#human!jakesully

Jake was thankful for her interjection since Norm had started on plant heredity 15 minutes ago and wasn't going to stop unless interrupted. He had been stuck in this conversation as soon as he emerged from his bed for a cup of coffee.

Jake turned his chair to face his 8 year old daughter as she skipped up to the two humans. “What’s up, Babygirl?” he exclaimed, switching to Na’vi. The young girl beamed down at her dad when he used the nickname he had come up with when she was born. Kiri held the mask you had handed her when you walked in, but didn't put it on yet. She was too focused on conveying the very important information she had learned.

“Put on your mask,” you reminded Kiri, breathing in the pandoran air from your own clear plastic mask. For Tuk, you had put on a smaller, human sized one that Norm had converted for the children. 

But Kiri didn’t listen, she was too busy crouching beside Jake’s wheelchair with twinkling, conspiring eyes. If she had been Jake’s biological child, she would have gotten that look directly from him.

“Mama says we have to ask you if we can go see the fwäkìwll that Neteyam found,” she begged and Jake looked at you confused. Fwäkìwll weren't rare or even that nice to look at in your opinion, but according to the boys, this one loomed large.

“Tarsem took the boys hunting early this morning and they found a very special fwäkìwll flower. Lo’ak wants to show it to you,” you quickly caught your mate up to speed and he nodded, his brows rising with understanding.

“Ah, okay then let’s go. Norm, can you connect me?” Jake asked, starting to roll over to his link unit.

The human man shook his head, “Uh, no, actually. The units are down to fix a glitch that keeps occuring, Gemma will be working on them all day. We told you that you couldn't go in today, remember?” he urged and Jake rolled his eyes.

He pursed his lips as he realized his mistake, “Yeah, I do now,” he turned back to his daughter, “I’m sorry, Babygirl, I guess I can't go.” He hated that he was stuck in his human body, but hated to disappoint his children even more.

When the smoke cleared and the sky people left Pandora, he had asked Mo’at to try to attempt to transfer his consciousness permanently to his avatar, but after the tragedy of Grace’s death, she had refused to even entertain the idea. She said there had already been enough death.

Kiri frowned, “What?” she cried, “Why not? Sa’nu can carry you!” she insisted and Jake scoffed.

“I don't think I have enough masculinity to compensate for that type of embarrassment,” he said teasingly as you pursed your lips at his stubbornness. 

Tuk cooed softly and your attention turned to her, taking her out of the sling to make sure her mask was on tight. You held her little finger and she smiled up at you. She was cuteness personified.

“Give her to me,” Jake requested, holding out his arms as you lowered to your knee beside his chair. Tuk reached for her father, recognizing him even in his human form. 

Jake took Tuk from you and sat his child on his lap. He wrapped his hands around her middle, blue skin meeting pink. Tuk made happy sounds as Jake immediately tickled her side and she squirmed in his lap.

The comical size comparison made you smile, she looked like the size of a 3 or 4 year old human in his arms, but she was just barely the length of your forearm. “She will be taller than you soon,” you joked and Jake leveled you with a glare, reaching out to softly pinch your side at the jab. You laughed as you scrambled away from his hands.

“Dad…” Kiri whined, reminding you of her priorities. “Come on! The flower!” 

Jake sighed, looking to you and you shrugged, “Come with us. I will carry you,” you promised, even while knowing he would hate it.

“But-” he started, but Kiri slumped her shoulders and threw her head back. 

“Dad! They’re waiting on us!” she cried and Jake gave in.

“Fine! Fine, let's go,” he gestured with a hand for the group to move before placing it back on Tuk’s soft tummy. Kiri beamed and ran around to the back of his chair to push him. Jake would not give up holding the baby if he didn't have to.

You waved a hand to Norm and then to Max who was just coming around the corner. “Bye, boys!” you called and they returned goodbyes. 

“Masks!” you reminded your family again, tossing a human mask to Jake and taking Tuk’s which he handed to you. You took Kiri’s as well and hung them both on the wall near the door.

