Junebug

You noticed his kindness, but to you, it came off as him being more of a mentor, much to So’leks dismay. He was perfectly content with keeping his feelings a secret for the time being. All he wanted was for you to be happy and to discover your place in a world that is new to you. 

This, of course, all changed when other Na’vi men thought they could try their luck with you. 

Again, because you were not familiar with Na’vi courting customs, you were oblivious to their advances. Taking every gesture as a friendly act of kindness. So’lek knew, and it infuriated him. 

His restraint was dwindling by the day. 

You were not completely oblivious; you had noticed some hints of how So’lek feels for you. The first instance was subtle, but it held great weight. 

The resistance was planning a strike against the RDA. It was simple, really, taking down an extraction site. You had been explaining the mission to So’lek, as he did not understand the way the facility worked and how to shut it down. You were crouched down next to him, with a map of the facility in front of you. You had not been talking very long, so the excuse of him having spaced out was not possible. 

After you noticed he had not said much of anything, you looked over at him to gauge whether or not he understood, only to find him staring at you, not the map. It caught you off guard, your ears pinning back slightly. 

“So’lek, are you even listening to me?” Your tone was not accusing, only teasing.

As if you had broken him from his trance, he shook his head, his face blushing purple. He cursed himself for being caught. There goes being subtle. 

“I am sorry, could you please explain it to me again?” He choked out his words, feeling increasingly embarrassed. 

You giggled and nodded as you began to explain it to him again. 

That was the moment you realized he sees you as more than just someone he mentors. From then on, you started to notice every little thing he did. 

So, you decided to return the favor. He had always done so much for you. Giving him a gift would surely be a good way to show your gratitude. 

It was a simple gift, really. You had made him a new string for his bow, and you even added little charms to it that you knew he would like. 

You had waited for the right moment to give it to him. When he was alone, and you were certain that no one would bother you. To you, the gift was mostly to show gratitude, but you secretly hoped he would see it as more. 

When you approached him, he was sitting by the fire, back turned to you. You sat down next to him, putting your hand on his shoulder as you do. He immediately turned, his face softening once he realized it was you. 

“What is it you need?” He asked you, always ready to be of service to you.

“Actually, I have something for you. Something I made.” 

He visibly perked up at this, leaning closer to you so he could see what you had for him. When you pulled out the bow string you made, he felt his heart skip a beat. 

“How did you know I needed a new one?” 

“I pay closer attention to you than you think, So’lek.”

Blush bloomed across his face, painting it a deep purple. He stammered to find the right words. It had been so long since anyone had been thoughtful enough to gift him something like this. 

“Thank you, it has been a long time since I received a gift from someone.”

This saddened you, but you also loved how much he appreciated your gift. 

“I wanted to give you this as a token of my gratitude. You have always been so kind to me.” 

He gave you a soft smile, placing his hand on your shoulder to pull you closer. Warmth ignited throughout your entire body at this. Like him, blush had crept its way onto your face. 

“You do not need to thank me.” 

You disagreed; of course, you needed to thank him. Maybe not as a formality, but you wanted him to know that you see him, and you noticed his gestures. You only hoped that they meant what you thought they meant.

After this, you continued to dance around the feelings you held for each other. Neither one of you dared to confess. Only showing your feelings through small gestures, but never actually admitting the meaning behind them.  

You fell into a comfortable rhythm. Yes, you wanted to confess to him, and you wanted him to do the same. The only thing holding both of you back was a small sliver of doubt that one of you did not feel the same. 

However, So’lek was forced to confess. 

It happened suddenly, on a day you were both visiting the Aranahe Hometree. You had been talking with Nefika, while So’lek was not far, talking with Etuwa. When a young Aranahe hunter had approached you. 

“Nefika! Do you mind if I still the sarentu away for a moment?” 

You had not a clue as to what he could possibly need. You had never met this man before. His words did not hold a tone of dire importance. Nefika, of course, agreed, sending you off with a sly smirk on her face. 

So’lek noticed, as he always did. He watched the man escort you away, away to somewhere private. He quickly excused himself from his conversation with Etuwa, with promises to return soon. Following you from a distance, not enough to be noticed, but enough to hear what was being said. 

He was glad that he did. 

Once the man was sure he had you in a more private place, he took your hands in his. You were confused, but trying not to be rude, so you let him. Before you could ask him what he needed, he spoke.

“I have noticed you for quite some time, and I have a gift for you.”

You suddenly realized what he was trying to imply. Knowing that you did not feel the same, you took your hands from his, but you stayed planted where you were. At the very least, giving him a chance to speak. 

He then pulled out a simple arm cuff, presenting it to you. 

“This is a courting gift,” You had said it plainly, no hint of reciprocation in your tone. He only nodded, noticing your apprehension. So’lek, still nearby, eavesdropping, had grown increasingly irritated, but it had risen to a new level once his suspicions of the man's intentions were confirmed. 

He knew this was wrong, invading your private conversations like this, but he could not help himself. So, without thinking, he made himself known. Stepping out from his hiding spot, with a cold expression on his face, one that was never directed towards you, and never would be. 

“I believe she wants you to leave.” His tone did not leave any room for argument. The man quickly nodded and scrambled away with a trail of apologies following behind him. This slightly angered you. Did he not think you could handle yourself? He could not act this way when he could not even express his own feelings towards you. 

You turned to him, ready to chew him out over this. 

“I had that under control, you do not get to chase away every man that shows interest in me!” 

So’lek let out a grunt in disagreement. He desperately needed you to see his motivations. It was in that moment that he realized he needed to come clean. 

“Yes, I do. I will continue to chase away any man who is not right for you.”

“And how do you know? That is not your decision.” 

He tried to steady himself, steady his words. How could he make you see his intentions? 

“I know this because I know what I feel for you. I know that not a day goes by that I do not long for you. You have invaded my mind, and I do not wish for that to end. I need you to see this, and I need us both to stop dancing around what we know is there.” 

His confession, even if his tone was harsh, lifted a weight off your shoulders. Finally, you can now place these feelings somewhere. Now that they were laid out on the table, you could do something about them. 

“Why have you waited so long to tell me this?”

He softened at this, seeing how you did not react negatively to his confession, which gave him the comfort to continue. 

“I wanted to be sure you felt the same. I wanted to give you time to become comfortable in this world.” 

You stepped closer to him, taking his hands in yours. He pulled his hands away, only to take your face in his. 

“I feel the same, So’lek. I have felt the same for a long time.”

He did not respond; he did not need to. So, he did the only thing he could do. He leaned down and planted his lips on yours. The kiss stole your breath; it was passionate, months of unspoken feelings poured into one kiss. His hand found its way into your hair, the other grabbing your neck. 

When you finally pulled apart, you rested your forehead on his, breathing him in. 

“I promise not to hide another thing from you again.” He spoke softly, truly meaning every word. 

You smiled, wrapping your hands around his wrists. 

For the first time in months, you had finally stopped this awkward dance. Now, you fully embraced your feelings and had no plans to change that.   

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed! My requests are open!!

The man you had once thought to be a demon, now looked more like an angel, as he crouched and handed you a cracked, hollowed out gourd of water. The liquid was warm and tasted like smoke, but it still helped clear your throat as it traveled down. 

Jake watched with cold and steely eyes as you swallowed each drop, the water running down your chin and chest made rivets of blue appear through the ash that covered your skin in thick sheets.

“Home tree still burns,” he said lowly and you stilled at the news. “It’s spread for miles, it’ll be here in a few days.”

“Then we cannot stay,” you surmised and he nodded. You glanced around at the crowds of people still grouped together. 

Your once mighty clan was now reduced to refugees and wanderers. The Olo’eyktan and Tsahìk were dead, one killed in the fall of Hometree, and the other dead from the missile that had taken down the Tree of Souls. Nearly two hundred more Omatikaya had joined them, most fallen in battle, others killed by debris or Hometree itself. What had once been your home, had become your graveyard.

Hundreds of Na’vi from other tribes were dead and wounded. Some still alive were scattered among you now, but the other stragglers had attempted to flee home. You would have once prayed for their safe return, but your faith in the Great Mother was diminished to ash, just like your forest. The thought of praying to her, after what she had done to you, made anger swell in your chest. What did you owe her that she had not already taken? What more was there to give? 

Where was Eywa when skypeople shot at your kin? Where had she been when they had cut the Na’vi down as if you were blades of grass? If Eywa held her children in her heart, then you must not be one of hers. Perhaps she had forsaken the Omatikaya for a new love. She had picked a side today. 

You hoped the skypeople enjoyed her favor as you once had. 

If she would not save you, then you would have to save yourself. You felt the thought settle in your heart like comfort or something soft, the reminder that this fight was not over. Despite the bleeding gash across your shoulder, you were not dead yet.

“They need someone to lead them,” you whispered softly to Jake over the cries of grief and agony.

His eyes narrowed, “Tsu’tey is-” but you stopped him before he could get too far. You needed him to step up now, for all of your sakes.

“No, Tsu’tey is unable to lead in his condition. You are Toruk Makto,” you reminded him, nodding to where Tsu’tey laid on the scorched ground. Neytiri crouched over him as she used a dead Na’vi’s clothing to tie a tight bandage over his bullet wound. His fate was entirely up in the air, his condition wavering each minute.

“They won’t listen to a skyperson,” Jake argued, watching as a woman sobbed over a toy, her child no longer there to play with the wooden Pa’li (direhorse).

“They will listen to Rider of Last Shadow. Eywa is no longer in this place, the humans have driven her away. You are the last gift she gave us, our last hope now. You must lead,” you insisted. The evening sky used to draw out the light of Jake’s tanhì (bioluminescent freckles), but ash now blocked the glow.

His eyes fell down to the gray dirt, but you forced his chin back up with your knuckle. “You betrayed us before, so now you must stay to make amends. You were weak then, but you have changed. I have seen it grow in you,” you demanded. Jake’s jaw clenched in anger or shame, you were not sure, but either would serve you now.

“I will forge you into something better, something stronger. Listen to me, follow my words, and we will bring down the humans. We can lead this clan back to what it once was, but only if you are at my side. The people need you to be strong… I need you to be strong.”

He dragged his eyes up to meet yours and the resolve filling them now had hope flickering once more in your chest. “I am with you,” he said steadily. “I am always with you,” he promised and you nodded. 

“Good,” you breathed, looking up at him through your eyelashes. “Then you know what needs to be done.”

He nodded, “Will you translate?” he asked.

“Yes,” you agreed, and he took your awaiting hands, tugging you up with him into a standing position. You led him to stand in front of the group of people, so small compared to your former strength.

He looked at you for reassurance, but you would not coddle him. Your steely gaze bored into him as you nodded. “Na’vi!” he finally called out to the people. 

Weary, bloodshot eyes looked up to him as he gripped his hands into fists at his sides. “The demons have won this battle, but they have not won the war,” he started as you translated it into the language of Pandora.

The people shifted, their hollow eyes betraying how bone tired and weary they were, but they perked up at his words. “They have killed the Great Mother, caused her to flee from this land. But all is not lost, our strength is each other.”

As you spoke in Na’vi, you saw Neytiri stumble to her feet, leaving Tsu’tey on the hard floor as she looked at you both with a shocked stare. Jake continued as the people started sitting up. 

He was visibly growing in confidence as he spoke and you felt something akin to relief or pride sweep over you. Perhaps you would not have to coach him so heavily, he seemed more ready than you had imagined. 

“We need to regroup, heal, find shelter and food,” he listed, “All able bodies should step forward. The young and the old will have to look after the wounded. I need hunters to travel to find food and others to find water. We will need to build shelters,” he explained with a tone that demanded respect.

So the rebuilding began. Warriors who remained relatively unscathed had mounted their ikran to ride away from the skypeople’s fires to find any beasts to slay or plants to forage for food. Those who had minor injuries were sent to collect water from the river that once ran beside Hometree, but now they would have to travel far to reach it.

When you had turned to Jake for your own assignment, he just shook his head, “Stay here, Baby. Help the wounded and start on some shelters. Your shoulder doesn't need any stress on it,” he said and you bit back a protest. 

You needed to be on his side completely, not show any resistance, play the long game. Besides, you needed time to think. You could do mindless work here while you planned your next moves. You nodded demurely, “Thank you, Jake. You take such good care of me,” you cooed, a hand finding his shoulder. 

He gave a half-hearted smile, “of course, Baby.”

When he and the other warriors came back hours later, the supplies were few and you realized with sudden urgency that your people needed to move. They would die if they stayed here. 

But before you could go, there was one thing that had to be done. 

 “Jake,” you asked softly, coming up to him where he was helping unload the sparse, bloodied meat that they had collected. 

He turned to you, ears pointing up as his face softened. “Hey.”

You smiled back, although it was tight lipped. “I know you have gone through much today, but your human body must be dealt with,” you informed him. 

“What?” he asked, looked taken aback by your current focus.

“You are weakened by it. As of now, you are tied to a body that depends on machines. Anything could go wrong, and regardless, soon, you will run out of air. We need to do a transfer.”

“I don’t know,” he said, looking torn at the prospect.

You stepped back, eyes wide at his hesitance. “Do you not love me? Do you not want to stay with me?”

“Of course I do,” he insisted, “That’s not it.”

“Then you will transfer today, or you will never see me again,” you ordered, turning on your heel to go find Neytiri. 

You were pleased when Jake caught up with you, grabbing your wrist as he tugged you back. “No, hey, I’m sorry. You’re right. I'll do the transfer,” he relented and your lips cracked into a blinding smile. 

“I knew you would make the right choice, yawnetu (loved one),” you fawned, leaning forward to peck him on the lips. “Come, arrangements need to be made.”

You and Jake found Neytiri in the same spot, tending to Tsu’tey and a few others who would likely not make the night. “Neytiri, we have a problem,” you said, as you and Jake sat next to Tsu’tey’s unconscious body.

“We have many problems,” she agreed. The Tsakarem’s eyes flitted between you and Jake as she nodded once for you to continue. 

“My human body is on borrowed time. I need to transfer my mind like Mo’at tried with Grace, except this time… I really need it to work,” Jake huffed sardonically. Neytiri’s eyes widened and you rushed to speak. 

“Will you perform the ceremony?” you asked, mentally pleading with her to say yes. “Is this even possible?” you asked, leaning in with furrowed brows as Neytiri nodded, looking resigned. 

“Yes, but it will not be easy. The only connection with Eywa left in the forest is miles away, it will take hours to reach. Jake will not last long in this body,” she agreed. “I will do this, but we must go now,” Neytiri insisted.

“Then let’s get it done,” Jake agreed, slinging his gun over his shoulder by its strap and standing up. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“You will have to travel in your human body,” you realized, chewing your lip nervously as you thought over the logistics. 

“That won’t work,” he insisted. “My legs… I can't travel across this terrain.”

You cocked your head, “Is your faith in me so brittle? I think I have an idea.”

Several hours later, you were on a Pa’li, with Jake’s small human body pressed to your front. Neytiri was just behind you on her own Pa’li. Jake’s unconscious, Na’vi body was strapped to the back of her beast. You were both picking your way through the smokey haze of the forest, or at least, what was left of it.

Jake barely said a word through his clear mask and you did not say anything either. It felt too weird to see him in his pink skin and odd human clothes. It felt so much more real to be confronted with his humanity in this way. His metallic smell was a hundred times stronger like this, and the stench was giving you a headache. 

You glanced behind you to where Neytiri was grimacing at the smoke in the air. A small part of you, the jealous part, was satisfied to see that not an inch of Jake was touching Neytiri and she seemed to not be paying him any mind. 

You turned back to the small human that was supposed to be your mate. The sight of him made your stomach roll, but you tried to hide your disgust for his sake. You leaned forward to speak to him without Neytiri hearing. “Let this weak, human part of you die, Jake. Be reborn into something terrible and strong,” you whispered into the shell of his pink ear. 

He paused, processing your words before he nodded. “I’ll be whatever you need me to be,” he promised. 

Once at the tree, you set Jake down at its base before you helped Neytiri lower his avatar form to the ground. He was heavy and it took both of you to pull him to the root covered dais, but finally you placed his unconscious form into position. Jake moved to be laying the opposite way of his avatar and laid down with his back flat to the rock. 

You knelt down beside him and leaned over his body. "When you see her, tell Eywa that I will not forgive what she has done," you hissed, eyes aflame with underlying, yet glowing rage. 

Jake did not say anything in response. How could he even begin to know what to say? He just nodded grimly and pressed his lips together. You smiled kindly, a glimmer of the woman he had fallen in love with peeking through. “Thank you, Yawnetu. Come back to me.”

“I will,” he agreed, reaching up to cup your cheek with his small hand. 

“We must begin,” Neytiri interrupted, and you nodded. 

“Then begin.”

When Neytiri began chanting, the vines slowly began to glow and stretch over both of his bodies. They covered who he was and is and had yet to become, making your heart squeeze in anticipation for something new to emerge from the ashes of this defeat. 

You waited as Neytiri pleaded with Eywa, something you refused to do. You would not ask her to do what you were already owed. It was her who should be pleading with you for forgiveness.

You hovered expectantly, caught between love and rage, as you waited for Jake. 

It felt like an eternity, but Jake’s human body slowly stopped breathing. You placed a hand over Jake’s Na’vi heart, hoping for a thump, but there was only stillness. You waited a moment more, but eventually Neytiri stopped praying. 

Your burning, panicked eyes flew up to her. “Why have you stopped?” you demanded. 

“I am sorry, ‘eylan (friend). I do not think it has worked,” Neytiri said, dismayed. 

You clenched your jaw, refusing to give in so easy to defeat. You gripped his chin, jerking it up so he would face you, but there was no breath on his lips. “No,” you muttered. If he was not to be born from love and patience, then he would be born from violence. 

You took your other hand, balled it into a fist, and brought it down on his chest hard. “Jake, wake up, you skxawng,” you cried out in desperation. Neytiri leaned back, wary of your methods and your anger. 

Still, despite your effort, his face was slack. Neither air nor a heartbeat had moved in either body for what was growing into minutes.

“You promised you would come back! You will not leave me this way!” you ordered. You screamed in frustration, ripped your hand away from his face and brought it down with your other fist, pounding on his chest with all the force in your body. 

With a stuttering gasp, Jake’s eyes flew open and breath filled his lungs. 

You let out a relieved sigh. Your rage had brought him back to you.

One month later:

You and Jake had begun moving the remains of your small camp forward. Less than a hundred Omatikaya remained, yet you had created a small community from the barren wasteland you had been left with. 

Animals had been hunted, their meat used to feed the people and their hides creating shelter after being strung between dead, charred trees.

Other homes had been fashioned to stand freely and people found or fell into roles. The mantles of Tsahìk and Olo’eyktan were usurped by you and Jake. You did not ask permission or put it to a vote, you simply stepped into the role. Anyone who did not like it would be dealt with, but so far, no one had voiced their concerns. 

You slathered a mixture of ash and clay and water on your skin, creating a paste that would absorb the harsh rays of sun. You had heard of people in the plains using paint and mud to keep the sun from burning their skin, but you had thought it to be strange at the time. You always had your forest to keep you protected with its lush canopies and thick foliage to shield you from the elements. 

Now there were only stumps where the giant trees used to be. Only white ash where plants and life had once thrived. Your skin burned quickly if there was nothing between it and the sun.

“We need guns, equipment, explosives,” Jake mused, looking over the maps he had crudely drawn on animal hide. 

You looked up from the bowl on the ground to your mate who was hunched over his plans. Your kelku was the largest in the small village. Jake had ordered it to be made precisely how you would like it, and much of the finer details were handled by him directly. You had quickly learned that he was a doting mate.

“Then it must be sought, Ma Jake,” you replied, rubbing a paint covered hand over your chest and shoulders. 

He looked up. “A raid would be suicide,” he responded. 

You cocked your head and beckoned him closer. He pushed aside his plans and padded over to you, letting you pull him down to his knees in front of your kneeling body. 

You dipped your hands back in the paint, bringing them to his stomach and slathering the grayish paste over it. 

“Does the fire balk or slow down at resistance? No, it takes what it needs to grow and it does not stop at the sight of its enemy. It pushes until it has conquered, as must you,” you explained, rising up to run your hands up his shoulders and neck, covering blue sin with ash until not even his tanhì would show through.

Jake narrowed his eyes, dipping his own hands in the paint as he mulled over your words. The paint was cold on your skin as his fingers dragged down your nose and cheeks. You shivered and you enjoyed the uptick of his lips at your reaction. 

“We have been looking at the fire as if it was our destroyer, but I see now the truth of it. The fire did not destroy us. Our weakness did. We let the skypeople infiltrate our lands and mine our ground, and when they came for our destruction, we had no defense strong enough. It is time we learn from our mistakes.”

“The fire took everything from us, as we must now take everything from them,” Jake surmised, looking intently at you with gold eyes as if seeking your approval.

You smiled, hands matching pace with each other as they trailed up his neck and stopped at his jaw. “Precisely. Gather a war party, take what we need and let no skyperson stop you,” you muttered encouragingly, pulling his head down so you could kiss him. His hands roamed your back, spreading more paint on the expanse of it. 

You pulled away from him when the ash on your lips got into your mouth, the taste of it bitter and cleansing. 

“We will hit them when they transfer goods. That’s when they’re most vulnerable,” Jake said, eyes still closed as your foreheads rested on each other. His eyebrows were twisted in a way that you had learned meant he was strategizing in that brilliant brain of his. 

“Hit them hard, give no mercy,” you said into the air between you. 

“No mercy,” he agreed. 

-

They rode out early the next morning. 

Jake had set out a solid game plan. Scouts had reported a train carrying supplies was on the tracks, and Jake was quick to mobilize. A party of 30 flew out and all 30 were back an hour later. They arrived with weapons, food, water stores, and even human liquor. A success all around. 

No skypeople had survived the raid. Every single one of them laid where they had died, and when the generals and commanding officers would arrive to investigate in the following hours, there would be no trace of the culprit. All arrows had been gathered from their targets and no Na’vi blood had been spilt.

The humans would have their suspicions about it being the work of the avatar defector, Jake Sully, but all they would see on the cameras was a red, gray, and black blur before the feed cut out.

