Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Something about you is soft like an Angel
And something inside you is violence and danger
I knew from the moment we met, you are a dangerous thing

When you are with me, I feel like I'm living
And living besides you can be unforgiving
I knew from the very first step, you are a dangerous thing

Way of Water

「These days my mind has not been on my body. In neither of the two I have. It's strange the feeling of freedom, of... strength I can feel here. Being in the air, on the ground. Running is a wonder and although Neytiri will never tire of calling me skxawng, we are good together. We are a great team」 

「It's a special connection that maybe even she won't be able to understand. What fills my head the most with this topic is... Am I really doing the right thing? I'm a spy, I'm a mole, I'm a fucker who was supposed to pretend to be one of them and in the end I'm doing it because that's what I want. I don't know. Sometimes I wish everything in my human life was as simple as in my Na'vi life.」

「In it it's perfect, even what is difficult or what is not beautiful. Maybe that's why it's the dream I don't want to escape... Although my human life, it's more and more the one that looks like a dream I escape from being with Neytiri」.

Flying on Ikran is one of those pleasures Jake can't resist. Neytiri finds it comical and a little weird how much Jake enjoys running until he doesn't have a breath of air in his lungs. He just does. Ever since he got his Ikran, he loves to stay in the air, enjoying the breeze, the space, the air currents... Neytiri knows that Jake is different from the people in the sky. Each and every one of them. That he is better than anyone, even Grace. He has what it takes to be a real Na'vi.

The yearning to be free and one with this beautiful planet.

Indifferent to the fact that Jake still can't see.

Not quite.

"In life you are born twice, Jake. When you come out of your mother's womb and when you are recognized by your people" Neytiri comments, both sitting on one of the rocks in the Hallelujah Mountains, not far from where the portable cell is and Jake is in a connecting pod. "In your case" She turns to him. "When you allow your spirit to be one with who you really are." places a hand on Jake's chest. "You are a Na'vi, you are an Omatikaya...You are our brother."

Jake smiles softly, his ears drooping slightly. His tail curls with Neytiri's. Despite his strong personality and so explosive, Neytiri has a definite soft spot for Jake. How with every minute they spend together, she can't help but love him more. A connection she hasn't had with anyone in her village. It's not romantic, it's not brotherly; it has no name, it's just there, strengthening every day and just because of that, she allows him to touch her in this way. Feeling fragile and strong at the same time. She approaches him, hugs him and kisses him on the forehead.

The little blind boy in her care that she doesn't want anything to hurt. That is what Eywa wants and he understands her. She strokes his hair and gives him another couple of kisses.

"It doesn't matter what happens. You're one of us Jake. Don't ever doubt that."

"What with the long face?" asks Grace, puzzled at how saddened and brooding Jake looks. He usually wolfs down his food and lies down to sleep to make connection as soon as possible the next morning.

"Nothing special."

Norm chews slowly and Trudy raises an eyebrow. Jake is changing, barely present here. Don't blame him, this place is claustrophobic crap. Much more so if you come from running around a world as wide as Pandora. However, thinking is not his thing. He hasn't recorded his log for today either. Jake runs a hand over his face and pulls back.

"Neytiri broke up with you or something." scoffs Trudy with no further idea. Jake scrunches up his face.

"What, no, Nono, we're not a couple. We're just... I don't know."

"That's called a couple."

"No. Believe me, it's not."

Grace narrows her eyes. For one thing, it's a relief! The Omatikaya and Tsu'Tey would not take kindly to Jake messing with the next Tsa'hik. That would undoubtedly end in him being killed with more than five arrows to the chest. However, there is something that is making him this way. She had never seen it in another Avatar pilot. She'd say genuinely, Jake is starting to get confused as to what his real body is. Grace wouldn't be weirded out by it either. In this body, he feels useless and has been miserable for quite some time.

"There's going to be a storm these days" Grace comments, tapping the cigar to remove the remaining ash. "You should stay away and the avatar too. I don't want anything to happen to him."

"I know, I know."

"I don't think you know considering every silly thing you get into."

"Do you want me to be of the Omatikaya or not?"

"And what are those?"

"They are the Tulkun. The ones who inhabit the ocean carrying Eywa's will to life." replies Neytiri from her Ikran. Jake keeps his ears perked up and his eyes open wide.

They are whales.

Jake never thought he would see anything like this. After all, on the earth they were extinct long before he and Tommy were born. He descends to get closer to get a better look at them, being that they swim above the surface. He doesn't avoid smiling when they purposely splash water in his direction. Neytiri descends equally and in her usual attitude, jumps off Seze to walk on the back of the nearest Tulkun. It is possible to hear the sound they make, soft and friendly. Jake does not dare to go up there. He has no idea how to swim, and he won't tempt his luck to want to kill him either.

Grace would kill him later for letting that happen to the Avatar.

Neytiri jumps from Tulkun to Tulkun all the way back to Seze, laughing with Jake at what he just did. The Tulkun sinks after a final splash and tune, sending them off. Taking flight more, Jake notices the gray almost black clouds in the sky. Like a bad omen, he remembers Grace's words a few days ago.

"I think we should go-"

They both give an exclamation and the Ikran fills with panic. Feeling it in the bond prevents them from keeping the calm they need. An overly strong draft hits them and starts to blow them off course, not to mention it also makes them forget where they came from. The storm is heading for the forest, but they would make it to the tree in time to avoid it. Neytiri manages to calm Seze down enough and flies upwards, wanting to go above the clouds and thus return home. Jake is unable to do the same. His Ikran screeches and roars, flapping his wings awkwardly and starting to fall; the worst part is not how desperate they both are, but how lightning bolts start to strike one after the other.

Jake tries to take control, to force his Ikran to calm down, but between the lightning scaring him and the wild waves brushing against them because of how low they are going. Although he manages to get some flight, he's nowhere near going above the storm. Jake's pressure works just enough, but it doesn't stop what happens next.

Lightning strikes them.

Direct and full force. Jake loses control of the Avatar, waking up in the connecting chamber and bringing one hand to his chest, feeling like he died. At the same time, his body and Ikran fall straight into the water, sinking into the depths far quieter than the outside. Unable to hear the approaching Tulkun, he takes him and the Ikran in his mouth and takes specific course with the rest of his group following.

. . .

"They finished early today." says Grace, checking samples under a microscope. Jake looks around, chills and discomfort all over his body. Suddenly, he can even feel his legs.

"Yeah, the storm came in and it's a little nasty out there." he excuses and Grace laughs.

"You listened to me at least once. That's a miracle," the scientist ironizes and Jake breaks out in a cold sweat. "It'll be around for a few days. It's a phenomenon that happens every five years or so. That rain helps a lot in maintaining the complex ecosystem. It's even somewhat acidic."

"Oh yeah?" Jake stammers nervously. He felt it normal. Is it just freaking him out?

"Yes. The Na'vi don't care. Their skin is made to withstand that kind of rain" Jake breathes a sigh of relief. "To us it would irritate our skin and there was even a case where it did third degree burns." Grace straightens up and turns to Jake. "I don't know how strong it will be this year, the best you can do is wait until it's over to use the Avatar. Aside from not wanting it to be damaged, it also causes problems with the circuits. It could disconnect you in the middle of a chase with a Tanathor."

"You mentioned that at some point and I warned Neytiri."

"Wow" Grace smiles with slight excitement, thinking that Jake does listen to her when she talks! There's no "blablablablabla" in his mind. "Looks like there is some neural activity in here," she jokes, walking past him and patting his head. "Take advantage of the time to take a bath. It's been a month since you've done that." Jake furrows his eyebrows.

"It was three days ago!"

"It smells worse than that."

Jake drops back in the chair some more What the fuck am I supposed to do now? Grace is going to kill him, for real this time. He lost the Avatar who knows where. He doesn't even trust that he's not burned by the lightning. He didn't think it was even possible to get hit by fucking lightning. He still gets the feeling of the strike and it's unpleasant. He assumes Neytiri is okay, but... Bob, his Ikran, what about him, is he dead? Jake bites his lips, with a feeling of irremediable sadness. In a few days, when the demon's acid storm passes, he would try to connect. Hopefully he doesn't drown and hopefully he finds Bob.

