I was really tired when I uploaded that first chapter, so I missed some things in the explanation. Yes, Nikti is Nikti from Bumps in the Road – same person! I really like her, and though she will turn into a bitch later on, I wanted to put her in this fic, with just some parts of her new personality.
Anyway, on with the story.
Chapter Two
"Father?" came Neytiri's voice as she walked into Eytukan's room. Truthfully, it was Eytukan and Grace's room now, considering she was permanently staying. Neytiri tried to push that idea aside. Grace had been standing in as acting tsahík, and though she would never say it to her face, or anyone else, she wasn't very good at it. Neytiri knew she was trying, so she didn't want to insult her or anything, but when she didn't know how to lead the clan in morning prayer, it was a concern. Then again, was her father really so blind to think Grace could do it? Coming from a planet where the only religion these days was sex and drugs, and Grace said her only religion was science didn't help her cause. "We're a bunch of heathens!" she liked to quip to the group, and Neytiri would silently pray she would never say that in the clan's presence, or any other high order.
Eytukan had been at his table. For once it was devoid of scriptures or any other mess, and Neytiri could actually see the intricate carvings on it, telling the Na'vi history. She had never attempted to translate it, and she would be damned if she tried now. The leader looked up as his youngest came in, and he smiled at her; when she didn't smile back, his faded promptly. He sighed and passed her something. "Mind giving this to Adaman?" he asked her.
Neytiri took the strange parcel, which was placed in a twine basket. "Sure he's not getting a grip on his hangover?" Neytiri sarcastically remarked. Actually, Adaman hadn't drunk anything last night – Nikti had been the one to, and Neytiri was fairly sure she was still passed out in the medical centre, where Adaman had taken her. It was a pretty embarrassing moment for Neytiri.
As her mind drifted back to the party, she thought about the conversation she and Nikti had had. In an attempt to alleviate the settling discomfort of the evening, Bree had suggested they all start a game of charades, which actually turned out to be quite fun and very lengthy. In the middle of it, just before Neytiri's team's turn, Nikti had pressed up against her and put her lips to her ear and murmured, "I'm going to be sick." That came as a surprise to Neytiri. Though she hadn't been watching Nikti all night, she didn't think she had drunk that much. She pulled Nikti's arm around her neck and got her to her feet, thinking perhaps some water splashed on her face from the river might help her. As they walked briskly into the forest, Nikti stumbled, and Neytiri hoped the others were too engrossed in the game to notice. It was quite late, as the sky was terribly dark. At least the bioluminescent plants they encountered every day had helped.
Neytiri had led Nikti to the river, letting her lie down on the cool floor. She actually didn't know what to do when someone was drunk. She didn't drink herself, and she wasn't the one to help another when they were in such a situation. "All right, you lie down and I'll get you some water," Neytiri suggested as she went to get a leaf to catch water in.
Nikti wasn't even paying attention to Neytiri, her mind totally off somewhere else. "How is it… that we are both nineteen and neither of us have been married?"
"Nikti, don't you think that is a little young to be married?" Neytiri pointed out as she took a leaf from the tree, rubbing the spot and murmuring a chant for another to grow in its place afterwards. She went to the river to fill it up, listening to Nikti still as she slurred.
"I was… meant to have three children… now…" Nikti managed, hiccupping at the end. "Kayala, Yalté… what was the other one? Do you remember?"
"Tellua?" Neytiri suggested, filling the leaf and coming back to Nikti.
"Tellua isn't a special name… You do remember," Nikti told her, watching her as she came back, but her eyes kept shifting from Neytiri's form.
Neytiri sighed. "Um… Sheiae? I don't remember."
"Don't tell me that!" Nikti exclaimed, sounding like one of the students at the school when it had been too long since their last snack.
Neytiri dipped her fingers into the water and gently sprinkled a little on Nikti's face, really not knowing what to do. She thought maybe if Nikti drank some. She gently lifted her head, trying to get her to drink. "Nikti, please co-operate…"
"Did I ever tell you," Nikti continued to slur, "That when you were with Tsyal, I pictured him… with a really long, thin penis?" Like a child, she giggled hysterically at the word that seemed really out of place with the rest of the sentence. "You know… because he was such a long, thin person?"
That was not actually inaccurate, Neytiri had to admit, and it would explain why she never actually climaxed or actually enjoyed sex with him. She wasn't going to give Nikti the satisfaction of realising she was right, though. "Nikti, just drink the water."
Nikti didn't seem to be listening, now on a whole spiel about all the men she found attractive in the clan. Neytiri knew if she started talking about Adaman, she would march right out of there and let Nikti fend for herself. But it was someone else that set Neytiri on edge. "You know, that Jake guy is really hot…" Oh, Eywa. "You were with him non-stop for three months… did you two ever…?"
