Safiya

Cold metal is the first thing I feel against my face when I wake and I clear my throat softly while opening my eyes. My face was smashed between the bars on my bed and I'm glad that Ateyo's isn't awake to see me.

The last time I had seen him fall asleep, he seemed cautious and not fully unconscious. Here, he was snuggled deep within the confines of the bed with a slight lift of his lips. I couldn't believe it wasn't a smirk. A loud bang crashes outside and I fall back into my bed with my eyes closed.

"Gooood morning Pandorians! You're friendly brotherhood brother here, Asher. And may I just say what a bee-you-tiful day it is outside. It's almost prettier than me! Green, green, and more green outside with a lovely sunrise." In my peripheries, Ateyo's eyes fly open, slit slightly and his ears pin to his head, like a horse.

I was awake but my ears weren't fully used to sound and I really didn't want to hear my annoying brother's voice at who-knows-what hour, "Asher…"

Half a glass of cold water is abruptly poured on my head and I sputter and roll out of bed, "You are so dead!"

I leap on top of my bed to cancel out the height difference, fully awake now, and trap him in a headlock while giving him a noogie.

"Not the hair, not the hair!" He screeches, attempting to bat my offending knuckle away, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

He manages to somehow squirm away while I'm laughing and firmly pressure me off the bed with his gargantuan legs.

"Ow! Now you're really dead!" I glare up at him which turns into giggles and ready myself for a counter attack until Ateyo suddenly slips in between us and shoves Asher off the bed while standing in front of me.

"Wow!" Asher falls back and lands on his ass. I can tell that he doesn't really care about the pain, only confused about the giant blue alien snarling at him with his dagger drawn, "Dude, what's your problem?"

"Whoa, hold your horses Ateyo." I carefully grasp the knife and uncase it from his tight grip against his frown of protest, "Asher, Ateyo was confused. Don't be rude and ask him what his problem is unless he's attacking you again. Being polite is a must; mom raised you better than that you know. As for you," I direct myself at Ateyo, "Let's set a couple ground rules, okay? Firstly, Asher was just kidding, so don't hurt my family or anyone else unless I'm actually in a life-threatening situation."

"You do not tell me what to do."

"You insist on following me everywhere and expect me to act like a trained animal? No. Not gonna happen. If you're- we're- doing this then I get to have a say as well. You don't have to like me but you do have to respect me. Which means that I won't tolerate any more hissy fits."

I notice the interaction between the two of them as they look at each other with raised eyebrows, clearly thinking simultaneously, "What's her problem?"

"Don't think I didn't catch the look. You go get Dee and we'll get ready."

"Oh, so you and him are 'We' now?" Asher smirks.

I point my finger at him, "No more sass from you. You're lucky I didn't wring you out and hang you up to dry when you dumped water on me."

Ateyo pinches the bridge of his nose as if going 'why me?'. He was clearly fluent and spoke excellent English, I just don't think he understood our proverbs.

Asher holds up his hands in surrender when I usher him out the door. After he's out of sight, I close the door and lean against it with a sigh, "You know, this would be a lot easier if you just gave me a chance when you had the opportunity."

Slumping back onto my bed, I take a more serious stance in my dealings with him, "No more propositions. Here's the deal.-"

"I accept."

"I didn't even finish."

"Was it the same proposition as last night?"

"Well, yes bu-"

"Then we're settled. I thought about it and I decided a few minutes ago."

I sputter, "Well, that's- well that's great then. Let me- Hey, where are you going?"

"Get dressed. Today is the beginning of your education." He opens the bunker garage.

"Really?"

"Did I stutter?" he glares then makes some kind of calling noise.

"Alight, enough sass," I redo my tight French braid, making extra sure to pull back any stray wisps and pull on suitable pants rather than my pajama shorts in the bathroom. I call out to him from behind the door, "This is so exciting!"

"You wanted this and now I am going to make you regret this."

"Okaaaay."

"Where are you guys going?" Asher has returned and has Dee in tow like he promised.

"We're going with Ateyo! Isn't that exciting?"