The Metkayina, village on an island and in contact with the sea, an anomaly happens: a herd of Tulkun approaches the coast. During these rains, they usually stay on the island. The dangers of getting caught in an adverse current or predators taking advantage of what falls into the water are terrible. Unlike usual, one of the Tulkun comes very close to the shore, to the point where its jaw is in the sand. Everyone rushes to find out what it is.

The Olo'eyktan approaches, being its spiritual brother the one that comes slightly out of the water. Opening his mouth he pushes out a couple of things with his tongue. The first is an Ikran, which is relatively normal. Tulkun help animals like this when they fall into the water and don't make it out. It's a mutual understanding between species. A relationship similar to that with the Na'vi. What causes surprise and even panic among the Metkayina is the second thing: an Uniltìrantokx. Being obvious by its slightly broader chest and shoulders and the five fingers. It does not appear to be alive.

"Tonowari."

He raises his hand, asking Ronal, the Tsa'hik, for silence. He crouches down and checks for a pulse, being a slow and barely existent one. Whether because of the water or because, like others who have heard, he doesn't even have a soul. He pulls the knife from his sash, not wanting the presence of the sky people in his tribe. Without a threat and assumes this bond with the Ikran, they were together, that's why his Tulkun saved him. Ronal stops Tonowari from trying to stab him.

"Wait...Wait."

Ronal crouches down next to the body and presses her fingers along the chest and abdomen, feeling and searching for whatever might be important. A Tulkun does not save by chance and his clothing is of the Omatikaya's clan. Perhaps he is the same one who, according to rumors, is learning the customs of that tribe. Her concerns are allayed when in conjunction with the Tulkun's chant, a small white seed flutters above the Uniltìrantokx's forehead. Tonowari furrows his brow, reaching out and causing the seed of the sacred tree to continue floating.

"Eywa wants him alive," Ronal enunciates with a disgruntled and displeased expression. "There is something about him, that our great mother wants."

"Are you saying she sent him here? Is that it?" asks Tonowari. Ronal nods and the Tulkun nods equally, entering the water back. Tonowari goes to him. "Did you save him because Eywa wanted him here or was it just a coincidence?""

""More than once she has saved him. She wants him here. She wants his life and if we can fulfill her will, we must do it."" replies Lkeitam, the Tulkun of Tonowari. The Olo'eyktan gives a snort and turns to his people. The rain soaks them.

"This Uniltìrantokx will stay with us!" he announces loudly and many begin to groan. "Out of the forest and into the sky, the water brought him here, alive and able to continue walking alongside us. When he awakens and we know his intentions, we will know if he will swim alongside us or his stay here will be like a breeze that never returns."

"Why should we, he's a puppet! A person from heaven disguised as our own!" someone claims. Ronal stands up in one swift movement, coming at him with menacing posture. Looking taller and bigger than she really is.

"Do you dispute Eywa's will?" Ronal interjects between her teeth. "You dispute what she has tasked us to do huh?" The other shrinks back, cowed. "Let it be quite clear: any harm to this Uniltìrantokx will be punished. Our great mother gave us this task. Her motives are not necessary, the only thing that matters is our obedience Is that clear?"

With everyone's affirmative, Jake's body is dragged across the sand to one of the tents to heal the wounds he has; Bob is carried more carefully, the Ikran wheezing in pain and conscious, wanting to go with his rider to be together in this moment of weakness.

The storm has passed.

He has to connect to the avatar and honestly, he's really scared What if it doesn't work? Aside from the chaos that would be made in this dysfunctional little home in the Hallelujah Mountains. If he doesn't do it now, Grace is going to realize that something bad is going on and that he lied to her. It's fortunate she hasn't been with the Omatikaya these days, Neytiri would be the first to tell her he went missing four days ago.

"Tell them I'm fine. I still need to examine everything I brought." indicates Grace setting up the link.

"As the lady commands."

Grace snorts and Jake leans back, lowering the metal plate that goes over his chest. Grace closes the cover and Jake closes his eyes. She notices that Jake's brain chemistry has something different, he's nervous Scared? She doesn't know the reason and it looks suspicious to her. Jake for his part, opens his eyes and the surprise in him is huge when he doesn't see himself plunged into the depths of an unknown ocean. Hissing in pain he sits up, he has numerous healings all over his body. His chest hurts the most, but breathing at a normal pace is what works best for him.

Jake knows that there are many Na'vi, not that they change anatomy depending on the area they inhabit, so this is a bit of a scare. The woman comes rushing out, announcing that he woke up. Jake stands up, staggers and leans against a wall.

Breaking it because it's just palm fronds put together and it's not built for leaning. Jake curses, getting to his feet awkwardly and shaking his head. His hair loose and straight over his face and the braid on his shoulder.

"Oh no." He coughs, with fifteen people around him with spears in hand. He is grabbed from behind and they threaten to sever the neural connection.

He is forcibly carried to the main tent, where Tonowari and Ronal stand, hearing from everyone that the Uniltìrantokx has awakened. Jake falls to his knees from the blow to his leg. Ronal instantly hisses.

"I thought I warned against inflicting any harm on him?" claims Ronal.

"He was trying to run away."

"Actually I just fell- Okay, okay, okay, I wanted to run away." says Jake hissing in pain from the jerk he gets. Ronal approaches with a scowl on her face and the clear disgust of one who sees vermin.

「For a long time, I thought Mo'At was the worst Na'vi I could come across, but clearly Ronal took the prize. She doesn't trust me, she loathes me despite Eywa telling her otherwise. It seems the Tsa'hik have a hopeless hatred for me. I can't entirely blame them. I'd like to say it's a relief that the Avatar is alive and nothing is going to happen, but... How the hell do I explain to Grace where I'm at? Everything that happened」

"Our great mother saw something in you" Ronal says sternly. "A reason, a purpose, a motivation that made us keep you alive. Don't squander Eywa's gifts, you..."

"M-my name is Jake Sully, nice to meet you." he replies forcibly. Ronal snorts.

"Jake Sully... guest of the Omatikaya."

"Yeah, uh... I just want to get back. They must be looking for me. I promised to learn their ways and I'm in the process of becoming one of them," he explains hastily. Maybe with that they'll stop seeing him as a threat. "I-I'm already a hunter, I have an Ikran Y- Hey, that hurts, dammit-"

"Is that your Ikran?"

"Yes, Bob, it's mine."

Ronal furrows her eyebrows. The Uniltìrantokx do not tsaheylu with any creature and this one claims to be a hunter. Tonowari approaches and Jake is pulled to his feet. He assumes it is the Olo'eyktan because of the tattoos and clothing. Plus it's huge. He hadn't felt tiny in a while. Tonowari stares at him and Jake is intimidated, his dilated eyes and droopy ears giving him a weaker, more frightened look, contrary to how he was so far, defensive. Tonowari notices something.

Uniltìrantokx have no soul.

They are empty bodies even when moving

Jake is not like that. He has too much glow, too much life. Like he's just another Na'vi.

He also looks very young. A teenager maybe? He's a strange creature.

"Eywa made my Tulkun bring you to us, as well as making you survive the five round storm" Jake shivers slightly. This is getting much weirder than with the Omatikaya. He wants to fly the hell out of here. "Unfortunately, your Ikran is in no condition to fly. Your only way to leave, is through the water. Across the ocean to the Omatikaya forest and territory."

"I can't leave Bob stranded. He's my Ikran And-"

He gets another tug and Tonowari maintains that: he is worried about his Ikran and notices him very anxious. He's learning from the Omatikaya and now he's here. Maybe it's a sign and Ronal goes along the same train of thought.

"You can stay here until your wounds heal and you're able to take flight again" The relief in Jake is obvious, closing his eyes for a moment with a soft expression and upturned ears. "However, as soon as your wounds improve, you will have to learn our ways, you will have to know how to walk among us."

"I can learn. As I told the Omatikaya at the time, I came to this world to learn. That is why I have this body." A little lie so he won't be watched day and night doesn't go amiss. Tonowari clasps his hands together, blows between them and quickly pulls them apart. Jake takes a step back And what was that?

"Then it is decided: from now on, Jake Sully will train to learn our ways" he announces and Jake bites his lower lip. He wonders if there will be a problem with this. Do the tribes get along badly? Is this a betrayal or something? They should understand that he needs help and only then could he get it. "Just as the Omatikaya are leaving a mark on him, we must leave one on him. Let him learn the way of the water and all that that means."