“Is it on tight?” you asked your husband, hand pausing from where is laid on the door knob.

His chin dipped down as he smirked up at you, “Yeah, baby. It's on,” he assured you, knowing that you got anxious about his breathing ever since the incident during the battle with the RDA.

“Okay,” you nodded, opening up the airlock door and holding it for Kiri to push Jake through. 

You opened the door to the outside, and Kiri steered Jake and Tuk to the metal ramp that had been built for Jake years ago. It led to a cobbled series of smoothed dirt, woven, and wooden pathways that made it so Jake could get to the village on his own. The Omatikaya had banded together to make the paths for their Olo’eyktan so he could access the forest in both of his forms. 

“I got it, Kiri,” Jake said as he lined his wheelchair up with the ramp and Kiri let go. 

“Careful!” you called as he pushed his wheelchair down the ramp, keeping one hand on the wheel and on one on Tuk as he flew down the slope faster than was probably safe.

“Dad! Hurry up!” 7 year old Lo’ak yelled from where he stood next to Neteyam. Both boys jumped up and down, waving their parents and sisters over. 

“Where’s your avatar?” Neteyam asked bluntly as Jake stopped in front of his sons who were most definitely taller than him now. You inwardly winced at his words, knowing Jake wanted to be in his other body.

“The link unit is down today. Sorry, buddy,” Jake’s face fell at their confused expressions, but Neteyam shrugged. 

“This is cool too,” he nodded.

“Okay, can we go?!” Kiri exclaimed, pushing Jake’s chair forward again and the family followed. Tuk squealed in Jake's arms as Kiri picked up some speed. 

“Slow down!” you yelled again, but Jake was no help, he just laughed and set Tuk on his knee as Kiri made Pa’li sounds for the baby’s amusement. 

When you all reached the end of the path in the direction you needed to head in according to Lo’ak, there was a reshuffling. Tuk was handed to Neteyam who sat her on his hip. Meanwhile, Jake looked up at you with humorless eyes. 

“This does not leave this family, no one tells anyone about this, promise?” he demanded.

“Yes, Ma’Jake, our lips are sealed,” you promised with a smirk.

Jake directed a stern look to Lo’ak whose eyes widened. “What are you looking at me for?” he exclaimed and you laughed at his faux innocence.

“Because you are a troublemaker, son,” Jake sighed, before locking his wheels and giving you an exasperated look that told you he was ready. You kneeled in front of him and his arms reached out to grasp around your shoulders. Kiri helped him onto your back and you supported him under his thighs as you gave him a piggy back ride.

“The kids will never let me live this down,” he sighed. His rough jeans were harsh on your skin but you didn't complain. He was light to you, about the same weight as holding one of the kids.

“They will remember this for the rest of their lives, and probably into their next one, as well,” you smiled. This wasn’t the first time you had carried him somewhere, but it had been months, maybe years since the last instance. He usually was in his Avatar and would carry you instead if you wished. 

You trekked through the forest after your kids as they giggled to themselves each time they looked back to see their dad.

Eventually, Neteyam called out, “Look! There it is!” and the other two kids whooped.

You caught up with them and finally saw what they were seeing. It was a giant, pink flower with a green stem and smaller blue and pink tendrils that felt around the air like fingers. It was nearly to your height while most other versions of the plant came up around your knees, maybe your hip at most. 

“Look at it, mom! Isn't it pretty?” Lo’ak asked, gazing up at the flower as Neteyam stuck his fingers in the tendrils and giggled when they tickled him.

“It’s beautiful, Lo’ak,” you agreed, smiling down at your son.

“Well, look at that,” Jake muttered, “I guess it was worth being carried around for.”

“That is a very large flower,” you agreed, taking a few steps closer.

“I’m not talking about that. Look at the kids, see how happy they are?” he pointed out. 

He was right, each of your kids was beaming up at it. Even little Tuk gurgled and smiled when Neteyam held her hand out to touch the soft petals that draped down.

