NETEYAM'S PUPILS DILATED at the remnants of bioluminescent seaweed on the glossy surface of the dark cave, the shore brushing at his feet.

His ears twitched along with the flushed feel he got once the golden haired girl gently tugged on the ends of his fingers, instructing him on when and how to duck and turn in the maze-like cave so as to avoid impalement of the spiky interior.

As they explored deeper in, the water - although being brightly lit by the marine life - appeared milky. And the rock surrounding them grew slippery, with more prominent stripes.

It was beautiful. And so were the freckles that beamed on the both of them, the golden haired girls marks more scattered than his in it's amount.

Besides their breaths deepening in the thickening humidity and steam having risen from the body of water, echoes of laughter travelled from outside of the rest of the group, seemingly unbothered by their disappearance.

The water now lifted above their knees, the duo's ears twitching at the faint gush of large bodies of water fall in the distance.

The journey was mostly quiet, and Neteyam preferred that, for him to adore Tsu'laika's rich soft golden hair, or how she would regularly turn back to ask him If he was still okay, piercing him with her icy lavender-blue eyes.

It made him blush with the adorable fact that she either cared that much about the safety of those around her, or had zero faith in him to make it this way on his own. It might've been both.

But besides the silence, the princess would educate Neteyam on the caves history, myths and legends on how--

"Kxor'Tirea , the spirit of the cave, reads ones deepest darkest thoughts...desires" she sparkled her piercing eyes up at him with a playful widen as he gulped, his heart racing as she continued, "Deciding on whether they can become a reality...or a curse."

His head wandered around the room, chills running through him at that, before the princess added, "The water also does wonders for your skin!"

He chuckled as she innocently did, caught off guard by her inability to stay serious. Her unique dialect making everything she says so mysterious nonetheless. Still stuck on the unsettling conundrum of the cave, he paced closer to her.

Other things were a comfort to him, like her golden mane. Something about the defined, silky curls bouncing as she mumbled songs to herself did something to him - a good something. Voluminous, mighty and elegant in the jewels braided into her habesha cornrows.

Or her reassurance through her large innocent eyes. Her accented husky voice echoing the cave, the voice of Eywa. She felt...

...Dreamy, like, like the moon.

He thought.

In this fogged light, he would pinch himself to ensure that he really saw the ethereal presence of this princess, and questioned whether his mind was as sound as it was before he entered this tunnel-like sea cave.

At last, the princess came to a stop once a large royal blue lake in a cavern surrounded by pale rocks stood before them. Neteyam whispered in adoration of the hole in the ceiling making way for the sun's beautiful gleam. The gush of water in the distance was louder, yet still far.

And the princess pivoted to the boy, with a proud and gleaming smile on her face, performing jazz hands as he let out a breathy chuckle.

CRADLING HIS LARGE HAND -or his two fingers, the golden haired girl guided them into the center of the body of water, where the current slightly strengthened.

His head tilted, eyebrows furrowing, his puppy amber eyes helplessly darting on both of hers as his heartbeat sped right up.

"...Focus on the current that guides you," she told under her breath, Neteyam closing his eyes as his eyebrows lightly spasmed, "...And tell me what you hear."

The light husk in her voice now sounded more distanced, distorted, and the cricketing noise of the cove had faded, with the slow gush of the water beating down.

Ba boom. Ba boom. Ba boom.

"...A single...heartbeat?" he felt a pulse, not his pulse, but the water's. He looked to her, and could feel the delicate breath she took - before she abruptly lifted her hand from his. He let out a nervous chuckle, "How?-- H--"

"'Our hearts beat in the womb of the world'," she merely told, her eyes lighting up with a chuckle. "...If you want to live here...you must learn to be one with it," she rolled her shoulders back as she sat down into the shallow waters.

The boy followed. Her eyes shut as she instructed, "Breathe...slowly. In...and out, from down here. Try to imagine flickering a flame" she tapped on her freckled abdomen, the boy nodding, mimicking her.

Tsu'laika opened her eyes, gently placing her hands on his deep blue chest and lower abdomen, her eyes finally locking in his star stricken ones, "Good, just...slow your heartbeat, okay?" she asked under her voice, at his light flinch and nod and clearing of his throat, and the ironic stark increase in heartbeat.

Her lips pursed at his failing attempts to slow his heartbeat, as he shut his eyes to try focus. And after a minute of patience from her, she spat out, "...Maybe this'll help," She stood up. He followed, slightly tilting his head, "Deep breath in, like this" she made an o shape with her mouth, breathing in from her lower abdomen.

