bound - avatar oc x oc

part 11

After the breathing lessons, the group went for a swim on their Ilu. Akaia swam ahead of her brother Neteyam as they chased each other through the water.

For the first time in a long time, Akaia felt free.
Free from her duties.
Free from the sky people.
Free from the weight of expectation that had followed her since birth.

All her life, she'd been trying to prove herself—to her clan, to her family, to her father. The pressure of being the next Olo'eykte was always looming in the back of her mind. Every decision she made, every skill she honed, was for them.

But now... here in the ocean, gliding through water like it was air, she was free of all that.
She could just be Akaia.
A teenager.
A girl with no titles. No expectations. Just peace.

She noticed the others heading toward the surface, so she followed.

When she broke through the water, the sun was already beginning to set, casting orange and pink hues across the waves.

"You are learning to breathe," Tsireya said proudly, looking over the Sully kids with a gentle smile.

"Come, let's return home. It is getting dark," Rotxo added, and everyone turned their Ilu back toward the village.

⸻

By the time Akaia arrived back at their family marui, she was exhausted. She quietly dropped down beside her mother, who was descaling fish. Without a word, Akaia pulled out her knife and began helping.

Neytiri looked at her daughter with a warm smile before turning back to her work.

One by one, the rest of the Sully family entered. Jake came in last, scanning each of his children like he always did—counting heads, checking faces, quietly assessing if they were all okay.

He sat down across from Neytiri and Akaia, watching the two work over the fish.

"So, how was your day, Akaia?" he asked.

A shy smile crept across her face. "It was good. Tsireya taught us breathing techniques, and Mak'korro showed me how to ride an Ilu."

Jake noticed how her smile widened at the mention of Mak'korro. He also noticed Lo'ak rolling his eyes.

"Mak'korro..." Jake echoed, trying to sound casual. "That's Tonowari's son, right?"

Akaia nodded, the blush on her face deepening.

Jake's stomach dropped.
Oh no.
His eldest daughter—his baby—had a crush.

Back in the forest, he never had to worry about this. Akaia had been too focused, too busy, too mature. But here? With handsome reef boys and long ocean swims?

Lo'ak let out a groan and marched over. "You should've seen them, Dad. It was disgusting! All that hand-holding and giggling—it made me want to throw up."

Akaia hissed and shoved him. "Shut up, Lo'ak. You wanna talk about disgusting? I dry heave every time I see you drooling over Tsireya!"

Lo'ak gasped and pushed her back.

Tuk, of course, found the whole thing hilarious and giggled as the two started hissing at each other.
Kiri kept braiding her hair and muttered, "Great. Here we go again."

Neteyam sighed and stepped in, separating the two before it escalated. Jake just sat there, stunned, watching his once well-ordered family unravel in real time.

Neytiri chuckled at his face before standing up.

"Enough. Both of you!" she snapped.

Lo'ak and Akaia immediately dropped their heads.

"Akaia, come outside with me. Lo'ak, help your father with the fish. Jake—you help too."

Jake nodded and shuffled over to the fire with Lo'ak, still looking dazed.

⸻

Outside, Neytiri led her daughter to the edge of the dock and sat down, patting the space next to her. Akaia dropped beside her, letting her feet dangle over the water.

"So," Neytiri said, eyes twinkling, "what's he like?"

Akaia's face flushed. "Ma—it's nothing. He's just a friend," she said quickly, refusing to make eye contact.

Neytiri raised a brow. "A friend wouldn't have you blushing like that."

Akaia turned to her with a scandalized expression. "It's just a silly crush. I've known him for like... a day!" She buried her face in her hands. "Lo'ak blew it out of proportion."

Neytiri laughed gently, rubbing her back. "Don't be embarrassed, ma'ite. It's natural. You're eighteen. I was your age when I met your father."

Akaia peeked through her fingers, her eyes meeting her mother's.

"Your feelings, whether they're friendly or romantic, matter," Neytiri continued. "And they are nothing to be ashamed of."

Akaia leaned into her mother's embrace, hugging her tightly.

"He's really handsome, Ma," she whispered. "Like... really handsome. I get butterflies whenever I see him."

Neytiri nudged her shoulder with a grin. "Next time you see him, point him out."

"You'll know it's him, trust me," Akaia said with a giggle. "He's stunning. Strong. Muscular. He's got these warrior tattoos across his chest—"

She trailed off, eyes sparkling as she ranted. Neytiri just smiled, listening.

She loved being a mother—the good and the hard. And as she sat there, watching her daughter giggle about her first crush, she felt her heart swell.

Her little girl was growing up.
And Neytiri wasn't sure she was ready to let her go.

———

a/n

just you wait jake, akaia holding hands is gonna be the last of ur problems bro 😉