In the makeshift Omatikaya village, there had been dancing and feasting that night, celebrating the small victory they had rightfully won. 

When Jake had raised a handmade cup of what he called “Vodka” in the air and toasted to you, you had never felt more appreciated. “To my Tsahìk, who is the real cause of your victory today,” Jake smiled smugly down at you where you sat lounging near the fire. You smiled, grateful for his acknowledgement, even though it was rightfully owed. 

Your eyes roved over the crowd of your people, taking in their delighted faces. Many cheered, but one man did not say a word. In fact, he did not even raise his cup. He stuck out to you like a ‘angtsìk (hammerhead titanothere) in a field of flowers. 

“Atan,” you said, a smile still on your lips as you looked at the hunter who had been trained by Tsu’tey and was one of the best warriors in Jake’s party. All heads swiveled to him as he looked up at you in surprise at being called out. “You do not agree with Olo’eyktan,” you guessed. 

He ground his teeth, but nodded. “We should not be attacking them. We do not have the strength to fight them off if they were to strike back,” he argued and your blood boiled. 

“I see,” you said, handing your cup to the woman beside you and standing with slow ease. You did not let your anger show, not yet. “And what would you have us do to the demons who killed our mothers and our fathers, our sisters and brothers. Who killed our children?”

He hesitated, glancing up at Jake, who only stared back. “I- I would have bided our time. Found another clan to join. There is strength in numbers,” he offered. 

“You think you know better than Tsahìk?” Jake growled, stepping closer and Atan’s eyes widened. 

“I know war, Olo’eyktan. That is all I know,” he corrected. 

“And we do not?” you asked, stalking up where your husband stood and joining him as a united force. 

The clan waited with bated breath at Atan’s next words.

His brow furrowed and he finally stood on legs that did not shake. “When the old Tsahìk and Olo’eyktan died, there was a clear line of succession. Tsu’tey and Neytiri have a right to lead,” he argued. 

Jake stood straighter, his broad shoulders stretching wider than any natural born Na’vi’s. He walked slowly forward, each step calculated and sure. He stood toe to toe with Atan, “That sounds a lot like treason, my friend,” Jake spoke low. “And traitors must be punished.” As quick as the wind, Jake drew his knife, reaching behind Atan and hooking it around his kuru. The braid created a loop around the blade, held taunt by Jake’s fist.

Atan’s eyes flew wide and he froze, back arched as he struggled to stay as still as possible. Pain from the action was evident in the way Atan’s eyes and jaw squeezed, but he did not cry out. Your eyes sparkled in wonder as you watched Jake perform his new role. 

“Anyone else feel this way?” Jake turned to Neytiri and Tsu’tey, bandages still wrapped around the latter's torso. Atan whimpered as his feet shuffled with Jake’s movements, careful not to move more than necessary. “When you lay dying, didn’t you give up your title to me? Have I stolen what was yours, brother?” Jake looked down at the former Olo’eyktan in feigned confusion.

Tsu’tey stared up at Jake with a thick layer of fear in his eyes. He was quiet for a long beat that stretched into moments of tension. Finally he admitted the truth. “No, Olo’eyktan. I gave up my right to lead during the battle.” 

“That’s what I thought,” Jake laughed, shaking his head, “And Neytiri, am I right in believing that as my mate, it would make sense for my wife to be Tsahìk? That is how the Na’vi do it, right? Would you wish to challenge her for the position?”

Neytiri looked terrified for Atan, her lips set in a thin line. She shook her head, “No, Olo’eyktan. I do not wish to take what is hers.” 

“No, you wouldn't, ‘cause that would be treason,” Jake agreed and Neytiri nodded, her movements frantic to please him. 

Neytiri knew in her heart she had failed her student when she had watched him fall for you, but had done nothing. Even as she saw the beginnings of who you would become, she had decided to leave it to Eywa. She now deeply regretted her compliancy all those months ago.

“So it seems like it’s just you, Atan.” Jake said to the man still in his grasp. 

You smiled maniacally at the scene before you, even as your conscious screamed. This was the point of no return.

You walked up to Atan and he stared terrified back at you. “Treason cannot be tolerated, not anymore. That is the way of things,” you explained. You glanced up at Jake who raised his brow in silent question. 

The look of horror on Atan’s face made the choice easy. You would help force him to be something stronger, something that did not rely on the old ways. 

“You will not need it, Eywa has already forgotten you.” You laid a hand on his face in a way that you hoped showed him you were only doing what was in his best interest.

You looked up at your mate, and with the slightest nod of your head, Jake pulled his obsidian blade clean through the kuru. 

Everyone stared in rapt terror as Atan fell to the ground and emitted a scream so curdling and piercing it would follow you the rest of your days. 

Jake held up the kuru like a trophy and turned in a circle so all could see. “To my Tsahìk,” he roared, turning back to you and smiling wickedly, both sets of avatar fangs on display, “who is the real cause of our victory,” he repeated.

The crowd erupted into cheers, some forced and some earned. 

You smiled back at Jake. He had proved himself to you tonight. He had been molded into something that would last, something that would protect. He had become what you had dreamed him to be.

The Great Mother had banished you to the place the eye did not see, and together, you had conquered it with roaring applause. 

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It had started with whispers. 

You heard what they said about you. They claimed that the distance growing between you and your husband was your fault. That in your grief and pain, you had pushed him and your children away to the point that he could no longer be around you. It could not be that Neteyam was laying dead in the reef far from his home. Or perhaps the war, or the impossible choices in front of you now because of it. It could not even be the weight of all you had lost slowly crushing you until you felt as if you could not breathe. 

No, according to them, this was all on you. 

The reality of it was that you did not like to think you and Jake were growing apart, and in most ways, you were not. In the middle of the night, when the children were asleep and the creatures sang to one another, he still held you like something precious and you still gripped onto him like he was your lifeline. He still always served you first at mealtimes and still checked over your weapons every morning without asking. He still smiled at you when Tuk laughed because he loved how you shared the same one. 

 It was more so that he needed space to figure out how to heal, and you respected his needs, even when they unknowingly hurt you. Jake threw himself into preparing for the next battle: gathering, training, sharpening. He was gone long days, sometimes he did not come back to your mauri until the stars had already been twinkling for hours. 

He would come back with cuts on his hands and damp hair, sometimes too exhausted to eat his meal. You would silently bandage his wounds, and he would kiss your cheek before heading to bed, but it would sting that he did not even spare you a thank you. He used to sing your praises every moment of the day. You used to find it endearing, if not slightly overbearing, but it was Jake and so you learned to love it, expect it even. Now he just gave you numb gratitude.

He was grieving, you told yourself. It would be expected for him to withdraw some, but you never feared that he would do it from you. You and he always drew closer in times of hardship. And as much as you tried to respect his ways, you reminded yourself that you were grieving too.

You had heard the others talking, it was hard not to. They noticed the way he disappeared during the day to scavenge the demon ship for metal. You watched him sail out each morning, stomach twisting at the unfounded fear of him not coming back. 

The women in the weaving circles whispered that he did not love you anymore, that the sight of you reminded him of Neteyam. They said with hushed breath, that you were not a good wife or a good mother, too consumed in grief to do what was needed for your family. You let them speak their words, maybe they held truth, but they were not worth the fight. 

Not until her. 

Kariam, a young woman whose parents now laid at the bottom of the reef with your son, all lost to the same battle. She was not known for her gentleness or kindness. In fact, others appreciated her straightforward nature and cunning way of thinking, as well as her beauty. Many sought her, but few earned her attention. She was a diver, going out into the sea to gather for the clan, a mighty role. 

She had started coming around Jake when she noticed the initial discord. She offered her condolences to him- not to you or the children- and offered to help his family in any way she could. 

You had watched Jake’s face when he first spoke to her; polite, but stiff. When his eyes stayed squarely on the net in his hands, other than a quick glance to see who was approaching, you felt secure that he did not look at her more than he had to.

When Ronal had approached you late one afternoon as you repaired your riding leathers with a hand on her stomach and a grim expression on her face, you knew something was wrong. 

You paused your hands. “Tsahik,” you nodded in greeting, waiting expectantly for her to speak. 

“I know there are many things that we do not agree on, but I come tonight as a friend,” she started. 

Stomach bile rose in your throat as you set your face into stone. “I appreciate that,” you replied. 

She pursed her lips before surveying the items around you as if biding time. Finally, she said, “The women talk of your husband. Many say he is handsome, but that is no offense, they say the same of mine,” she smiled knowingly, perhaps trying to break the tension. You did not offer a smile in return, too concerned with what she would say next. Jake’s looks were a point of pride that you would not let distract you.

She grimaced, “But they also say he is lonely, that he has found comfort in the diver, Kariam, and has begun courting her,” she said carefully. 

Her low tone of speaking did not soften the blow. Your hands loosened around the leather as you stood, dropping them to the woven floor. You had heard snippets of the rumors, but you had convinced yourself that you were making up fairytales, surely no one could be so cruel. Now you knew your instincts were right. They claimed that Toruk Makto had begun seeking a new woman, a prettier and younger one.

“Where is he?” you asked, calmly. Lo’ak came walking up the walkway with Tsireya, but you hardly saw him, eyes clouded with red. You had lost too much already, you would not lose your husband too.

Ronal sighed, “He is still out, he has not come back to shore.” 

“Then where is she?” you asked, your patience growing thin. Lo’ak’s steps quickened as he heard your tone of voice, he was familiar with the sound of rage in you. 

“Mom,” Lo’ak said, “What is happening?”

You held out a hand to silence him. “Where is she?” you asked again, ignoring your son. Your aim was too singular to answer him. 

Ronal shook her head as if she could not believe she was doing this. “On the beach,” she admitted. 

You nodded, checking that your knife was securely in place before you stepped over the discarded leathers and out of the hut. 

“Mom,” Lo’ak pleaded again, “What’s going on?”

You swiveled your gaze to the teens, Tsireya was clutching Lo’ak’s hand tightly as they both looked on in confusion and concern. “Everything is fine. Stay here, Lo’ak. Wait for your Kiri and Tuk to return from the marsh,” you instructed. 

With that, you stalked out of the mauri. A healing cut on your leg from the battle two weeks prior stung as you walked, as if your blood was heating up and causing it to burn. The sand was rough against your feet, grating in a way the plush grass of the forest never would. 

When you saw her, her head was tipped back in laughter, amused by what one of the two friends around her said. 

“Kariam!” you called across the beach, still advancing towards her. Her head swung to see who was coming and she grimaced when she saw it was you. “You wanted to earn my husband's attention by your foul words, but you have earned my disdain instead,” you said, coming to a stop a few feet from her seated form. 

Her friends sobered at the sight of you, but Kariam did not stand. She smugly stared up at you as you took a wide-legged stance in the sand.

“I do not know of what you speak, Omatikaya,” she sneered, the twist of her lips giving you the idea that she knew precisely what you were talking about. 

You stepped over the log she was perched on, walking to the fire they had burning and standing in front of her. “I think you do,” you smiled, although it had no humor in it. “Stay away from my mate,” you growled.

“If Jake has grown bored of you, that is none of my business," she smiled.

Your brow rose at her cocky accusation. “I think you are jealous of me,” you decided. 

“Of you?” she huffed out a laugh, but you did not let it hurt your feelings. 

You leaned towards her, your hair falling forward. The light from the fire made your gold eyes look red as you said, “Because after everything you have going for you, it is still me he comes home to hold at night. It is me that he loves. He does not even know your name, girl.”

She hissed, eyes wide in anger. Those were finally the words to break her confident exterior. “He has sought me out, he confides in me,” she claimed, although you did not believe her. Jake simply did not have the time or emotional stamina for it currently.

You ground your teeth, setting your anger to the side. “I know you have experienced loss from this war, Kariam, and that is why you are still able to walk, but do not provoke a grieving mother. I do not care if you are the last of your name, I will protect what is left of my family,” you warned, starting to leave, but she rose to her feet as well. 

You cocked your head, surprised that she would dare to stand against you. 

“Kariam,” one of her friends warned, watching the two of you warily. 

She ignored her friend. “You neglect him, he no longer feels love for you. The bond has been broken, do you not see what is plain to everyone else?” 

“Do you not see that I have the ability to rip your eyes from your head and that I will care little for your suffering?” you asked, mocking the inflection of her tone and making her jaw clench.

“Do you threaten me?” she asked, stepping forward and around the fire. A brief few feet of sand was all that separated you now. 

You smiled, white teeth glinting in the dying light. “I threaten you. Do not speak of my husband again, Metkayina.”

She hissed, “And if I do not heed your warnings?” she asked. 

“Then I would rather handle this here and now,” you replied, 

“Then I challenge you to a fight of combat, Wife of Toruk Makto. The winner will have claim over Jake Sully,” Kariam proposed.

You barked out a laugh, “You cannot bargain what is not yours. Jake would not allow you to claim him if you were the last woman on Pandora. No, this is over honor, and the offenses you have committed against me,” you corrected. “Jake is mine regardless.”

The glare on her face was intense enough to crack stone. “You do not agree to my terms because you are afraid of who he would go to if given the choice. I see the way he looks at me,” she smirked. She was poisonous. 

“Kariam,” you stated her name plainly, squaring your shoulders in a way that meant you were serious. “He has put three children in me. We have raised four together. A look does not mean he wants you. He looks at his enemies before he slaughters them, does that equate to love or attraction?”

Her nostrils flared. “Very well,” she gritted out. “Over honor then.”

You nodded, assessing her form and the way she moved. “Do you have a knife?” you asked, not finding one on her from your glance over.

“I do not need one to take you down,” she smirked. “Forest folk do not have the skills we are trained in since birth. You cannot fight as we do.”

“No, we do not,” you agreed, unsheathing your knife. You enjoyed the way she wearily watched your hand, but you just flicked it into the sand several feet away. You would fight unarmed, just like she was. “We fight better.”

And with those words, you leapt into action. 

You pushed at her with enough force to have her stumbling back in the sand. She looked up, blue eyes glowing against the night sky. She came at you, aiming to push back you, but you were ready.

You grabbed her shoulders, using her own momentum to move her forward into your knee which you brought up and directed right at her gut. She grunted at the impact and you balled your fist, drawing it back as Jake had taught you, and hit her on the cheek so hard that her head reeled back and she stumbled. 

You surged forward again, not letting her recover before you pushed her to the ground, getting on top of her as you placed your hands around her throat, squeezing enough to make her panic, but not enough to suffocate her.

You screamed from the back of your throat, half from the adrenaline and half from frustration. You wished you had the strength to pick this woman up and throw her across the ocean where she could no longer slander your family or even so much as look at your husband again.

You know how you looked to her friends. A murderous killer who was targeting their friend, but the two cowards hung back, clutching each other in fear as they watched wide eyed. They should be afraid. The rage you felt in you was a broken, aching and jagged thing. It was grief and it was pain and it had found a target. 

“Shit,” a familiar, masculine voice hissed. A voice you would recognize anywhere, but one who would not deter you from your mission. 

“Get out of here, go,” Jake ordered, waving the two friends of Kariam’s back to the village. They linked hands and fled back to the mauris. They were abandoning their friend to undoubtedly tell every soul with a listening ear what they had seen.

“Baby, get off ‘er,” Jake directed, but you did not pay him any mind. You hissed as Kariam’s nails dug into your wrist where you held her down by her throat. 

Thick hands grasped your hips, pulling you away from your victim with strength that only your mate possessed. You hissed in frustration, unable to stop him. Jake heaved you back into him, pinning your arms to your chest and holding them there with one hand as his other arm wrapped around the front of your shoulders. 

You wriggled in his grasp, but at the feel of his breath on your ear, you faltered, breathing in deeply and looking down at where Kariam was still laying in the sand. Her hand was gingerly around her neck as she looked up, shocked at your husband’s appearance. 

“Let me go, Jake. She must pay,” you hissed. 

“Sorry, baby, can’t do that,” Jake said from over your shoulder, “What’d she do?”

You pursed your lips, hating to tell him, but seeing no way around it. “She is telling the clan lies about us. She aims to tear us apart so she can have you for herself.”

Kariam’s face turned a shade of teal as she blushed at her antics being outed to Jake. Speaking of him to others was one thing, but having him in front of her and hearing her lies in person was another thing entirely. The fire illuminated an already blooming red mark across her cheekbone and you felt a flicker of pride at the mark you had made.

“Like what? What did she say, Baby?” he asked, his hair tickling your neck. Kariam stumbled to her feet, brushing off the sand on her as she watched Jake hold you. Thinly veiled jealousy was evident on her face when Jake asked your side and not hers.

“That you do not love me anymore and that it is my fault. She says your attention is on her now,” you explained. 

“What? No, only you, sweetheart,” Jake assured you sweetly, “You didn't believe it, did you?” 

You shook your head, before pressing the back of it into Jake’s shoulder. The stars winked down at you from above as if this was all some trick they played on you. “No,” you promised. 

Jake sucked in air through his nose, his chest rising against your back. He turned to her, making you look back down to watch the interrogation. “What’s your name again?” he asked Kariam. The look of shock on her face was enough to lift your spirits. 

“Kariam,” she answered. “We have met before.”

"We have?” Jake asked, cocking his head. “I don't remember.”

“After the passing of your son, we spoke several times,” she insisted, but Jake just shook his head. 

“Maybe, but I still don't understand. Why’d you say those things about someone you don't even know? What am I to you?”

Kariam opened her mouth as if to respond, but no words came out. Her eyes flitted to you and for the first time since this all began, you felt the smallest amount of pity for her.

“You are Toruk Makto,” you answered for her. “And she is no one, except a sad, lonely girl who delights in making others’ miserable.”

Kariam’s eyes flashed with pain and rage, finally emerging form under the layers of forced bravado. “Kali'weya (bitch),” she spat, stepping closer to you. 

You hissed in response as Jake twisted, depositing you halfway behind him to act as a shield between the two of you. 

“Remember, that’s my mate you’re talking to,” Jake warned, his face hardening into something terrifying to be on the receiving end of. “I think it’s time you left.”

“This is my village, you cannot tell me what to-”

“Go!” Jake barked, evidently growing impatient with her. “Tonowari will deal with you in the morning, I’ll make sure of it,” he promised. 

Her lips pursed as her eyes narrowed, a scowl plain as day on her face. She cursed under her breath before slowly moving back towards the warm fires of the village. 

“You hurt?” Jake asked, placing one hand on your hip and the other on your face. You were now chest to chest and the gentle proximity was heaven after everything that happened tonight.

“No,” you promised, “she barely even landed a hit.”

He nodded, satisfied that you were alright. “Why are you fighting her? Don’t you know I'd never even look at another woman? Lay it out for me,” he requested, his hand moving to cup the back of your neck, his thumb gently pressing into the soft skin behind your ear.

“Ronal came to me. She told me that Kariam had been telling the village that you were interested in her, and when Ronal told me that you were still out at the demon ship, I figured I would handle this myself. I went to talk to Kariam and she challenged me. What was I supposed to do?” you asked.

“You could have waited for me to come home. We could have handled it together. You didn't need to shoulder this alone,” he urged. 

“I am tired of waiting for you to come home,” you groaned, closing your eyes and squeezing them tight. “You are always away. That is half the reason so many whisper about us now,” you grumbled, not bothering to hide the pout on your face. 

Jake frowned, “Because I’m gathering weapons for the war we’re in the middle of.” 

“We just lost our son, our baby boy. He’s gone and the children need you here,” you pleaded. “The girls need a steady force around, someone to turn to. Lo’ak needs his father to tell him everything will be alright, I need to hear it too. I cannot sit in that marui silently preparing meals and mending things by myself another evening. I cannot be alone any longer, Jake. It just reminds me of everything we lost.”

Against your will, hot, angry tears escaped your eyes as the evening caught up with you. Finally being honest with your mate made the floodgates open.

Jake winced at the sight of you crying, his expressive eyebrows twisting in sorrow as he wiped your tears with his thumb before he pulled you to his chest. You wrapped your arms around his torso and let him guide your face into the crook of his neck, breathing in the scent of him. 

“I didn't know you were feeling that way. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Jake said. You could feel the vibration of his words against your cheek, and the feeling brought you comfort. “I was so worried about the next attack and deep in my own pain that I missed what was right in front of me. I’ll do better,” he desperately promised.

“I know that you need your solitude, that you like to work towards something while you grieve. I know you need something to do or else everything will catch up with you. This is hard, but do not leave us. I need you. We will help each other through this,” you begged, holding him even tighter. 

“I know,” Jake muttered soothingly as he ran a hand up and down your back. “I’m here now, I’ll do better,” he repeated. “I love you, none of what she said was true. I love you so much,” he assured you.

“I love you too. I am sorry I did not tell you what was happening,” you said, pulling away from him to look into his golden eyes. You wiped away the tears from your own as you said, “but I am not sorry that I got in that fight. She is a txanfwìngtu (loser),” smiling despite the heaviness in your heart. 

Jake lifted his eyebrows and chuckled, the deep rumble lifting your spirits. “I don’t doubt it.”

A snap of a limb made you both alert, picking your heads up to look toward the bushes from the inland where the sound had originated. When you began to take a step forward, Jake held out a hand, signaling for you to stay behind him. He drew his knife, and slowly moved in a low walk to the foliage. As you both drew closer, a blue hand shot out as if surrendering. It was the darker blue of your people on their skin, not the lighter Metkayina hue. 

“Lo’ak,” you realized, making Jake lower his knife as your son popped out of the brush. 

You and Jake wore matching glares as you watched your youngest son step away from the waist high foliage. “Hey, Mom,” he winced, “Hey, Dad.”

“What the hell are you doin’ in there, boy?” Jake asked with shocked intensity. His eyebrows were so high, they were halfway to his hairline.

“Uh, you know, just looking for shells,” Lo’ak explained nonchalantly, shrugging as if this was a normal evening activity for him.

“Looking for shells? In a bush?” you asked, disappointed in your son more for the poor attempt at a lie than whatever sneaking about he was actually doing. It was clear to you what he was really doing in there. “How much did you see?” you sighed.

He winced, “most of it,” he answered truthfully.

