bound - avatar oc x oc

part 39

Akaia's eyes were pinned to the sky, her green irises searching desperately for any sign of her beloved ikran. He had saved them—he was here, fighting. She squinted as his silhouette blotted out the stars, watching him ready himself before diving toward the ship once again. Gunfire rang out ahead as he swooped down on the humans attempting to escape.

"He is clearing the way for us," Mak'korro realised as the creature drew all attention away from their end of the ship.

Akaia's brows furrowed in horror. Sar'zoo was going to get himself killed. He was facing a boat full of sky people all by himself—if he kept going, they would kill him.

"No, no, no!" She shook her head and stepped forward, only for Mak'korro's arm to shoot out and grasp hers.

The boy's eyes narrowed with concern. "Akaia, what are you doing? He is giving us the opportunity to leave. Your wound is not getting any better—you have lost a lot of blood. We need to leave now."

The girl bowed her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I can't leave him. He is my soul brother. I love him like family."

Screams echoed from Sar'zoo's victims ahead; by now, half the ship was undoubtedly aware of his presence.

Suddenly, heavy gunfire erupted. Sar'zoo's roars of pain tore through the air.

Akaia's eyes widened in panic. She wrenched her arm free from Mak'korro's grasp and bolted down the corridor. Her mate called after her, begging her to stop, but she couldn't. She needed to save Sar'zoo.

Turning the corner, she was met with a group of sky people, weapons raised at Sar'zoo's massive, bloodied form. He was barely holding himself upright. Akaia lunged toward a fallen human, ripping the gun from the still-warm fingers of the corpse.

She raised the weapon just as one of the men noticed her.
"Na'vi! Na'vi—" he screamed.

Akaia fired, pumping multiple rounds into his body. The others sprang into action, but the Sully girl was faster—dropping them one by one until they lay motionless on the floor.

She discarded the weapon and ran to Sar'zoo, leaping over the bodies without a second glance. Her wound throbbed violently, her vision blurring as the world began to spin.

"Sar'zoo," she whispered.

His breathing was shallow, ragged. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she took in his bullet-ridden body. Akaia dropped to her knees beside him as his eyes blinked slowly, a deep, pained groan rumbling from his chest as he recognised his soulmate.

"I'm here. I'm here," she murmured desperately as his breaths grew slower, uneven. She pressed her forehead to his, eyes squeezing shut.
"Thank you, Sar'zoo. Thank you for everything, my brother."

Her hand stroked his cheek as his breathing stuttered... then stopped. His eyes closed.

Akaia's heart shattered.

The world fell silent as she wrapped her arms around herself, rocking back and forth, unable to breathe, unable to think. A familiar hand gently grasped her shoulder as Mak'korro sank down beside her.

She felt nothing.

Mak'korro was speaking—she could see his lips moving—but the words never reached her. The pain, both physical and emotional, crushed in on her from all sides. Her body was slick with her own blood, her heart torn beyond repair.

Her head spun. She collapsed into Mak'korro's chest, her vision fading in and out as her grip on reality loosened.

And then, slowly, mercifully everything went dark.

———

Akaia's eyes fluttered open, her body jerking as she winced at the harsh light above her. Every inch of her ached as she tried to adjust, muscles screaming in protest as she took in her surroundings.

"Akaia?"

A broken voice sounded from across the marui.

She turned her head slowly, the muscles in her neck burning.
"Dad?" she croaked, a tear slipping down her cheek.

Jake was already moving, crouching beside her and taking her hand in his.
"My girl, my sweet girl. It's okay. I'm here—you're safe," he murmured, rubbing gentle circles into the outside of her hand.

"Dad... Sar'zoo. They killed him, Dad. I couldn't do anything—he tried to save me..." Her voice cracked as the memories came flooding back.

She really looked at him then.

A white stripe of mourning paint ran from his head to his stomach.

Her breath hitched.

"I know, baby girl," Jake said softly. "Mak'korro told us everything once he returned with you. Sar'zoo is safe with Eywa now."

Her gaze lifted to his eyes—bloodshot, hollow. Something was wrong. Her heart began to race.

Her eyes flicked around the marui, realising only her father was there.
"Is everything okay, Dad? Where is everyone?"

Noticing her panic, Jake gently shushed her, stroking her hair.
"Everything is fine, darling. Just relax—you don't want to hurt yourself any more than what has already been done."

Her brows furrowed.

"Dad," she whispered, voice trembling, "why do you have that paint on your face? What happened?"

Tears streamed steadily down her face.

Jake's head dropped. He closed his eyes and drew in a shaky breath.

A hollow cold spread through her chest, a deep ache pulsing beneath her ribs.

"Dad!" she demanded, slowly pushing herself upright despite the pain screaming through her body. "You need to tell me."

Jake met her eyes, tears welling in his own. His breaths shuddered as grief overtook him.

"Please, Dad," she begged. "Please tell me everyone is okay."

"Neteyam..." he whispered, his eyelids squeezing shut.

Akaia's stomach dropped. The cold spread everywhere.

"No," she breathed. "No, no, no. Neteyam? What about Neteyam?"

"He is gone, Akaia."

A guttural scream tore from her throat as tears poured freely down her face. Jake grabbed her, pulling her into his arms and rocking her back and forth as her cries echoed through the marui.

Her brother.
Her baby brother.

Dead. Gone.

The hole where her heart should have been burned—shattered and empty all at once.

Jake held her, rocking her until exhaustion finally claimed her and she slipped into unconsciousness. His own tears fell freely, soaking into her hair and the woven mat beneath

His family—once strong, once whole—now torn completely apart.

-

This chapter was so difficult to write and im still so unhappy with it.

So sorry to make you guys wait do long for chapters, work has just been so hectic.

I watched the new film and I really loved it!! Im not sure if I will continue the story into the next film but if you guys are interested I might give it a shot!