The Stars in Your Skin

CHAPTER 23

A.N.
Shout out to anyone reading this! I hope you enjoy it. Onward!

Kiri, Lo'ak, Spider, and Tuk stand outside of the entrance of their home trying to ignore the events unfolding inside.

“How could you do this? Neteyam? Both of you!” Neytiri paces like an agitated Palulukan.

His father is mostly quiet, watching the conversation.

“Mother if you would just listen–”

“No. You sneak around behind our backs courting, ignoring all tradition and doing this disgraceful thing.”

“We expected more from you son. I’m so disappointed in you. We both are.”

Naawri tightens her grip on Neteyam's hand when he stills, shoulders falling. Disappointing his parents was a real fear of his.  “With respect, Neteyam is not in this relationship alone. We share the load.”

His parents just stare at her. “Did your family know?”

“Only my sisters because they already knew how I feel about him.”

Neytiri makes a sound of disgust.

She swallows her offense. “You two followed your hearts and we only did the same. Why are we wrong?”

“Because you sneak around for a month while still promised to someone!  It is wrong and not tradition.”

“I don't want her.” He protests, trying to reason with his parents, to get them to hear him, to see him.

“You are the son of Olo'eyktan, you know better than anyone the traditions of our people. That this is bigger than what you want! As the next Olo'eyktan you must mate with the one chosen for you. It is tradition.” His mother preaches, fire in her eyes as her tail lashes behind her.

“Then maybe I don't want to be Olo'eyktan.” He exclaims. The room plunges into stunned silence, his parents staring at their son's defiance in sheer shock. “Because I want to be happy.” With that Neteyam exits the room with Naawri in tow. He doesn't stop once they exit the home, continuing his brisk pace with no specified direction.

Lo'ak watches them go, a grin on his mouth. "Guess this means I'm the favorite child now," he quips with self-satisfaction.

Kiri graces him with a deadpanned expression and accompanying snort. "Please, we all know it's Tuk."

Naawri allows him to tug her along his words ringing in his ears. Maybe I don't want to be olo’eyktan!  Would he give that up just to be with her? Would he denounce all that he had worked for just so they could be together?   She stares at her love at the hand holding hers and how warm it is. Could she bear that? Could she let him ruin himself? What about his honor? What about the clan? He is the eldest son of  a great warrior; The Clan needed him, his family needed him. Could she let him give that up? She's so preoccupied she does know he's stopped until she bumps into him. She stumbles slightly, but  maintains her balance.

He says nothing about it, instead turning to her. “You're very quiet,” he states simply.

She squeezes the hand holding hers before avoiding his searching gaze. “Did you mean what you said back there?”

“Yes.” She drops her gaze but raises it when he places a hand on her cheek. “You're worth it Nawri.” He lifts her hand to his mouth. “This is worth it.”

The sincerity and conviction shining in his gaze warms her to her ear tips. He really does love her, but… “Take me flying?”

He eyes her but eventually agrees.