Your eyes widened as Jake’s narrowed into slits. “What were you thinkin’?” your husband barked.

You jumped in to chastise your son as well. “Lo'ak te Suli Tsyeyk'itan, I cannot begin to describe how much trouble you are in,” you fumed. Jake scoffed in agreement, shaking his head and looking up to the sky as if asking Eywa for strength.

Lo’ak held up his hands as if asking you both to calm down. “I wanted to make sure mom was alright. She came by herself and she was pretty angry,” Lo’ak rushed to say and you realized you were maybe a tad bit too quick to jump to conclusions.

You shook your head. “You do not have to worry about me. I am fine,” you assured him. 

“Oh, I know that now. You were pretty badass actually,” Lo’ak commented as he nodded. You looked at Jake who just leveled a gaze back that clearly said, ‘can’t argue with that’.

“Thank you, Lo’ak,” you said shortly, although you had a smug grin on your face from the compliment. “But unless you want to see me use my badass skills up close and personal, then I suggest you go back to the marui,” you warned, although it was all in jest and Lo’ak knew it. 

He smiled and nodded. “Sorry,” he muttered under his breath.

“We’ll meet you in a second,” Jake instructed, pointing up the beach and Lo’ak nodded, subdued, but not disheartened. 

You and Jake watched him walk back up the beach and as soon as he was out of earshot, a giggle escaped you. Jake looked over, mildly concerned about what you could be laughing about. But when you shook your head and let another laugh out, he started smiling too.

“Eywa! Jake, did you see his face when we caught him?” you asked through your laughter.

“He looked damn terrified,” Jake agreed. The light of Polyphemus caught on the ridges of his face, making him look otherworldly, and you supposed he was.

“Maybe that will teach him his lesson,” you fruitlessly hoped.

You and Jake exchanged another look before bursting into more giggles that carried all the way across the sand. Lo’ak turned around from his trek home to watch his parents dissolve into laughter and he wondered what they could possibly find so funny.

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Your sisters were warriors, strong and nimble as palulukans. They had tamed ikrans, passed their dream hunts, and become one of the people through proving themselves over and over. You, on the other hand, had always been quieter and more gentle. 

While they practiced archery, you sat out in the sun creating strings for your instruments, humming under your breath ideas for a new tune. While they learned how to defend and protect from your father, you had been asking the Shaman of Songs a million questions and soaking up each word from her lips. Even when your sisters brought home their first kills, you had been sitting with your cousin, Ninat, as you wove songs together piece by piece. 

Sylwanin was a good older sister. She was mature and kind, but she was also courageous and fiercely loyal to her people. She and Tsu’tey trained most days when they weren’t learning English at the skyperson’s school or helping the clan doing day to day tasks. She had many friends and was admired by all for both her skill and her beauty.

As the middle sister, you had always preferred to fly under people’s notice. You were used to being the quietest one, the one who did not need much and would not ask for it even if you did. You were content with letting your sisters run the show, sacrificing attention for peace. Most other people’s eyes were drawn to you for other reasons anyway, so you much preferred being alone in your kelku (home) than to be out there, trying to not gain their awareness.

Lastly, a year younger than you, Neytiri was more brash and bold. She liked having things her way and would get into a mood when the winds did not favor her. She had an open heart though, and was the most accepting out of the three sisters. She was usually the one to look forward to your Tawtute (human) lessons with Grace in years past.

But that was long ago, before Sylwanin and Tsu’tey had attacked an RDA site and destroyed mining equipment that was being used to blast holes in the ground and destroy the homes of Eywa’s creatures. Now, your oldest sister was gone, shot in the back like a traitor, and her body now buried under Hometree. 

It had been two years since that day, and your family had learned to move on in some ways, less so in others. Neytiri had hardened into something nearly unbreakable, and you had softened into what every once else needed at the moment, becoming even more amenable and agreeable. 

But it was Tsu’tey who had truly changed. He had become a shell of who he once was. With Sylwanin, he was still serious and responsible, yes, but he would often crack jokes and always tried to get her to smile. A different side used to come out of the Eykatay around your sister, but after her death, he had been all furrowed brow and dead eyes. Out of all of you, it was Tsu’tey, who you were often worried about.

You had been next in line to assume the role of Tsakarem, one you took with hesitance. It felt too large of a task to try to fill Sylwanin's shoes. You were far more interested in your music making than you were in mindlessly mixing herbs in your mother’s rooms and sitting in silent prayer. Yet you knew what was expected of you, and you would take it with as much grace as you could bear. 

With your new position, you had not only been taught the ways of Eywa, but you assumed Sylwanin's betrothal in her place. Her promise to Tsu’tey was now yours, and with it, the assurance for him to one day become Olo’eyktan. 

While being Tsahìk was not high on your list of dream jobs, you did have a loyalty to your people and your family that was as strong as human metal. You would not let Tsu’tey down, and you would not disappoint your parents. When one of your parents passed into the Great Mother’s hands, or when you and Tsu’tey both agreed it was time, you would mate with the Eykatay and seal his claim to the chiefdom and your role as its Tsahìk.

Sitting at his side during ceremonies and being forced to get to know each other had not been so bad. You had entered a hesitant friendship that bloomed into a genuine one. Your shared grief over Sylwanin worked as a bind that connected you, and together you had learned to laugh again. 

You had grown into a woman who was not slim or narrow like your sisters. Despite their slight and willowy frames, you were all wide hips and thick thighs and full breasts. Your figure was uncommon for the Na’vi, and many saw you as something rare and desired. Your eyes sparkled like human gold and your smile was blinding to even the most serious warrior. 

You were gorgeous. Even Tsu’tey had to agree, despite not feeling any romantic love towards you. If his heart had not already been taken, perhaps he might have loved you like a mate, but he still loved you in his own way. He could not blame others for fawning at your feet as they did, but he would not give up his obligation to your family. You were his, though it was the promise of hand rather than your heart that led him to fulfill the duty that Eywa tasked him with.

Very few could resist your full cheeks or the kindness you held in your heart. Although they tried, none had tempted you with their affections so far. You had high standards, but more than that, you knew finding love was fruitless anyway. You were already destined to be with Tsu’tey and you had made peace with that. You had carried your beauty as a heavy burden. You were kind and polite to the hunters and weavers and farmers who approached you for your interests, but you never entertained them, knowing of your responsibilities to the clan. You would not shirk your promise to Tsu’tey or to your parents.

Your parents boasted at having two of the finest daughters in the Omatikaya; one being an accomplished warrior at an exceedingly young age, and the other the most beautiful woman of the clan and a tsakarem who was rapidly learning the ways of Eywa whilst still perfecting her chosen craft of music making. 

Things around hometree had continued on after Sylwanin's death. Maybe the air was filled with grief and tension now, but life did continue. It was not until a newcomer arrived and cut the ropes that had been holding you all up, that you realized how unbalanced and tenuous you all were.

When the dreamwalker had waltzed into hometree, you had watched in equal parts horror and fascination as Neytiri was assigned to teach him the Na’vi way. Tsu’tey scoffed from beside you on the dais, his fist clenching at his sides. Your father partially obscured you from being seen by the dreamwalker, but you still noticed the way his eyes met yours over Eytukan’s shoulder and even more so when they lingered there.

The dreamwalker was handsome, in an odd sort of way. The hair over his brow and the extra finger on each of his hands was the most noticeable of his differences. His eyes were smaller than you were used to seeing, and his nose protruded slightly more than most Na’vi’s did. But despite this, your parents had chosen to accept him for now. He would be trained to be a warrior and the elders would carefully be watching him. Unknown to him, you would be too.

The first few weeks after his arrival, you saw very little of him. He was busy learning and you were busy acting like you were not curious about the newcomer. You watched him at meals, his easy smile betrayed by his nervous eyes, but any anxiety he felt about being with the Na’vi faded quickly. He made acquaintances, even started earning people’s trust.

It was not until his third week in hometree that you first interacted with him. 

It had rained that day, thick drops of water had splashed down from above for hours. The ground was soaked from the deluge, but the skies had eventually cleared, so you had decided to leave your cozy alcove and make your way outside to take a walk and clear your mind. 

You had found your thoughts clouded by your father. The Olo’eyktan’s shoulders were often held close to his ears in these past days, his forehead wrinkled as stress pressed in on him. He had come to you last night, asking you to play a song he had often sung to you when you were young. It was a song of the ancestors, one that had words no longer spoken and meanings that had been lost to time. 

Your mind kept going to the way Neytiri had peeked in as you strummed the tune on your instrument, voice softly rising to join in with the sound. She had looked peaceful for the first time in months and it gladdened you. 

Your thoughts seemed to be getting away from you as you stepped on a fallen leaf, your foot hitting the ground at just the right angle to cause your heel to slide along the slick texture. Your arms pinwheeled, but you were unable to catch yourself in time.

“Woah!” you heard as your legs shot out from beneath you, your bottom hitting the forest floor below. The grass did little to cushion your fall. 

“You okay?” a deep, velvet voice asked in English as you saw a blue blur jogging towards you out of your peripheral vision. 

You had to search through your mind to find the correct words in English. “Yes, I think so,” you groaned, looking up to see Jake Suli, the dream walker, crouching in front of you. Your tail throbbed from the way you had awkwardly landed on it.

“Here,” he said as he reached out a hand to help you up. 

You took his hand, surprised at how easily he lifted you up, even with his muscles just now starting to emerge from training with Neytiri. Other than the hunters, many men in your clan were not solid enough to pick up anyone this easily, much less someone of your size. But Jake Suli was strong, and the way he had hefted you up made a swarm of shimmyflys erupt in your stomach.

“Thank you,” you murmur, looking up at him through your lashes.

“Of- of course,” he stammered, eyes locked on the curve of your cheek and the way your eyes sparkled in the late afternoon sun. “You’re Neytiri’s sister right?” 

“I am,” you nodded, surprised he already knew of you. “And you are the dreamwalker.”

“That’s what they call me,” he nodded with a shrug. “But Jake is fine too,” he said with a charming smile. 

“Jake,” you repeated slowly, making sure to pronounce it correctly. “I am y/n,” you told him. 

He smiled, “I know, I’ve seen you around,” he explained. 

You leaned down to brush off the grass on your legs, as you asked, “You have?” surprised at this information.

“Well, sure. Neytiri talks about you all the time. You’re her hero,” he explained and your cheeks turned purple at the words. 

You straightened up again when your legs were free of dirt and grass. “I am definitely not her hero, I am barely able to draw a bow,” you laughed and shook your head. “You must be mistaken, our older sister, Sylwanin, she was one of legends,” you insisted. 

Jake shook his head slightly, “No, she talks about both of you. In fact, she suggested I come talk to you about the language. She said that you had ways of teaching me through… song?” he asked, hair covered brows raised.

Your eyes widened, “I have written songs to help the children learn, I do not know if it would work for an adult, you may find them annoying,” you giggled at the thought. 

He shrugged, “I am pretty desperate, I can’t get the words through my thick skull,” he gave you a self-deprecating grin and you found yourself pitying him.

You pressed your lips together in contemplation. “I suppose we could try. When could you meet with me?” you asked.

“Tomorrow? I’m sure Neytiri wouldn’t mind an afternoon off. That’s when we normally work on language and, you know, Na’vi customs and stuff,” he suggested and you nodded.

“I could do that. Meet me at the base of hometree, I normally take the children somewhere outside so the noise does not interrupt others,” you said.

“Okay, tomorrow… I’ll meet you there after lunch- uh, mid day meal?” he clarified and your eyes sparkled at his slip up. 

“Yes, that is fine,” you agreed.

“Good…” Jake said, backing away a few steps. “It was nice meeting you. I look forward to the… songs,” he told you, eyebrows furrowing as if he thought he was tripping up on his words.

“Have a good day, Jake. Do not let my baby sister be terribly unkind to you. She gets stuck in her ways,” you suggested, a kind smile on your lips that made Jake's heart beat double time in his chest. 

“Right, thanks,” he nodded, wincing as he thought of no other wise words to say. He quickly turned from you, cursing himself for starting so strong just to end on an awkward note. At least he had tomorrow to show you he was not a total idiot.

The next day, you waited at the base floor of Hometree after midday meal. 

You were probably a little early, since most people were still eating above you, but you had been too on edge to eat slowly or really much at all. The prospect of meeting with the dream walker privately again was both exciting and nerve wracking. He was handsome, not in the way the other Na’vi men were, but in a way unique unto himself. 

You now found yourself clutching your instrument tightly in your hand, wetting your lips out of habit. Your sister had not spoken much of the dreamwalker, just about how he was stubborn and slow. That was not exactly what you had gathered from your conversation with him yesterday, but she would know him better. 

“Hey!” a masculine voice called, breaking you from your thoughts and looking for the source.

You recognized the man, Koa, although you could admit you did not know him well. He was tall and thin, and a good warrior in the clan. 

“Hi,” you greeted back. 

“Are you on your way up to eat?” he asked, gesturing over his shoulder up the spiral. 

“I just did,” you explained, “I am meeting someone.”

He nodded, “I see. Maybe another time then?” he asked. 

You opened your mouth, but hesitated to come up with the right words. 

“Y/n,” a voice called as the owner of it stopped his path and diverted towards the two of you. You looked over to see Tsu’tey with his brow furrowed as he walked purposefully. He had interrupted at precisely the right time.

“Tsu’tey,” you nodded, gesturing the traditional greeting of ‘I see you’ as he stopped a step in front of you and signed it back to you. His tall frame made you crane your neck to look up at him since he had stopped so close. 

“Koa, am I right in saying that you are on the next patrol?” Tsu’tey asked, his voice gruff.

“Yes, I just stopped in for some food,” Koa nodded.

“Then go get the food. You’ll be late,” Tsu’tey ordered, silently dismissing him and turning to you. 

Koa hesitated, looking at you in question, but when you just shrugged, he sighed and turned to start up the spiral. 

“What are you doing down here?” Tsu’tey asked, distracting you from Koa’s departure.

“Waiting on a new student,” you explained, “What about you?” you asked.

“I am returning from my own patrol, Atan relieved me. I was hoping to share a meal with you,” he said, but your slumped shoulders and pressed lips was a quick tell that it was a no. 

“I am sorry, I already ate and I promised I would help. Neytiri is still there I think,” you added encouragingly. 

Tsu’tey nodded in thought. “Very well, perhaps for the evening meal then?” he asked. 

“Sure,” you agreed with a small smile. 

At that moment, the soft sound of feet hitting dirt had you and Tsu’tey both turning to the spiral, where Jake had just jumped off of the last curve of wood and fully onto the lower level. 

Your eyes widened at the expectation of watching them interact up close. The two could not agree on anything.

“Dreamwalker,” Tsu’tey sneered, his body language shifting into squared, rigid straightness and sharp lines. 

“Tsu’tey,” Jake greeted, walking toward you both. A cocky smirk was on his face, making Tsu’tey’s hackles rise even further. “Are you here for lessons too?”

Tsu’tey’s eyes gleamed as he turned to you, a shocked look on his face. “He is the student you are waiting on?” he said, “Surely not.”

“Neytiri thought I could be of some assistance,” you explained, and Tsu’tey rolled his eyes. 

“You cannot teach the dreamwalker,” he scoffed. 

“Why not?” Jake asked, stepping closer to Tsu’tey again, “What do you think is gonna happen? It's just a little song and dance, she’ll be fine.”

“I do not need a reason not to like you, Vrrtp (demon),” Tsu’tey said. “Your kind is a disease.” 

“Stop it,” you barked, stepping forward, partly between them, but they both still glowered at each other over your head. “It is fine, Tsu’tey,” you insisted. 

That made him look down at you, “Neytiri is his teacher, you do not have to do this,” he responded.

“I know,” you affirmed, “it is okay.”

“Fine,” he finally grumbled. He glared at Jake, “Do not touch even a hair on her head or I will give you a swift end.”

You sighed at his dramatics as Jake just clenched his jaw.

Although there was no romantic love between you and Tsu’tey, there was still an oath to keep. There were certain expectations that came with being promised to each other. When men from the clan approached you with courting gifts or words that were far too honeyed, Tsu’tey always spoke to them for you, pushing them away with his usual gruffness. He defended and protected you, but he knew you were not as fragile or naive as others liked to treat you. He did not protect you out of fear that you could not handle yourself, but because it was his job now. That was what came with the territory of being in a pair. That was why he was being so short with Jake now.

On a few occasions, he had even accepted challenges on your behalf from men who wished to shake Tsu’tey from his role. Some because of his position as Eykatay, but some of them, because they envied his betrothal to you. You had been shocked each time, staring on as Tsu’tey fought them efficiently, winning by a landslide. He had always made sure you had no real attachment to the man before accepting their challenge, but you never did. 

“I will be fine,” you repeated, pulling Tsu’tey’s gaze away from Jake. You stepped to the side, pulling Tsu’tey with you. It did not stop Jake from hearing you, but it gave the feeling of a little more privacy.

Tsu’tey cocked his head as if he disagreed. “I trust you, it is him who I do not trust. Yell out if you need help, I will put patrols nearby,” he said. 

You raised your brow. “I do not think that is necessary,” you muttered,

“Even so, it will bring comfort to me. Will I still see you later?” Tsu’tey ground out as you nodded. 

“I will come find you,” you agreed.

He bowed his head in acceptance and turned, shooting Jake one last look over his shoulder before he leapt onto the spiral and began making his way up.

“What’s his problem?”  Jake asked as you turned to face him. “He your boyfriend or something?”

You narrowed your eyes. “I do not understand your human talk. Yes, he is my friend,” you corrected. 

“Yeah, but not your… mate? Are you together?” he asked and you understood. 

You smiled, turning away and walking to the exit.  “No, if Eywa wills it, one day we will mate, but we are not yet… together as you say,” you explained.

“I’m confused,” he noted from behind as he trailed after you.

You cocked your head to the side, feeling unsure at what he could be hung up on. “When my sister, Sylwanin, was alive, Tsu’tey loved her and she loved him. They entered into courtship and Tsu’tey was named Eykatay, the next in line. Eykatay and Tsakarem are often pairs, so that they may one day step into their roles as Olo’eyktan and Tsahìk together. When Sylwanin died, his role did not change, but I had to step into Sylwanin’s, meaning I took on both her title and her betrothal. Tsu’tey does not love me, and I do not love him, but we will mate before Eywa one day. Those are our duties,” you explained.

“That’s stupid,” Jake said matter of factly. You climbed a branch of a tree much smaller than Hometree.

“Our ways may not seem normal to you, but we act for the best of the people, not ourselves,” you said, slightly offended that he would question your ways so brashly. 

“Even if it makes you miserable? What if you’re unhappy with him?”

“I will not be. We are friends and that is more than many arranged mates start with. I will be fine. Come, no more talk of my mating. I am to teach you our ways,” you said in a way of finality and waved him on. 

You found a spot high up in a large tree and began to climb. You had to sling your instrument over your back, making your trip up easier. Jake climbed with surprising slowness, perhaps skypeople had no trees where he was from. When he finally joined you at the top, he was out of breath. 

“You okay?” you asked, trying to hide your smirk. 

“Oh, outstanding,” he promised, as he rested against the trunk and dangled his legs over either side of the limb. His chest heaved with exertion and you tried not to stare at it.

You tore your eyes away from him and aimed them at the instrument at your side instead. “I will start with a simple song, one all Na’vi children know by heart,” you suggested and Jake nodded, although reluctantly. 

Hours passed, with you singing and strumming the rhymes and tunes of the Na’vi. Jake followed along, his ears growing used to the turn of your words and the way they twisted together. He watched you, thoroughly enamoured as you lost yourself to the joy and rhythm of the music. You even got him to sing a little, although the offkey tone made you giggle and he clammed back up before you knew it.

“How do you remember all of this?” he asked, looking inquisitorially at you as if in awe. 

“It is my work, I wrote many of them, and the others I learned in childhood. You do not have music on your star?” you asked. 

“We do. We have a lot of music, but I think I like yours better.” He smiled faintly, “you sing beautifully, like an angel.”

You cocked your head to the side, fighting back the heat on your cheeks. “What is an angel?” you asked.

He lifted his eyebrows, “It’s a… spirit who sings to God and sounds gorgeous while doing it.”

You smiled, liking the description. “Then I am an angel,” you nodded in agreement.

He huffed out a laugh, “Alright, angel it is.”

That day was not the last of your lessons. He came to you often and asked for assistance, either to teach him more songs or to explain a custom or to translate a word. From then on out, it seemed everywhere you turned, Jake was not far off.

He even came to find you in your home one day. You had your own kelku to properly care for your instruments. It worked equally as both a living space and a workshop of sorts, wood and string and plant fiber cloths and all sorts of odds and ends cluttered your space. 

You lived in organized chaos and had always loved the comfortable, lived-in feel of it, but when a shadow darkened your door, you suddenly saw it through his eyes.

“Jake,” you gasped out, clutching your rag in surprise. You had not expected to turn around and see him at all, in fact, it was Tsu’tey who promised to come walk you to the forest to collect materials for a new flute. You had sort of forgotten he was coming, seeing as he was over an hour past what he promised. Something must have gone wrong with patrols or training, he was not usually so late.

“Angel,” Jake greeted you, smiling fondly as you began hurriedly putting away the most offensive parts of the clutter. His expressive eyebrows raised as he noticed the tension in your shoulders and the shocked look on your wide, golden eyes.

You pursued your lips. You could not imagine why he was here. “I have no more songs to teach you and I am afraid you would not learn much of arrows or bravery from me. If you came here for-” You sputtered to a halt as he fully stepped inside.

“I didn’t come to you to learn… I just… I wanted to see you again,” he confessed, gazing instantly at you and making you pause your cleaning to look back. 

Your eyes widened, “To see me? Why?” you asked breathily.

He smiled, shrugging slightly. “Becuase I think you’re beautiful,” he replied. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

You blushed, cheeks turning purple, as he looked around at you kelku covered in trinkets and instruments, some halfway made since you had paused your creations for one reason or another.

When you did not respond because your brain was still short circuiting at his words, he gestured to the hoard of things surrounding you. “All this is yours?” he asked. 