The moment of observation was broken as Kiri snickered. “Dad? Can you even see it from up there?” she jabbed from beside you, glancing up to her father on your back.

“Yeah, I can see it,” he huffed out a sardonic laugh and you felt him shake his head, “Our kids are jerks,” he muttered near your ear.

You laughed too, “And who taught them to be that way?” you asked 

He sighed, knowing the answer. “I trained ‘em well at least,” he pointed out.

“That is for certain.”

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You crept up out of your hammock and nimbly crawled back to the limb of hometree and then over to his unconscious body. You perched near the top of his hammock and cocked your head to the side as you watched his steady breath force his chest up and down.

“Jake,” you called again, poking him in the forehead, but still, he did not react in the slightest. It seemed he truly was not there. 

Looking back at your hammock, you had no desire to sleep. Your body still thrummed with the adventures of the day and your mind raced at the thought of going on another one.

You ascended up towards the top of hometree, slipping past your sleeping brethren to get to the sky. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” a sharp, quiet voice asked from behind you and you froze, turning on your toes to find Tsu’tey leaning against the main column of the tree.

“On a flight,” you stated innocently, knowing he could not stop you, although he may try. 

“The Olo’eyktan will not like his daughter going out alone into the dark,” Tsu’tey advised, pushing off and walking towards you.

“He does not control my every move, Tsu’tey. I have gone out many times in the night,” you affirmed, turning from him.

“Let me go with you,” he offered, following behind you up the spiral, his steps matching yours as you reached the top level. “The Toruk is out hunting, we have heard animal screams to the east.”

“Then I will stay to the west. I wish for time alone,” you said over your shoulder and you heard his steps stop behind you. 

“It is dangerous,” he called but you ignored him.

You continued walking, finally, making it to the leaves above. You yipped and called for your Ikran, Ta’mae, to meet you. Her great wings flapped from where she was perched in the trees with the other Ikrans. 

She landed in front of you with barely a sound. “Hello sweet girl,” you cooed, stroking a hand down her face and neck as you made tsaheylu. Her movements became clear to you, her breath and her thoughts merging with yours. 

You climbed aboard not bothering with your saddle, and took off to the West, a direction you were not entirely used to. 

From above, the night was laying heavy and soft on Pandora. Purple, blue, and green bioluminescence measured your path ahead for miles, the Hallelujah mountains reigning over the world in the distance.

When something shiny caught your eye below, you veered Ta’mae towards it to get a better look. A silver box stood out like a sore thumb in a jungle clearing. It was obviously a human object, but you had no idea what it might be for. You remembered Jake and Grace had asked your parents, Eytukan and Mo’at, for permission to keep their lab in the mountains, surely this had to be it. Your heart jumped at the thought of seeing Jake again, curious at what his other form might be like.

You swooped down and landed Ta’mae on the grass in front of the box, watching it carefully as you dismounted. Through the window you could see four humans sitting at a strange flat surface, they talked as they ate and it wasn't until you stepped closer that a woman in tan clothing and red hair looked over to you. 

With your Na’vi eyes, you saw her utensil clatter down as she dropped it, her eyes wide with shock. The man beside her looked even more surprised to see you and you started to second guess yourself. Maybe these were not dreamwalkers but other humans. Maybe you were in danger of their metal and thunder. 

You took a step back hesitantly, unsure of what to do when the door slammed open. The redhaired woman held open the door as a man sitting on a strange metal contraption rolled out to the platform that led to the forest.

He stared at you in wonder and you stared back, “Y/n?” he asked, Jake’s voice was jarring when it came from the pinkskin’s mouth, yet it was undoubtedly him.

You stalked up to the little man and kneeled before him, observing him in awe as his hair covered brow raised and his mouth opened to say something but closed again. His strange mask reflected your image and made it more difficult to see his face in the dark night. On the platform, he was eye level to you as you crouched, but he was still small compared to your stature.

“Is that really you, Ma’ Jake?” you asked in a hushed whisper, scared to break the tension that fell over yourself and all four humans, the other two had joined you outside and were watching Jake carefully. You did not miss the way the other dark haired woman had reached for the tiny black gun at her hip.