Not much excitement about the news. Finally released and able to be on his own, he waves, saying a vague "I see you" which is reciprocated by Tonowari.

This is going to be very complicated.

. . .

"Hey boy did I scare you?"

Jake sits down next to Bob, the Ikran lays his head on the Avatar's legs, who continues to stroke his head affectionately. The wounds he has are mainly on his wings. The membranes are torn and have yet to heal before they can even attempt to sew them back together to get him to fly again. In the Tree there are many with scars from similar wounds, some even with pieces of leather sewn in to allow them to stay airborne.

Jake doesn't know how long that whole process takes, but he maintains that he's not going to leave him here. Bob chose him and he must make it count. He gives him a couple of fish to eat and lifts his head, noticing Tonowari standing off to the side.

"My people have never seen a Uniltìrantokx before, the sky people have never come this far before," Tonowari announces and Jake nods. He guessed as much, though he's not really aware of how far the GDR goes or how many resources it takes from the planet. He only knows about the thing under the Omatikaya tree. "I'll be the one to teach you the ways of the Metkayina," he said.

"Ah... thank you... What did you say your name was?"

"Tonowari, Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina" he introduces himself and Jake nods. He hasn't heard of them. It's a perfect time to use the mountain of books Grace has on the Na'vi. "Once your Ikran is healed, you are free to decide: leave with the Omatikaya or become one of us, following our customs."

"Are you willing to teach someone from the sky people? Wow, I didn't think that would be so simple." comments Jake between impressed and joking. Tonowari gives him a couple of taps on the forehead.

"Our great mother has given you her blessing for some reason and though my dislike of your kind is great, I must respect her decisions." Jake still doesn't know how Eywa saves him from so many life-threatening risks among the Na'vi. "However, I must warn you that I will not accept any kind of threat or danger to my people. If you bring war to this tribe, I will not hesitate to end your life."

「I am used to people threatening to kill me. It's a day-to-day thing. I guess it's the only thing that made me feel alive on earth: the constant danger to my life. In pandora it turns out to be the same. There's no grand plan, no path or reason for me to be here, but I want to be here longer. If I get killed, I won't be able to do it and that's what's really frustrating」.

「On the other hand, being here I don't have much to report and I can feel Quaritch's complaint approaching like a guided missile. Explaining the situation to him will be easier than explaining it to Grace」.

「What's most on my mind, is the fact that Tonowari took me under his wing without thinking. Even if his people hate me, the natural thing to do is to leave it to someone else. He is the Olo'eyktan, he has duties and things to do. More important than teaching me... whatever he is going to teach me. Staying here makes no sense, not with the mission I have to accomplish. I just hope Bob heals so I can get the hell out of here...get back to Neytiri Will she be worried? I'm sure she thinks I killed myself in the storm or something. I'll be an apparition from the dead when I get back」.

"Focus."

"Huh?"

''You're not in the forest anymore, you're near the ocean. If you psyche yourself up on that from now on, all the lessons will be easier."

Jake nods, confused.

"Mind in the ocean, not in the trees and you can learn to swim, breathe and see."

Jake gives a grunt to the side, tail wagging in annoyance and Tonowari laughs unfunnily. He must be a teenager. There's no way he's not. Only a kid makes that kind of snort. He taps him on the forehead again.

"And being a kid, it'll be a hell of a lot easier."

"I'm not a kid. I'm a warrior."

"The people of heaven are even crueler than I thought, making children go to wars." opines Tonowari before walking away.

Jake doesn't look like a warrior even though he has an Ikran. Tonowari does not perceive that he is really initiated and maybe that is why he is not part of the Omatikaya clan yet either. Too young, too inexperienced, too childish. He is a child with the idea of being a warrior, surely he is one in his world and he finds it sad. With the weapons and methods of the sky people....

Jake is a rare creature, tragic and not yet born for the second time.

At least it will be entertaining to teach him.

「And now I have two people saying I don't know how to see. Is just... Great.」

Chapter Text

"Everything okay today?"

"Yes. A near death as usual."

Grace laughs still in her own and Jake stretches his arms out, letting them drop. It's not a whole lie, the Metkayina clan was quite determined to kill him and... Now he must have another double life and go back to first base. He scrunches his face with one hand, still thinking that now he has the Olo'eyktan himself to train him in Na'vi custom. More than phenomenal. He climbs down from the connecting chamber and settles his legs.

He gives it a couple of light pats. It is so frustrating the change from one life to the next. Even if he wasn't running, jumping or flying as usual today, just having Bob's head resting on his legs is something that felt good. Sensing his breathing, his heartbeat, how he rubbed lightly in search of Jake's affection and expressing concern that something might have happened to him.

But this is hos reality. Small, square, depressing and smelly of nicotine from how much Grace smokes.

"Acid rain wreaked a lot of havoc at Hell's Gate," Grace announces leaning on the desk. "We were asked to go for a routine checkup or some such nonsense Do you want to go or are you staying here? You're not going to miss anything." he states with a smirk. Jake considers this a good time to talk to Quaritch. So that he doesn't wait for his reports because... He's not in the tree! I'm sure he'll understand.

As long as he doesn't ask him for any extra spying, everything will be fine.

"I'd better go. Don't go thinking I'm running away or anything," Jake replies and Grace shrugs. It's his decision.

"Do yourself a favor and just sleep and eat when we're there. Having the military around destroys what little sense you have." She recommends before patting his shoulder and moving on. Jake drops his shoulders.

He has no more brain cells to offer, all lost convincing Metkayina. He'll be fine.

The base is as gray and mechanized as he remembers it. It's rather abrupt to go from living among the harshest and most bewitching nature to the mediocre human-built space. Only the scientific area has the slightest touch of magic thanks to the displays, samples, tanks and photos everywhere. On the other hand, the much famed rain genuinely made a problem. Repairs are carried out at the same time as the place looks worse than it already did.

Jake stops the wheelchair and looks at the huge building that stretches a beyond what he can see.

「If I hate the mobile cell, I hate this place more. Somehow both neutral, its shape and its order generate distaste in me. It's big, there's food, I can breathe, the bed is much better; however, it's like a point of how horrible humans are and their way of taking territory. They take it, saying it's theirs indifferent to who it is and transform it into the very thing that fucks up the earth to begin with」.

「I remember Tommy complaining about this all the time. Saying that Pandora could be a new planet "earth" if we stopped doing what we do best: destroying.  He was an environmentalist at heart and maybe that's why he wanted to come. To avoid repeating the same fate of planet earth. Or maybe he just wanted to see the pretty flowers and animals」.

「Any option is valid for me」.

"Back home huh?" comments Trudy with a smile and chewing a piece of gum. Jake keeps his hands on the wheels to keep propelling himself forward.

"Less than I'd like." he replies looking around. It's dissonant, very, very dissonant and even annoying.

The check they came for was to make sure the rain didn't kill them. It's as simple as that. Also a medical review, albeit a comical one because of how much Grace complains. She is the head of the science department and knows more than all of them combined. If she'd had a problem, she would have reported it and the trip is sovereignly pointless. They got out of trouble fast and there is no particular hurry to get back to that matchbox, there are liaison chambers here too. At best, they should wait until the next day to plan the date of the trip.

Although Grace as well as Max and Norm would like to keep an eye on Jake, since he will most likely answer all questions and have unofficial orders... They can't watch him all the time. As soon as they take their eyes off him he loses them and heads for nowhere but home base.

"My favorite man!" exclaims Parker coming out of his office. "How's it going? We haven't had a clue about you for a week now."

"There's been...stuff going on" Jake summarizes before shaking his head. "Do you know where Colonel Quaritch is? I need to talk to him."

"He's in his office. Go to the second floor and all the way to the bottom right, where he can eerily inspect the soldiers training" he replies with an affable smile and hands in his pockets. "You think you can't talk to me?"

"It's just a report that might be more about him. It's more of a security thing than a tree thing," Jake explains, Parker believes everything he tells him. His level of trust is enormous having him "undercover" with Grace. You can tell the relationship between the two is worse than bad.

"If that's what you think, no problem." He shrugs nonchalantly. Jake has an idea the instant he sees him walking back to his office.

"Sir," stops Parker, he turns at the same time Jake moves forward a bit. "Other than the ubon... ungob-"

"Unobtanium."