Neytiri made a horrified face. "Nikti, not everyone is like you," she said, getting defensive. Talking about Jake like that bothered her, particularly from Nikti. But why should it? Jake wasn't hers to defend, but it just bothered her that Jake was part of the clan now – he could have any girl her wanted, which pleased the vast majority of girls practically lining up for him. Neytiri wasn't one of them though. At a time, she had half wondered if she would be, but no – she didn't want to. He was too good of a friend now and she didn't want to jeopardise that. Besides, he didn't take an interest in her. Oh, if only she knew.
"Maybe I should ask him out…" Nikti mused, and the princess's jaw tightened. "I bet he'd have the biggest, most delicious – "
"Dear Eywa, dear Mother, please shut the hell up!"
After taking care of Nikti, and once she seemed a little more sober after being sick near Neytiri's feet – hats off to Jake if he ever got into the likes of her – she took her back to the party. As Neytiri led her, stumbling, they caught Adaman's attention. Of course they would; healers noticed every ailment of everybody, particularly him. "You two alright?" Adaman asked in concern as he saw Nikti. He got one whiff of her breath and didn't need to ask anything further.
"We are fine," Neytiri told him, smiling.
Adaman looked at Nikti, and then to his niece-of-sorts. "Want me to take her to the medical centre?" he kindly offered.
Neytiri flushed, her skin turning slightly darker in tone. "Uh, that's not necessary…" she told him as Nikti reached away from Neytiri to call out to Jake with some flirtatious remark, who pretended not to hear. Neytiri cringed.
Adaman chuckled. "Here, I'll take her."
"Really, that's not necessary – "
"I insist." Adaman smiled his flawless smile, taking Nikti's weight off of Neytiri's shoulders. "Don't worry. When the children come in for their medication tomorrow, she'll be up before the ikrans caw."
Eytukan's voice brought Neytiri back to the present. "He'll be fine," he told his daughter, getting up to kiss her cheek. Neytiri remained stiff, and Eytukan felt his heart sink. Many things had changed between them. Before, she had always talked to him, listened to him, called him 'da'… Now just 'father'. Eytukan tried not to let it show how much that hurt – a leader had more important things to think about than an affectionate nickname that his daughter put on him. "Tell him I say 'hello'."
Neytiri nodded. "You'll see him at dinner, though…" she murmured as she walked out of the room. She walked down the hall and down the type of staircase they had to the ground floor, walking into the medical centre. "Hello?" she called out, finding the place unusually bare. That was strange. Neytiri came to the main section of it, scouting for Sareia, the head nurse who was often around. No one was there. Perhaps she should just drop it off on Adaman's desk – hopefully he'd know what it was. As she headed towards the secluded area of the medical centre, Neytiri's ears perked as she heard some strange, animalistic noises. Panting, grunting… The knocking against the wall gave Neytiri an idea of what was going on.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Neytiri decided to just poke her head around the entrance. Her eyes widened as she saw what was going on. Sareia was on the desk, stripped of her clothes, and Adaman was on top of her, his mouth latched on her breast, making her moan. His hips thrust against hers, making her move along the table. Neytiri gave a gasp and quickly moved away from the entrance, chuckling to herself softly.
· · ·
"You caught them?" Bree laughed the next day in the lounge as Neytiri told her what had happened. "Oh my God…"
Neytiri smiled, satisfied as she sipped at her water. She wanted to tell someone, and Bree seemed like the best person. Though she and Bree weren't the closest of friends, they got along well, and Neytiri thought they would become good friends in the future. "I did."
"Ah! So tell me, tell me!" Bree exclaimed to her friend. "What were they doing?"
A laugh came from Neytiri. "What weren't they doing? They were rolling on the desk for a long time, and then she gave him head."
Bree looked at Neytiri strangely, pulling away from her slightly. "… How long were you watching them?"
Neytiri blushed. "Um… well…" Thankfully she got saved from explaining that as Adaman himself came in. "Oh, hello."
"Hello little ladies," Adaman smiled at the duo, coming to sit next to Neytiri, which made her stiffen. That was strange. "Are you all right?"
"Fine," Neytiri hastily lied, feeling like she was waist-deep in water as the handsome, and now to her, pretty sexy healer sat beside her. Bree bit her lip to stop from laughing at Neytiri's predicament. Poor her. Neytiri got up and made some hasty excuse to leave.
Adaman frowned at her, and looked at Bree for some explanation. "What's gotten into her?"
Bree shrugged. "Mmm… Don't mind her. She's just suffering from hormones. She'll get over it."
