Author's Notes: I've watched the movie several times, and also TikTok videos of their connection as friends helping each other to survive through the war. Spider and Kiri are fascinating characters and their connections to the other characters meaning Jake and his family is inspiring and fun to watch. We'll begin first after the movie, then we'll time jump two years. Here we go, read on. I hope you enjoy it. Watch the movie before reading this; you will be spoiled.
~o~o~
Love Takes Time
Chapter 1: Gravity
From the moment these two characters made their appearance, we want to know more about them. Kiri's first appearance with a deep bond with Eywa and her miraculous birth, she is fascinating then Spider and the fact that he grew up after the war ended. His mother died during the battle and his father died after Neytiri killed him with her bow and arrow.
They're orphans, alone in the world, but Jake adopted both Kiri as an infant, and later Spider as a toddler; they grew closer growing up with the Sully family. We will continue their unique connection as friends and something more.
Kiri and Spider are reunited and they have time to talk to catch up the past few days when they were separated. Spider appears different from the last time she had seen him. Still living with the Metkayina clan, they had a few minutes alone, especially talking about his disappearance. She had missed him terribly.
After a brief swim, sitting by the water's edge, she needed to understand why they took him away. Not sure where to begin, she began their talk. "I cannot say enough about the way you tried to help us, but you didn't need to, I mean," she hesitated.
He understood. "I felt guilty that it happened because of me, but I wanted to help you in any way that I could. Do you believe me?"
"Yes, monkey boy, of course I do," she replied smiling.
He liked the nickname; she's the only one who calls him by that name. "You need to smile more often; it brightens your eyes along with other things." He ducked his head afraid he may have said too much.
She also ducked her head. "Thank you, Spider." She looked around loving this part of the island thinking of how much she had missed him. "You never told me what happened to you after you were kidnapped and…" She hesitated thinking of him being taken away.
"I don't want to talk about it," he said, stood up and walked away and stood by a tree and watched her again; he did that a lot, even without thinking.
"Spider, please wait," she said and followed him. "I'm sorry, talking about your time away from us, your family; you are family. I know that. It's just," she hesitated.
"Go on; what were you going to say?"
"You are family, but I don't look at you as my brother." She paused. "It's hard to explain."
"I understand, but when I look at you, you're not my sister, not at all," he confessed.
She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. "Now tell me what happened; did they hurt you?"
He looked at the water to gather his thoughts. "Yes, they probed my mind to find out where the Sully family had moved from the forest, and they thought I knew where you were, but I didn't know."
"That's awful; I'm sorry." She paused. "But how did they find us?"
"After you lost consciousness, the RDA choppers came to the island to help, and that's how they found you. I felt awful about it. They took me with them as they searched several islands but they also destroyed several villages threatening to hurt innocent people. It was Quaritch and his obsession to find Jake and his family. They did not know anything about you or Jake Sully, nothing."
"I see," she said and watched the water. "He won't stop until all of us are dead. We were bait to lure my parents to him." She paused. "I'm glad he's gone."
He shook his head thinking of that terrible time. "I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen to me; I feel terrible to watch him do all those horrible things to innocent people." His eyes watered. He felt awful not telling her the truth that he's alive, but he couldn't do it.
"You tried and that's all you could do." She saw his tears and took his hand. "I'm sorry you had to see it." She paused but she had to know. "Is it true that you and he are related; I mean that he's your father?" She asked bluntly.
"Yes, I think so, but I'm not sure," he replied and looked out at the warm water.
She squeezed his hand again surprising him. "Spider, please you need to find out the truth. If he's your father, then you need to know and move on, if that's what you want, but please remember what I said you are not him."
"I remember what you told me, but I feel confused." He shook his head. "I don't know what I want, but there's one thing I'm sure about." He turned to face her. "You are the only person in my mind to keep you safe, to save you, only you." He paused and squeezed her hand. "You are the one I think about when I'm lonely or feeling unsure about myself. You are the one."
They glanced at their joined hands, then feeling self-conscious, but he would not let go.
"Spider, I think about you too," she confessed. "I missed you a lot while you were gone. I thought I would never see you again, and it hurt a lot."
"A lot?" He asked and smiled.
"Yes, a lot, but you're back now and I'm happy you're back."
"I'm happy too," he said and smiled. Then their smiles vanished and they leaned in at the same time; he lifted his face shield, and they kissed, only a kiss.
She pulled away and touched her lips. "That was a kiss right? I've seen my parents do it a lot."
He smiled; his face shield is back. "A lot?" He asked still smiling.
She shook her head and changed the subject. "Look, there could be a way to find out the truth. The doctors who saved me, can find out the truth about your parents, if you let them."
He frowned. "How would they do that?"
"Well, they have medicines to help you if you're sick. They could draw your blood and evaluate it for who you are, meaning who they both are to you, whether they're your parents or not."
He shook his head. "You attended school; didn't you?"
"Yes, but only for several years."
"I'll think about it, but in the meantime, can we take another swim for a while?"
'"Sure, but only for a while; my parents may need me," she replied.
"Come on, let's go," he said, held tightly to her hand then began their swim.
A little while later, now further away from the clan, they walked out of the water, feeling rejuvenated, ready to talk more about their lives.
Now sitting down, Spider had thoughts about his parents and who they are. "I'll do it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I need to know who my parents are and why they left me alone for so long."