“Yeah,” he sighed, “It's me. What are you doing here?” he breathed out, looking intently at you. 

“I found the lab when I did not mean to. I was just flying and I saw it here. I did not know if it was you,” you explained as Grace stepped forward.

“Hello y/n, it’s Grace. I suppose you've never seen me in my human form before,” she said.

A smile broke out freely across your face, “Hello teacher,” you greeted, having been one of her pupils many years prior.

“And I’m Norm. You've never met me at all, but I am one of the Avatar’s too,” a skinny, awkward man explained and you nodded in greeting “Hello Norm.”

You looked expectantly at the last woman and she raised her eyebrows up at the attention. She finally tipped her chin up and said, “Trudy.” You could admire her directness.

“An hour ago, you were falling asleep,” Jake stated, stealing your attention back to him. He looked hurt for some reason, as if you had done something to him. 

“I could not, I am restless tonight after our preparations for your iknimaya,” you confessed, smiling briefly at the thought of all of the fun you had today training Jake.

“You can’t just show up here. I didn't want you to see me like this,” he ground out, his lips pursed as you recoiled. 

“See you like what? This is also who you are,” you argued.

“Yeah but…” he shot a look over his shoulder and Grace caught the hint. She jumped into action by ushering the two other humans back inside. 

Before Jake continued what he was saying, you interrupted. “Why do you sit?” you asked the question that had been bothering you since he came outside.

A brief flash of embarrassment passed over his face and you regretted asking. Human Jake was very different from his avatar in your opinion. This Jake was not half as confident nor did he have the blind pride that he seemed to gain when he was blue, but you knew your Jake was still in there.

“I can't stand because my legs don't work. I was hurt in a battle,” he explained, eyes down cast.

“Injuries and scars from battle are nothing to be ashamed of,” you said softly.

“I am not ashamed,” he demanded, looking up at you with raw insecurity across his eyes, although he did not seem to be aware that it was there on display.

“Do not be angry with me,” you pleaded.

His eyes softened and you relaxed. “I’m not angry, I just wasn't expecting you. I never thought you would have to see me like…. this,” he said, gesturing to his body and the chair below him.

“Ma’ Jake,” you shook your head, “I see you,” you said, holding out your hand to him. He looked at it carefully, holding his gaze there for so long that you were afraid he would reject you.

“I see you, baby,” he finally said, weaving his five digits through your four.

-

The next morning, you awoke in your hammock to see the sun had already risen, and so had Jake. He sat on the branch that held both of you as you slept and looked out over the inside of hometree as it bustled to life.

Na’vi children ducked between branches and leaped across hammocks. On the other side of hometree, families prepared for the day in their hanging kelku’s. Horns blew from above as the Ikrans were called for a hunt. 

Life was teeming and there Jake sat, stationary in the face of it.

You crawled out of your hammock and over to him. “Good morning, Ma’ Jake,” you mumbled, half asleep still. You were not a morning person, whereas Jake woke ready to face the day. It had made chasing him down to teach him a little difficult at first since you were going about half his speed until breakfast.

“Good morning,” he replied, looking down at his hands as he flexed them repeatedly like he was grounding himself. You sat beside him, both of your legs dangling down over the rest of the world.

“Let us talk about it so it does not fester in you,” you offered, tapping Jake’s chest to indicate where his resentment lay.

His head shot up, “There’s nothing to talk about. You saw my human body, end of story. It’s fine.”

“It is not end of story. You did not want me to see it. Why?” you asked, not understanding.

His eyes drifted to you and for the first time you saw Jake’s avatar show raw, painful emotion. In his eyes you could see the humanness as clearly as you did last night.

“The Na’vi hate human’s, for what we destroy, for what we have taken. Human’s killed your sister,” he shook his head, disgust filling his face. “I don’t like you seeing the side of me that resembles them,” he said and your heart squeezed in your chest at his vulnerability.

