Chapter Text
Is life difficult when you're a teenager? Very. Life is even more difficult when you're a weird teenager. “Not like everyone else.” Kiri hated this phrase, just as she hated the word “special”. It made her want to throw her phone against the wall with particular fury when she heard this word coming from her mother's mouth. She hated it when people lied to her with flattering words, trying to justify her difference from others. Kiri understood everything perfectly well even without all these lies – her classmates clearly explained to her, opened her eyes to the bitter, burning truth. It left stains and burns on her soul, slowly tore pieces from it and in the end leaving only a tiny piece that absorbed so much pain that she had to lock up her heart. It was much easier to ignore the taunts than to get angry because of them. Her nerves were relatively fine, as long as she mentally told everyone to go to hell. It made her life much easier.
«Hey mutant?» Screw you!
«Hey brows?» Fuck off!
This phrase became the motto of the young Na'vi's life, and the exhausting school routine became a simple forced routine. A very depressing routine.
***
The loud sound of a door slamming echoed throughout the apartment. A small backpack with a pair of colorful badges is sent to the hanger in one sweeping movement, and slightly worn black sneakers are carelessly scattered throughout the hallway, knocking over the rest of the neatly placed shoes.
The gaze of large amber eyes meets with Lo'ak's frowning face, he's stubbornly standing in the corridor, blocking the passage. He's biting on his half-eaten sandwich, wearing an old wrinkled T-shirt that is stained with some kind of sauce, and pulled up on his stomach. Kiri winces in disgust, knits her thin eyebrows on the bridge of her nose and pushes through her brother, entering the kitchen and throwing her cardigan onto the back of a small wooden chair that stands by the dining table.
«You took my kicks again?» Lo'ak asked indignantly with his mouth full, but Kiri intentionally ignores his question, taking a box of orange juice out of refrigerator and pouring some into a tall transparent glass.
The rumble of falling belongings and the nervous hiss of the mother could be heard from the parents room, to which the girl’s ears automatically twitched. Throwing a surprised glance towards the second floor, Sully stands up on her toes and tries to see the source of the noise, but sees only bags and suitcases stuffed to the brim, standing along the railing. Lo'ak doesn't seem surprised by the noise, but the loud bickering between their father and mother makes Kiri raise an eyebrow in question.
«Are we packing up already?» She glanced on her brother, who, in the desire to eat something again, has been checking the fridge for some time.
Taking a break from his searching, Lo'ak turned to his sister, fixing his gaze on the same noisy second floor. Not finding anything he wanted to eat, he muttered dissatisfiedly and slammed the door as soon as the fridge started to beep.
«Well, yes,» The Na'vi drawled, pulling up kitchen chair with a creak and falling onto it, crossing his legs. He tried to steal his sister's glass of juice, but she demonstratively licked it, claiming it her prey. Sully sticked out his tongue in disgust. He waved his hand at her and then continued.
«Dad will take us in his car tomorrow morning.»
«You think there will be enough room for everybody?»
«Mom and Tuk will fly on a plane.»
A strangled sigh was all that could come out of Kiri's mouth, she nervously wagged her tail, accidentally hitting the table leg. Cold juice burned her throat as she gulped it down. Sour and bitter, just like her soul right now. But, in the end, she is no stranger to this feeling. The girl did not argue with her parents' decision, at least not today. Emotional fatigue was much worse than physical fortunately, at least her whole body did not ache in pain, as often happened after exhausting school days. Driving to another city by car is already quite an adventure. And riding in the same car with father and brothers is a real intellectual torture.
«Maybe I also want to fly on a plane.» Kiri grumbles frustratedly and then catches Lo'ak's mocking glance. He, as if waiting for a chance to make fun of his sister, casually throws his hand over her shoulder and whispers right in her ear.
«What could be better than a family car trip?»
«A family flight on an airplane where blue macaques don't fart and burp all over the cabin!»
Lo'ak bursts into laughter, showing his small protruding fangs like a monkey, but Kiri was not amused at all. Her eyes rolled back as by their own, and a dissatisfied sigh made the stomach clench. She shook his hand off of her shoulder and walked towards the stairs to the second floor, where she shared her room with her sister.
«Alright, genius, I'll go pack up.»