He did just as told, before his eyes widened at her hands pulling him to her, moving out the way so he would stumble into the deeper dip of the water.

She cracked out into hearty laughter as the splash sprinkled her, the boy finally popping his head out the water, flapping his wet braids from his face as he stuck his tongue to his cheeks, shaking his head, giving into a defeated chuckle.

"Bro!" he whined with a defeated chuckle, "How is this supposed to help?!"

"I think this is very helpful" she exaggerated her remarks as he panted, leaning his head back to rest on the water.

THE PRINCESS FINALLY DOVE IN, the boy ducking his head into the water, hovering under him.

He couldn't help but stare at the crossing pearls floating off her waist. Or her sparkling brighter in the water, as she gestured to him to follow her deeper into the body of water.

Swimming deeper in, a field of enclosed plants were woken up from their slumber, blooming open to gleam reds and purples unimagined before. Warbonnet ferns and tulips and plants Neteyam recognized from home, the Tawtsngal 'sky cups' ringing around them.

She smiled at his childlike excitement over the underwater garden, his eyes not knowing where to look. Bringing him to plants similar to clear succulents with petals the size of his hand. She latched two off and handed him one, him holding the cute clueless look once again.

She brought the plant to cover her mouth and nose, slowly breathing in. Tsu helped him place the plant properly on him, looking up to him as she smiled.

The boy hesitantly took a breath in. As he did, his eyes widened at the pocket of oxygen it had given him, the golden haired girl chuckling at his reaction.

And at that, their ears shifted at the familiar trills and squeaks echoing through the water. He frowned, while she smiled, before they turned to witness two ilu swimming around one another, one with the patched skin swimming to Tsu'laika, and the other to Neteyam.

The two ilu indulged in the little bioluminescent garden, squeaking as they caught the loose seaweed on their backs, sprinkling them onto the princess and warrior.

Tsu squinted with a radiating grin on her face as she got most of the glowing seaweed that slid down to sit like a skirt, while Neteyam had his shoulders covered in it.

Skai'lo waved her wing for the princess to do a twirl as Neteyam watched, the two flustered and slightly embarrassed.

At last, they bonded with their ilu, latching off the plant, grabbing hold of the handles on the ilu to propagate upward. Tsu spun around Neteyam as they competitively increased in speed on their way out the cove.

They joined the rest of the gang already riding their ilu, shooting out of the water to the mellow golden gaze the sunset instilled, hypnotizing the duo.

Back underwater, the girls rode their ilu in a spiral motion around each other, passing by the anemones and corals underwater, as the boys raced across the reef.

Typically, Tsu'laika and Izaä would occasionally tempt the forest kids into trying out their dare devilish stunts everyone always discouraged.

But nonetheless, they all reveled in riding the ilu with one another in the warm bask of sun with its closing eclipse.

"THAT FALL SHOULD'VE SLICED YOU CLEAN" Iza spat as he entered the room, walking past Tsu'laika to fiddle through the jars of herbs as his sister quietly winced past the new cold seaweed she wrapped around her wrist, looking out to the young eclipsed night.

Finally acknowledging his presence, she caught him digging his hands in a bag to take out an unrecognizable snack.

Although knowing exactly who else in the household would agree to consume such, she began, "And whose snacks are those?" she narrowed her eyes, him giving her a guilty stare. She huffed, yelling out: "Ao'nung!--Mm!"

Iza slapped his hand over her mouth, and Tsu began snickering as he whined for her to be quiet, "Tsu, this is serious! He hasn't owed me since last week-- this is payback!" he loudly whispered.

"And now I'm an accomplice against my will-- Y'know what-- I'll see you later at dinner!" she blurted out, still with his hand on her mouth.

She finally walked out from the marui, her eyes widening and lips pursing, seeing Ao'nung storm her way into the room she was just at. And at that, she began speed walking, to wherever she risked her safety to go to.

AMBLING ONTO A CORNERED SHORELINE, with the freckled blue sky peaking through the tree branches up high, Tsu'laika squealed inside at the nostalgia the fluffier sand brought.

Her head immediately darting to the legendary wall of every evolution of the indigenous weapons, tugging down her silky headscarf, still with loose strands peaking over the sides.