You bit your bottom lip. “Yes,” you sighed, giving up on putting everything away and turning back to your previous task to absentmindedly occupy your hands. You were finishing off oiling the wood on the instrument in front of you, and you were thankful to be able to do that instead of bursting into flames out of embarrassment.

He asked questions and you answered them, both pairs of eyes dancing and locking together just to rip themselves away again. “How come you aren't going to be the next Shaman of Songs? That seems more your thing?” Jake asked.

You shrugged, “I will be Tsahìk, this is Eywa’s plan for me. Being Shaman was once my goal, but now my cousin, Ninat, will make an excellent leader of music. She is perfect for it,” you explained, although Jake did not seem all that enthused by your answer.

“Neytiri tells me you are doing well and will be doing your Iknimaya soon. Do you feel ready?” you asked, changing the subject and putting this back on him before he could ask more.

His face lit up with pride. “I’m ready. This time next week, I’ll be soaring through the sky on my own ikran. Maybe we could go on a ride sometime? You know, once I get the hang of it,” he suggested and your heart sank a little in disappointment. 

You looked down at your hands as they worked. “That would be nice. I would like that, but I do not have an ikran. They are for hunters and I am not one,” you explained.

You glanced up at Jake just to gauge his reaction, but it was not what you were expecting. He shrugged, undeterred. “That’s okay. You can ride with me if you want. I won't let ya fall,” he smiled teasingly. You realized that he did not think of you as less valuable than anyone else because of your passions and it brought a lightness to your chest.

You laughed, “Alright, get your ikran first, warrior, then I will go with you,” you promised and Jake nodded proudly.

“Deal,” he agreed. “In the meantime, want to check out the sunset with me? I found this great spot at the top of Hometree,” he asked.

You placed the oil and cloth down, smiling at his offer. You loved sunsets. “I would like that,” you nodded enthusiastically.

He smirked, holding out his hand and you stepped forward to take it. “I was hoping you’d say that.” Your three fingers intertwined with his four fingers, an odd feeling, but a good fit none-the-less. 

As he began to gently lead you through the threshold, he stopped at the sight of an imposing figure blocking your path. Tsu’tey stepped inside your home, taking in the sight before him.

“What is this?” Tsu’tey asked, glancing between the two of you before flitting down to your interlocked hands. Anxiety clawed at your stomach at his sudden appearance, although the feeling was maybe more akin to shame.

“Tsu’tey!” You gasped, letting go of Jake’s hand and realizing you had no reason to hold it in the first place. “We were just going to take a look at the sunset,” you explained, hurriedly, feeling guilty even when you had no reason to. You reminded yourself you had done nothing wrong.

Tsu’tey’s eyes only narrowed. “I thought we were going to go find reeds for your instruments.”

At the reminder, your face crumpled. “I forgot, Tsu’tey. I’m so sorry,” you gushed, lips twisted into a frown.

You had overcommitted and would now have to choose. You wanted to go with Jake at this moment, but you had specifically asked Tsu’tey and he had taken time out of his busy day. You glanced at Jake, looking completely conflicted. He looked disappointed under a look of stony contempt in his eyes. 

“Can you not pick reeds tomorrow? I can take you,” Jake offered, but it elicited a hiss from Tsu’tey.

“I will take her. It was me she asked, not you,” Tsu’tey snarled.

“She can make her own choices,” Jake grumbled.

“Her choice was made when she asked me,” Tsu’tey bit back.

“She’s a free woman with her own autonomy. She can change her own damn mind.” Jake bit out, glaring at the Eykatay. 

“Boys!” you called, growing more anxious from their bickering. You felt terrible. You would have to go with Tsu’tey, there was no other option. You had previously committed to him, in addition to him being your betrothed. It was the natural choice, regardless of how much you wanted to go with Jake. 

Jake sighed, forcing himself to bite his tongue, as Tsu’tey averted his eyes to you. He was still waiting for an answer.

“I-” you hesitated to say your choice and when you couldn't produce a reply after a moment, Jake thankfully took pity on you. Perhaps he already knew your answer and was letting himself down gently.

“You know what? Sunsets happen every day, same time and everything,” he pointed out, “Go with him. You can meet me tomorrow,” he suggested. 

You placed a hand on his arm in relieved gratitude. “Are you sure?” you asked Jake. 

“I’ll be fine,” he promises with a knowing smile. Tsu’tey glowered at Jake as Jake’s eyes swiveled back to the taller man. “I imagine you like to keep your promises,” Jake said to you, but his gaze stayed fixed on Tsu’tey, a silent challenge in his eyes. 

You were not entirely familiar with how the male brain worked, especially when two seemed so at odds like Jake and Tsu’tey were, so you could not begin to infer the inner workings of their brains. Your best guess was that this was some odd, territorial display, both marking boundaries and testing the waters. You wondered how far they would realistically push each other.

Jake backed away from you both, tossing a smirk your way as he nodded his head in acknowledgement. He did not seem to take this as a loss, but more so as a challenge. You nodded back with a small smile as Jake shouldered past Tsu’tey. The Eykatay turned to watch him go and you sided up to him to watch as well. 

“Bye, Angel!” Jake called over his shoulder and sent a hand up in the air to wave.

You bit back a smile at his name for you. “Goodbye, Jake,” you replied. 

“Skxawng,” Tsu’tey muttered under his breath once Jake was out of earshot. You pursed your lips at the insult, but decided not to say anything about it. “What does that mean? What is Angel?” Tsu’tey asked.

You hesitated, unsure how to describe it. “He says it is a messenger of their god. A spirit who sings beautiful songs.”

Tsu’tey pursed his lips at the explanation. “Those are pretty words, but it is a trick. He will only hurt you,” he said grimly. You both watched Jake stumble on a bump of the limb he was walking on and while you watched intently while he righted himself, Tsu’tey continued, taking it as proof. “He does not belong here.”

You could think of no argument. You knew he was right, there was no refuting it. “We should go,” you said quietly, grabbing the woven pouch the master weaver had made for you as a gift over your shoulder. You set out into Hometree, disregarding whether Tsu’tey was behind you or not, he would catch up eventually. 

Your mind reeled as you walked, catching all of the details of the past hour that you had brushed aside in the moment. Now, you ran back every catch of Jake’s eye, every upturn of his lips, and especially the way his warm palm fit with yours. You tamped down the rising elation at the thought of him coming to seek you out today and what that might mean. 

Tsu’tey’s words echoed in your mind, but it did not stop you from the longing of wanting to see Jake again. Eywa, it was all you wanted. 

Vibrations on the limb below you told you Tsu’tey had caught up. “You have been spending time with him, why?” he asked, siding up to you and looking curiously down at his intended.

“I have not spent that much time with him,” you protested, even knowing it was not necessarily the truth. 

“Neytiri says it has been hard to find you apart recently,” Tsu’tey said.

“I do not know about that, but I enjoy spending time with him. He is kind and he is funny,” you said, trailing off as your true answers clogged in your throat. It was the way Jake made you feel, the way he set your heart ablaze just by being near. You could not put that sensation into words, not in a way that Tsu’tey would like or accept.

“You are fond of him,” Tsu’tey stated, not a question, but an observation.

“In a way, perhaps. He is becoming a friend,” you explained.

He was quiet for a beat. “It looks as if you love him.”

Your eyes flew up to his in surprise. “No, I could not love a dreamwalker,” you insisted, but the words tasted sour.

Tsu’tey sighed, seemingly growing tired of arguing with someone who could not see reason. “Do one thing for me, Sevin’eve (pretty girl). Be careful. He seeks you, there are no questions about that.”

You laughed, a hearty sound that Tsu’tey enjoyed hearing. “He does not. You are just jealous,” you forced a smile, trying to tease him back into a milder temper. You hated conflict and this all made your stomach turn. 

But instead of rolling his eyes or scoffing, Tsu’tey just silently dropped to a lower branch on your path, leading the way down to the spiral. He reached up, hands lifted for you to take and to help ease you down. 

You took his hands, using them to steady you as his eyes blazed with simmering fire. “Yes, I am. I cannot protest it, I am very jealous,” he admitted and your large eyes stared up at him with shocked fascination. You knew Tsu’tey to be territorial, even aggressive at times, but you had not thought him ever to be truely envious of another.

His hands tightened softly around yours, treating them as if they were frail things. “You have never looked half as happy with me as you did when I found you two today. He can give you a joy I cannot and that makes me angry. But, I also know that these feelings that you feel for him are temporary. Do not chase demons through the forest. They will only lead you to poisoned waters,” he warned. 

Your mouth hung open for a moment. “Tsu’tey, I-” you started, but he cut you off.

“Promise me this, promise to not get in too deep. Say you will not stray from my side.”

You stared up at him, eyes softening at the desperation written all over him. “I promise that I will not fall for him. I will not stray from you, Tsu’tey,” you swore and he relaxed, if only the smallest bit.

“Good,” he nodded. “Do not go where none else can follow.”

-

You had broken your promise quickly.

Barely 24 hours later, you stood at the top of hometree with ikrans chirping around you and Jake standing beside you. His arm was close to being flush with yours, barely a breath of space between you. It was odd, considering you had consciously chosen to stand far enough away from him for there to be space, now there was none. You bit your lip at the realization that you had been subconsciously moving closer and closer to him. 

Once you were up here, it had taken barely moments before he turned to you, eyes looking orange in the dying sunlight. He stared with so much intensity that it made you want to sit down and collect yourself. You tried not to squirm under his gaze, your senses feeling fried from the kindness you found in him.

“I don't think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful than this,” he admitted, eyes roving over your cheeks, up your nose, and to the way your hair fell around your ears. 

“Yes,” you agreed, “It’s gorgeous, I love the way everything turns different colors,” you commented, tearing your eyes away from him to look out at the blazing, pink horizon. 

“Not that,” he corrected. When you looked at him in question, he smiled. “You.”

“Me?” you scoffed. “I would have to disagree with you.”

“Well, you aren’t the one looking at you, are you?” he smirked, knowing you could not argue with that.

“You flatter me,” you smiled, unable to stomp on the growing warmth in your chest.

“I’m tellin’ you the truth. You’re an angel,” he insisted.

“So you’ve said,” you responded, fingers twisting in the beads of your long, dangling necklace.

“It’s true,” he said. “Let me look at you.” He urged your chin up with a knuckle on his four fingered hand and smiled wider when you rolled your eyes, but indulged him. You faced him head on, twisting your waist to better angle your body. You leaned closer as if being pulled into him by the flux vortex.

Jake watched your face soften, liking the way you returned his look of awe. “Beautiful,” he murmured, face dipping down as if to capture your lips with his. 

Just a hair’s breath away, he stopped, making you let out a disappointed sound. “Can I?” he asked, wanting to check in on you first. You did not respond with words, not having the patience for it when you were so close to getting what you wanted. You just closed the gap between you. 

Kissing Jake was not a rushed thing. It was exploratory and slow and intentional. He did not push, did not force his way in. He just gripped at your hips with calloused hands and held you in a way that made your skin buzz.

You realized that this was your first kiss. No one had ever tempted you before your betrothal to Tsu’tey. You were too young, and then you were too involved in your music, and then you were too deep into your grief. And after your betrothal, you had always remained loyal to the promises you made. Even if that meant you had never looked forward to a kiss because you always assumed it would be with Tsu’tey.

Tsu’tey… Eywa, forgive you. 

You pulled away slightly, forehead resting on his as you caught your breath. “Jake…” you murmured against his lips, not wanting to create space between you. He breathed deeply, smiling wide. 

He gave you a second before chasing after you, stopping your next words with another kiss. “Hmmm…” he hummed like a question against your mouth and you suddenly didn’t remember what you were supposed to say. Your hands tightened on their grip around his shoulders before they loosened and slid to the back of his neck. Your fingers gripped the hair beside his tsawin, twisting in the locks that were braided into his kuru.

He pulled away, eyes searching yours as you blinked lethargically. “Were you going to- Did you have something to say?” he asked. 

Your eyes widened at the reminder. Your mouth snapped closed, stomach twisting at the realization of what you had done. “I-” you stuttered, unable to sweeten the words as they slipped through your lips. “I cannot… I should not have done that,” you managed to say. 

His brow furrowed. “Is this about him?” he said, even as his hands loosened around your hips and you pulled away. “You don’t love him. Why are you with him?”

You groaned, dropping your head in your hands. “I do not want to have this conversation again, Jake. It is not just about love. It is about my duty to my people,” you reminded him.

His lips straightened into a firm line. “I know! You keep saying that, but you don’t even want to be Tsahìk. How does being unhappy best serve the people?” he asked.

“It is what is done here! It is what Eywa intends me to do!” you insisted, your emotions rising in your chest like a wave.

“If Eywa really wanted you to do this, why would she send me here? Why wouldn’t she make you love him?” he demanded, stepping closer. 

“I do not know! I cannot claim to know the ways of the Great Mother, but I am doing it, Jake. Do not make this harder for me,” you begged, vision still obscured by the palm of your hand. You were glad you covered your face when a rouge tear formed on the edge of your eyelid and you were able to quickly wipe it away.

He sighed, laying a hand on your shoulder. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry. Don’t be upset,” he pleaded, pulling you into him and you let him. 

After a moment, you laid your head on his chest, tucking it under his chin, and letting the warmth of his skin seep into yours. “Okay,” Jake relented. “How about this? The RDA only agreed to let me train for two more months. After that, I will be pulled out of this body and not be able to come back. That was the agreement.” Your eyes widened in shock at the news.

“But if I already have limited time, and you have to mate with someone else anyway, then let's just make the most of it. Two months of having fun and spending time together, and then when it's time to go, it will be like nothing ever happened.”

You mulled it over, wincing at the reaction this would elicit from the people. “Tsu’tey, he will not like-”.

“Tsu’tey never has to know. It’ll just be between you and me,” he explained.

You lowered your brow in thought. “Nì'aw zìskrrsomo…” you noted.

When Jake’s eyebrows scrunched together, you translated for him. “Only during Summer.”

His face softened. “Only for the summer,” he agreed, watching you intently for your answer.

You pursed your lips, knowing that this was your chance at experiencing something real. You hoped to grow to love Tsu’tey one day, but even that would be formal and duty bound. What you had here in front of you now was passion and romance and all of the things you never let yourself believe you could have before. You had to take this opportunity by the reins and enjoy it while you could.

You straightened a little, still tucked against his chest, but able to see his face now.  “Okay, what is in it for me? I run the bigger risk. If things go wrong, you can leave. I cannot,” you pointed out, but the lilt of your voice and your hand landing on his middle gave away that you were playfully negotiating. Your mind was already made, not that he had to know. 

He raised his brows at you, a scoff making its way past his lips. “Well, you get unlimited access to me, and I make a pretty damn good boyfriend. Plus, when I get my ikran, I’ll take you on as many rides as you want.”

You pretended to think it over, “Hmm, that is a good offer, but you know, Tsu’tey has an Ikran now, maybe I should just ask him to take me,” you suggested, smirking. 

His lips curled up into a grimace. “Don’t you dare,” he grumbled. “Not funny.”

“It is a little funny,” you said, “to me at least.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Angel, you could go ask Tsu’tey, and I’m sure he’d say yes, but you won't have half as much fun than if you were with me,” he pointed out, and you rolled your eyes, even if he was right.

Your smile faded into something far more subtle. “It is good then, that I do not want to go with him. I want to go with you,” you said.

“Good,” Jake stated smugly. “I could treat you so much better than him,” he promised, stepping closer and boxing you in against the trunk of the tree. “He can’t make you laugh like I can. He can’t hold you like I can. He won’t kiss you like I will,” he said, growing even closer. Your breath stopped in your chest, your lungs constricting at the words and proximity. 

“Jake, he is my intended,” you refuted, not liking for him to talk down on your future mate, even if what he said was true. 

“So? He doesn't know you like I do. He’ll never love you like you deserve,” Jake argued. “For the next two months, you’ll be mine. I’ll show you.” 

“Jake,” you repeated, but this time it was more of a plea. 

“Just say yes,” he urged, his breath warm against your cheek. “Love me for the summer.”

You squeezed your eyes closed, hating yourself for what you were about to do, but not having the ability to deny him. “Okay. Just for the summer,” you muttered. 

Jake smiled, blinding white teeth glinting in contrast to his blue skin. His two sets of fangs were on display before he ducked down to kiss your temple, his other hand coming to your face to steady you. 

You laughed at his reaction, finding only joy in his response. “Just… do not fall too far in love with me. This has an end,” you reminded him, knowing it was fruitless, but trying anyway. Maybe the warning was more for yourself.

“No promises, Angel,” he teased, “You gonna fall in love with me?”

“No promises,” you imitated, rising up on your toes to meet his lips with yours once more.

Thank you for reading! Part 2 is coming...

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The man you had once thought to be a demon, now looked more like an angel, as he crouched and handed you a cracked, hollowed out gourd of water. The liquid was warm and tasted like smoke, but it still helped clear your throat as it traveled down. 

Jake watched with cold and steely eyes as you swallowed each drop, the water running down your chin and chest made rivets of blue appear through the ash that covered your skin in thick sheets.

“Home tree still burns,” he said lowly and you stilled at the news. “It’s spread for miles, it’ll be here in a few days.”

“Then we cannot stay,” you surmised and he nodded. You glanced around at the crowds of people still grouped together. 

Your once mighty clan was now reduced to refugees and wanderers. The Olo’eyktan and Tsahìk were dead, one killed in the fall of Hometree, and the other dead from the missile that had taken down the Tree of Souls. Nearly two hundred more Omatikaya had joined them, most fallen in battle, others killed by debris or Hometree itself. What had once been your home, had become your graveyard.

Hundreds of Na’vi from other tribes were dead and wounded. Some still alive were scattered among you now, but the other stragglers had attempted to flee home. You would have once prayed for their safe return, but your faith in the Great Mother was diminished to ash, just like your forest. The thought of praying to her, after what she had done to you, made anger swell in your chest. What did you owe her that she had not already taken? What more was there to give? 

Where was Eywa when skypeople shot at your kin? Where had she been when they had cut the Na’vi down as if you were blades of grass? If Eywa held her children in her heart, then you must not be one of hers. Perhaps she had forsaken the Omatikaya for a new love. She had picked a side today. 

You hoped the skypeople enjoyed her favor as you once had. 

If she would not save you, then you would have to save yourself. You felt the thought settle in your heart like comfort or something soft, the reminder that this fight was not over. Despite the bleeding gash across your shoulder, you were not dead yet.

“They need someone to lead them,” you whispered softly to Jake over the cries of grief and agony.

His eyes narrowed, “Tsu’tey is-” but you stopped him before he could get too far. You needed him to step up now, for all of your sakes.

“No, Tsu’tey is unable to lead in his condition. You are Toruk Makto,” you reminded him, nodding to where Tsu’tey laid on the scorched ground. Neytiri crouched over him as she used a dead Na’vi’s clothing to tie a tight bandage over his bullet wound. His fate was entirely up in the air, his condition wavering each minute.

“They won’t listen to a skyperson,” Jake argued, watching as a woman sobbed over a toy, her child no longer there to play with the wooden Pa’li (direhorse).

“They will listen to Rider of Last Shadow. Eywa is no longer in this place, the humans have driven her away. You are the last gift she gave us, our last hope now. You must lead,” you insisted. The evening sky used to draw out the light of Jake’s tanhì (bioluminescent freckles), but ash now blocked the glow.

His eyes fell down to the gray dirt, but you forced his chin back up with your knuckle. “You betrayed us before, so now you must stay to make amends. You were weak then, but you have changed. I have seen it grow in you,” you demanded. Jake’s jaw clenched in anger or shame, you were not sure, but either would serve you now.

“I will forge you into something better, something stronger. Listen to me, follow my words, and we will bring down the humans. We can lead this clan back to what it once was, but only if you are at my side. The people need you to be strong… I need you to be strong.”

He dragged his eyes up to meet yours and the resolve filling them now had hope flickering once more in your chest. “I am with you,” he said steadily. “I am always with you,” he promised and you nodded. 

“Good,” you breathed, looking up at him through your eyelashes. “Then you know what needs to be done.”

He nodded, “Will you translate?” he asked.

“Yes,” you agreed, and he took your awaiting hands, tugging you up with him into a standing position. You led him to stand in front of the group of people, so small compared to your former strength.

He looked at you for reassurance, but you would not coddle him. Your steely gaze bored into him as you nodded. “Na’vi!” he finally called out to the people. 

Weary, bloodshot eyes looked up to him as he gripped his hands into fists at his sides. “The demons have won this battle, but they have not won the war,” he started as you translated it into the language of Pandora.

The people shifted, their hollow eyes betraying how bone tired and weary they were, but they perked up at his words. “They have killed the Great Mother, caused her to flee from this land. But all is not lost, our strength is each other.”

As you spoke in Na’vi, you saw Neytiri stumble to her feet, leaving Tsu’tey on the hard floor as she looked at you both with a shocked stare. Jake continued as the people started sitting up. 

He was visibly growing in confidence as he spoke and you felt something akin to relief or pride sweep over you. Perhaps you would not have to coach him so heavily, he seemed more ready than you had imagined. 

“We need to regroup, heal, find shelter and food,” he listed, “All able bodies should step forward. The young and the old will have to look after the wounded. I need hunters to travel to find food and others to find water. We will need to build shelters,” he explained with a tone that demanded respect.

So the rebuilding began. Warriors who remained relatively unscathed had mounted their ikran to ride away from the skypeople’s fires to find any beasts to slay or plants to forage for food. Those who had minor injuries were sent to collect water from the river that once ran beside Hometree, but now they would have to travel far to reach it.

When you had turned to Jake for your own assignment, he just shook his head, “Stay here, Baby. Help the wounded and start on some shelters. Your shoulder doesn't need any stress on it,” he said and you bit back a protest. 

You needed to be on his side completely, not show any resistance, play the long game. Besides, you needed time to think. You could do mindless work here while you planned your next moves. You nodded demurely, “Thank you, Jake. You take such good care of me,” you cooed, a hand finding his shoulder. 

He gave a half-hearted smile, “of course, Baby.”