"That," Jake retorts in annoyance. He feels like he doesn't understand anything in this place. Not even the humans. "Is that the only thing they mine from Pandora? There's something they take... from the sea or the water." Jake analyzes Parker's face. It's clear there's something he wants to say, but he doesn't know if it's a good idea to tell him.

"Sure, there are other resources. Only unobtanium is the most sought after these years," he explains vaguely. "Although during the scans we found something even more valuable, but what we can't put that much effort into... come."

Jake enters the office and Parker rummages through his drawer. He pulls out a jar barely ten centimeters tall. It is very small and filled with yellow liquid. His first instinct is to scrunch up his face. Jake doubts it's urine, but the thought crosses his mind anyway. Parker gives the vial a couple of taps.

"This is Amrita. It's extracted from some animals in the water. To tell you the truth, I don't even remember their name or where they're from. They haven't perfected their hunt yet, so it's not our immediate priority." Jake furrows his eyebrows.

What animal could it come from, what part of the body? He has a sort of bad feeling, but it's not his problem. He assumes it will eventually still happen when he leaves. Or he'll find out because Tonowari says so. One way or another, it will happen just like the extraction of Unobtanium.

"Just that?"

"Just this? It sells for eighty million" Jake opens his eyes wide That stuff that looks like dog urine? "It stops human aging. We haven't tested how long it does it yet, but selling it that way is going to be what gets those legs going."

「In another circumstance, hearing that would have made me very happy, I would have offered to do anything to help. Maybe learn the animal's name and give directions, but now it's just... Discomfort. Disgust. A kind of confusion I don't know how to deal with」.

「Somehow, the more I know in what way they will destroy Pandora, the more they would have me meddle, the more I question if I'm really doing the right thing. Destroying a planet's life because we mercilessly murder our own」 .

. . .

Jake has only been in Quaritch's office a couple of times, for that he never remembers where is it. He's usually in control or training areas. Quaritch smiles at him with satisfaction at seeing him, assuming Jake will tell him some important piece of information or be news. "I thought it would take the whole year to see him again, Corporal," Quaritch says.

"Acid rain moved the plan forward." ironizes Jake staying in front of the desk, he pulled the chair that was there so it wouldn't get in his way.

"Well, how's the mission going? I haven't gotten any reports these days." he comments as a slight complaint about it. Jake drums his fingers for a moment before sighing and having to explain.

「I watched as slowly the smile on his face faded, but the more he widened the explanation to include my new tribe, a sort of interest appeared. A clear calculation of what he can get and I begin to regret even announcing it. Maybe I should have left it believing I was still with the Omatikaya and well, all Na'vi have similar customs. He wouldn't notice the lie」.

"You sure are a unique case eh soldier?" Quaritch rises from his seat. "It doesn't matter what tribe it is, the important thing is that you keep giving us information. Here they want to just extract, without realizing the big picture."

"And what would that be?" he interjects with raising his head. "I thought the only thing they were planning to do here, was to take what we need."

"It was the initial plan" He agrees, "but you of all people know how the land is currently" Jake lowers his gaze. "And the idea of making Pandora our home, is becoming more and more feasible. Just look around" Quaritch spreads his arms wide, sitting on the edge of the desk full of paperwork. "There's plenty of room here. And the cockroaches run from the fire."

Jake finds it comical that he considers the Na'vi cockroaches when clearly it's the other way around. The plague is the humans invading, not them wanting their life as they are wont to do. Quaritch pats him on the back.

"If that happens, you'll be a hero corporal," he states with a proud gesture. "We'll have a new home because of your effort and dedication. All the information the doctor has been denying for years comes from you."

"And what would happen to the Na'vi?"

"Who does not adapt, dies."

Quaritch squeezes him on the shoulder. He notices that Jake hesitates, it is too obvious. It is not the same soldier who came three months ago and told him about the whole internal structure of Home Tree, nor the one who contained the excitement of having his legs again. It's someone else, someone different, and it's something that makes him keep his guard up. He blames it entirely on Dr. Augustine. Leaving him too long with her is making Jake think like those scientists.

Quaritch leans into him and Jake is instantly uncomfortable. He's not used to being talked to so closely in this body. So much smaller, vulnerable and useless. As an Avatar, whatever, he's just as strong as they are. In this situation, he couldn't even run away or leave the person with the word in his mouth, even at the risk of getting an arrow in the back.

"Don't forget which side you're on, Corporal," Quaritch says. "What's out there is the enemy and nothing else. Your loyalty must be with your people, with those to whom you belong. Not with an illusion that would kill you instantly."

"I understand, sir." replies Jake firmly, but camouflaging unease. Quaritch smiles at him, but is still so close and moves to put his other hand on Jake's right shoulder, squeezing it. Quaritch notices how thin he is, the fact that in contrast to last time, he even neglects his body.

"You should spend more time in real life, Corporal. At this point it's going to wear off."

Jake nods and Quaritch walks away very slowly, almost avoiding doing so. Jake scratches his forehead and decides to leave, maybe hook up for a while to check on Bob, make sure he hasn't been killed by some Metkayina.

"And by tonight I expect the first report on the savages on the beach. What little we have mastered of the sea must be remedied. Start showing them who's boss." announces Quaritch.

"Yes sir." Jake replies quietly.

"It's not enough that he bothers all the time, but he also intends to keep taking advantage of it." Grace doesn't stop her mumbling complaints.

"You can't stop the water with your hands. If he wants to keep reporting to Quaritch-"

"And give him a chance to destroy everything? No, Max, I won't allow it," retorts the scientist, exasperated. "And I don't care that he obviously doesn't like it, but let him stick to the consequences."

Norm holds in his laughter, lately Grace is kind of a mother hen with Jake. While there's the interest in staying close to the Omatikaya, it's impossible to deny that she's worried about the soldier. Gradually they permeate each other's system. They are interested in each other's good without realizing it. In Grace's case, it is to aspire and be just short of demanding that Jake stop getting close to Quaritch.

That he forgets whatever agreement, deal or bond they have and focus on what matters: the Na'vi, Pandora, the life that welcomes him with open arms without even thinking about it. Grace is envious of that status, but at the same time, she also wants to care for it. Maybe that way it's worth it and maybe, it's an exposure that even in the least expected being, there is hope for something good. To find Jake in the hallway in the face of that realization, is fortunate. Grace analyzes it briefly. It's not the typical gesture of wanting to deceive her about whatever he's talked to Quaritch about.

There is doubt in him.

For the first time, Grace notices unease in his gaze.

With time and more pressure, he might get what Grace wants. Although knowing Jake, if she tells him, he'll want to contradict her or ignore her as he almost always does. It's a wonder he listened to her over the storm.

"Oh, hey Grace, what's up? What- hey Hey! No! What are you doing!"

"Taking you for a bath. You stink up the whole base." replies Grace, pushing back the chair. She purposely ignores Jake's attempts to move on his own.

He hates it when they do this to him, but when it comes to Grace, no one is going to dare help him.

Being alive is a miracle. It still worries him to have to tell Grace the truth. Eventually it must happen. It is late afternoon almost evening and with slight confidence he leaves his little resting place. His body aches and although he thought about at least putting his feet in the water, knowing what it's like to be on the beach, Jake realizes that not far away something is approaching.

Jake jumps over the rocks that make long paths to the deepest part of the sea. His eyes dilated and ears perked up, impressed and incredulous. They are like huge fish, but they fly! One passes by him, splashing water on. They have a long snout and obvious fangs. Their long, fan-shaped fins lift them up. A smile breaks out on his face as one passes over him. Jakeshakes his head and ducks, one after another arrives, some come out of the water, some stay down and finally Tonowari arrives, squatting on the animal's back.

"I thought you wouldn't wake up today, Jake Sully."

"I thought about waiting, but..." Jakecomments reaching out and pulling his hand back every so often, wanting to touch the crocodile-faced fish. An excited smile spread across his face and the eyes with the huge pupil make him look more childlike. Tonowari waits for him to finish talking. "What are their names?" he asks, totally deviating from what he had in mind.

"Tsurak. It's what warriors ride."

"Can I have one?" Jakemanages to pet it and senses the scaly skin, as well as the dampness and slight vibration. That he doesn't try to bite it is entirely Tonowari's fault, which makes him stay calm and let be touched.

"If you manage to learn the way of the water." replies Tonowari.

