Chapter Text
The whirring of machines, hologram monitors of foreign text, and bright artificial lights were a common sight in the Resistance buildings, but it didn’t make So’lek any less agitated in their midst. For hours now, he had traversed the Upper Plains on pali, powering on field labs with the Sarentu. In truth, they could have managed on their own, but since the RDA tracked the whereabouts of their biggest problem, Death on Wings, So’lek was sent along to act as bodyguard. “Sarentu, make haste. I would like to be far from all of this noise as soon as possible,” the older man whined, clutching onto his bow as a lifeline.
Tamtey, crouched next to an unresponsive terminal, rolled their eyes. “I’m working as fast as I can. Hacking is tough work, you know?” Their fingers glided swiftly over the controls of their SID. “Although, you wouldn’t know that actually, seeing as you would never use one of these.” They shook the device, the gears jingling with the motion.
Groaning, So’lek sat down on the lush ground at the foot of the lab’s stairs. “I use many Sky People things. I just won’t waste my time ‘hacking.’” He laid his bow flat next to him and leaned back on his elbows.
“I mean, you wouldn’t even be able to hack,” Tamtey snickered. “Can you even read English let alone code?” It was always a question on their mind, thinking about the time he first requested for RDA rosters from the bases Tamtey so brazenly took down by themselves. Priya had said he wanted them but couldn’t decipher them, so what was the truth, Tamtey thought.
“I read Resistance documents in front of you, Sarentu. Do not aggravate me,” So’lek sighed, shutting his eyes as he basked in the soft embrace of sunset in the Upper Plains. “As for code,” he emphasized with a roll of his eyes, “I know they belong in computers, and those I know how to blow up. That is all that matters.”
Tamtey let out a hearty laugh as they clicked the final piece of the puzzle, and the terminal was back online. “Well, no blowing up needed here. This is a good computer,” they explained slowly, as if talking to a child. So’lek wanted to reprimand them, but he held his tongue. “Honestly though, I’m glad I’m learning more about you.”
So’lek’s ears dropped, his heart skipping a beat. He shouldn’t feel this way, but after being alone for so long, he yearned for someone to care. Someone to see him.
On the other hand, Tamtey was oblivious to the effect of their words. With the last lab terminal fixed, Tamtey put their hands on their hips and sighed contently. “Let’s get out of here. I’m starving!” they groaned, descending the stairs. A sharp cry for their ikrans, and the pair were off into the darkening sky.
Back at HQ, Tamtey couldn’t sleep and went to sit by the fire, deep in thought. So’lek, finishing up inventory on weapons, saw the pensive stance and walked over swiftly. “You should be sleeping. You went on too many missions today,” he chastised, but it fell on seemingly deaf ears. Concerned, So’lek sat beside them in front of the fire. “What troubles you, Sarentu?”
Tamtey opened their mouth but closed it soon after, unable to respond as their mind filled with jumbled thoughts. Eventually, they whispered, “Why do I speak like the Sky People?”
So’lek, who had been staring into the fire as he waited for them to speak, now looked at Tamtey with a pained expression. “Sarentu-“ he started, but was cut off promptly.
“Sarentu, sarentu! You know I have a name,” they snapped. “It is the only thing I have besides these borrowed clothes that make me Na’vi.” They pulled the top of their collar harshly, beads from the Kametire clanking against their skin. It was all foreign to them, everything from the world around them to the food they ate. When Tamtey crinkled their nose, the telltale sign that they were about to cry, So’lek immediately switched gears from the casual mentor to something else. Something he didn’t want to label.
“Tamtey,” So’lek soothed. “There are many things about you that make you a Na’vi. You are born by Eywa’s grace, you fight for your people, you have done iknimaya, and so much more. You are Na’vi in every sense.”
“Then, why do I speak like this?” the hissed, a single tear falling from their eye. “Not even Teylan speaks like the Sky People! I don’t even remember the words to our Sarentu song. Only a tune of something lost.” Just like me, they mused bitterly.
So’lek sighed, placing a hand on their painted shoulder with hues from the Zeswa. “Do you remember what you told me about what happened after Mercer-“ he paused, snarling at the thought of that vile man, “had caught you and the rest attempting to escape?”
The memories flashed through Tamtey’s mind. Aha’ari’s death, Mercer furious, Mercer punishing them one-by-one… “Mercer tortured me because he knew I’d become an insurgent just like-,” her name got caught in their throat.
“Yes,” So’lek agreed solemnly. “More punishment for not fulfilling the TAP agenda. He wanted to make you his ideal student, to show the rest of the RDA-“
“That TAP was useful, I know.” Tamtey wiped their face with the back of their hand, not meeting So’lek’s soft eyes. Clearing their throat, they added, “I should’ve put up more of a fight.” They then looked at So’lek with sad reverence. “Like you. I feel so weak in comparison,” Tamtey lamented.
Silently, So’lek shook is head in disapproval. He wanted to say many things, that Tamtey destroying the RDA in the Western Frontier was a better fight than seen from most Na’vi, that no one could blame them for trying to survive Mercer, but there was one thought above them all. “I do not relate you to the Sky People because of your words or your accent, and neither does your family. You may not want to believe me,” he added, hearing Tamtey scoff, “so you should ask anyone. Nor would say the same thing.” Tamtey’s ears perked up, their forehead wrinkling in thought.
Tamtey argued, “My identity as Na’vi-“
“-is not defined by your words, but by your actions,” So’lek countered before they could debate his words. He place a gentle hand on Tamtey’s shoulder. “Get some rest. We have much to do tomorrow.” He rose from the fireside, leaving a confused Tamtey, the feeling of his hand lingering on her shoulder.