When he and the other warriors came back hours later, the supplies were few and you realized with sudden urgency that your people needed to move. They would die if they stayed here. 

But before you could go, there was one thing that had to be done. 

 “Jake,” you asked softly, coming up to him where he was helping unload the sparse, bloodied meat that they had collected. 

He turned to you, ears pointing up as his face softened. “Hey.”

You smiled back, although it was tight lipped. “I know you have gone through much today, but your human body must be dealt with,” you informed him. 

“What?” he asked, looked taken aback by your current focus.

“You are weakened by it. As of now, you are tied to a body that depends on machines. Anything could go wrong, and regardless, soon, you will run out of air. We need to do a transfer.”

“I don’t know,” he said, looking torn at the prospect.

You stepped back, eyes wide at his hesitance. “Do you not love me? Do you not want to stay with me?”

“Of course I do,” he insisted, “That’s not it.”

“Then you will transfer today, or you will never see me again,” you ordered, turning on your heel to go find Neytiri. 

You were pleased when Jake caught up with you, grabbing your wrist as he tugged you back. “No, hey, I’m sorry. You’re right. I'll do the transfer,” he relented and your lips cracked into a blinding smile. 

“I knew you would make the right choice, yawnetu (loved one),” you fawned, leaning forward to peck him on the lips. “Come, arrangements need to be made.”

You and Jake found Neytiri in the same spot, tending to Tsu’tey and a few others who would likely not make the night. “Neytiri, we have a problem,” you said, as you and Jake sat next to Tsu’tey’s unconscious body.

“We have many problems,” she agreed. The Tsakarem’s eyes flitted between you and Jake as she nodded once for you to continue. 

“My human body is on borrowed time. I need to transfer my mind like Mo’at tried with Grace, except this time… I really need it to work,” Jake huffed sardonically. Neytiri’s eyes widened and you rushed to speak. 

“Will you perform the ceremony?” you asked, mentally pleading with her to say yes. “Is this even possible?” you asked, leaning in with furrowed brows as Neytiri nodded, looking resigned. 

“Yes, but it will not be easy. The only connection with Eywa left in the forest is miles away, it will take hours to reach. Jake will not last long in this body,” she agreed. “I will do this, but we must go now,” Neytiri insisted.

“Then let’s get it done,” Jake agreed, slinging his gun over his shoulder by its strap and standing up. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“You will have to travel in your human body,” you realized, chewing your lip nervously as you thought over the logistics. 

“That won’t work,” he insisted. “My legs… I can't travel across this terrain.”

You cocked your head, “Is your faith in me so brittle? I think I have an idea.”

Several hours later, you were on a Pa’li, with Jake’s small human body pressed to your front. Neytiri was just behind you on her own Pa’li. Jake’s unconscious, Na’vi body was strapped to the back of her beast. You were both picking your way through the smokey haze of the forest, or at least, what was left of it.

Jake barely said a word through his clear mask and you did not say anything either. It felt too weird to see him in his pink skin and odd human clothes. It felt so much more real to be confronted with his humanity in this way. His metallic smell was a hundred times stronger like this, and the stench was giving you a headache. 

You glanced behind you to where Neytiri was grimacing at the smoke in the air. A small part of you, the jealous part, was satisfied to see that not an inch of Jake was touching Neytiri and she seemed to not be paying him any mind. 

You turned back to the small human that was supposed to be your mate. The sight of him made your stomach roll, but you tried to hide your disgust for his sake. You leaned forward to speak to him without Neytiri hearing. “Let this weak, human part of you die, Jake. Be reborn into something terrible and strong,” you whispered into the shell of his pink ear. 

He paused, processing your words before he nodded. “I’ll be whatever you need me to be,” he promised. 

Once at the tree, you set Jake down at its base before you helped Neytiri lower his avatar form to the ground. He was heavy and it took both of you to pull him to the root covered dais, but finally you placed his unconscious form into position. Jake moved to be laying the opposite way of his avatar and laid down with his back flat to the rock. 

You knelt down beside him and leaned over his body. "When you see her, tell Eywa that I will not forgive what she has done," you hissed, eyes aflame with underlying, yet glowing rage. 

Jake did not say anything in response. How could he even begin to know what to say? He just nodded grimly and pressed his lips together. You smiled kindly, a glimmer of the woman he had fallen in love with peeking through. “Thank you, Yawnetu. Come back to me.”

“I will,” he agreed, reaching up to cup your cheek with his small hand. 

“We must begin,” Neytiri interrupted, and you nodded. 

“Then begin.”

When Neytiri began chanting, the vines slowly began to glow and stretch over both of his bodies. They covered who he was and is and had yet to become, making your heart squeeze in anticipation for something new to emerge from the ashes of this defeat. 

You waited as Neytiri pleaded with Eywa, something you refused to do. You would not ask her to do what you were already owed. It was her who should be pleading with you for forgiveness.

You hovered expectantly, caught between love and rage, as you waited for Jake. 

It felt like an eternity, but Jake’s human body slowly stopped breathing. You placed a hand over Jake’s Na’vi heart, hoping for a thump, but there was only stillness. You waited a moment more, but eventually Neytiri stopped praying. 

Your burning, panicked eyes flew up to her. “Why have you stopped?” you demanded. 

“I am sorry, ‘eylan (friend). I do not think it has worked,” Neytiri said, dismayed. 

You clenched your jaw, refusing to give in so easy to defeat. You gripped his chin, jerking it up so he would face you, but there was no breath on his lips. “No,” you muttered. If he was not to be born from love and patience, then he would be born from violence. 

You took your other hand, balled it into a fist, and brought it down on his chest hard. “Jake, wake up, you skxawng,” you cried out in desperation. Neytiri leaned back, wary of your methods and your anger. 

Still, despite your effort, his face was slack. Neither air nor a heartbeat had moved in either body for what was growing into minutes.

“You promised you would come back! You will not leave me this way!” you ordered. You screamed in frustration, ripped your hand away from his face and brought it down with your other fist, pounding on his chest with all the force in your body. 

With a stuttering gasp, Jake’s eyes flew open and breath filled his lungs. 

You let out a relieved sigh. Your rage had brought him back to you.

One month later:

You and Jake had begun moving the remains of your small camp forward. Less than a hundred Omatikaya remained, yet you had created a small community from the barren wasteland you had been left with. 

Animals had been hunted, their meat used to feed the people and their hides creating shelter after being strung between dead, charred trees.

Other homes had been fashioned to stand freely and people found or fell into roles. The mantles of Tsahìk and Olo’eyktan were usurped by you and Jake. You did not ask permission or put it to a vote, you simply stepped into the role. Anyone who did not like it would be dealt with, but so far, no one had voiced their concerns. 

You slathered a mixture of ash and clay and water on your skin, creating a paste that would absorb the harsh rays of sun. You had heard of people in the plains using paint and mud to keep the sun from burning their skin, but you had thought it to be strange at the time. You always had your forest to keep you protected with its lush canopies and thick foliage to shield you from the elements. 

Now there were only stumps where the giant trees used to be. Only white ash where plants and life had once thrived. Your skin burned quickly if there was nothing between it and the sun.

“We need guns, equipment, explosives,” Jake mused, looking over the maps he had crudely drawn on animal hide. 

You looked up from the bowl on the ground to your mate who was hunched over his plans. Your kelku was the largest in the small village. Jake had ordered it to be made precisely how you would like it, and much of the finer details were handled by him directly. You had quickly learned that he was a doting mate.

“Then it must be sought, Ma Jake,” you replied, rubbing a paint covered hand over your chest and shoulders. 

He looked up. “A raid would be suicide,” he responded. 

You cocked your head and beckoned him closer. He pushed aside his plans and padded over to you, letting you pull him down to his knees in front of your kneeling body. 

You dipped your hands back in the paint, bringing them to his stomach and slathering the grayish paste over it. 

“Does the fire balk or slow down at resistance? No, it takes what it needs to grow and it does not stop at the sight of its enemy. It pushes until it has conquered, as must you,” you explained, rising up to run your hands up his shoulders and neck, covering blue sin with ash until not even his tanhì would show through.

Jake narrowed his eyes, dipping his own hands in the paint as he mulled over your words. The paint was cold on your skin as his fingers dragged down your nose and cheeks. You shivered and you enjoyed the uptick of his lips at your reaction. 

“We have been looking at the fire as if it was our destroyer, but I see now the truth of it. The fire did not destroy us. Our weakness did. We let the skypeople infiltrate our lands and mine our ground, and when they came for our destruction, we had no defense strong enough. It is time we learn from our mistakes.”

“The fire took everything from us, as we must now take everything from them,” Jake surmised, looking intently at you with gold eyes as if seeking your approval.

You smiled, hands matching pace with each other as they trailed up his neck and stopped at his jaw. “Precisely. Gather a war party, take what we need and let no skyperson stop you,” you muttered encouragingly, pulling his head down so you could kiss him. His hands roamed your back, spreading more paint on the expanse of it. 

You pulled away from him when the ash on your lips got into your mouth, the taste of it bitter and cleansing. 

“We will hit them when they transfer goods. That’s when they’re most vulnerable,” Jake said, eyes still closed as your foreheads rested on each other. His eyebrows were twisted in a way that you had learned meant he was strategizing in that brilliant brain of his. 

“Hit them hard, give no mercy,” you said into the air between you. 

“No mercy,” he agreed. 

-

They rode out early the next morning. 

Jake had set out a solid game plan. Scouts had reported a train carrying supplies was on the tracks, and Jake was quick to mobilize. A party of 30 flew out and all 30 were back an hour later. They arrived with weapons, food, water stores, and even human liquor. A success all around. 

No skypeople had survived the raid. Every single one of them laid where they had died, and when the generals and commanding officers would arrive to investigate in the following hours, there would be no trace of the culprit. All arrows had been gathered from their targets and no Na’vi blood had been spilt.

The humans would have their suspicions about it being the work of the avatar defector, Jake Sully, but all they would see on the cameras was a red, gray, and black blur before the feed cut out.

In the makeshift Omatikaya village, there had been dancing and feasting that night, celebrating the small victory they had rightfully won. 

When Jake had raised a handmade cup of what he called “Vodka” in the air and toasted to you, you had never felt more appreciated. “To my Tsahìk, who is the real cause of your victory today,” Jake smiled smugly down at you where you sat lounging near the fire. You smiled, grateful for his acknowledgement, even though it was rightfully owed. 

Your eyes roved over the crowd of your people, taking in their delighted faces. Many cheered, but one man did not say a word. In fact, he did not even raise his cup. He stuck out to you like a ‘angtsìk (hammerhead titanothere) in a field of flowers. 

“Atan,” you said, a smile still on your lips as you looked at the hunter who had been trained by Tsu’tey and was one of the best warriors in Jake’s party. All heads swiveled to him as he looked up at you in surprise at being called out. “You do not agree with Olo’eyktan,” you guessed. 

He ground his teeth, but nodded. “We should not be attacking them. We do not have the strength to fight them off if they were to strike back,” he argued and your blood boiled. 

“I see,” you said, handing your cup to the woman beside you and standing with slow ease. You did not let your anger show, not yet. “And what would you have us do to the demons who killed our mothers and our fathers, our sisters and brothers. Who killed our children?”

He hesitated, glancing up at Jake, who only stared back. “I- I would have bided our time. Found another clan to join. There is strength in numbers,” he offered. 

“You think you know better than Tsahìk?” Jake growled, stepping closer and Atan’s eyes widened. 

“I know war, Olo’eyktan. That is all I know,” he corrected. 

“And we do not?” you asked, stalking up where your husband stood and joining him as a united force. 

The clan waited with bated breath at Atan’s next words.

His brow furrowed and he finally stood on legs that did not shake. “When the old Tsahìk and Olo’eyktan died, there was a clear line of succession. Tsu’tey and Neytiri have a right to lead,” he argued. 

Jake stood straighter, his broad shoulders stretching wider than any natural born Na’vi’s. He walked slowly forward, each step calculated and sure. He stood toe to toe with Atan, “That sounds a lot like treason, my friend,” Jake spoke low. “And traitors must be punished.” As quick as the wind, Jake drew his knife, reaching behind Atan and hooking it around his kuru. The braid created a loop around the blade, held taunt by Jake’s fist.

Atan’s eyes flew wide and he froze, back arched as he struggled to stay as still as possible. Pain from the action was evident in the way Atan’s eyes and jaw squeezed, but he did not cry out. Your eyes sparkled in wonder as you watched Jake perform his new role. 

“Anyone else feel this way?” Jake turned to Neytiri and Tsu’tey, bandages still wrapped around the latter's torso. Atan whimpered as his feet shuffled with Jake’s movements, careful not to move more than necessary. “When you lay dying, didn’t you give up your title to me? Have I stolen what was yours, brother?” Jake looked down at the former Olo’eyktan in feigned confusion.

Tsu’tey stared up at Jake with a thick layer of fear in his eyes. He was quiet for a long beat that stretched into moments of tension. Finally he admitted the truth. “No, Olo’eyktan. I gave up my right to lead during the battle.” 

“That’s what I thought,” Jake laughed, shaking his head, “And Neytiri, am I right in believing that as my mate, it would make sense for my wife to be Tsahìk? That is how the Na’vi do it, right? Would you wish to challenge her for the position?”

Neytiri looked terrified for Atan, her lips set in a thin line. She shook her head, “No, Olo’eyktan. I do not wish to take what is hers.” 

“No, you wouldn't, ‘cause that would be treason,” Jake agreed and Neytiri nodded, her movements frantic to please him. 

Neytiri knew in her heart she had failed her student when she had watched him fall for you, but had done nothing. Even as she saw the beginnings of who you would become, she had decided to leave it to Eywa. She now deeply regretted her compliancy all those months ago.

“So it seems like it’s just you, Atan.” Jake said to the man still in his grasp. 

You smiled maniacally at the scene before you, even as your conscious screamed. This was the point of no return.

You walked up to Atan and he stared terrified back at you. “Treason cannot be tolerated, not anymore. That is the way of things,” you explained. You glanced up at Jake who raised his brow in silent question. 

The look of horror on Atan’s face made the choice easy. You would help force him to be something stronger, something that did not rely on the old ways. 

“You will not need it, Eywa has already forgotten you.” You laid a hand on his face in a way that you hoped showed him you were only doing what was in his best interest.

You looked up at your mate, and with the slightest nod of your head, Jake pulled his obsidian blade clean through the kuru. 

Everyone stared in rapt terror as Atan fell to the ground and emitted a scream so curdling and piercing it would follow you the rest of your days. 

Jake held up the kuru like a trophy and turned in a circle so all could see. “To my Tsahìk,” he roared, turning back to you and smiling wickedly, both sets of avatar fangs on display, “who is the real cause of our victory,” he repeated.

The crowd erupted into cheers, some forced and some earned. 

You smiled back at Jake. He had proved himself to you tonight. He had been molded into something that would last, something that would protect. He had become what you had dreamed him to be.

The Great Mother had banished you to the place the eye did not see, and together, you had conquered it with roaring applause. 

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Before the Sully’s sought uturu with the Metkayina, you and her always spent time together. Tsireya never considered herself to be someone who got jealous. And yet, as she saw you spend more time with the Omatikaya, ‘jealous’ seemed quite fitting at the moment.

Lost in her stewing thoughts, she suddenly registered footsteps approaching her. Her head snapped embarrassingly quickly, hoping it was you, and indeed it was, walking towards her with a light skip in your step.

Smiling softly in greeting, you knelt down and glanced at her bracelet. “It’s coming along beautifully.” You remarked kindly.

She smiled appreciatively before noticing something new on your arm, which made her expression strain a bit. “Is that from Kiri?” She asked, trying to conceal the bitterness in her tone.

You nodded happily, “yes, isn’t it gorgeous? Look at the way she organized the shells,” you pointed at the armband enthusiastically. “I’m sure I can ask her to make one for you, if you’d like.”

Tsireya shook her head, “I have my own.” She glanced at her bracelet. Soon, anyway.

For a few moments, the two of you sat in silence. Tsireya lost the motivation to continue crafting her bracelet and just held it in her hand, her finger stroking a lock of seaweed.

“Are you alright?” You asked, leaning forward to get a better view of her expression, your own one concerned.

“I’m fine.”

“‘Reya,” you started knowingly, softly nudging her, “I know when something’s bothering you. Tell me.”

After a few moments of consideration, she sighed defeatedly, “you and Kiri are getting quite close,” she said quietly, eyeing your gifted armband, “I suppose I’m a bit… jealous…”

You glanced at the adornment, “does me being with Kiri really make you jealous?” You asked, in partial disbelief. This coming from Tsireya surprised you.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s not my place to decide who you spend time with—“

“Tsireya,” you interrupted, placing a hand on her arm, “you have nothing to worry about.”

She finally looked up at you. “I don’t?”

You shook your head, “Kiri is just a friend,” you assured, placing a hand on hers. “If I had eyes on anyone, it would be you.”

She looked down at her lap bashfully, flustered yet also greatly relieved. “Thank you.”

You continued, shifting closer to her, “want to finish the bracelet together?”

You were miserable.

A ravaging headache pulsed behind your forehead and radiated down your temples, circling your head; your nose was far too stuffy to breathe though, and leaked like a water gourd with a hole in the bottom (or, as Jake said, 'a faucet'. You still didn't really understand what a 'faucet' was).

Your ears rang, every joint in your body ached, and you wanted nothing more than to lay under something cold, be left alone, and sleep until these terrible symptoms went away.

Unfortunately for you, your mates were determined to make you suffer more (tend to you).

All of this because your pa'li had gotten spooked and thrown you into a muddy, deep puddle in the middle of a rainstorm, right as eclipse was falling.

You had to walk back to kelultral, dirty and soaked to the bone, and by the time you got back to your worried mates, you were growing feverish and losing coordination in your limbs.

Now, here you sat a few days later, bundled up in three hides and placed at the very front row of the communal fire. Sure, you usually sat at the front due to Jake being olo'eyktan, but they wanted you as close as reasonably and safely possible, insisting on keeping you warm.

Jake told you that, back on his planet, they would call it 'sweating it out'. Neytiri had given him side-eye for it and muttered something about skypeople being too stupid to know how to treat a cold, and refused to hear it when he claimed that human methods were actually similar to Na'vi methods.

You could only blink slowly as they bickered, too weak to fight off Neytiri's coddling tendencies. Being tsakarem meant she knew every way to treat a minor illness and was going to use all of them to nurse you back to health.

It was already rare for your mates to leave you alone. You always had either one or both by your side, the two keen on keeping you safe, sometimes to the point of being a little overbearing. Unlike them, you weren't a fighter. Yes, you passed your iknimaya, got your own ikran, survived the uniltaron, but you were a homebody at heart. You found that you were most joyous when spending time in your shared kelku with your spouses, or sitting in community circles while working on crafts of all sorts.

Despite how busy they were as olo'eyktan and tsakarem, they made plenty of time for you.

At present, however, you were alone. An immensely rare occurrence.

Jake had been pulled away by a distraught clan member, and Neytiri went to make a soothing tea for the ache in your throat. You, meanwhile, were resignedly munching on teylu, something that would be easy on your stomach while nutritious enough to aid in your healing. Jake had also promised to return with soup when he finished helping out the clan member.

You didn't want to eat, feeling queasy and sleepy, but you knew your mates would borderline shove the food down your throat if you didn't. It was simply easier to eat it by yourself.

While you waited for them to return, you chewed slowly and fantasized about laying in your hammock between your mates, bundled up and snuggled and—

"Olo'eyktan and tsakarem should be ashamed of themselves."

You jumped, startled by the noise, and looked up to see…

A familiar face, actually, albeit not one you were very keen on seeing.

Your ex.

Years ago, before you met Jake Sully, and you and Neytiri were still tip-toeing around each other, Keo'tu asked to court you. While you were hesitant, you could think of no reason to deny him. You were fond of Neytiri, immensely so, but it's not like you were courting each other.

At first, Keo'tu was doting.

He was tender and soft and sweet, visiting you often through the day and always bringing you gifts, from beads for your hair to a particularly shiny river rock, those strong reeds you mentioned needing to gather at some point, and even a large, soft fur hide. The early stages of your courting were lovely.

But then, he began to drift away. Dismiss you more often, fail to upkeep his promises. On two separate occasions, he left you waiting on him for several hours outside of Hometree after he said he'd help you gather berries for dye, worry and impatience wearing you thin. When you returned to Hometree in the evening, having spent all day anxiously rooted in place, you found him with his friends, laughing loudly and without a care.

All you ever got from confronting him was 'sorry, yawnetu. I changed my mind.'

You finally broke things off when you found him flirting with another girl after standing you up again. The image of him coiling a strand of her hair around his finger while leaning close to her, laughing as she pawed at his chest, had been seared into your mind.

And now, he was here.

Keo'tu stood beside you, looking down at you with a furrow in his brow and a hint of sneer, though you couldn't tell if it was directed at you or not. He still had that glint in his eyes that made it seem like he was always scheming something, and based on how he chose to visit you now of all times, when you were apart from your mates, you suspected he was.

"What?" You rasped out, blinking dumbly at his words.

Many Omatikaya were not pleased when Jake took the mantle of olo'eyktan after the second Great Sorrow came to an end, and Keo'tu was one of them, outspoken and loud in his opinion that a tawtute should never have been the one to claim leadership over Na'vi. It was his kind that brought the Time of Great Sorrow in the first place, after all.

While you understood his views, Jake had proven himself time and again to be a trustworthy ally to the People. He even gave up his vrrtep form to fully become one of the People, and had worked tirelessly since then to atone for the sins of his kind, and his own. He was a good leader, effective and efficient in guiding your clan to rebuild what had been lost and destroyed in the war.

He was trying. That is what mattered to you.

But to folks like Keo'tu, it wasn't enough.

Even among the clan, he was seen as a bit of an extremist, often found glaring at Jake and mumbling about how he should have been sent to the Great Mother, or had his kuru taken as penance.

Fewer and fewer agreed with him, nowadays. As time went on, more Na'vi began to See and trust Jake. He didn't sit back on his ass and command others on what to do; Jake was front and center on everything, from helping build new homes, to overseeing hunting parties to obtain resources for the clan.