***
From the very morning, the unending noise of bags and hard suitcases knocking against each other could be heard throughout all the rooms and corridors of Sullys' apartment. Bright sunlight hit the girl's eyes, but she had absolutely no desire to get up. Head was pounding from lack of sleep and all this noise. Without clothes lying on a chair, posters and pictures, books stacked on a shelf, the half of the room that belonged to Kiri felt completely empty, or, as mom would probably say, it was tidied and clean as never before.
The trunk of her father's pickup truck had already been loaded to capacity with their stuff, and the whole family had gathered in the kitchen for breakfast, and only Kiri was still sitting on the edge of her bed, unable to get up. The soft voice of her mother called the girl to come down to them, and although she didn't feel like eating right now, Kiri understood that she would probably want to later, and the trip was clearly going to be a long one. Overcoming her own unwillingness, she walked downstairs to the kitchen and sat down at the table, receiving her own portion of toast with jam and orange juice.
The rest already eaten, and brothers kept carrying small things and bags with food in the car, rushing back and forth. In the middle of the table there was a small plate with the last soft waffle, drizzled with chocolate syrup and it looked much more appealing than thin jam toast. Kiri reached out with her fingers for a delicious dessert, but a small waffle was suddenly snatched right in front of her nose, sending it into the bottomless mouth of her brother in one movement.
«Hey!» The girl shouted, angrily staring at the insolent thief who dared to steal the morning dessert right out of her hands.
«It was mine!»
«Those who get up late are left with empty plate.» Lo'ak muttered and, just as quickly as he stole the waffle, he disappeared behind the front door, escaping his sister's wrath.
Sully growled in frustration, and if there was a slipper in her hand, she would have definitely thrown it at him. Unfortunately Kiri was always paddling around the house barefoot. Now the toast and jam looked a little more appetizing, since the morning hunger had arrived earlier than the Na'vi would have thought, and it tasted quite pleasant. Of course, it couldn't compare to a soft chocolate waffle, but it wasn't bad either.
They finished getting ready around noon, a little later than dad had planned. They had to move to a new house before the end of the weekend, and the journey would take at least a day. He began to hurry up the always slow Lo'ak, who was trying to drag a bunch of unnecessary things with him, and checked the fastenings of the cables on the luggage so that the suitcases and bags did not fall out of the car along the way.
Covering her ears with headphones, Kiri climbed into the car, throwing her small backpack behind the backseat, where there were also plastic bags with food and water. In the front seat, Neteyam and dad were setting up the navigator and an old radio, and Lo'ak was the last to jump in, while the running engine was already roaring all over the parking. When the car finally started moving, Kiri waved goodbye to her mother and turned up the volume in her headphones, leaning back on the seat.
This trip was forced. They left their hometown because of the father's work. Sully Sr. was demoted because, in his words, he “somehow pissed off his boss,” and so he just transferred him to this small town. But he did his best to convince the family that everything would be fine, and there was his old friend, who was also an official, lived in this city. But there is nothing they could do, in their situation it is better to move than for the father to lose his job when the family is already tight with money. But for Kiri, this was just another problem that has fallen on her still very young shoulders.
All their long family car trips were the same: hackneyed playlist with old radio hits throughout the entire cabin of the car, restless body movements on the next seat and false sing-alongs that even the maximum headphone volume could not cope with. The cacophony of their shouts out of tune with the music ruined all Kiri's plans for a quiet trip. Lo'ak was already a pain in her ass, but Neteyam… The synergy of the three men of Sully family created a real hell of a mix and Kiri was unlucky to go with them. Although, she had to admit, this trip had its own charm. The charm of high-rise buildings flashing past, gradually lost from sight on a wide highway with rare billboards. It created a pleasant feeling of lightness, an escape from the stuffy, life-filled city into hasteless, fresh fields. Even the air from a slightly open window became cleaner with every mile.
Phone had to be turned off – there was very little charge left, and the drive to the nearest gas station was at least an hour. Kiri sighed as the songs of her father and brothers touched her ears directly, and not through the veil of loud music in her headphones. She rested her face on her palm, peering at the thinning trees in the distance, which very soon turned into a flat field, overgrown with grass that has withered from the dry weather.