"Ah! If it isn't the only blondy in town!" a gasp was let out of her at the roaring voice, her instinct forcing her to further pull in the silk headscarf she covered her golden hair with, her gaze softening as--

"Imeko!" the girl exclaimed at the buff tatted chest of the tall man who came into view, his laugh humming on his chest to her cheek with their tight hug- that nearly killed her.

"How're you holding up, 'eve?" he squeezed her shoulders, before his face dropped with a deep sigh after she enthusiastically lifted her left hand up to him - bandaged, "I see...but what brings you here so late during eclipse?"

The princess strained her face in hesitation, shooting her head down, before quickly spitting out--

"--Can I use the field to train tonight?" she kissed her teeth, painfully looking up to Imeko's cold stare of disapproval as she continued, "Please-- My hand is...fine-- I'm healing well! And and iknimaya might as well be...in a year from now, You know how much this means to me-- and I won't break anything, I promise!" she jabbered, her face straining again so she could read the unreadable face of Imeko.

"...You know how bad it looks for me to leave the princess alone to train so late in the night" rubbing his forehead, he groaned with a shaking head, mustering up the energy to continue, "...Just for tonight," he always loathed the soft spot he had for her as it would allow for her questionable requests, "If anyone sees you here alone, play dumb"

"Got it! Thank you, Imeko!" the princess hugged him once again, pulling away to hold his shoulders, twisting his body to face where the exit laid.

"And you touch nothing!"

DELIBERATELY DISOBEYING IMEKO'S ORDERS when it hasn't even been half an hour since he's left, Tsu'laika fiddled with the weapons on the wall of knives and spears and weapons indigenous to the village. Fangirling over some of the mightiest warriors who've used them, like --

"Warrior Au'tsari's knife?!" she gasped dramatically sharp at the glimmer of the stone-carved weapon, ghosting her fingers over the cold blade, reading the carved writing 'Nothing is lost'.

Mustering up the courage to hold it, she grunted, caught completely off guard by the weight. Wincing as it pulled her downward, swinging it over to - fly across the field.

Shutting her eyes in utter annoyance of herself, she tugged down strands of hair as she gulped at the gloominess of where the knife laid.

Ambling to the other side, her mind focused on the gleaming reflections of the tranquil push and pull of the tide.

Spotting the fallen knife in the corner of her eye, she kneeled down to mentally prepare herself for the weight. Finally knitting her eyes forward to it. But as she did, she sharply shrieked at the set of eyes staring back at her.

Without a second to waste, she struck his neck with all the force of her elbow, numb to his erratic breaths and coughs for air.

Pushing him to fall on his back as she grabbed his wrists, mounting them to the sand above his head, kneeing his stomach as she grabbed the sharp blade off the sand to press it against his recovering neck, sliding out the knife from his waist as she pressed.

It was at that moment where the girl could finally draw out pleas yelling--

"Its just me! It's it's--"

"--Neteyam?" her piercing gaze softened with her voice, not to relief, but utter confusion as her eyebrows deeply furrowed, her ears falling.

He rested his head back down from the flash of his life before him, the girl still hovering over him with the knife as he suppressed his dramatic gasps for air with hyperventilation.

Her metallically-blue-lit hair finally exploded out of the headscarf and onto the boy, flipping it back with her forearm.

Delving into the bright amber of his beautiful widened eyes, a scoff escaping from her as he quietly chanted to Eywa - maybe even cussing, with his hands covering his face, shaking his head, "You skxawng!" she huffed

She was frozen, feeling his chest beating hard and fast. And at that, her ears finally twitched her back to reality as her fingers gently grasped at his chin to lift it, now examining it as closely as a nurturing mother would. "I'm -- sorry for startling you-- It was not my intention," he panted with those words finally escaping from him.

His braids - now layered with sand, slapped his shoulders as he grunted to lift his head, slightly lightheaded at the heavy, cold and extremely sharp blade still at his throat. He scoffed, his eyes helplessly glowing up at her.

The golden haired girl's eyes flared, immediately throwing the knife to her side as if it wasn't just pressing at his skin. His eyebrows furrowed, "Did you just...almost kill me?"

She stammered to an abrupt pouting stop as she slowly shook her head. Noticing his unconvinced lip purse, she sighed, finally retreating from over him. She rolled her eyes as she held her right hand out to him, not bothering to look into his eyes.

Sure, Neteyam almost got his throat slit, but it was by her - and it was, amongst other things, terrifyingly beautiful.