"You're not alone, not anymore," she said and smiled.
"No, not anymore," he smiled in return.
"Well, there you are I was looking for you!" A close family member spoke up after jumping from her water Ikran and walked closer.
~o~o~
Meanwhile, in the Sully clan dwelling, Tuktirey, Lo'ak and Jake are eating and talking about their family and how everything has changed.
"Are you talking about Kiri and Spider?" Lo'ak asked anyone who would listen.
"Yes, about them," Jake replied. "They're family, and they should be left alone."
"I think they're cute," Tuktirey commented.
"Cute?" Lo'ak asked and rolled his eyes.
"It's true; they're cute together," Tuktirey said sure of it.
"Okay, now listen. Spider has been with us for a long time and I trust him; he's a member of this family, and if Kiri likes him, it's their business, no one else. Got it?" Jake said in a tone that he means what he says.
"Yes, sir," Tuktirey said.
"Yes, sir," Lo'ak said.
They both ducked their heads and continued to eat.
Jake shook his head and wondered where his wife could be.
~o~o~
Back to the shoreline:
After Neytiri's unexpected appearance, Spider is at once afraid and unsure how to respond. He stood up and helped Kiri to stand. "We were only talking, nothing more."
Neytiri watched them appear nervous and worried. "As I flew by, I saw how close you were then I saw the kiss. What brought that on?" Silence followed. "Kiri, just tell me."
"Spider and I were talking, like he said, but then we held hands. He wanted to comfort me because we talked about Neteyam and how much we missed him, and it just happened."
Neytiri understood. "I understand, but when you kiss someone, it should not be taken likely; it means something. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Silence followed. "Let us sit down for a minute." Time for the talk, she realized.
"Now you are both old enough to understand that kissing can lead to other things you are not old enough to understand. Kissing each other could mean you have deeper feelings and that you like each other as more than friends. Is that true?"
They glanced at each other. Spider spoke up. "Yes, I like her and it's always been there and I can't change it."
"Kiri, how do you feel about him?" Neytiri asked, but she knew how she felt.
"Yes, I like him but you knew that Mother, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did suspect it after you felt upset when you witnessed him being kidnapped and you let those feelings out." She paused and watched them closely. "You're both growing up and I get it; I do, but only being friends is fine for now. I understand how those feelings can change into something more, but please take a step back and think about it because you both are not ready for those deeper feelings and what they could mean. Do you understand?"
"Are you suggesting that we stop talking and being friends?" Kiri asked, getting upset.
"No, I'm not saying that. You both enjoy being friends, talking and getting to know each other. But you are growing up and with that growth comes deeper feelings, and then the kiss. All I'm saying is kissing can lead to intimacy and you're not ready to do that."
They glanced at each other again; Neytiri felt she had gotten through to them, hopefully.
Spider spoke up. "I understand; only friendship; no more kissing."
"Kiri, do you understand?"
"Yes, Mother, no more kissing," she replied, but now it's on her mind and her willpower will need to be strong.
"Good, now it's time to eat."
They both stood up and followed her. He took Kiri's hand without thinking; they both inwardly smiled.
~o~o~
Two years later:
Flying with their water lkrans jumping in and out of the water, Kiri and Spider were far away from the island. Although he's not connected to the Ikran, he could still ride him carefully. Now in their late teens, they always found the time to be together, always together. It's not a secret that they are a couple, in love, and genuinely happy to express their feelings, but only kissing, nothing more.
Now alone on the beach, he leaned over, lifted his face shield and kissed her cheek. Her eyes opened and she also gave him a kiss loving him far too much, but her Mother's words always filled her mind. "We should stop."
"Yes, I know," he said, and leaned back down. The face shield returned as he watched the sky. "I've changed my mind."
"Are you sure? You still want to be like me, I mean, an avatar warrior?"
He turned to face her. "Yes, I'm sure. We could be together like this always and forever."
"But we are together and that's never going to change," she said meaning it.
"Yes, I feel the same, but after I found out that Miles Quaritch is in fact my father and that my mother died in the war over ten years ago, my mind is made up plus I hate this thing," he said and touched the face shield.
"I know you hate it, but you truly need to think more about this. I like the way you look, and I…. like you the way you are."
He smiled. "I know you do, but we could be a lot closer and please try and understand. Do you remember when I painted myself blue?" He paused for her to accept the inevitable. "I love everything about you; the way you weird me out when you stare at the water; can breathe underwater; the way you look at me; I love all of it." He paused and stared into her eyes. "You see, I love you Kiri. Do you love me?"
She nearly burst into tears of happiness, then touched the shield. "Of course, I see you."
Holding each other close, Kiri had to say a few words, then they pulled apart. "I love you means the same as 'I see you.' Is that true?" She asked curious.
"Yes, it's basically the same," he said and pulled her close.
"My parents know how we feel, I mean everyone knows. But they will want us to wait before we express these feelings." She pulled away to see his face. "I think we should tell them that nothing has changed well, since the day we met." She had never felt surer of anything in her life.
"Yes, we'll tell them." They both smiled in total agreement.
TBC!
~o~o~
Song Inspiration: We're Almost There, Alicia Keys.
A/N: I know this first chapter was quick, but I woke up with Kiri and Spider on my mind, the words came. Do you have any thoughts? A kudo would be nice too. Come back next week to read more. Thanks for reading.