Everything he did was out of consideration of the People. He made oaths to the clan, and upheld those oaths.

But Keo'tu could never look past their differences. All he ever saw was a human playing pretend. Neytiri, too, was not exempt from his ire. A traitor, in his eyes.

"They should be ashamed of themselves," Keo'tu repeated himself as he dropped into a crouch, piercing eyes holding yours. "Leaving their sick mate all by herself."

Anger flared hot and bright, indignation surfacing through your fever in a blaze that only made the pressure in your head worsen.

"How dare you—" you began.

"I'm just saying," he interrupted. "I'd never leave my mate to fend for herself when she's clearly incapable of doing anything."

His backhanded retort had you jerking away from him as if he'd struck you.

You bared your teeth at him, wrapping your hides tighter around yourself. "You have no right to speak that way of my mates, Keo'tu," you spat out his name like it was bitter rind on your tongue. "Have you forgotten how you were more than happy to leave me in the forest, alone, when you were courting me?"

He scoffed, offended. "Come on, paskalin. Surely you aren't still hung up on that, are you? That was years ago. I'm a changed man."

You were, in fact, still hung up on it.

For the duration of your courtship with him, you gave him so much of your time and affection. You did so much for him, and in return, you got a flaky, manipulative partner. Every day, you thanked the Great Mother that you did not end up mating with him, knowing you would've been deeply miserable if you had.

And still, he had the audacity to tell you to move past it when he refused to see past the person Jake used to be. Demands forgiveness, yet will not give it.

And you knew that he would bring up faults of your own at any possible moment, saying he desired no apologies, but would not let you forget any tiny mistake you made. Whatever it took to make him seem like the bigger, better person.

"Just leave me alone, Keo'tu," you pleaded stuffily, turning away from him. Whatever appetite you possessed vanished entirely by his presence, but you continued eating you teylu, if only to have something to do, a way to ignore your ex's existence.

He clicked his tongue, the sound making your hackles rise.

"There's no need to be so hostile," he crooned, his voice making your food completely inedible. Giving up, you put it down on your wooden plate and buried your face into your knees, hides working overtime to protect you from his vileness. "Come with me, ma'yawnetu. I will take care of you."

You snarled at him. "Do not call me that."

He grinned, undeterred. He pried the edges of the hides from your clammy, weakened fingers, and locked a solid, tight palm around your wrist, squeezing harshly.

"Ouch!" You yelped as he pulled. "Let me go!"

"I can treat you so much better than them," he cooed, sickly sweet.

Nausea turned your stomach nearly inside out, disgust rankling up your spine. Your fever pitched, head swimming as rage and indignity swarmed you in crushing waves.

You opened your mouth to chew him out (and possibly literally bite a chunk out of him), spite at the tip of your tongue—

A hand ripping Keo'tu's from you caused the words to die before they formed, and your head snapped up to find Neytiri hovering over you, her sharp eyes glaring unblinkingly at Keo'tu as she threw his hand away.

Behind Keo'tu, a shadow formed, a silhouette carved against the light of the bonfire. He visibly paled, and turned slowly to look over his shoulder up at your olo'eyktan.

Backlit by the fire, the only parts of Jake comfortably visible were his tanhì and his golden eyes, which seemed to glow like they had a fire of their own within. Shadowed, he cut an intimidating image, yet all you felt was relief.

Your mates were here.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Jake growled out, voice a low rumble in his chest that reminded you of a palulukan. Were it not for the bowl of soup in his hand, even you might have found yourself a bit nervous at his tone.

Keo'tu jumped to his feet, stumbling back a step away from Jake, closer to you. Neytiri hissed loudly at him, and he jolted, hurrying in a different direction.

"JakeSul— olo'eyktan," Keo'tu quickly corrected himself, bringing his fingers to his forehead in respect. "Oel ngati kameie."

Jake did not return the gesture, his small eyes narrowed into menacing slits. Wordlessly, he passed the bowl to Neytiri, who immediately took to coddling you, pressing the edge of the bowl to your lips. It was a bit difficult to pay attention to the soup, though, given how focused you were on Jake.

Evidently, you wouldn't eat it, so she carefully set the bowl down.

"What are you doing here?" Jake spoke quietly as to not raise a fuss, but his words were laced with something that screamed danger. A warning.

Keo'tu began to speak, his voice cracking under the pressure. Clearing his throat, he tried again, saying, "I— I was just checking on her, olo'eyktan. I was worried."

Jake's nose twitched, the bridge close to wrinkling. "What? Think we can't take care of our mate?"

Keo'tu stammered. "No, no, that's not… I did not mean to offend."

Jake clearly did not believe the fumbling man. You wondered what happened to Keo'tu's confidence, where all that ire towards the clan's leader went.

"I've seen you 'round, lookin' at my girl," Jake said, taking a slow step towards your ex. The People gathered nearby quieted their chatter, eyes drawn to the scene. "Eyein' 'er like a piece of meat. That what ya think of 'er? Huh?"

"Of— of course not," Keo'tu attempted to defend himself, hands raised placatingly. "I only—"

"You only, what? Thought you could get away with harassin' 'er?" Jake sneered. "Maybe I should kick you outta the clan, have you exiled."

Keo'tu's hands tightened into fists, sweat beading at his brow. "Is this because of my views on you, JakeSuli?" He asked, holding desperately onto that poor excuse of a backbone.

Jake laughed humorlessly. "Nah, don't care 'bout that. I care 'bout you botherin' my wife."

"I was not—"

Jake held his hand up to interrupt, glancing at you. "He hurt you, baby?"

You rubbed your wrist, testing the area. Beyond a faint, lingering ache that would disappear in a minute or two, you were unharmed, so you shook your head. "I am alright."

Jake's jaw ticked, and you could see in his eyes how he debated what to do, torn between mercy and exacting punishment over anyone that dared disturb his family's peace. Eventually, his nostrils flared, and he shook his head.

"Go, get outta here," Jake snapped. "Before I sever that braid of yours and wear it like a badge."

"Leave," Neytiri barked.

Keo'tu startled, bolting without another word.

As soon as he was out of eyesight, your mates relaxed and turned their attention towards you. Neytiri rubbed your back, brushing a few braids away from your face so she could kiss your temple.

Jake dropped to his knees, careful to avoid spilling the soup he promised and delivered to you. His hands reached out, cupping you cheeks and turning your face this way and that to check you for injuries, as if you'd just come back from a hunt.

"You okay, baby? He didn't hurt you, right? I swear to god if he so much as—"

"Jake," Neytiri scolded. "Later."

Olo'eyktan deflated, but nodded. "Right. Later," he confirmed, then leaned forward to brush his lips against your forehead. "Christ, y're burnin' up, babygirl. C'mon, eat your soup and we'll take ya back home."

You sighed and rolled your eyes, but a smile tugged at the corners of your lips.

If nothing else, you could trust your mates to be there to protect you.

dividers by saradika-graphics ♥

reminder to have your age in your bio/pinned before you follow me, or else I WILL block you.

Your sisters were warriors, strong and nimble as palulukans. They had tamed ikrans, passed their dream hunts, and become one of the people through proving themselves over and over. You, on the other hand, had always been quieter and more gentle. 

While they practiced archery, you sat out in the sun creating strings for your instruments, humming under your breath ideas for a new tune. While they learned how to defend and protect from your father, you had been asking the Shaman of Songs a million questions and soaking up each word from her lips. Even when your sisters brought home their first kills, you had been sitting with your cousin, Ninat, as you wove songs together piece by piece. 

Sylwanin was a good older sister. She was mature and kind, but she was also courageous and fiercely loyal to her people. She and Tsu’tey trained most days when they weren’t learning English at the skyperson’s school or helping the clan doing day to day tasks. She had many friends and was admired by all for both her skill and her beauty.

As the middle sister, you had always preferred to fly under people’s notice. You were used to being the quietest one, the one who did not need much and would not ask for it even if you did. You were content with letting your sisters run the show, sacrificing attention for peace. Most other people’s eyes were drawn to you for other reasons anyway, so you much preferred being alone in your kelku (home) than to be out there, trying to not gain their awareness.

Lastly, a year younger than you, Neytiri was more brash and bold. She liked having things her way and would get into a mood when the winds did not favor her. She had an open heart though, and was the most accepting out of the three sisters. She was usually the one to look forward to your Tawtute (human) lessons with Grace in years past.

But that was long ago, before Sylwanin and Tsu’tey had attacked an RDA site and destroyed mining equipment that was being used to blast holes in the ground and destroy the homes of Eywa’s creatures. Now, your oldest sister was gone, shot in the back like a traitor, and her body now buried under Hometree. 

It had been two years since that day, and your family had learned to move on in some ways, less so in others. Neytiri had hardened into something nearly unbreakable, and you had softened into what every once else needed at the moment, becoming even more amenable and agreeable. 

But it was Tsu’tey who had truly changed. He had become a shell of who he once was. With Sylwanin, he was still serious and responsible, yes, but he would often crack jokes and always tried to get her to smile. A different side used to come out of the Eykatay around your sister, but after her death, he had been all furrowed brow and dead eyes. Out of all of you, it was Tsu’tey, who you were often worried about.

You had been next in line to assume the role of Tsakarem, one you took with hesitance. It felt too large of a task to try to fill Sylwanin's shoes. You were far more interested in your music making than you were in mindlessly mixing herbs in your mother’s rooms and sitting in silent prayer. Yet you knew what was expected of you, and you would take it with as much grace as you could bear. 

With your new position, you had not only been taught the ways of Eywa, but you assumed Sylwanin's betrothal in her place. Her promise to Tsu’tey was now yours, and with it, the assurance for him to one day become Olo’eyktan. 

While being Tsahìk was not high on your list of dream jobs, you did have a loyalty to your people and your family that was as strong as human metal. You would not let Tsu’tey down, and you would not disappoint your parents. When one of your parents passed into the Great Mother’s hands, or when you and Tsu’tey both agreed it was time, you would mate with the Eykatay and seal his claim to the chiefdom and your role as its Tsahìk.

Sitting at his side during ceremonies and being forced to get to know each other had not been so bad. You had entered a hesitant friendship that bloomed into a genuine one. Your shared grief over Sylwanin worked as a bind that connected you, and together you had learned to laugh again. 

You had grown into a woman who was not slim or narrow like your sisters. Despite their slight and willowy frames, you were all wide hips and thick thighs and full breasts. Your figure was uncommon for the Na’vi, and many saw you as something rare and desired. Your eyes sparkled like human gold and your smile was blinding to even the most serious warrior. 

You were gorgeous. Even Tsu’tey had to agree, despite not feeling any romantic love towards you. If his heart had not already been taken, perhaps he might have loved you like a mate, but he still loved you in his own way. He could not blame others for fawning at your feet as they did, but he would not give up his obligation to your family. You were his, though it was the promise of hand rather than your heart that led him to fulfill the duty that Eywa tasked him with.

Very few could resist your full cheeks or the kindness you held in your heart. Although they tried, none had tempted you with their affections so far. You had high standards, but more than that, you knew finding love was fruitless anyway. You were already destined to be with Tsu’tey and you had made peace with that. You had carried your beauty as a heavy burden. You were kind and polite to the hunters and weavers and farmers who approached you for your interests, but you never entertained them, knowing of your responsibilities to the clan. You would not shirk your promise to Tsu’tey or to your parents.

Your parents boasted at having two of the finest daughters in the Omatikaya; one being an accomplished warrior at an exceedingly young age, and the other the most beautiful woman of the clan and a tsakarem who was rapidly learning the ways of Eywa whilst still perfecting her chosen craft of music making. 

Things around hometree had continued on after Sylwanin's death. Maybe the air was filled with grief and tension now, but life did continue. It was not until a newcomer arrived and cut the ropes that had been holding you all up, that you realized how unbalanced and tenuous you all were.

When the dreamwalker had waltzed into hometree, you had watched in equal parts horror and fascination as Neytiri was assigned to teach him the Na’vi way. Tsu’tey scoffed from beside you on the dais, his fist clenching at his sides. Your father partially obscured you from being seen by the dreamwalker, but you still noticed the way his eyes met yours over Eytukan’s shoulder and even more so when they lingered there.

The dreamwalker was handsome, in an odd sort of way. The hair over his brow and the extra finger on each of his hands was the most noticeable of his differences. His eyes were smaller than you were used to seeing, and his nose protruded slightly more than most Na’vi’s did. But despite this, your parents had chosen to accept him for now. He would be trained to be a warrior and the elders would carefully be watching him. Unknown to him, you would be too.

The first few weeks after his arrival, you saw very little of him. He was busy learning and you were busy acting like you were not curious about the newcomer. You watched him at meals, his easy smile betrayed by his nervous eyes, but any anxiety he felt about being with the Na’vi faded quickly. He made acquaintances, even started earning people’s trust.

It was not until his third week in hometree that you first interacted with him. 

It had rained that day, thick drops of water had splashed down from above for hours. The ground was soaked from the deluge, but the skies had eventually cleared, so you had decided to leave your cozy alcove and make your way outside to take a walk and clear your mind. 

You had found your thoughts clouded by your father. The Olo’eyktan’s shoulders were often held close to his ears in these past days, his forehead wrinkled as stress pressed in on him. He had come to you last night, asking you to play a song he had often sung to you when you were young. It was a song of the ancestors, one that had words no longer spoken and meanings that had been lost to time. 

Your mind kept going to the way Neytiri had peeked in as you strummed the tune on your instrument, voice softly rising to join in with the sound. She had looked peaceful for the first time in months and it gladdened you. 

Your thoughts seemed to be getting away from you as you stepped on a fallen leaf, your foot hitting the ground at just the right angle to cause your heel to slide along the slick texture. Your arms pinwheeled, but you were unable to catch yourself in time.

“Woah!” you heard as your legs shot out from beneath you, your bottom hitting the forest floor below. The grass did little to cushion your fall. 

“You okay?” a deep, velvet voice asked in English as you saw a blue blur jogging towards you out of your peripheral vision. 

You had to search through your mind to find the correct words in English. “Yes, I think so,” you groaned, looking up to see Jake Suli, the dream walker, crouching in front of you. Your tail throbbed from the way you had awkwardly landed on it.

“Here,” he said as he reached out a hand to help you up. 

You took his hand, surprised at how easily he lifted you up, even with his muscles just now starting to emerge from training with Neytiri. Other than the hunters, many men in your clan were not solid enough to pick up anyone this easily, much less someone of your size. But Jake Suli was strong, and the way he had hefted you up made a swarm of shimmyflys erupt in your stomach.

“Thank you,” you murmur, looking up at him through your lashes.

“Of- of course,” he stammered, eyes locked on the curve of your cheek and the way your eyes sparkled in the late afternoon sun. “You’re Neytiri’s sister right?” 

“I am,” you nodded, surprised he already knew of you. “And you are the dreamwalker.”

“That’s what they call me,” he nodded with a shrug. “But Jake is fine too,” he said with a charming smile. 

“Jake,” you repeated slowly, making sure to pronounce it correctly. “I am y/n,” you told him. 

He smiled, “I know, I’ve seen you around,” he explained. 

You leaned down to brush off the grass on your legs, as you asked, “You have?” surprised at this information.

“Well, sure. Neytiri talks about you all the time. You’re her hero,” he explained and your cheeks turned purple at the words. 

You straightened up again when your legs were free of dirt and grass. “I am definitely not her hero, I am barely able to draw a bow,” you laughed and shook your head. “You must be mistaken, our older sister, Sylwanin, she was one of legends,” you insisted. 

Jake shook his head slightly, “No, she talks about both of you. In fact, she suggested I come talk to you about the language. She said that you had ways of teaching me through… song?” he asked, hair covered brows raised.

Your eyes widened, “I have written songs to help the children learn, I do not know if it would work for an adult, you may find them annoying,” you giggled at the thought. 

He shrugged, “I am pretty desperate, I can’t get the words through my thick skull,” he gave you a self-deprecating grin and you found yourself pitying him.

You pressed your lips together in contemplation. “I suppose we could try. When could you meet with me?” you asked.

“Tomorrow? I’m sure Neytiri wouldn’t mind an afternoon off. That’s when we normally work on language and, you know, Na’vi customs and stuff,” he suggested and you nodded.

“I could do that. Meet me at the base of hometree, I normally take the children somewhere outside so the noise does not interrupt others,” you said.

“Okay, tomorrow… I’ll meet you there after lunch- uh, mid day meal?” he clarified and your eyes sparkled at his slip up. 

“Yes, that is fine,” you agreed.

“Good…” Jake said, backing away a few steps. “It was nice meeting you. I look forward to the… songs,” he told you, eyebrows furrowing as if he thought he was tripping up on his words.

“Have a good day, Jake. Do not let my baby sister be terribly unkind to you. She gets stuck in her ways,” you suggested, a kind smile on your lips that made Jake's heart beat double time in his chest. 

“Right, thanks,” he nodded, wincing as he thought of no other wise words to say. He quickly turned from you, cursing himself for starting so strong just to end on an awkward note. At least he had tomorrow to show you he was not a total idiot.

The next day, you waited at the base floor of Hometree after midday meal. 

You were probably a little early, since most people were still eating above you, but you had been too on edge to eat slowly or really much at all. The prospect of meeting with the dream walker privately again was both exciting and nerve wracking. He was handsome, not in the way the other Na’vi men were, but in a way unique unto himself. 

You now found yourself clutching your instrument tightly in your hand, wetting your lips out of habit. Your sister had not spoken much of the dreamwalker, just about how he was stubborn and slow. That was not exactly what you had gathered from your conversation with him yesterday, but she would know him better. 

“Hey!” a masculine voice called, breaking you from your thoughts and looking for the source.

You recognized the man, Koa, although you could admit you did not know him well. He was tall and thin, and a good warrior in the clan. 

“Hi,” you greeted back. 

“Are you on your way up to eat?” he asked, gesturing over his shoulder up the spiral. 

“I just did,” you explained, “I am meeting someone.”

He nodded, “I see. Maybe another time then?” he asked. 

You opened your mouth, but hesitated to come up with the right words. 

“Y/n,” a voice called as the owner of it stopped his path and diverted towards the two of you. You looked over to see Tsu’tey with his brow furrowed as he walked purposefully. He had interrupted at precisely the right time.

“Tsu’tey,” you nodded, gesturing the traditional greeting of ‘I see you’ as he stopped a step in front of you and signed it back to you. His tall frame made you crane your neck to look up at him since he had stopped so close. 

“Koa, am I right in saying that you are on the next patrol?” Tsu’tey asked, his voice gruff.

“Yes, I just stopped in for some food,” Koa nodded.

“Then go get the food. You’ll be late,” Tsu’tey ordered, silently dismissing him and turning to you. 

Koa hesitated, looking at you in question, but when you just shrugged, he sighed and turned to start up the spiral. 

“What are you doing down here?” Tsu’tey asked, distracting you from Koa’s departure.

“Waiting on a new student,” you explained, “What about you?” you asked.

“I am returning from my own patrol, Atan relieved me. I was hoping to share a meal with you,” he said, but your slumped shoulders and pressed lips was a quick tell that it was a no. 

“I am sorry, I already ate and I promised I would help. Neytiri is still there I think,” you added encouragingly. 

Tsu’tey nodded in thought. “Very well, perhaps for the evening meal then?” he asked. 

“Sure,” you agreed with a small smile. 

At that moment, the soft sound of feet hitting dirt had you and Tsu’tey both turning to the spiral, where Jake had just jumped off of the last curve of wood and fully onto the lower level. 

Your eyes widened at the expectation of watching them interact up close. The two could not agree on anything.

“Dreamwalker,” Tsu’tey sneered, his body language shifting into squared, rigid straightness and sharp lines. 

“Tsu’tey,” Jake greeted, walking toward you both. A cocky smirk was on his face, making Tsu’tey’s hackles rise even further. “Are you here for lessons too?”

Tsu’tey’s eyes gleamed as he turned to you, a shocked look on his face. “He is the student you are waiting on?” he said, “Surely not.”

“Neytiri thought I could be of some assistance,” you explained, and Tsu’tey rolled his eyes. 

“You cannot teach the dreamwalker,” he scoffed. 

“Why not?” Jake asked, stepping closer to Tsu’tey again, “What do you think is gonna happen? It's just a little song and dance, she’ll be fine.”

“I do not need a reason not to like you, Vrrtp (demon),” Tsu’tey said. “Your kind is a disease.” 

“Stop it,” you barked, stepping forward, partly between them, but they both still glowered at each other over your head. “It is fine, Tsu’tey,” you insisted. 

That made him look down at you, “Neytiri is his teacher, you do not have to do this,” he responded.

“I know,” you affirmed, “it is okay.”

“Fine,” he finally grumbled. He glared at Jake, “Do not touch even a hair on her head or I will give you a swift end.”

You sighed at his dramatics as Jake just clenched his jaw.

Although there was no romantic love between you and Tsu’tey, there was still an oath to keep. There were certain expectations that came with being promised to each other. When men from the clan approached you with courting gifts or words that were far too honeyed, Tsu’tey always spoke to them for you, pushing them away with his usual gruffness. He defended and protected you, but he knew you were not as fragile or naive as others liked to treat you. He did not protect you out of fear that you could not handle yourself, but because it was his job now. That was what came with the territory of being in a pair. That was why he was being so short with Jake now.

On a few occasions, he had even accepted challenges on your behalf from men who wished to shake Tsu’tey from his role. Some because of his position as Eykatay, but some of them, because they envied his betrothal to you. You had been shocked each time, staring on as Tsu’tey fought them efficiently, winning by a landslide. He had always made sure you had no real attachment to the man before accepting their challenge, but you never did. 

“I will be fine,” you repeated, pulling Tsu’tey’s gaze away from Jake. You stepped to the side, pulling Tsu’tey with you. It did not stop Jake from hearing you, but it gave the feeling of a little more privacy.

Tsu’tey cocked his head as if he disagreed. “I trust you, it is him who I do not trust. Yell out if you need help, I will put patrols nearby,” he said. 