“I always knew you were human, this whole time I have learned to accept that side of you. You are not like them, Grace is not either,” you assured him.

“Yeah, but-” he started.

“I have been teaching you to see. Your eyes have been opened. You will be one of us soon. A human could not see if they did not have your strength and your openness. You were chosen by Eywa, Jake Sully, let her choice stay sound,” you advised, laying your hand over his.

“Yeah, I guess so,” he nodded, still not looking all that back to himself.

“And your fear of being seen does not have anything to do with your legs?” you prodded, leaning your head to the side in question.

His eyes went to his legs and he flexed his feet over hometree at the reminder. “Maybe, I mean, the whole reason I came here was to get them fixed, that and I had nothing else to live for on Earth,” he admitted and you flinched at the thought of Jake once feeling so broken and alone. “Now that I’m here, in this body, I can walk and I can run. It’s hard going back to a body that is so limited.”

You reached up and brushed a piece of black hair that had fallen out of his braid and in his face. “I know it is hard for you. I wish you had told me of your struggles, but even as a pink skin, you were still handsome,” you admitted and Jake’s confidence rushed forward like a mighty river. 

His eyes shot up to yours, “You think so, huh?” he grinned.

“Still very small and ugly like all humans,” you nodded, “But I suppose you are the least ugly of the few I have seen.”

“I’ll take it,” he shrugged and you laughed at the smile on his face, even as your compliment was joking but backhanded.

“Part of seeing is communicating, do not let feelings fester until they blind. That is the way of the people,” you advised. 

He nodded, “Yes ma’am. So the next time you want to make me talk, you're just gonna keep calling it a lesson in seeing?” he teased.

“That is a good idea, as long as it keeps working,” you grinned.

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Jake looked up from his laptop where he was typing out some observations for Grace’s next book like she had asked him to do. “Go to sleep, get some rest,” he suggested, but you shook your head.

“I can’t. I should finish these, and then I told Norm I would read some more of the guide and compare notes with him tomorrow before the excursion. Plus, I need to take a shower,” you groaned at the thought.

“I think I can help,” your boyfriend said, closing his laptop and wheeling over to you.

“I doubt that,” you sighed, clicking a little more at the keys. 

“Seriously, come on,” he grabbed the thin book off of your desk, placing it in his lap before he turned and rolled out of the lab.

“Jake!” you called, but he didn’t turn around, just yelled, “come on!” again over his shoulder so you powered off your computer.

You followed him into the hallway, but instead of turning towards the barracks where you both slept, he turned down a completely separate hallway. 

“Where are we going?” you asked quietly. The halls were pretty deserted. It was deep into the night and most of the base was already asleep in preparation for an early morning tomorrow. 

“Grace is gone for the week. She’s up in the mountains to study some trees with the other labcoats. She asked me to water her plants, and gave me this,” He held up a badge over his shoulder and your eyes widened. 

“She asked you to water her plants?” you clarified. Jake sent a glare over his shoulder.

“Yes, is that so hard to believe?” he asked.

“A little. But still, what could we possibly be doing in Grace’s room?” you pressed, starting to worry about his vague plan.

“You’ll see,” he muttered as he stopped in front of a door and stuck the badge up to the keypad. It flashed green and the door slid open.

“Go ahead,” he said, gesturing for you to enter and you did, walking into Grace’s apartment to see the organized chaos within. She had bookshelves stuffed with books, papers, and Na’vi knickknacks. A tiny kitchen was tucked in the corner and there was a small hallway that led to what you assumed to be a bedroom and bathroom. Her furniture was sparse, but she had a couch and a screen to watch television, something you had a feeling she didn’t do much.

“This way,” Jake said as he passed by you and the door whooshed closed behind him. 

You followed him into a semi-spacious bathroom off of the hall and saw Jake already digging through cabinets.

“What are we doing Jake? Just tell me,” you demanded, feeling even more confused than before.

He glanced at you over his shoulder and smiled at your impatience. “You are going to take a bath while I read your book for you, two birds killed with one stone,” he explained and your shoulders slumped.