"Hold on there lone wolves. Let's not get too excited." Dee skeptically eyes Ateyo and I think this is the first time he's ever in agreement with a human. Beside me of course.

They both mirror the other in stance. Dee and Ateyo both have their arms crossed and their feet propped out. I elbow Asher and he nods in speculation. Ateyo speaks, "There is no 'we'. It is just you and me. Your friends will not come along."

"They're my family. It's part of the agreement that you treat them well."

"It doesn't mean I'm their chauffeur." Ateyo's mountain banshee land right behind her master and squawks an echo of what Ateyo said.

"Whoa. Do we get to ride him?" Asher stares in awe.

"Her." Ateyo and I say at the same time.

"What is going on in here?"

Ugh. I knew she would return.

"Vivian. All of us were going to home tree."

This time she had her sister Bree, the red head, in tow.

"What?" She pulls me aside and I shake off her arm.

Speaking through gritted teeth, she furiously demands, "There are rules here and you can't just go wandering-"

"You're training begins now whether you like it or not. And bring some of your human friends. I don't care anymore. Let's just get out of here."

I grasp her arm and speak hurriedly, "You wanted to improve relations with the Na'vi. Here's your chance. No, I'm your chance. I have an in and I know you want to fix this bad. It would make your career."

"I don't care about that you idiot. It isn't about me. Look, I get it. But if you're going, so am I and a few select others of my choosing."

He rolls his eyes which I take as a yeas and I shrug, "Be my guest but he isn't patient and you don't have much time. Just know that you do what I say if you want to stay good with him."

Her nostrils flare and Vivian nods shortly, definitely not pleased but she wants the Na'vi too badly to let me or herself screw it up. In a way, it was kind of admirable.

"I'll be ready in five."

"What is all this ruckus about-whoa. What is that doing there?" He gazes at the bore mountain banshee and removes his sunglasses.

"Matthew- Sergeant- Colonel- er sir. We were just getting ready to go."

He scowls and nods his assessment, "Hell yes. I'm coming with and bringing Talon."

"No way in…" I pointedly gaze at Vivian.

"Whatever boss."

"I grow tired. Are we leaving? Neytiri and Jake Sully should arrive any second so they can help."

I look at my motley crew, "We're ready whenever you are."

…

Jake and Neytiri arrived in a few moments thanks to Ateyo.

Asher, Dee, and I will be riding with Ateyo. Jake had Talon and Matthew. And Vivian practically drooled when Neytiri offered to take her, Bree, and Reid.

Two people would ride in the claws of a mountain banshee and one person would sit up behind a Na'vi.

Ateyo had demanded that I ride up with him so Dee and Asher were out of luck in the claws that had difficulty holding a full grown Na'vi yet had no problem with the humans that were half a Na'vi's size.

"I wasn't sure you'd come back." I murmur to Ateyo when he lifts me effortlessly onto the back of his Ikran when everyone was getting everything situated. Jake was incredulous at first about bringing people back to his home but allowed it after hearing all the back stories of everyone coming.

Matthew and Vivian had to clear everything up with their inferiors so that took some time for everyone to gt adjusted to one another.

"You doubt my word?" By the sour, disgusted look on his face I might have well as said I peed on his mother's grave and in his cornflakes.

I lie unconvincingly, "Psh. Jeez, no. It's just a crazy place here. I didn't know if you'd want to come back."

His eyes tighten, "I don't want to come back but I had to."

I open my mouth to speak and he purposefully yells out to stop me, "Everyone ready?"

"Sis, I don't know about this!" Asher fidgets uncomfortably down below me.

"Everything will be fine! Keep looking at me and…"

"Let's fly!" Ateyo pats his beast and up we go whether my bro liked it or not.

A/N: Everyone should know that I was really tired when I wrote the last author's note… Yep… Anyways, I had a burst of free time when I'm not sleeping and this came out. (Kidding. Slightly.) Also, I didn't bother to edit this. I'm thinking of a beta so let me know if anyone has any experience with them and how it went. Thanks and hope you enjoyed!