"Great." whispers Jake impatiently. It will be like being in an Ikran, but also underwater.

He's not fascinated by the idea of being in the water, other than it being too deep even this close to shore; swimming is not his forte at all; on land he never went to the beach for a swim, all the ones available to him are a fiasco.

So what motivates him to want a Tsurak is nothing more than seeing it as a crocodile-jawed, flying fish. It looks like a mutant drawn by an elementary school child. He loves it.

"Do you want to come up?" offers Tonowari suddenly.

Jake loses his smile, lowers his ears, looks down at the water, the Tsurak and then at the Olo'keytan.

"Yeah, I mean... Why not?"

It's like getting on an Ikran, only in theory. Being at the same time as someone else makes it a bit awkward. However, he's able to catch himself and not fall off when he suddenly gains momentum to the opposite side of Awa'atlu. Tonowari can't resist laughing to hear Jake's exclamations of shock and nervousness. When the Tsurak lifts out of the water, flapping its long fins like wings, Jake is left with his body dangling.

It's the way back and eventually he falls in. It's deep, but not that deep and just a few feet from shore. Tonowari climbs down from the departing Tsurak almost instantly and sees Jake's little head in the distance, barely afloat and coughing.

"We'll have to see if you really are a warrior!" he exclaims and some around laugh.

「The worst part about going back to first base, is that anything I say will be used against me worse than in a trial. I hate this shit」

Chapter Text

"Neytiri mentioned something about people living on the islands Are there more villages like the Omatikaya?"

"On the islands, in the bays, in the prairies" Grace relates with the cigar between her fingers and without losing sight of her concentration. For Jake, that's already surprising. He can't drink and read a damn text message without forgetting one of the two. "There are Na'vi villages all across Pandora. This is their planet. Just as you'd find humans all over Earth."

"But the Na'vi look like animals in some ways. How are they going to live near water?"

Truth be told, the only reason Jake asks this question is because he is hopeful that Grace can warn him of what is going to happen. He had a more or less broad and accurate idea of the Omatikaya, tell him the titles and roles of those who inhabit Home Tree, the way it goes... a help to not be a total jerk when his limbs heal and he has to take the training Tonowari is going to impose.

It's different than it coming from Neytiri. The difference is simple: she has no other obligations. She's a hunter, true, but it's not something she goes out to do day in and day out. In that respect, she's much more free and carefree. Not to mention that she's sixteen (despite feeling much older than that), she has plenty of time on her hands. Tonowari on the other extreme, he's the Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina, has a lot of duties on top of him and skypeople don't make it any easier.

All in all, a mess that seems to look more of a mess the deeper it gets. Grace lets out smoke from her cigarette.

"Because unlike humans who only have minute changes in our anatomy, they have a total adaptation to their environment," Grace expounds with slight exasperation. Sometimes it makes her so tense that Jake is so oblivious to everything that is this research. She should take pity on him, Max has insisted all along, but she can't help it. Jake is a soldier with little gray matter. That's all. "Their tails, their arms, even their internal systems make them capable."

"In what way?"

Playing dumb is something he's good at. Grace would say it's his natural state. The scientist rolls her eyes and closes everything she had on the big holographic screen. Jake approaches in the wheelchair, curious about the images.

"Its tail" Grace points to the thick, flipper-like tail of a turtle. "Arms and legs" circles around that huge bulge that makes one think of something breaking through the water. "Their eyes have an extra layer with which they protect the eyeball" mentions pointing to the eyes, "and their systems such as respiratory, are much more developed. They've evolved to the benefit of being semi-automatic."

"And they're paler."

"Camouflage."

Jake furrows his eyebrows and tilts his head. I hadn't noticed about the eyes. It must be very imperceptible or he hasn't been paying enough attention. Which is most likely.

"And have you gone with any of them?"

"Oh, no. They don't take strangers" Jake picks up the tablet with the various files on it. In one of them he talks about Tonowari. As simple as that he is the Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina. "The closest tribe to the Omatikaya are the Metkayina. If you think the Omatikaya are complicated, you ain't seen nothing" Grace scoffs as he takes a puff of the cigar and releases the smoke. "They are very communal with other islands, but the sky people? If I get close they'd shoot an arrow in my chest." ironizes Grace.

"Is there something special about them?" asks Jake. There's a lot of imagery from there.

"They have a different lifestyle. The Omatikaya didn't tell me what it is, so I have no way of knowing," Grace clarifies and Jake has never heard her so frustrated. "What little I gathered is that they have very pacifist thinking."

"Then you shouldn't worry so much about the arrow in the chest."

Grace shoves Jake's head and snatches the tablet from him. The soldier laughs and becomes self-absorbed, asking himself what he's going to do now other than fail miserably.

When he wakes up, despite being aware that he will be on shore, he is still taken by surprise by the smell of salt, the sound of the beach in general, and how hot it is. It hurts to get up, he still hasn't recovered from the shock of his fall and eventual arrival here. It wasn't a good idea to ride an animal he doesn't know just out of curiosity.

Unlike previous occasions, it is early in the morning, so he can witness the morning routines. The people going out to harvest, some children playing here and there, in general it is so similar to the Omatikaya that the only big difference is that there is a coast in front of them. Nothing else.

Oh and that here, everyone is a hell of a lot paler.

"I see you've woken up, Jake Sully."

He greets Tonowari with a slight bow with his head, still pending to see. All around him. Tonowari is the most enormous of them all so far. Not only does he feel small to his peer, he also feels intimidated even though his gaze is not exactly inquisitive or threatening. It's just his presence. Adding to the crisis of conscience Jake suffers from these days.

"Yes. I do it every day unless there's trouble," Jake reports, "Or I have to travel and it's impossible to be... here."

The Na'vi don't understand exactly how the Avatar thing works. Jake does superficially and with that it is enough to understand that it is best left at "awake" and "asleep".

"That's ideal. An apprenticeship is successful only when it is carried out with perseverance and continuity" Jake nods, the small braids in his hair bouncing at the sudden movements. "I can infer that you have not yet recovered from your injuries."

"No, not yet sir" he replies out of inertia, focused on the way the animals conglomerate on the thing. Whether it's to play or for someone to ride them. "It should be... shortly-"

"Focus."

Jake returns his attention to him. He hadn't even noticed his own distraction and Tonowari frowns. A kid, he has to teach a kid. It's better in terms of learning. It's easier to educate a child than an adult. One is open and curious, the other is closed and foolish. Jake looks like a mixture of the two, but that just disguises that he is the former.

"I must warn you how this situation will work. Come with me."

Jake follows him among the small marui there. Several families inside theirs still. The shore looks small in comparison to the sheer number of people packed in. He has faith that he'll have time to explore. Tonowari won't be as murderous as Neytiri... or so he wants to believe. In the long run, only time and his body pain would tell. He can't resist taking a few hops as he moves along the elastic fabric that binds each marui together. Tonowari pretends not to be a little annoyed by that.

They reach what looks like a central location. It's the largest marui of all and has an exceptional view. Perfect for anyone to get there early and easy to call for help. Jake notices Ronal is here, arranging his curly hair. Another difference Jake notices so far, is that they don't braid all the hair. Only on the top of the head and the rest is full of curls.

"Ma'am." greets Jake lowering his head. Ronal gives him an irritated look and walks away without a word. Jake considers it an accomplishment.

"Have a seat, Jake Sully." indicates Tonowari.

Now seated, Jake feels smaller and smaller. The Metkayina arms feel very strange to him. He doesn't see where having them that way can work Why not a normal flipper?

"Is she his wife?" he asks curious. It is a fact, if she is Tsa'hik, she is married to Olo'eyktan. However, he has a strange feeling that this is not the case.

"No. She is a beloved and trusted companion. Who interprets Eywa's signals to keep our people safe" Tonowari replies and Jake gives a simple "Aaah". Who knew, he was right. "Eventually we will be the ones to procreate the next clan leaders."

"But- wait- are you brothers?"

"No."

"Then- Forget it" In his mind he formed a silly idea where Ronal and he are brothers, that's why they would repeat the process later. He guesses it's the idea that a boy will be a great leader like him and a girl will be a great Tsa'hik like her. No incest required later. Just like them who are not married and still nothing happens. "So..."