Feeling his arm finally grab hers, she pulled him up, immediately letting go of it, causing the boy to lose balance as he crawled for his balance back, the princess too occupied on how--

"You really shouldn't be here-- or they'll actually slit your throat, and watch as you bleed out on me-- and, and Imeko's gonna skin me alive If he sees--..." she finally turned around to the swinging braids of Neteyam as he abruptly stood straight up and cleared his throat.

During the awkward silence, her icy orbs narrowed, before scoffing with a weak smile, rolling her eyes. She spotted the war knife she threw over for the second time, a breath escaping her from the pull down.

"Let me help you with that, Tsu'laika" he too was surprised by the strain of his voice, clearing his throat as he approached her, his reaction to the weight being a mere pursing of lips.

Awkward silence followed, besides the waves gushing at their feet. And as it did, the boy read the girl's eager eyes on the knife, blurting out--

"I can teach you how to fight, if you'd like" Neteyam lifted his eyebrows, "Omatikayan way?" he mumbled, as she she lightly scoffed in laughter

"Teach me?" the girl smiled, "I can knock your skxawng ass into this water in a heartbeat" she lifted her chin up high to him, satisfied at the restraint shock on his face.

"...Okay sea princess...show me" he tilted his head, smiling at the sparkle lit in her eyes

"And you tap out once you've lost, yes?" she cracked her knuckles as he laughed

"Uh, sure." "Don't worry, I will go easy on you, princess "

"Big mistake, jungle boy" Tense eye contact followed as Neteyam tossed the knife, while Tsu looked up obliviously. It was at that moment where Neteyam realized he really didn't want to do anything to hurt her, before-

Thump.

The princess kicked him off of his feet, and as he grunted, she hovered over him with a satisfied smirk on her face as she whispered in his ear, "This look familiar?" before breaking into a snicker which he found adorable.

He would never say it out loud but, this was a good look for her.

But her fun was over, he thought. And at that, he rolled her over beside him. Gently but swiftly grabbing her wrists as he lifted his eyebrows with the classic head tilt. She peered at him as he wrapped some found seaweed around them.

"I'm sorry" she drew out, before kneeing his groin, though about to head slammer him into the sand, but his winces, and how he now held onto his groin was more than enough.

The girl shuffled from under him to quickly get up, looking around for something to cut the stubborn seaweed from her. Turning back to the helpless boy, kneeling to him as she chuckled at his groaning defeat.

He finally took note of her attempts to take his knife with cuffed wrists as he whined, "Hey hey hey woah! Princess-" he stood up as she did, taking every painful step towards the girl slowly walking backwards.

She cut the seaweed down the center. And at Neteyam's increase in walking speed with his braids flying behind him, the princess let out a panicked shriek, impulsively tossing the knife to - descend into the water.

They froze, the princess getting into a defense position, with eyebrows furrowed at the boy's unpredictability. He departed, in the direction of the water, the girl scoffing as she ran after
him.

They childishly pulled and shoved each other as they went for it - Neteyam's shoves being painfully softer than hers. He stumbled from her last shove, witnessing as she dove into the bright water.

Her face lit up at the knife rested over yellow anemones, carefully grabbing it. Looking up to surface, she realized how deep in she's gotten.

The princess shot out of the water at last, her hand in the air with the knife. She chuckled, walking to the shallower end of the beach as she scanned for the particular deep blue skin of Neteyam. To find no one.

"Ugh! That skxawng! Ah!" she shrieked at the pull force she felt grabbing her right hand from behind her. Spinning to stumble into - Neteyam.

His amber eyes darted on her starry eyes, and her darkened wet curls, as he lifted her left hand. Gently sliding the knife off her, he tapped on her palm three times. Heavy panting and water dripping from them, was all they could hear.

Sharing a breathy chuckle, she stretched her arm out to him. His head tilted, reading the girls impatient eyes. He finally surrounded her palm with his, not knowing that it was possible for her to -

"Bro!" he exclaimed as pulled his arm for him to helplessly stumble into the water as she snatched his knife once again. Classic Tsu'laika.

authors note

'eve - (little) girl !!

i really hope y'all enjoyed this chapter cause i know i did 🤭

cool fact, Neytiri was first set out to be called 'Zuleika' which is an interesting coincidence because some may pronounce my oc (Tsu'laika) that way lol

happy 5.5k reads! i'm so grateful for the support so far! voting and commenting means more than you know <3

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Neteyam: i love the kind of woman that will actually just kill me 🤭

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