Bringing soda on a trip was a fatal mistake, especially if you're traveling with Lo'ak, who could burp even from one sip of water. Kiri's eyes couldn't physically roll even more because his another prank after asking him to stop multiple times. But, as they say, like father like son… A loud burp from the driver's seat broke the silence which made Kiri just want to hit her head on the glass. The eldest Sully pulled back his ears and feigned indignation, addressing the children.
«Who did it?»
It didn't take long for an answer from Lo'ak, but it was a great surprise for Kiri that even Neteyam participated in this outrage. Kiri tiredly rubbed her temples, once again taking a deep breath and setting herself up in a positive mood. And what is she even doing here…
Peace came only in the evening, when the sultry sun gave way to the vast firmament for its moons and myriads of sparkling stars. The majestic Polyphemus proudly illuminated the Pandora's twilight with his blue radiance. After a long stop at a gas station, brothers’ groovy ardor subsided, and Kiri could relax quietly to the ambient noise of the road and the whistling of cars sometimes passing by. Quiet music playing inside the car created some kind of magical night atmosphere and relaxed a tired mind. Lo'ak, hunched over to fit in the entire back row, snored rhythmically laying on Kiri's knees while she ran her fingers through his small braids. Even though he was a pain in her ass, he was still her beloved little brother.
The cool wind ruffled the girl's hair through the slightly open window, and the flickering lights of the road turned into dim fireflies, rhythmically sweeping along the highway. Drowsiness rolled over the girl in a wave, closing her heavy eyelids, and she dozed off sweetly after her younger brother. Neteyam carefully covered the sleeping Na'vi with a blanket and closed the window so that the younger ones would not catch a cold during the night.
***
The smell of salty water, wet sand and some completely unfamiliar plants filled the nose. Kiri felt as if she was dreaming of an ocean, majestic and proud. How the waves crash on the hot shore, how sea plants tickle her skin. When her mind came back to reality again and Kiri woke up from sleep, hardly opening her eyes, and realized that all this was not a dream at all, but before her eyes was a very real ocean. They were driving along the wide shore at the most beautiful moment of a dawn, when the waves turned pink and sparkled with reflections from the sun rising above the horizon.
Lo'ak was still sleeping on his sister's lap and didn't even think about waking up, which made the girl's legs numb. He also crumpled the entire blanket under himself. Neteyam seemed to be also sleeping in the front seat, covering himself with his jacket. And only now Kiri catched the sweet smell of an energy drink, which father was already finishing the second can of, trying to stay fresh in order to complete the route faster.
Such silence and calm… And also boredom. The perfect moment to find the right song and admire the sunrise from the window. Kiri found her phone that had rolled under her brother and turned on the headphones. Lo'ak did not wake up from this, but Neteyam who it seems had not been sleeping at all, perked up.
«Good morning.» The older brother said in a hoarse tired voice, smiling.
«Morning,» Kiri answered, staring in slight surprise at the elder brother's rumpled face.
«Did you sleep?»
«For ten minutes, maybe.» he chuckled tiredly.
«But it was worth it, you missed the fun!» He paused dramatically as his sister raised her eyebrows and turned her ears.
«We were sailing on a ship.»
Kiri raised her eyebrows even more, her eyes widening in surprise, as far as her still sleepy eyelids would allow her. At first she thought that her brother was delirious from lack of sleep, but her father joined the conversation, confirming his words. He also sounded terribly tired.
«We were on a ship for just a couple of hours. It took longer to load and unload from the barge. You're gonna swim as long as you want, look how beautiful it is.»
He pointed out the window, to the sea, which the girl could not stop admiring. On the other side of the road was the jungle, but not at all like the one at home - different trees, the huge roots of which turned into arches on the road. Sometimes between the ferns there would appear some small traditional houses, but even those soon began to grow into streets, and the streets into a city.
Awa'atlu greeted Sullys with a welcoming fresh breeze and bright colors of the signs of small shops. The azure of the vast ocean beckoned with its depth and beauty of the coral atolls, on which the white caps of numerous waves crashed with splashes. The tall deciduous trees changed into bright palm trees that dotted the entire length of the highway and the beach.
Kiri's delight knew no bounds. She was awake for some time now and admired the city outside the window with interest, which, under the warm sunlight, gained completely new colors, different from the morning fog. People were already gathering on the golden sandy beach, just as the roads and streets were coming to life. If it weren't for the need of transferring to another school, one would think that they had simply came on vacation.