"So far, you know and walk the way the forest has set for you. It is a complex and airy one. However, from now until you are ready, you will travel our way: the way of water" Jake perks up his ears a bit and curls his tail. "You will have to learn to breathe" Tonowari inhales deeply, hands level with his little one; lowering as he releases the air. They do have double eyelids, Jake thinks awkwardly. "To speak without a voice" Jake breaks into a cold sweat. oh no, learn to speak again... "To ride the watercourses, but not get lost in them and with a lot of luck, create a bond equal to or stronger than the one you've created with the forest."

Tonowari rests his hands on his own thighs and Jake just considers that this is going to be difficult. Swimming is essentially becoming more complicated for him than climbing. Holding his breath is bad for him and in general, the ocean is not his forte. There's not on land like he's ever seen it or walked on it.

"And you're going to teach me how to be a hunter?"

"You like killing?"

"I'm good at it." Jake admits simply and Tonowari frowns. Jake is still questioning Why don't they have eyebrows? 

"I recommend you abandon that thirst for blood and mayhem, Jake Sully. Those who have it, live among ashes and the destruction they have created."

Jake shakes his head. At least this part of what Grace said is true: they are pacifists. It's not that he wants to kill everything that crosses his path, just to go hunting like with the Omatikaya (here it would be fishing, maybe?). On this occasion, out of curiosity. In the forest he could get an early idea of what it was like to hunt. Here it is an absolute mystery. Do they use nets? Spears? How do they do it? A big doubt is also...

"Skypeople don't usually come near here, do they?"

"We don't accept intruders."

"But do they come close?"

"A couple of years ago, they have stopped their attempts to approach. We managed to chase them away," he specifies. "Their bloodlust was transported to the mainland" Jake concludes that Grace was right about that part. "Is there a reason you're asking this question?"

"Nothing more I thought than a friend is the one who got it. She's quite the fan of Na'vi culture" He shakes his hand dismissively. "I'm sure she'd go crazy to be able to be here."

"If Eywa wants her here, she'll get here. In time."

Jake knows Grace is going to want to kill him as soon as she finds out about the whole process that brought him here, but maybe she won't be so mad if he gets her a pass here. Hopefully Eywa wants her here fast. That way he'll be able to call it a done deal as soon as he finds out. It will be soon. It's a miracle it hasn't happened yet.

. . .

"Easy, easy."

He pats Bob's head, his poor Ikran is still having a hard time. He tsaheylu with him so he can give him some of his calm. Bob lays his head on Jake's right thigh, dozing at ease and keeping still. This made it difficult for him to get the necessary healing. Ikran are very stubborn animals, they hardly let themselves be touched by their respective companion.

The Metkayina are still curious about this. They thought that no Dreamwalker could make bonds with the creatures of nature. After all, they are puppets and machine of destruction. That's what the Omatikaya had warned them. The radical difference between that and the clumsy, clueless, almost childlike Jake Sully is an important contrast. Some are willing to witness whatever "training" he does, certain that it will be how much less fun to witness.

Grace notices that Jake returns abnormally early. She wants to think it's a matter of being at the main base, therefore, needing to report to Quaritch by the end of the day. However, that's not the case: he goes to lunch, talks nonsense with Norm in the lab, and finally goes to sleep. If that's not evidence of something weird going on, she doesn't know what else it could be.

Grace hasn't had time to go to the Omatikaya these days. Between this useless checkup and the studies she's conducting, time is slipping through his fingers. She must go this week, maybe she will find a motivation for his more secretive and poorly disguised behavior.

. . .

"New information?"

"There hasn't really been anything, Sir. I've only been able to see the village."

Quaritch nods and contrary to what Jake thought, he had to give a number of how many Na'vi live there, how big the place is. He can't imagine what they can get out of that place. He doubts there is unobtanium hidden there. From what little he has heard of Grace, he knows that it only formed under dense earth. That is, impossible for it to happen on an island.

"The coastal tribes have been a nuisance since we got here" Quaritch reports "Those fuckers know every rock underwater, also every beast on the bottom. Ships and soldiers sink like the Titanic as soon as they get near any little island with savages there."

"Is there anything in the ocean that interests us?" Jake asks curious, hopefully then he'll have more data than Parker said. He must admit he forgot a good part of the conversation. He just remembers that it helps with stopping aging and they pull him out of something in the ocean. Quaritch gets up from the desk and walks over to him. He pats his shoulder and leans over to talk to him. An exaggerated gesture for Jake.

Too much closeness, the breath in his ear is off-putting to him.

"When we have a reconnaissance, maybe I'll tell you about it and you'll get a piece of the pie. Until then, get on with your mission soldier."

Quaritch pats him on the shoulder again a couple of times and invites him to stand down. Jake twitches his jaw and smiles tensely. He questions why they should make everything so complicated for him by hiding information.

Even though he's a mole, he can't complain about these things.

Chapter Text

「Being still injured does not detract from the fact that I must learn everything. I have had long and tedious classes about the animals that inhabit around. The Ilu, which look like a kind of manta ray turtle or a water Pokémon, capable of being friends with everyone. It is the equivalent of the Diré Horse... Pa'Li. If I remember correctly」

「There's the Tsurak for warriors, flying fish with crocodile snouts. Those are cool banshee. They can fly a short distance and dive into the water in dive. Good for evading attacks, getting you to your target and going out to kill them... I'm pretty sure, if I look it up, Grace has some book with those and I need to get my hands on them. Not knowing where I stand could end in my ultimate demise」.

「Grace would kill me for losing the avatar」.

「Tonowari would kill me for offending his mother, which might happen from how bad and confusing the damn language is」.

「...」

「...」

Jake checks to make sure Grace isn't nearby. If he hears him complaining about his tongue, there will come a long talk that he's a monkey who only knows how to shoot and should open his mind.

「He also talked to me about a lot of things, but honestly, I don't remember almost any of it. Names of things. Baskets, materials, things like that; Neytiri braids my hair every chance she gets, but it doesn't seem to be what's used there. Not in the same way at least... I don't know what I'm supposed to do. It's-」

"So you decided to do your log early?"

Jake hurriedly turns off the camera.

"Yes. In fact, I'm done" Grace raises an eyebrow and folds her arms, she looks at Jake reproachfully and he pushes back the wheelchair. "I'm going to bed. We go back to the mobile cell tomorrow right?" he asks with his hands on his wheels.

"Yes. Early tomorrow," Grace says with her hand on the waist and a pout. "I'm more worried about Norm, though. He never gets up early."

"I wish I had his ability to sleep." admits Jake and hurries off. There's no way Grace is going to check his recordings, after all, it's a profile and he's the one with the password, other than deciding who he sends it to.

Grace gives a snort. She's already decided to connect tomorrow. It will be easy to find out what Jake has been hiding these past few weeks.

"Looks like you're already recovered, Jake Sully."

Jake does some stretches and Tonowari watches him with deep disguised confusion Why is he making such strange movements? It's not the first strange thing he's done, but at the same time, it always manages to surprise him.

"Alright what are we going to do?" Jake asks with his hands on his hips. He would love to take a run all over the island. Maybe some island animal would show up. Funny that all the animals that have appeared so far, are marine.

Is the island so small? Or don't they usually enter the jungle in the back? He lifts his ears, somewhat surprised by the grip on his head. Tonowari's thumb presses against his forehead.

"Though part of your soul is here, the other part is far away" Jake hisses in pain from the insistent pressure. "It makes you heavy. It'll complicate the lesson." asserts Tonowari.

"I'm fine. It's normal. It's-"

"Worries are like an anchor in our lives. Although the way of water will keep flowing, it will drag you down to the bottom, instead of floating" Jake mentally complains. Just when he thought he knew something about his body, it turns out he doesn't. "Clear your mind. Turn that stormy sea into a lagoon and when you've got it, we can start."

"I have a feeling that's an excuse not to initiate today." admits Jake, stubborn and giving a strained smile. Brief and bitter.

"I have things to do today, but it was postponed to start with your education," Tonowari says. "Fortunately, I won't have to put it off."

"Did the dinner fish get away?" says Jake. Impertinent. Who answers is not Tonowari. But a stern, grumpy voice.

"One of our tribe members, passed away today" Ronal appears behind Tonowari and Jake lowers his head as well as his ears, intimidated. Ronal makes him nervous. "And the funeral rites must start early, Jake Sully" he informs mumbling with his brow furrowed. "I'll assume where they come from, they don't know about how important it is to say goodbye."