You raised your brow. “I do not think that is necessary,” you muttered,

“Even so, it will bring comfort to me. Will I still see you later?” Tsu’tey ground out as you nodded. 

“I will come find you,” you agreed.

He bowed his head in acceptance and turned, shooting Jake one last look over his shoulder before he leapt onto the spiral and began making his way up.

“What’s his problem?”  Jake asked as you turned to face him. “He your boyfriend or something?”

You narrowed your eyes. “I do not understand your human talk. Yes, he is my friend,” you corrected. 

“Yeah, but not your… mate? Are you together?” he asked and you understood. 

You smiled, turning away and walking to the exit.  “No, if Eywa wills it, one day we will mate, but we are not yet… together as you say,” you explained.

“I’m confused,” he noted from behind as he trailed after you.

You cocked your head to the side, feeling unsure at what he could be hung up on. “When my sister, Sylwanin, was alive, Tsu’tey loved her and she loved him. They entered into courtship and Tsu’tey was named Eykatay, the next in line. Eykatay and Tsakarem are often pairs, so that they may one day step into their roles as Olo’eyktan and Tsahìk together. When Sylwanin died, his role did not change, but I had to step into Sylwanin’s, meaning I took on both her title and her betrothal. Tsu’tey does not love me, and I do not love him, but we will mate before Eywa one day. Those are our duties,” you explained.

“That’s stupid,” Jake said matter of factly. You climbed a branch of a tree much smaller than Hometree.

“Our ways may not seem normal to you, but we act for the best of the people, not ourselves,” you said, slightly offended that he would question your ways so brashly. 

“Even if it makes you miserable? What if you’re unhappy with him?”

“I will not be. We are friends and that is more than many arranged mates start with. I will be fine. Come, no more talk of my mating. I am to teach you our ways,” you said in a way of finality and waved him on. 

You found a spot high up in a large tree and began to climb. You had to sling your instrument over your back, making your trip up easier. Jake climbed with surprising slowness, perhaps skypeople had no trees where he was from. When he finally joined you at the top, he was out of breath. 

“You okay?” you asked, trying to hide your smirk. 

“Oh, outstanding,” he promised, as he rested against the trunk and dangled his legs over either side of the limb. His chest heaved with exertion and you tried not to stare at it.

You tore your eyes away from him and aimed them at the instrument at your side instead. “I will start with a simple song, one all Na’vi children know by heart,” you suggested and Jake nodded, although reluctantly. 

Hours passed, with you singing and strumming the rhymes and tunes of the Na’vi. Jake followed along, his ears growing used to the turn of your words and the way they twisted together. He watched you, thoroughly enamoured as you lost yourself to the joy and rhythm of the music. You even got him to sing a little, although the offkey tone made you giggle and he clammed back up before you knew it.

“How do you remember all of this?” he asked, looking inquisitorially at you as if in awe. 

“It is my work, I wrote many of them, and the others I learned in childhood. You do not have music on your star?” you asked. 

“We do. We have a lot of music, but I think I like yours better.” He smiled faintly, “you sing beautifully, like an angel.”

You cocked your head to the side, fighting back the heat on your cheeks. “What is an angel?” you asked.

He lifted his eyebrows, “It’s a… spirit who sings to God and sounds gorgeous while doing it.”

You smiled, liking the description. “Then I am an angel,” you nodded in agreement.

He huffed out a laugh, “Alright, angel it is.”

That day was not the last of your lessons. He came to you often and asked for assistance, either to teach him more songs or to explain a custom or to translate a word. From then on out, it seemed everywhere you turned, Jake was not far off.

He even came to find you in your home one day. You had your own kelku to properly care for your instruments. It worked equally as both a living space and a workshop of sorts, wood and string and plant fiber cloths and all sorts of odds and ends cluttered your space. 

You lived in organized chaos and had always loved the comfortable, lived-in feel of it, but when a shadow darkened your door, you suddenly saw it through his eyes.

“Jake,” you gasped out, clutching your rag in surprise. You had not expected to turn around and see him at all, in fact, it was Tsu’tey who promised to come walk you to the forest to collect materials for a new flute. You had sort of forgotten he was coming, seeing as he was over an hour past what he promised. Something must have gone wrong with patrols or training, he was not usually so late.

“Angel,” Jake greeted you, smiling fondly as you began hurriedly putting away the most offensive parts of the clutter. His expressive eyebrows raised as he noticed the tension in your shoulders and the shocked look on your wide, golden eyes.

You pursued your lips. You could not imagine why he was here. “I have no more songs to teach you and I am afraid you would not learn much of arrows or bravery from me. If you came here for-” You sputtered to a halt as he fully stepped inside.

“I didn’t come to you to learn… I just… I wanted to see you again,” he confessed, gazing instantly at you and making you pause your cleaning to look back. 

Your eyes widened, “To see me? Why?” you asked breathily.

He smiled, shrugging slightly. “Becuase I think you’re beautiful,” he replied. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

You blushed, cheeks turning purple, as he looked around at you kelku covered in trinkets and instruments, some halfway made since you had paused your creations for one reason or another.

When you did not respond because your brain was still short circuiting at his words, he gestured to the hoard of things surrounding you. “All this is yours?” he asked. 

You bit your bottom lip. “Yes,” you sighed, giving up on putting everything away and turning back to your previous task to absentmindedly occupy your hands. You were finishing off oiling the wood on the instrument in front of you, and you were thankful to be able to do that instead of bursting into flames out of embarrassment.

He asked questions and you answered them, both pairs of eyes dancing and locking together just to rip themselves away again. “How come you aren't going to be the next Shaman of Songs? That seems more your thing?” Jake asked.

You shrugged, “I will be Tsahìk, this is Eywa’s plan for me. Being Shaman was once my goal, but now my cousin, Ninat, will make an excellent leader of music. She is perfect for it,” you explained, although Jake did not seem all that enthused by your answer.

“Neytiri tells me you are doing well and will be doing your Iknimaya soon. Do you feel ready?” you asked, changing the subject and putting this back on him before he could ask more.

His face lit up with pride. “I’m ready. This time next week, I’ll be soaring through the sky on my own ikran. Maybe we could go on a ride sometime? You know, once I get the hang of it,” he suggested and your heart sank a little in disappointment. 

You looked down at your hands as they worked. “That would be nice. I would like that, but I do not have an ikran. They are for hunters and I am not one,” you explained.

You glanced up at Jake just to gauge his reaction, but it was not what you were expecting. He shrugged, undeterred. “That’s okay. You can ride with me if you want. I won't let ya fall,” he smiled teasingly. You realized that he did not think of you as less valuable than anyone else because of your passions and it brought a lightness to your chest.

You laughed, “Alright, get your ikran first, warrior, then I will go with you,” you promised and Jake nodded proudly.

“Deal,” he agreed. “In the meantime, want to check out the sunset with me? I found this great spot at the top of Hometree,” he asked.

You placed the oil and cloth down, smiling at his offer. You loved sunsets. “I would like that,” you nodded enthusiastically.

He smirked, holding out his hand and you stepped forward to take it. “I was hoping you’d say that.” Your three fingers intertwined with his four fingers, an odd feeling, but a good fit none-the-less. 

As he began to gently lead you through the threshold, he stopped at the sight of an imposing figure blocking your path. Tsu’tey stepped inside your home, taking in the sight before him.

“What is this?” Tsu’tey asked, glancing between the two of you before flitting down to your interlocked hands. Anxiety clawed at your stomach at his sudden appearance, although the feeling was maybe more akin to shame.

“Tsu’tey!” You gasped, letting go of Jake’s hand and realizing you had no reason to hold it in the first place. “We were just going to take a look at the sunset,” you explained, hurriedly, feeling guilty even when you had no reason to. You reminded yourself you had done nothing wrong.

Tsu’tey’s eyes only narrowed. “I thought we were going to go find reeds for your instruments.”

At the reminder, your face crumpled. “I forgot, Tsu’tey. I’m so sorry,” you gushed, lips twisted into a frown.

You had overcommitted and would now have to choose. You wanted to go with Jake at this moment, but you had specifically asked Tsu’tey and he had taken time out of his busy day. You glanced at Jake, looking completely conflicted. He looked disappointed under a look of stony contempt in his eyes. 

“Can you not pick reeds tomorrow? I can take you,” Jake offered, but it elicited a hiss from Tsu’tey.

“I will take her. It was me she asked, not you,” Tsu’tey snarled.

“She can make her own choices,” Jake grumbled.

“Her choice was made when she asked me,” Tsu’tey bit back.

“She’s a free woman with her own autonomy. She can change her own damn mind.” Jake bit out, glaring at the Eykatay. 

“Boys!” you called, growing more anxious from their bickering. You felt terrible. You would have to go with Tsu’tey, there was no other option. You had previously committed to him, in addition to him being your betrothed. It was the natural choice, regardless of how much you wanted to go with Jake. 

Jake sighed, forcing himself to bite his tongue, as Tsu’tey averted his eyes to you. He was still waiting for an answer.

“I-” you hesitated to say your choice and when you couldn't produce a reply after a moment, Jake thankfully took pity on you. Perhaps he already knew your answer and was letting himself down gently.

“You know what? Sunsets happen every day, same time and everything,” he pointed out, “Go with him. You can meet me tomorrow,” he suggested. 

You placed a hand on his arm in relieved gratitude. “Are you sure?” you asked Jake. 

“I’ll be fine,” he promises with a knowing smile. Tsu’tey glowered at Jake as Jake’s eyes swiveled back to the taller man. “I imagine you like to keep your promises,” Jake said to you, but his gaze stayed fixed on Tsu’tey, a silent challenge in his eyes. 

You were not entirely familiar with how the male brain worked, especially when two seemed so at odds like Jake and Tsu’tey were, so you could not begin to infer the inner workings of their brains. Your best guess was that this was some odd, territorial display, both marking boundaries and testing the waters. You wondered how far they would realistically push each other.

Jake backed away from you both, tossing a smirk your way as he nodded his head in acknowledgement. He did not seem to take this as a loss, but more so as a challenge. You nodded back with a small smile as Jake shouldered past Tsu’tey. The Eykatay turned to watch him go and you sided up to him to watch as well. 

“Bye, Angel!” Jake called over his shoulder and sent a hand up in the air to wave.

You bit back a smile at his name for you. “Goodbye, Jake,” you replied. 

“Skxawng,” Tsu’tey muttered under his breath once Jake was out of earshot. You pursed your lips at the insult, but decided not to say anything about it. “What does that mean? What is Angel?” Tsu’tey asked.

You hesitated, unsure how to describe it. “He says it is a messenger of their god. A spirit who sings beautiful songs.”

Tsu’tey pursed his lips at the explanation. “Those are pretty words, but it is a trick. He will only hurt you,” he said grimly. You both watched Jake stumble on a bump of the limb he was walking on and while you watched intently while he righted himself, Tsu’tey continued, taking it as proof. “He does not belong here.”

You could think of no argument. You knew he was right, there was no refuting it. “We should go,” you said quietly, grabbing the woven pouch the master weaver had made for you as a gift over your shoulder. You set out into Hometree, disregarding whether Tsu’tey was behind you or not, he would catch up eventually. 

Your mind reeled as you walked, catching all of the details of the past hour that you had brushed aside in the moment. Now, you ran back every catch of Jake’s eye, every upturn of his lips, and especially the way his warm palm fit with yours. You tamped down the rising elation at the thought of him coming to seek you out today and what that might mean. 

Tsu’tey’s words echoed in your mind, but it did not stop you from the longing of wanting to see Jake again. Eywa, it was all you wanted. 

Vibrations on the limb below you told you Tsu’tey had caught up. “You have been spending time with him, why?” he asked, siding up to you and looking curiously down at his intended.

“I have not spent that much time with him,” you protested, even knowing it was not necessarily the truth. 

“Neytiri says it has been hard to find you apart recently,” Tsu’tey said.

“I do not know about that, but I enjoy spending time with him. He is kind and he is funny,” you said, trailing off as your true answers clogged in your throat. It was the way Jake made you feel, the way he set your heart ablaze just by being near. You could not put that sensation into words, not in a way that Tsu’tey would like or accept.

“You are fond of him,” Tsu’tey stated, not a question, but an observation.

“In a way, perhaps. He is becoming a friend,” you explained.

He was quiet for a beat. “It looks as if you love him.”

Your eyes flew up to his in surprise. “No, I could not love a dreamwalker,” you insisted, but the words tasted sour.

Tsu’tey sighed, seemingly growing tired of arguing with someone who could not see reason. “Do one thing for me, Sevin’eve (pretty girl). Be careful. He seeks you, there are no questions about that.”

You laughed, a hearty sound that Tsu’tey enjoyed hearing. “He does not. You are just jealous,” you forced a smile, trying to tease him back into a milder temper. You hated conflict and this all made your stomach turn. 

But instead of rolling his eyes or scoffing, Tsu’tey just silently dropped to a lower branch on your path, leading the way down to the spiral. He reached up, hands lifted for you to take and to help ease you down. 

You took his hands, using them to steady you as his eyes blazed with simmering fire. “Yes, I am. I cannot protest it, I am very jealous,” he admitted and your large eyes stared up at him with shocked fascination. You knew Tsu’tey to be territorial, even aggressive at times, but you had not thought him ever to be truely envious of another.

His hands tightened softly around yours, treating them as if they were frail things. “You have never looked half as happy with me as you did when I found you two today. He can give you a joy I cannot and that makes me angry. But, I also know that these feelings that you feel for him are temporary. Do not chase demons through the forest. They will only lead you to poisoned waters,” he warned. 

Your mouth hung open for a moment. “Tsu’tey, I-” you started, but he cut you off.

“Promise me this, promise to not get in too deep. Say you will not stray from my side.”

You stared up at him, eyes softening at the desperation written all over him. “I promise that I will not fall for him. I will not stray from you, Tsu’tey,” you swore and he relaxed, if only the smallest bit.

“Good,” he nodded. “Do not go where none else can follow.”

-

You had broken your promise quickly.

Barely 24 hours later, you stood at the top of hometree with ikrans chirping around you and Jake standing beside you. His arm was close to being flush with yours, barely a breath of space between you. It was odd, considering you had consciously chosen to stand far enough away from him for there to be space, now there was none. You bit your lip at the realization that you had been subconsciously moving closer and closer to him. 

Once you were up here, it had taken barely moments before he turned to you, eyes looking orange in the dying sunlight. He stared with so much intensity that it made you want to sit down and collect yourself. You tried not to squirm under his gaze, your senses feeling fried from the kindness you found in him.

“I don't think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful than this,” he admitted, eyes roving over your cheeks, up your nose, and to the way your hair fell around your ears. 

“Yes,” you agreed, “It’s gorgeous, I love the way everything turns different colors,” you commented, tearing your eyes away from him to look out at the blazing, pink horizon. 

“Not that,” he corrected. When you looked at him in question, he smiled. “You.”

“Me?” you scoffed. “I would have to disagree with you.”

“Well, you aren’t the one looking at you, are you?” he smirked, knowing you could not argue with that.

“You flatter me,” you smiled, unable to stomp on the growing warmth in your chest.

“I’m tellin’ you the truth. You’re an angel,” he insisted.

“So you’ve said,” you responded, fingers twisting in the beads of your long, dangling necklace.

“It’s true,” he said. “Let me look at you.” He urged your chin up with a knuckle on his four fingered hand and smiled wider when you rolled your eyes, but indulged him. You faced him head on, twisting your waist to better angle your body. You leaned closer as if being pulled into him by the flux vortex.

Jake watched your face soften, liking the way you returned his look of awe. “Beautiful,” he murmured, face dipping down as if to capture your lips with his. 

Just a hair’s breath away, he stopped, making you let out a disappointed sound. “Can I?” he asked, wanting to check in on you first. You did not respond with words, not having the patience for it when you were so close to getting what you wanted. You just closed the gap between you. 

Kissing Jake was not a rushed thing. It was exploratory and slow and intentional. He did not push, did not force his way in. He just gripped at your hips with calloused hands and held you in a way that made your skin buzz.

You realized that this was your first kiss. No one had ever tempted you before your betrothal to Tsu’tey. You were too young, and then you were too involved in your music, and then you were too deep into your grief. And after your betrothal, you had always remained loyal to the promises you made. Even if that meant you had never looked forward to a kiss because you always assumed it would be with Tsu’tey.

Tsu’tey… Eywa, forgive you. 

You pulled away slightly, forehead resting on his as you caught your breath. “Jake…” you murmured against his lips, not wanting to create space between you. He breathed deeply, smiling wide. 

He gave you a second before chasing after you, stopping your next words with another kiss. “Hmmm…” he hummed like a question against your mouth and you suddenly didn’t remember what you were supposed to say. Your hands tightened on their grip around his shoulders before they loosened and slid to the back of his neck. Your fingers gripped the hair beside his tsawin, twisting in the locks that were braided into his kuru.

He pulled away, eyes searching yours as you blinked lethargically. “Were you going to- Did you have something to say?” he asked. 

Your eyes widened at the reminder. Your mouth snapped closed, stomach twisting at the realization of what you had done. “I-” you stuttered, unable to sweeten the words as they slipped through your lips. “I cannot… I should not have done that,” you managed to say. 

His brow furrowed. “Is this about him?” he said, even as his hands loosened around your hips and you pulled away. “You don’t love him. Why are you with him?”

You groaned, dropping your head in your hands. “I do not want to have this conversation again, Jake. It is not just about love. It is about my duty to my people,” you reminded him.

His lips straightened into a firm line. “I know! You keep saying that, but you don’t even want to be Tsahìk. How does being unhappy best serve the people?” he asked.

“It is what is done here! It is what Eywa intends me to do!” you insisted, your emotions rising in your chest like a wave.

“If Eywa really wanted you to do this, why would she send me here? Why wouldn’t she make you love him?” he demanded, stepping closer. 

“I do not know! I cannot claim to know the ways of the Great Mother, but I am doing it, Jake. Do not make this harder for me,” you begged, vision still obscured by the palm of your hand. You were glad you covered your face when a rouge tear formed on the edge of your eyelid and you were able to quickly wipe it away.

He sighed, laying a hand on your shoulder. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry. Don’t be upset,” he pleaded, pulling you into him and you let him. 

After a moment, you laid your head on his chest, tucking it under his chin, and letting the warmth of his skin seep into yours. “Okay,” Jake relented. “How about this? The RDA only agreed to let me train for two more months. After that, I will be pulled out of this body and not be able to come back. That was the agreement.” Your eyes widened in shock at the news.

“But if I already have limited time, and you have to mate with someone else anyway, then let's just make the most of it. Two months of having fun and spending time together, and then when it's time to go, it will be like nothing ever happened.”

You mulled it over, wincing at the reaction this would elicit from the people. “Tsu’tey, he will not like-”.

“Tsu’tey never has to know. It’ll just be between you and me,” he explained.

You lowered your brow in thought. “Nì'aw zìskrrsomo…” you noted.

When Jake’s eyebrows scrunched together, you translated for him. “Only during Summer.”

His face softened. “Only for the summer,” he agreed, watching you intently for your answer.

You pursed your lips, knowing that this was your chance at experiencing something real. You hoped to grow to love Tsu’tey one day, but even that would be formal and duty bound. What you had here in front of you now was passion and romance and all of the things you never let yourself believe you could have before. You had to take this opportunity by the reins and enjoy it while you could.

You straightened a little, still tucked against his chest, but able to see his face now.  “Okay, what is in it for me? I run the bigger risk. If things go wrong, you can leave. I cannot,” you pointed out, but the lilt of your voice and your hand landing on his middle gave away that you were playfully negotiating. Your mind was already made, not that he had to know. 

He raised his brows at you, a scoff making its way past his lips. “Well, you get unlimited access to me, and I make a pretty damn good boyfriend. Plus, when I get my ikran, I’ll take you on as many rides as you want.”

You pretended to think it over, “Hmm, that is a good offer, but you know, Tsu’tey has an Ikran now, maybe I should just ask him to take me,” you suggested, smirking. 

His lips curled up into a grimace. “Don’t you dare,” he grumbled. “Not funny.”

“It is a little funny,” you said, “to me at least.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Angel, you could go ask Tsu’tey, and I’m sure he’d say yes, but you won't have half as much fun than if you were with me,” he pointed out, and you rolled your eyes, even if he was right.

Your smile faded into something far more subtle. “It is good then, that I do not want to go with him. I want to go with you,” you said.

“Good,” Jake stated smugly. “I could treat you so much better than him,” he promised, stepping closer and boxing you in against the trunk of the tree. “He can’t make you laugh like I can. He can’t hold you like I can. He won’t kiss you like I will,” he said, growing even closer. Your breath stopped in your chest, your lungs constricting at the words and proximity. 

“Jake, he is my intended,” you refuted, not liking for him to talk down on your future mate, even if what he said was true. 

“So? He doesn't know you like I do. He’ll never love you like you deserve,” Jake argued. “For the next two months, you’ll be mine. I’ll show you.” 

“Jake,” you repeated, but this time it was more of a plea. 

“Just say yes,” he urged, his breath warm against your cheek. “Love me for the summer.”

You squeezed your eyes closed, hating yourself for what you were about to do, but not having the ability to deny him. “Okay. Just for the summer,” you muttered. 

Jake smiled, blinding white teeth glinting in contrast to his blue skin. His two sets of fangs were on display before he ducked down to kiss your temple, his other hand coming to your face to steady you. 

You laughed at his reaction, finding only joy in his response. “Just… do not fall too far in love with me. This has an end,” you reminded him, knowing it was fruitless, but trying anyway. Maybe the warning was more for yourself.

“No promises, Angel,” he teased, “You gonna fall in love with me?”

“No promises,” you imitated, rising up on your toes to meet his lips with yours once more.

Thank you for reading! Part 2 is coming...

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It had started with whispers. 

You heard what they said about you. They claimed that the distance growing between you and your husband was your fault. That in your grief and pain, you had pushed him and your children away to the point that he could no longer be around you. It could not be that Neteyam was laying dead in the reef far from his home. Or perhaps the war, or the impossible choices in front of you now because of it. It could not even be the weight of all you had lost slowly crushing you until you felt as if you could not breathe. 