Turning onto a street where houses ranged from the old, village-like ones they had previously seen in the suburbs, to luxurious, expensive villas, Sully family stopped near a one modest house that stood very close to the beach. It of course did not look as cool as some of the neighboring houses, but it was many times more spacious in appearance than their old apartment. And in general, this street with cottages, where they will now live, looked more cozy than an anthill of high-rise buildings. And the school is not so far away, but that was the last thing you want to think about. Kiri got out of the car and stretched her stiff muscles.
«Sick! It's a whole house!» Lo'ak shouted enthusiastically and began to look at the new home when Jake opened the front door with his own key.
«I'm the first to shower!» Kiri said right after stepping into the new house, taking off her sneakers as she goes, and started searching for the bathroom. After a day in the same car with her brothers, the only thing she wanted was shower.
***
The incoherent noise of conversations and airport sounds were making the head hurt. Neytiri wanted to simply turn off the annoying announcements about delays and departures, but she had no choice but to listen so they would not accidentally miss the plane. Also, the announcer's voice constantly chewed up the words in Na'vi, which is why she had to listen to them again in English.
Poor Tuk had to get up early, she yawned and nodded in Neytiri's arms. On girl's shoulders she had her favorite backpack with the Terran brand Hello Kitty, in which she stuffed her most favorite toys and a small box of apple juice. They checked in their luggage while waiting in the hall for the already delayed flight. Neytiri's remote work allowed her to move to another city, but the recent number of orders forced her to take out a small laptop and rhythmically click her nails on the thin keys, while Tuk, was watching various planes take off the runway.
Night flights had their own charm and serenity. Lulling safety briefing and blurry lights of distant cities, beckoning you to fix your gaze on them. Tuktirey couldn't stand it and fell asleep almost instantly under the pleasant feeling of flying, snoring on her mother's shoulder. Neytiri couldn't manage to take a nap so woman spent the whole night at work.
Sullys arrived in Awa'atlu early in the morning, while the sun had not yet reached its zenith, and there still was a pleasant coolness in the streets. Little Tuk put on sunglasses and convinced her mother to do the same. For some reason, the child was the most happy about arriving at sea. The airport in Awa'atlu was much smaller than the airport in their city and therefore very uncomfortable. Neytiri had to carry two huge suitcases and bags to the taxi by her own. The driver, waiting for them on the street near the airport, opened his mouth in shock, amazed at all the luggage that this woman was dragging on her fragile shoulders. The man scratched the back of his head, also staring at the unbothered child that was sucking the popsicle holding her mother's hand.
«I'm not sure we'll fit everything…» but before he could finish speaking, Neytiri loaded two suitcases into the trunk without waiting for help.
«I'll put it in. Drive.» She answered him coldly and threw her bags in the back seat. She sat down next to him, placing Tuk on her lap.
The taxi driver shut up and slammed the trunk. They typed the address into the navigator, and then finally set off. Tuk got a little sloppy after finishing her popsicle and started poking the stick in her mother's face. Neytiri wiped the girl's dirty hands, turning on cartoons on her phone at the same time to amuse her, because it would take them quite long to get there.
The variety of houses in the area the taxi turned into gave Neytiri a worried thought. Some of them were old and unremarkable, some just dim and plain, and the woman mentally prayed to Eywa that this was not their new home, when the car slowed down, passing another such lifeless structure.
The phone rang from the popped up message and Tuktirey handed it to her mother. All the girl's attention was focused on the streets anyways. After reading the message and looking around from the taxi window, Neytiri took a deep breath and dropped her ears when she saw her husband standing in front of a one dim house. Oh no…
Jake helped to unload the heavy suitcases from the trunk, but Neytiri carried the bags herself, carrying Tuk's pink suitcase under her arm. The girl immediately ran to her brothers and sister, jumping around the house laughing and squealing. Grabbing the bag with outerwear more comfortably, the woman limped towards the front door.
«Let me help.» Jake offers carefully, but his wife hisses in response, frowning her brow ridges.
«No, thanks!»
The stuffy smell of housing abandoned for a long period immediately hit Neytiri's nose. She already didn’t like the idea of moving from a cozy, lived-in apartment to some hut by the sea, but when she entered the hallway, her mood immediately deteriorated even more. Nervously throwing her bags on the floor, she sighed heavily and stared angrily at her husband…