Jake falls silent. This just got so awkward. Ronal gives a snort and walks over to him. He does the same as Tonowari. His hand is significantly smaller. Ronal squints and moves down her face until she presses her hand to his chest.

"Strong heart..."

"Uh?"

Ronal pulls away slightly.

"You're welcome to be present, not so to speak. In this head, there is nothing interesting to hear." highlights the Tsa'hik before walking away. Tonowari lifts the curtain to allow her passage. He turns back to Jake who rubs his forehead.

"As he rightly said, you are welcome to participate. It is fitting of Eywa to have taken someone from us... A birth and a death."

"Was anyone born today?"

"You as Metkayina... Though whether you get to be one for real remains to be seen."

Jake follows Tonowari. Taking tiny hops across the floor over the water and leading to the various sleeping spaces.

"I'm no child." says Jake with noticeable annoyance at that.

"You are. One full of curiosity and impertinence." points out the Olo'eyktan without turning to look at him. "Denying it, doesn't negate your reality."

"But-"

He slams Tonowari's back and the opponent flips. Jake mentally curses Why the hell is he so tall? Aside from huge.

"Don't despair, Jake Sully; without having air and not knowing how to breathe, you'll just drown."

Jake cocks his head to one side with ears perked up and eyes dilated. Ah, how confusing...

The whole funeral rite is considerably different from the one he saw in the Omatikaya. Simpler somehow. The deceased, an elderly, small-framed Na'vi, is carried to a point in the water where his corpse is allowed to sink. Jake pokes his head in for a moment to look, lifted up by Tonowari before he could do so.

"Only his family should get the last glimpse." he reports and Jake coughs. Ronal gives a snort, disgusted.

"Then why are we here?"

At the look Tonowari gives him, he remains silent.

「It's so damn uncomfortable. I don't know whether or not I can move. Everything is a fucking confusion that makes me doubt if I'll be able to do this. Now Neytiri looks like a walk in the park... And it hasn't even started」.

Jake notices that there is a hell of a lot of light coming from underwater. His eyes dilated like a cat being shown something impressive. The water although cold and a bit choppy, is clear. Several Ilu swim around the area, as if receiving something and then, they swim away with it. Jake lets out a deep breath.

「Everything is so different. It's like a new world and...」

"Do you have to leave?" questions Tonowari. Jake nods. "When you return, I hope that your concern has been resolved and with that, we'll be able to initiate."

"Yeah, it'll be resolved," he says, feigning nonchalance. If it really shows, it's because the Grace issue is consuming him. "See you then." he says awkwardly. For a moment he thinks about asking What will they do? But he has already realized that little he says, is not well received.

Tonowari analyzes the fidgeting tail and floppy ears, the dubious expression eventually elicits a chuckle from him:

"We'll learn to breathe."

「Is it literal? Figurative? Whatever it is, he left with Ronal after telling me that. I don't know what to think about it」.

Jake rubs his neck and looks around. They're already going to leave. They decided to leave at night, so he had time to connect before they left. He is sure he will fall asleep on the flight. He shivers, with the feeling that he is still in the water, the most disappointing thing about that is not being able to move his legs.

He heads to the lab to make his log and stare at the ceiling as he waits for it to be time to leave. He was a bit rushed in recording it. He also made it shorter than usual. Jake doesn't have much to add about today. Unless anyone is going to be interested in the whole funeral process of the Metkayina and maybe the water tribes in general.

Jake prances in his chair at what he hears:

"Can I know, why as soon as I got to Home Tree, Neytiri greets me in tears saying you died and they still can't find your body." Jake rubs his chest and takes anxious breaths. What a scare. Grace folds her arms and that accusatory look Jake was afraid to get.

"Well-"

"I warned you about the storm and you still came out," Grace claims harshly. "What did you think, that I wasn't going to notice?" she scolds loudly. It gets the attention of everyone in the lab. "Where's Avatar Jake?! You lost it? And did you fall asleep inside the pod or what the hell did you do."

"It's fine. It's alive."

"Oh yeah, and where is it? Why hasn't come back to Home Tree?" Jake doesn't have much time to answer. Nor does he feel empowered to do so. It's being in front of a superior and because of discipline, he must wait for her to finish. "Tell me the nonsense that's really going on." She orders less than a meter away from him.

"The avatar is fine" Jake assures again, barely able to breathe. He's nervous. He doesn't know if Grace will take it well or not. It's time to find out unfortunately. "Yes, he fell in the water. We tried to get out of the storm, but I didn't know how to do it. It's complicated when you have a scared Ikran."

Grace is still waiting for his exact answer. Although very deep inside her, she must understand that Jake was on the back of a living thing. Near or far from the storm, it's obvious they will be nervous about that specific weather event. Not to mention if it ties into the rider's feeling... Doubtful Jake was exactly calm or prepared to experience hurricane force wind, acid rain, etc.

"A... a... Whale. I don't remember his name: That take it to an island. The avatar is there. With the Metkayina tribe."

"The Metkayina's?" repeats Norm dumbfounded, "but they.... They refused any approach" he stammers looking at Grace and Jake alternately. "Are you really there?"

"Yes" He nods just as uneasily as he is, clutching the armrest of the chair. "Yes, with them. It's an island of several meters. The Olo'eyktan is called Tonowari, the Tsa'hik is called Ronal."

Grace and Max give each other an incredulous look. Never speak of those clans, also doubt that Neytiri gives you class "policy" Jake, so the only way to have gotten information, is if you have effectively been there. Jake doubts that Grace's anger has dissipated, but he certainly got a safe place by giving this information.

It feels better to tell her than to tell Quaritch, that's for sure.

"I want to say that all this time you made connection, you were with the Metkayina" Grace repone form summarized and Jake excited nod, that seems to have calmed down. "And you didn't get the bright idea to tell me?" and she's not calm, he muses with annoyance, averting her gaze. "That avatar is more important than anything else, Jake, you're not wanting to understand."

"I understand that it's fine and that's what matters most," Jake retorts in exasperation as soon as she's finished speaking. "They're not going to kill me. I'm doing everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen."

"You're a Dreamwalker. They're going to kill you sooner or later. They're... especially aggressive towards us." Grace insists, worried about this.

Not just for Jake, who would have to go home if he doesn't have his avatar. It's the only reason he's on Pandora to begin with. Also because of the bond he has with the Omatikaya. He's the only one he's been able to get close to. Neytiri would be equally devastated. She would most likely be upset when she finds out he's alive, but anger is better than sadness at losing a loved one.

"They won't. They already told me Eywa gave them a sign or something. They won't go against Eywa, doc. You know they won't," Jake says with a cocky, even amused smile. "Yeah, I get along kind of bad with them. Ronal hates me. It's obvious in how she treats me, but I've lived long enough in the military to know how to deal when someone dislikes me."

Grace snorts, shaking her head. She can still sense that little relevance from Jake towards the subject and that, is what, pisses her off and makes her lose her patience.

"Why aren't you back?"

"Bob has a broken wing. They're still healing it, but there's no way he'll be flying soon" Jake replies without the aggressive tone and the usual impertinence when arguing with Grace. "The avatar is fine now, it had an injury, but now that it's healthy, Tonowari is going to help me 'be like them'."

"Oh no, you're going to drown." laughs Norm. Jake turns to look at him.

"Thanks for your encouragement."

Grace leaves and Max lets out an agitated, even exasperated, breath. Jake doesn't help that social relationships can go well. Sometimes, it's like there's a shortness of breath in this place from how much everything tenses up.

It's better to go out and get some toxic air than to be in here without the two of them.

Chapter Text

Getting to the mobile cell was especially awkward. The tension between Grace and Jake coupled with Grace's grumpiness didn't help matters. Trudy held back any comments, not wanting them to cause any more arguments, and Norm, not uncommonly, falls asleep heavily in the seat. That way he recovers energy and also avoids the noxious environment.

More toxic than Pandora's air. It's quite an achievement.

Not much changes the rest of the night, nor the morning, and when Jake climbs into the link chamber, Grace stops Norm from initiating the connection. Norm leaves for sensing the tense and leftover atmosphere.

"What do you plan to do once your banshee recovers?" asks Grace and Jake shrugs.