“I am not taking a bath in her bathroom!” You exclaimed, glancing around to see the general soaps and shampoos provided by the RDA and not much else. Jake emerged from the cabinet with a clean bath towel and set it on the counter. 

“Look at that tub, when was the last time you saw a tub?!” he asked, nodding to the large, white plastic tub. 

That was a luxury in Hell’s Gate. You had been taking showers in the tiny communal bathrooms for years, you wouldn't mind submerging yourself in some warm, soapy water.

“You’re basically drooling, whether I read to you or not, you’re taking a bath. Grace doesn't appreciate what she has enough anyways,” Jake insisted and your eyes softened at his orders.

“Fine,” you grumbled.

“Good. Call me when you’re ready for me to come back in,” he said, lips curving into a smile as he rolled out of the room and left the door open just a crack.

You turned on the faucet, running warm water and dug through her cabinets to see what she had that you could use. You lined up shampoo and conditioner on the lip of the tub, as well as body soap. At the back of her cabinet you found a pepto bismol pink bottle and pulled it out, shocked to see a nearly full bottle of bubble bath that looked like it was possibly older than you. 

“Jake,” you beamed, running out to the hallway to see him flipping through the channels on the TV. Old reruns from earth played softly over the speakers. He looked up at your voice, eyebrows raised in question.

“Bubble bath!” you held it up in victory and his face relaxed.

“Nice find, baby!” he grinned at your excitement.

“I know, right?” you asked, as you ducked back into the bathroom. You poured some of the liquid into the bath and started kicking your clothes off, folding them up and placing them in the corner.

You sank into the warm, soapy water, bubbles rising to your chin as you relaxed. Your eyes closed as you sighed in contentment. This was heaven. The water was a comfort that eased your rigid shoulders and tense muscles. 

“Can I come in?” you heard from the hall. 

Your eyes popped open as Jake knocked lightly.

“Yeah, come in, J,” you grinned as he pushed past the door and wheeled in. He stopped to admire your happy, relaxed face. 

“What did I tell ya?” he asked with a knowing smile and you sighed, closing your eyes again.

“I guess you were right,” you relented and you heard his wheels crossing the tile as he stopped beside you. 

“Thank you, I know that was hard for you to admit.”

You nodded, “Terribly difficult,” you smiled as you settled under the suds.

“So what is this book again?” Jake asked, holding it up.

“It’s a survivalist’s guide to Pandora. Norm wants to compare notes, he says the author’s some quack and he thinks he has it all wrong,” you explained.

“Huh, okay,” Jake nodded, opening up to where you had stuck a candy wrapper in place of a bookmark. You would die before you dog eared.

“Uh, here we go.” He cleared his throat, “The Na’vi have a unique and expansive language…” he read the book out loud for you as you put shampoo in your hair and washed your body.

You occasionally called out places for him to stick a tab from the front of the book. He stumble dover the Na'vi words and you helped him pronounce them even though you couldn't see the words. He would make notes when you asked him to jot thinsg down. 

By the time the water went cold, he had read through two chapters. The book mentioned something twice and when you said nothing, he looked up to see you fast asleep on the side of the tub.

He stuck a tab on the section he wanted you to check out tomorrow and placed your candy wrapper bookmark back in the book. He dropped it on the sinks’ counter to grab later. Your soft snores permeated the otherwise quiet space and made Jake smile.

You looked so adorable like this, the worries of the world forgotten. Your head rested on your arm which laid across the shiny plastic, your fingertips pruned from the water. A lock of wet hair dangled over your eyes and moved with your soft breaths. 

He smoothed a hand over your hair, brushing it away from your face. He would have to wake you up eventually, you couldn’t sleep in the water, but you looked so cute like this, he decided he would let you rest a second or two. 

“Good night baby,” he muttered, leaning down to place a kiss on your damp hair.

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He tried again, “Hey, baby. Ya hear me?” he asked, but you just kept nodding your head along. If he could see your face, he would bet that your lips were forming the lyrics.

