips. He can’t help but smile at her adventurous spirit.

He picks up the seasoned podike vegetable and pops the whole thing in his mouth. It’s okay at first. Until he starts chewing. An inferno engulfs his mouth with all the subtlety of a hungry ikran. He coughs. “It’s a little–” A fit of coughing overtakes him.  “Tsah–” Next to him, Naawri curses between rampaging coughs. He swallows the smoldering ember moonlighting as food. It burns. All. The. Way. Down. 

Fire engulfs his mouth from tongue to throat. All he can think of is water,  Ha’ew had better have some on him or so help him…  “Water!” He croaks.

“Wha–” She’s coughing again her face tinged purple.

He hurriedly hands them both a couple of paywll leaves.

Neteyam nearly snatches them, shoving them into his mouth.  A small moan of relief leaves him when the soothing liquid hits his wailing tongue.  He wipes at the reflexive tears in his eyes.

“What is wrong with you? Are you trying to kill us?” She says albeit hoarsely.

“Too spicy?” He asks his expression one of sheepish apprehension.

“Yes!” They chorus.

“Sorry.” Well, at least the maniac had the decency to look contrite.

Neteyam sweeps his eyes over the area to see if they had any spectators. Sure enough, several of the Na'vi preparing the cooking utensils for the night looked away quickly. Great. He turns when his baby sister shouts his name.  She runs toward him with an urgent expression.

“I’m hungr–” Her eyes land on the foodwraps in Ha’ew’s hand, “Oooh, I want one.” She reaches out.

“Tuk no!”

“Save yourself!” 

Too late. She’d already pilfered Neteyam’s foodwrap and without so much as thank you dear brother starts eating.  Neteyam watches in sheer apprehension as she chews, expecting her to start screaming at any moment.  But she chews without so much as a complaint.

“Mmm, they’re delicious!”

What? What?  He can only stare at the young Na’vi who scarfs down the rest of the foodwrap without batting an eye in utter shock.  “What the heck?” Naawri whispers next to him.

“Can I have the rest?”  Ha’ew hands them over along with Naawri whose expression remains incredulous .

“I’m glad you like them Tuk, unlike some people.” He shoots them both a smug look.

“Thanks,” she chirps before returning to her group of friends.

“She’s a monster,” she says, still shocked.

Neteyam continues staring at his sister who's laughing innocently with her friends.  “I don’t know if I should be proud or terrified.”

Ha’ew clicks his tongue at them.  “You guys are such lightweights."

Neteyam turns on the taller male.  “Bro I still can’t feel my tongue.”

She watches them banter back and forth briefly.  A soft smile claims her lips but she turns away to hide the smile.  Then she sees it. Lo’ak snatches a morsel from one of the foodwraps in Tuk’s hand. Oh no. He grins at his sister tossing the entire thing in his mouth.  The response is immediate. A blusestreak of curses leaves his mouth before he falls into a fit of coughing.

She shakes her head. “Ma Hew. Do you have another paywll leaf?”  

“Yeah why?” He hands it over to her.

“Lo’ak is dying,” she deadpans before walking over to aid the suffering Omatikaya.

A.N.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Hopefully no one was ooc. It's my head canon that Tuk has the highest tolerance for spicy foods out of the four Sully children. Also I just love Tuk.

Tutan- man

Karyu- teacher

Paywll- water plant, dapophet

Niktsyey- food wrap ( food items wrapped in edible leaves or vines)