No, according to them, this was all on you. 

The reality of it was that you did not like to think you and Jake were growing apart, and in most ways, you were not. In the middle of the night, when the children were asleep and the creatures sang to one another, he still held you like something precious and you still gripped onto him like he was your lifeline. He still always served you first at mealtimes and still checked over your weapons every morning without asking. He still smiled at you when Tuk laughed because he loved how you shared the same one. 

 It was more so that he needed space to figure out how to heal, and you respected his needs, even when they unknowingly hurt you. Jake threw himself into preparing for the next battle: gathering, training, sharpening. He was gone long days, sometimes he did not come back to your mauri until the stars had already been twinkling for hours. 

He would come back with cuts on his hands and damp hair, sometimes too exhausted to eat his meal. You would silently bandage his wounds, and he would kiss your cheek before heading to bed, but it would sting that he did not even spare you a thank you. He used to sing your praises every moment of the day. You used to find it endearing, if not slightly overbearing, but it was Jake and so you learned to love it, expect it even. Now he just gave you numb gratitude.

He was grieving, you told yourself. It would be expected for him to withdraw some, but you never feared that he would do it from you. You and he always drew closer in times of hardship. And as much as you tried to respect his ways, you reminded yourself that you were grieving too.

You had heard the others talking, it was hard not to. They noticed the way he disappeared during the day to scavenge the demon ship for metal. You watched him sail out each morning, stomach twisting at the unfounded fear of him not coming back. 

The women in the weaving circles whispered that he did not love you anymore, that the sight of you reminded him of Neteyam. They said with hushed breath, that you were not a good wife or a good mother, too consumed in grief to do what was needed for your family. You let them speak their words, maybe they held truth, but they were not worth the fight. 

Not until her. 

Kariam, a young woman whose parents now laid at the bottom of the reef with your son, all lost to the same battle. She was not known for her gentleness or kindness. In fact, others appreciated her straightforward nature and cunning way of thinking, as well as her beauty. Many sought her, but few earned her attention. She was a diver, going out into the sea to gather for the clan, a mighty role. 

She had started coming around Jake when she noticed the initial discord. She offered her condolences to him- not to you or the children- and offered to help his family in any way she could. 

You had watched Jake’s face when he first spoke to her; polite, but stiff. When his eyes stayed squarely on the net in his hands, other than a quick glance to see who was approaching, you felt secure that he did not look at her more than he had to.

When Ronal had approached you late one afternoon as you repaired your riding leathers with a hand on her stomach and a grim expression on her face, you knew something was wrong. 

You paused your hands. “Tsahik,” you nodded in greeting, waiting expectantly for her to speak. 

“I know there are many things that we do not agree on, but I come tonight as a friend,” she started. 

Stomach bile rose in your throat as you set your face into stone. “I appreciate that,” you replied. 

She pursed her lips before surveying the items around you as if biding time. Finally, she said, “The women talk of your husband. Many say he is handsome, but that is no offense, they say the same of mine,” she smiled knowingly, perhaps trying to break the tension. You did not offer a smile in return, too concerned with what she would say next. Jake’s looks were a point of pride that you would not let distract you.

She grimaced, “But they also say he is lonely, that he has found comfort in the diver, Kariam, and has begun courting her,” she said carefully. 

Her low tone of speaking did not soften the blow. Your hands loosened around the leather as you stood, dropping them to the woven floor. You had heard snippets of the rumors, but you had convinced yourself that you were making up fairytales, surely no one could be so cruel. Now you knew your instincts were right. They claimed that Toruk Makto had begun seeking a new woman, a prettier and younger one.

“Where is he?” you asked, calmly. Lo’ak came walking up the walkway with Tsireya, but you hardly saw him, eyes clouded with red. You had lost too much already, you would not lose your husband too.

Ronal sighed, “He is still out, he has not come back to shore.” 

“Then where is she?” you asked, your patience growing thin. Lo’ak’s steps quickened as he heard your tone of voice, he was familiar with the sound of rage in you. 

“Mom,” Lo’ak said, “What is happening?”

You held out a hand to silence him. “Where is she?” you asked again, ignoring your son. Your aim was too singular to answer him. 

Ronal shook her head as if she could not believe she was doing this. “On the beach,” she admitted. 

You nodded, checking that your knife was securely in place before you stepped over the discarded leathers and out of the hut. 

“Mom,” Lo’ak pleaded again, “What’s going on?”

You swiveled your gaze to the teens, Tsireya was clutching Lo’ak’s hand tightly as they both looked on in confusion and concern. “Everything is fine. Stay here, Lo’ak. Wait for your Kiri and Tuk to return from the marsh,” you instructed. 

With that, you stalked out of the mauri. A healing cut on your leg from the battle two weeks prior stung as you walked, as if your blood was heating up and causing it to burn. The sand was rough against your feet, grating in a way the plush grass of the forest never would. 

When you saw her, her head was tipped back in laughter, amused by what one of the two friends around her said. 

“Kariam!” you called across the beach, still advancing towards her. Her head swung to see who was coming and she grimaced when she saw it was you. “You wanted to earn my husband's attention by your foul words, but you have earned my disdain instead,” you said, coming to a stop a few feet from her seated form. 

Her friends sobered at the sight of you, but Kariam did not stand. She smugly stared up at you as you took a wide-legged stance in the sand.

“I do not know of what you speak, Omatikaya,” she sneered, the twist of her lips giving you the idea that she knew precisely what you were talking about. 

You stepped over the log she was perched on, walking to the fire they had burning and standing in front of her. “I think you do,” you smiled, although it had no humor in it. “Stay away from my mate,” you growled.

“If Jake has grown bored of you, that is none of my business," she smiled.

Your brow rose at her cocky accusation. “I think you are jealous of me,” you decided. 

“Of you?” she huffed out a laugh, but you did not let it hurt your feelings. 

You leaned towards her, your hair falling forward. The light from the fire made your gold eyes look red as you said, “Because after everything you have going for you, it is still me he comes home to hold at night. It is me that he loves. He does not even know your name, girl.”

She hissed, eyes wide in anger. Those were finally the words to break her confident exterior. “He has sought me out, he confides in me,” she claimed, although you did not believe her. Jake simply did not have the time or emotional stamina for it currently.

You ground your teeth, setting your anger to the side. “I know you have experienced loss from this war, Kariam, and that is why you are still able to walk, but do not provoke a grieving mother. I do not care if you are the last of your name, I will protect what is left of my family,” you warned, starting to leave, but she rose to her feet as well. 

You cocked your head, surprised that she would dare to stand against you. 

“Kariam,” one of her friends warned, watching the two of you warily. 

She ignored her friend. “You neglect him, he no longer feels love for you. The bond has been broken, do you not see what is plain to everyone else?” 

“Do you not see that I have the ability to rip your eyes from your head and that I will care little for your suffering?” you asked, mocking the inflection of her tone and making her jaw clench.

“Do you threaten me?” she asked, stepping forward and around the fire. A brief few feet of sand was all that separated you now. 

You smiled, white teeth glinting in the dying light. “I threaten you. Do not speak of my husband again, Metkayina.”

She hissed, “And if I do not heed your warnings?” she asked. 

“Then I would rather handle this here and now,” you replied, 

“Then I challenge you to a fight of combat, Wife of Toruk Makto. The winner will have claim over Jake Sully,” Kariam proposed.

You barked out a laugh, “You cannot bargain what is not yours. Jake would not allow you to claim him if you were the last woman on Pandora. No, this is over honor, and the offenses you have committed against me,” you corrected. “Jake is mine regardless.”

The glare on her face was intense enough to crack stone. “You do not agree to my terms because you are afraid of who he would go to if given the choice. I see the way he looks at me,” she smirked. She was poisonous. 

“Kariam,” you stated her name plainly, squaring your shoulders in a way that meant you were serious. “He has put three children in me. We have raised four together. A look does not mean he wants you. He looks at his enemies before he slaughters them, does that equate to love or attraction?”

Her nostrils flared. “Very well,” she gritted out. “Over honor then.”

You nodded, assessing her form and the way she moved. “Do you have a knife?” you asked, not finding one on her from your glance over.

“I do not need one to take you down,” she smirked. “Forest folk do not have the skills we are trained in since birth. You cannot fight as we do.”

“No, we do not,” you agreed, unsheathing your knife. You enjoyed the way she wearily watched your hand, but you just flicked it into the sand several feet away. You would fight unarmed, just like she was. “We fight better.”

And with those words, you leapt into action. 

You pushed at her with enough force to have her stumbling back in the sand. She looked up, blue eyes glowing against the night sky. She came at you, aiming to push back you, but you were ready.

You grabbed her shoulders, using her own momentum to move her forward into your knee which you brought up and directed right at her gut. She grunted at the impact and you balled your fist, drawing it back as Jake had taught you, and hit her on the cheek so hard that her head reeled back and she stumbled. 

You surged forward again, not letting her recover before you pushed her to the ground, getting on top of her as you placed your hands around her throat, squeezing enough to make her panic, but not enough to suffocate her.

You screamed from the back of your throat, half from the adrenaline and half from frustration. You wished you had the strength to pick this woman up and throw her across the ocean where she could no longer slander your family or even so much as look at your husband again.

You know how you looked to her friends. A murderous killer who was targeting their friend, but the two cowards hung back, clutching each other in fear as they watched wide eyed. They should be afraid. The rage you felt in you was a broken, aching and jagged thing. It was grief and it was pain and it had found a target. 

“Shit,” a familiar, masculine voice hissed. A voice you would recognize anywhere, but one who would not deter you from your mission. 

“Get out of here, go,” Jake ordered, waving the two friends of Kariam’s back to the village. They linked hands and fled back to the mauris. They were abandoning their friend to undoubtedly tell every soul with a listening ear what they had seen.

“Baby, get off ‘er,” Jake directed, but you did not pay him any mind. You hissed as Kariam’s nails dug into your wrist where you held her down by her throat. 

Thick hands grasped your hips, pulling you away from your victim with strength that only your mate possessed. You hissed in frustration, unable to stop him. Jake heaved you back into him, pinning your arms to your chest and holding them there with one hand as his other arm wrapped around the front of your shoulders. 

You wriggled in his grasp, but at the feel of his breath on your ear, you faltered, breathing in deeply and looking down at where Kariam was still laying in the sand. Her hand was gingerly around her neck as she looked up, shocked at your husband’s appearance. 

“Let me go, Jake. She must pay,” you hissed. 

“Sorry, baby, can’t do that,” Jake said from over your shoulder, “What’d she do?”

You pursed your lips, hating to tell him, but seeing no way around it. “She is telling the clan lies about us. She aims to tear us apart so she can have you for herself.”

Kariam’s face turned a shade of teal as she blushed at her antics being outed to Jake. Speaking of him to others was one thing, but having him in front of her and hearing her lies in person was another thing entirely. The fire illuminated an already blooming red mark across her cheekbone and you felt a flicker of pride at the mark you had made.

“Like what? What did she say, Baby?” he asked, his hair tickling your neck. Kariam stumbled to her feet, brushing off the sand on her as she watched Jake hold you. Thinly veiled jealousy was evident on her face when Jake asked your side and not hers.

“That you do not love me anymore and that it is my fault. She says your attention is on her now,” you explained. 

“What? No, only you, sweetheart,” Jake assured you sweetly, “You didn't believe it, did you?” 

You shook your head, before pressing the back of it into Jake’s shoulder. The stars winked down at you from above as if this was all some trick they played on you. “No,” you promised. 

Jake sucked in air through his nose, his chest rising against your back. He turned to her, making you look back down to watch the interrogation. “What’s your name again?” he asked Kariam. The look of shock on her face was enough to lift your spirits. 

“Kariam,” she answered. “We have met before.”

"We have?” Jake asked, cocking his head. “I don't remember.”

“After the passing of your son, we spoke several times,” she insisted, but Jake just shook his head. 

“Maybe, but I still don't understand. Why’d you say those things about someone you don't even know? What am I to you?”

Kariam opened her mouth as if to respond, but no words came out. Her eyes flitted to you and for the first time since this all began, you felt the smallest amount of pity for her.

“You are Toruk Makto,” you answered for her. “And she is no one, except a sad, lonely girl who delights in making others’ miserable.”

Kariam’s eyes flashed with pain and rage, finally emerging form under the layers of forced bravado. “Kali'weya (bitch),” she spat, stepping closer to you. 

You hissed in response as Jake twisted, depositing you halfway behind him to act as a shield between the two of you. 

“Remember, that’s my mate you’re talking to,” Jake warned, his face hardening into something terrifying to be on the receiving end of. “I think it’s time you left.”

“This is my village, you cannot tell me what to-”

“Go!” Jake barked, evidently growing impatient with her. “Tonowari will deal with you in the morning, I’ll make sure of it,” he promised. 

Her lips pursed as her eyes narrowed, a scowl plain as day on her face. She cursed under her breath before slowly moving back towards the warm fires of the village. 

“You hurt?” Jake asked, placing one hand on your hip and the other on your face. You were now chest to chest and the gentle proximity was heaven after everything that happened tonight.

“No,” you promised, “she barely even landed a hit.”

He nodded, satisfied that you were alright. “Why are you fighting her? Don’t you know I'd never even look at another woman? Lay it out for me,” he requested, his hand moving to cup the back of your neck, his thumb gently pressing into the soft skin behind your ear.

“Ronal came to me. She told me that Kariam had been telling the village that you were interested in her, and when Ronal told me that you were still out at the demon ship, I figured I would handle this myself. I went to talk to Kariam and she challenged me. What was I supposed to do?” you asked.

“You could have waited for me to come home. We could have handled it together. You didn't need to shoulder this alone,” he urged. 

“I am tired of waiting for you to come home,” you groaned, closing your eyes and squeezing them tight. “You are always away. That is half the reason so many whisper about us now,” you grumbled, not bothering to hide the pout on your face. 

Jake frowned, “Because I’m gathering weapons for the war we’re in the middle of.” 

“We just lost our son, our baby boy. He’s gone and the children need you here,” you pleaded. “The girls need a steady force around, someone to turn to. Lo’ak needs his father to tell him everything will be alright, I need to hear it too. I cannot sit in that marui silently preparing meals and mending things by myself another evening. I cannot be alone any longer, Jake. It just reminds me of everything we lost.”

Against your will, hot, angry tears escaped your eyes as the evening caught up with you. Finally being honest with your mate made the floodgates open.

Jake winced at the sight of you crying, his expressive eyebrows twisting in sorrow as he wiped your tears with his thumb before he pulled you to his chest. You wrapped your arms around his torso and let him guide your face into the crook of his neck, breathing in the scent of him. 

“I didn't know you were feeling that way. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Jake said. You could feel the vibration of his words against your cheek, and the feeling brought you comfort. “I was so worried about the next attack and deep in my own pain that I missed what was right in front of me. I’ll do better,” he desperately promised.

“I know that you need your solitude, that you like to work towards something while you grieve. I know you need something to do or else everything will catch up with you. This is hard, but do not leave us. I need you. We will help each other through this,” you begged, holding him even tighter. 

“I know,” Jake muttered soothingly as he ran a hand up and down your back. “I’m here now, I’ll do better,” he repeated. “I love you, none of what she said was true. I love you so much,” he assured you.

“I love you too. I am sorry I did not tell you what was happening,” you said, pulling away from him to look into his golden eyes. You wiped away the tears from your own as you said, “but I am not sorry that I got in that fight. She is a txanfwìngtu (loser),” smiling despite the heaviness in your heart. 

Jake lifted his eyebrows and chuckled, the deep rumble lifting your spirits. “I don’t doubt it.”

A snap of a limb made you both alert, picking your heads up to look toward the bushes from the inland where the sound had originated. When you began to take a step forward, Jake held out a hand, signaling for you to stay behind him. He drew his knife, and slowly moved in a low walk to the foliage. As you both drew closer, a blue hand shot out as if surrendering. It was the darker blue of your people on their skin, not the lighter Metkayina hue. 

“Lo’ak,” you realized, making Jake lower his knife as your son popped out of the brush. 

You and Jake wore matching glares as you watched your youngest son step away from the waist high foliage. “Hey, Mom,” he winced, “Hey, Dad.”

“What the hell are you doin’ in there, boy?” Jake asked with shocked intensity. His eyebrows were so high, they were halfway to his hairline.

“Uh, you know, just looking for shells,” Lo’ak explained nonchalantly, shrugging as if this was a normal evening activity for him.

“Looking for shells? In a bush?” you asked, disappointed in your son more for the poor attempt at a lie than whatever sneaking about he was actually doing. It was clear to you what he was really doing in there. “How much did you see?” you sighed.

He winced, “most of it,” he answered truthfully.

Your eyes widened as Jake’s narrowed into slits. “What were you thinkin’?” your husband barked.

You jumped in to chastise your son as well. “Lo'ak te Suli Tsyeyk'itan, I cannot begin to describe how much trouble you are in,” you fumed. Jake scoffed in agreement, shaking his head and looking up to the sky as if asking Eywa for strength.

Lo’ak held up his hands as if asking you both to calm down. “I wanted to make sure mom was alright. She came by herself and she was pretty angry,” Lo’ak rushed to say and you realized you were maybe a tad bit too quick to jump to conclusions.

You shook your head. “You do not have to worry about me. I am fine,” you assured him. 

“Oh, I know that now. You were pretty badass actually,” Lo’ak commented as he nodded. You looked at Jake who just leveled a gaze back that clearly said, ‘can’t argue with that’.

“Thank you, Lo’ak,” you said shortly, although you had a smug grin on your face from the compliment. “But unless you want to see me use my badass skills up close and personal, then I suggest you go back to the marui,” you warned, although it was all in jest and Lo’ak knew it. 

He smiled and nodded. “Sorry,” he muttered under his breath.

“We’ll meet you in a second,” Jake instructed, pointing up the beach and Lo’ak nodded, subdued, but not disheartened. 

You and Jake watched him walk back up the beach and as soon as he was out of earshot, a giggle escaped you. Jake looked over, mildly concerned about what you could be laughing about. But when you shook your head and let another laugh out, he started smiling too.

“Eywa! Jake, did you see his face when we caught him?” you asked through your laughter.

“He looked damn terrified,” Jake agreed. The light of Polyphemus caught on the ridges of his face, making him look otherworldly, and you supposed he was.

“Maybe that will teach him his lesson,” you fruitlessly hoped.

You and Jake exchanged another look before bursting into more giggles that carried all the way across the sand. Lo’ak turned around from his trek home to watch his parents dissolve into laughter and he wondered what they could possibly find so funny.

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Author's Note: this was inspired by a scene from “Somersault” (2004), a movie that Sam was in ! i hope you enjoy !!

“What do humans do when they like someone?”

The baskets you had set out to fill with fruits sat on the ground beside you and Jake as you rested in the shade of a young tautral (sky tree). The heat of the sun, peaking in the sky, meant it was already midday, but you lingered in a rare moment alone.

“It depends on the person,” Jake answered, his arm resting on top of a bent knee.

You fidgeted with the fibers of your woven top. “What do you do?”

Jake thought for a moment before shrugging a shoulder. “I touch them, I guess.”

You swallowed and kept your eyes forward, watching as the shadows danced on the grass. “How?”

“Like this.” He reached over and gave your shoulder a light shove.

“Hey,” you laughed, catching the smirk on his lips when you recovered your balance.

But then his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip. “And like this,” he said, as his hand drifted lower to rest on your thigh. You stared at it there as your heart picked up in your chest.

“What about you?” Jake asked, tapping his fingers against your leg.

You grabbed his hand as he began to pull it away. “I touch too, but like this.”

You cradled his hand in your lap and started tracing the tips of your fingers over his open palm, drawing a line up each of his digits. They curled slightly as your light touch ghosted over the rough flesh.

“What else?” Jake breathed, eyes watching as you took his smallest finger gently between two of your own.

You brushed your fingers over his knuckles as you thought. “I look at them.”

“Show me.” His grip on your hand suddenly tightened, making you look up.

“Why?” You asked, eyes wide.

“I wanna see.”

You let out a nervous laugh and shook your head, pulling your hand from his. “No, I cannot.”

“Sure you can…” Jake encouraged, lips curving up. “C’mon. It’s just me.”

You pursed your lips and considered him for a moment. Showing him would be easy, it was hiding your longing from him that had always been hard. Your heart thrummed with an unpleasant nervousness. Finding more than just a playful glint in his eyes, you shut your own and took a deep breath.

There was an intensity in your gaze that Jake wasn’t prepared for when you finally looked up at him through your dark eyelashes. He recognized the look. He'd seen it before from across the fire when you thought he wasn’t looking. But just like always, it was gone too soon.

Your eyes flitted away shyly and broke the spell. His emptied lungs finally filled with air and he blinked hard.

A blush rose to your cheeks and turned the tips of your ears purple. Your nose crinkled before you covered your face and started laughing.

“I cannot believe I just…”

“It was good, I liked it!” Jake was quick to reassure, trying to tamp down his own laughter. “Hey, don’t hide from me,” he added, placing his hands on top of yours and pulling them down.

“You are laughing at me.”

“You laughed first,” Jake defended, smoothing his thumb across your cheek and smiling down at you.

“Did you really like it?” You bashfully searched his eyes.

“Yeah,” he said softly, inching closer. “Who else do you look at like that?”

“Only you,” you whispered, wrapping your hands around his wrists.

“Good.”

Jake’s hands slotted under your jaw, and he gently tilted your chin up. His eyes trailed lower and your fingers dug into his skin.

“There’s this other thing I do,” he started, his voice rough and low. “When I really like someone.”

“There is?” You managed, distracted by his nearness and overcome by his smell.

“Can I show you?” He was so close that his lips grazed yours as he spoke and all you could do was nod.

You sucked in a shaky breath as Jake closed the gap between you, capturing your mouth with his. All sense of time and place vanished, and all you knew was Jake and the feeling of his skin against yours as he kissed you.

The midday meal, Jake’s training with Neytiri, the rest of your foraging would all have to wait. No task was more pressing than to bask in Jake’s affection. Returning every caress with your own, alight with ecstasy, each a promise of something more.