When he grew impatient with trying through words, he rolled closer, reaching up to grab the over-the-ear headphones you were wearing, and plucking them off of your head. By the time you had turned around in your chair, wide eyed and confused, Jake had already slipped them on.

“Hey!” you exclaimed, reaching for them, but Jake batted your hand away as he realized what you were listening to.

“Is this… Are you listening to country music?” he asked, over the sound of a woman crooning about her man betraying her.

“It's Ella Langley. She’s really good!” you defended yourself, but Jake was too busy laughing to hear you.

“I knew you weren't exactly from the city, but come on, woman. That's bad,” he told you, smiling wickedly as his brows lowered in concentration. He was trying to understand the lyrics, but his broken focus and her twang was making it difficult.

“Shut up, Jake! Give them back!” you groaned, holding out your hand to take back the headphones.

“No way, does she get back at the loser?” he asked, placing his hands firmly over each ear and securing the listening device.

“I thought it was bad?” you asked, crossing your arms over your chest and smiling expectantly.

“Doesn’t mean I don't want to know what happens,” he murmured.

“She moves on, now give it back,” you summarized.

“Fine,” he shrugged, taking them off and rolling a little closer to place them back on your head, your hands coming up to guide the set back over your ears. Her smooth voice sank back into your senses, drowning out Jake and the rest of the world so you lowered the volume a little.

“Thank you,” you murmured, as he withdrew his hands and smiled.

He pushed his wheels backwards and asked as he began to pivot, “Am I gonna have to start saying howdy and wearing boots? Is that what you’re into now?” The shit eating grin on his face revealed how pleased he was at knowing this about you.

You couldn't help the laugh that slipped through your lips. “Piss off!” you told him.

The next time Jake caught you listening to music, you were equally enthralled in the song as you sat on your bunk and jotted notes down in a journal about the Avatar’s progress. You looked up, seeing him approaching from your peripheral vision, but you weren't fast enough to stop him grabbing your headphones again and slipping them over his ears.

“Jake!” you whined as he smiled widely, overjoyed at the prospect of hearing what you were listening to again, and this time, he had another reason to laugh. His forehead scrunched in confusion as he tried to understand what he was hearing.

“It's from a musical,” you explained, face growing warm as his mouth slowly curved into an open mouthed smile.

“It’s loud…” he noted, "she's a yeller.”

“A belter,” you corrected. You stood up and easily took the headphones off of his head. “Don’t make fun of me,” you ordered.

“Who said I’m makin’ fun of you? Maybe I like musicals,” he said.

“You don’t.”

“Yeah, well, a guy can branch out. What is she singing about? Waiters and oreos?” Jake asked mirthfully.

You sighed and powered off your headphones. “No, it's from Waitress, an old musical from like a hundred years ago. She is singing about being afraid of being rejected and coming out of her shell, you know?” you explained.

“Uh huh,” Jake nodded, fighting back the smile that wanted to break free and turn into a laugh. You rolled your eyes, pushing his shoulder as you got up and passed by him, heading towards the small kitchen area to pour a glass of water.

“What do you listen to anyway?” you asked, back turned as you rifled through the clean dishes for a cup.

He followed you over, moving a chair over so he could roll somewhat under the table and prop his chin up on his hand. “Eh, older stuff like you do. Metallica, Muse, Radiohead, like alternative rock I guess,” he shrugged and you nodded along.

“I like that stuff too,” you agreed, turning the tap on and filling your glass.

“I call bull. You’re too busy listening to showtunes and country music to listen to anything good,” he teased, his eyebrows lifting in a challenge.

You spun around, the water swirling in your glass. “Hey! I have good music okay?”

“Sure,” he laughed, “whatever you want to tell yourself.”

Your nose scrunched up in annoyance. “I’m done, I can’t,” you sighed, walking past him and flicking him in the arm as you walked out. The sound of his laughter followed you through the door and into the other half of the shack.

When Jake passed by you a few days later, he just offered a “hey,” and you were deeply offended.

“Hey! Come back here,” you exclaimed and Jake grabbed his wheels, looking over his shoulder at you with a raised brow.

“What’s up?” he asked, making a half pivot so he could see you.

“I’m wearing headphones,” you pointed out, “Don’t you want to know what I’m listening to?”

“Eh, I figured it was probably the Tarzan Soundtrack or something ridiculous,” he teased and you glared.

“No, although, it is kinda perfect for Pandora,” you mused, “but I’m actually listening to something I think you would like,” you said, standing up and walking over to hand him your headphones. He sighed, pointing a look at you that said he was done with your music taste. “Trust me,” you urged as he took them.

“Okay, if you say so.” He slipped them over his ears and his eyebrows immediately shot up to his hairline. He listened in silence for a second before he pulled them back off and looked up at you in surprise. “Is that the Gorillaz?” he asked, eyes narrowed as if he was suspicious.

“Yep,” you nodded, popping the p. “Impressed?” you asked.

“Yeah, baby, I am. I didn't know you could actually listen to anything good,” he joked.

You leveled him an exasperated look and rolled your eyes. “Whatever. You can hate all you want, but I’m having fun,” you insisted.

Heavy footsteps hit the metal floor as another person came in, “Hey, can you help me collect some samples?” Norm asked you, passing by and stopping to clap a hand on your shoulder as he waited for a response.

“Of course,” you nodded, turning back to Jake and pointing a finger in his direction. “But this isn't over, Sully,” you warned.

“I’m right here, whenever you’re ready to admit you don't know any decent music,” Jake smiled, holding his hands up in the air around his face.

“In your dreams!” you called over your shoulder as you followed Norm out of the room to pack.

“Ha!” you exclaimed in glee, lunging at Jake’s wired earbuds, pulling on the cord and making them tumble out of his ears.

“Hey!” He shouted, looking up in shock as you shoved one of the earbuds into your ear and checked out what he was listening to.

You gasped when a familiar tune came through. “You hippocrite!” you laughed as pink rose to Jake’s cheeks. Tyler Childer’s ‘Whitehouse Road’ played, a country song if there ever was one.

“I didn't say that I didn't listen to any myself,” he pointed out, but you weren't having it.

“You basically called me a hick! But Jake, you’re worse than a hick. You're a wannabe hick!” You smiled, as he pulled on the chord and yanked it out of your hands.

“Uh huh, laugh it up,” he sighed, “I dabble in all kinds of music, okay? It's just one song out of hundreds. Look,” he skipped the song and a familiar cover came on the screen. “Nirvana,” he made sure you understood.

“Yeah, no. You're a country music fan,” you said matter-of-factly.

“Get here,” he ground out, grabbing at your hips and pulling you down into his lap.

“Jake!” you squealed, squirming in his embrace as his hands came to your side, tickling you. You fought his arms, but you could feel the strength in them flexing under your hands as he held you to him.

“Take it back,” he muttered.

“No! You are!” You giggled, still fighting him.

“What’s going on in here?” Grace asked, standing in the doorway with a cup of coffee in her hand and lifted brow. You hadn't even heard her come in. Jake's grip slackened and you shot to your feet.

“Grace! Uh, we were just…” you trailed off, mind going blank.

“Trading song recommendations,” Jake offered lazily, grinning up at Grace as if challenging her to question him. She pursed her lips, not saying a word as she shook her head. She didn't believe a word Jake said, and never would, not when he had that look on his face.

She nodded to the link pods, “You’re connecting in 10, eat something,” she told you both.

Jake sighed, beginning to wheel over to the refrigerator as you crossed your arms over your chest, knowing he would make something for you too without having to ask.

As he passed, you whispered, “wannabe,” making him purse his lips. He took one of his hands off of its wheel to dart out and gently pinch the softness of your thigh, causing you to yelp and scurry away from him. He laughed as you muttered unkind things under your breath.

Grace shook her head and drank her coffee, turning back to the bunk area so she didn’t have to watch the two of you be lovesick idiots any longer.

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