"Go back to the Omatikaya, with Neytiri Why?"

"And what about is what you start with the Metkayina?" She cocks her head, hands resting on the link chamber. Jake averts his gaze. "It's not as simple as just flying in and dropping everything. These people are putting their trust in you in ways I can't explain," Grace admits obfuscatingly. She spent all night trying to figure out what it is about Jake that makes the Na'vi peoples accept him with such ease. "And letting them down is not an option. Not if you want to have anything more in life than being a disposable little soldier."

"You think I'm a disposable soldier?" Jake says teasingly, thinking it would be attacking enough to shut Grace up. The crudeness of the conversation only makes for, between the two of them, more tension.

"I don't, I just see a soldier doing what he can to desperately accomplish his mission" Grace admits and smiles with irony embodied. "And to please his superiors" she adds and moves a little closer to Jake, "but I assure you that's not what Parker and Quaritch think of you."

Grace turns away and Jake furrows his eyebrows, leans back in the link chamber. Grace closes it and begins the process. She lights a cigarette, barely concentrating on the lights the machine generates.

Grace keeps thinking that maybe, eventually, being more and more direct with Jake about Quaritch will help stop him talking and considering him his superior. Jakes is under Grace's command, he's from the science division, not Quaritch's mercenaries and fighting dogs.

"I see you've awakened, Jake Sully."

Jake waves vaguely and cranes his neck. It sleeps flatter here than in Home Tree. It's still a little uncomfortable. Tonowari was barely getting in when Jake woke up. The Olo'eyktan sits to the side and just like the day before, presses his thumb to Jake's forehead. His brow furrows and he looks annoyed.

"I see you are still tormented." comments Tonowari. Jake gives a snort.

"I've just come from an argument with a... friend." sums up Jake and Tonowari cocks his head.

"In which I can assume, the terms were not good" Tonowari completes. Jake doesn't respond. "Sometimes fights with loved ones, are evidence that, in our way, there is something not flowing" says the Olo'eyktan and Jake furrows his eyebrows, "but within ourselves, we will always know who is right. However painful and dishonorable it may be."

Jake gives a snort, that doesn't make him feel any better. He was probably the target. Tonowari directs him to close his eyes and take a deep breath. He runs his hands up from his abdomen to his neck and backwards. Jake imitates him. Neytiri does something similar, especially when she finds Jake in a bad mood.

Jake wouldn't know whether to take it as meditation or a form of self-help on his part, but it soothes him and that's enough. They allow him to clear his head a bit. Being human he has enough problems and he doesn't want these moments, where he is complete in a kind of perfect dream, to be ruined by human crises.

Annoying, irrelevant, tedious ones that he would like to throw out the window as soon as possible.

"What ails you? Jake Sully."

"I may not know what to do, but I don't need to be treated like a child," he replies with frustration and even his eyes closed. His tail fidgets back and forth. "I'm thinking a lot of things, they think I'm stupider than I can swear I am. It's... frustrating."

"What's keeping you from making up your mind?"

"I don't know which side I'm on."

"Who's been most supportive of you?"

He doesn't know what to say about that. He considers both sides to be equal Right?

"Who asserts your identity and who deserves your loyalty?"

Grace? Yes, Grace.

"Where you feel safe and at home, where your life is not at risk and where the flow of your path is not polluted or obstructed: that is where you should stay" Tonowari recommends and Jake opens his eyes, meeting the blue irises in front of him. "Does that help clear your mind?"

Jake lowers his ears. It's still Grace. Even though she makes a profit at his expense, she's more than happy with his progress, she also has good ideas. Good intentions.

Quaritch... The RDA in general, only leads to destruction. The same one that made his brother delusional about space, about getting off the earth, the one that caused him to be with his heads in the clouds in a world that murders.

Despite the ambiguity and lack of detail he gave Tonowari, it helps him to be much clearer minded with this. He smiles slyly and softly at her:

"Thank you very much." he says and Tonowari smiles back with a nod.

"You're welcome, Jake Sully. Now, we can start with your training."

「Nothing made me happier than hearing that. It was a bit boring. We did nothing but breathe over and over again. Set a pace...」

「It was a little bit of everything for me. A little bit of what I hate, what I like; what seemed impossible and what didn't. I think the water and I hate each other. Suddenly it's easier to fly than to be able to swim. I thought it would be the other way around」

「I also thought it would be something... Zen? Not that I would jump into the water. Although according to him, it's easier to learn inside the water. That their babies are put in the water a few days after birth so they can get used to it? How many times will they call me baby? I don't know. I'm more lost than ever」.

In his mind, flying or running is easy. He's been on airplanes, his legs used to work. However, the thought of swimming makes him a little panicky. He never did well in that part of training and that now, healed from his small fall several days ago, Tonowari orders him to learn to swim is a fiasco. Even learning to ride Pa'li doesn't sound so horrible now.

He's good at flying, at being in the air why does he have to go into the water, what can there be there besides a thousand different threats and him without the ability to kill them? Worst of all, Jake obvious reluctance and dislike makes him look like the teenager he is in physical terms. The water is at natural temperature and continuing to walk to be more inside bothers him.

Why did he have to speak up, why did he offer to learn here too?

Never more true that he is a skxawng.

"Does the water scare you?" asks Tonowari. Maybe Jake hides that weakness for being "silly."

He's an expert at making himself complicated by half-baked situations.

"I've never been good at swimming." Jake excuses.

"You've never known how to breathe."

Jake wonders: are all Na'vi like this? With Neytiri he can't see, with Tonowari he can't breathe. If he meets another in another tribe, they'll tell you he can't listen, can't touch. Jake is somewhat overwhelmed by this lack of senses that are thrown in his face. Tucked with almost half a body in the water, Jake takes a deep breath and Tonowari shakes his head.

"The breath must come from here" He places a hand on Jake's abdomen. Repeating what he did earlier, but now, with softer contact. "Inhale slowly..." Tonowari indicates with Jake obeying. "Let the air fill your lungs, your body from the inside... keep it in, secured and yours" Jake furrows his eyebrows. His lungs are bigger and hold more. "Until you release it little by little, sliding from your center to your nose."

Jake shivers, Tonowari's long fingers sliding across his skin, as if he's the one guiding the air inside his body. The faint swell makes him sway slightly, his fidgeting tail wagging erratically.

"All right?" stammers Jake in a daze. Tonowari nods and looks toward the horizon.

"Now you must practice in the water."

"But even-"

That an Ilu pushes Jake into the water and that, by inertia, he holds on may qualify as the scariest moment of his life. Being left alone in the forest has taken him down a notch. At least there he finds resources, he can breathe and he can run. Now in the deep, he simply panics. Too deep, too far and holding his breath is costing him. He wants to let it all out in one puff bubble. Several bubbles escape from his mouth because of the fright. Tonowari at his side making signs to him that he doesn't understand.

Out of the corner of his eye he distinguishes a distant figure. Static Is it an animal? Whatever it is, it only makes him more nervous.

He decides to swim up, choked and desperate at this point. Tonowari shakes his head, this sort of thing is why there are no forest tribes moving to the coast. They just don't stand up well to the endlessness and darkness of the ocean. Jake shakes his head and breathes hard, looking around How did the Ilu push him this far?

"Let me know next time at least." claims Jake with droopy ears, dilated eyes and desperate breathing. Tonowari shakes his head slightly.

"You're not letting yourself breathe. You did it before, when the storm knocked down your Ikran and my Tulkun brought you to my shore" Jake coughs, he did it unconsciously He still doesn't know how the Avatar is still alive and well! To have made it this far seems like a miracle to him. "Stop filling your head with useless thoughts" Tonowari orders grabbing him by the head. "You are an Uniltìrantokx, let your dream nature allow you to do what you wish."

And again Jake doesn't understand anything

Or maybe it is? Jake takes a deep breath and lets it sink in for Tonowari. The Olo'eyktan grabs his arm and pulls him deeper. His heart is pounding and his hair is tickling a little. At the bottom, touching the bottom and among the coral, Tonowari again beckons him down. Jake denies and is distracted by a bunch of fish passing in front of him. Neytiri has more than once complained about that: his unhealthy ability to get unfocused when something shiny passes in front of him and the only defense to it, is that Pandora's creatures prompt him to turn around How can he not?

Distracted as he is, Jake holds on to the corals to chase everything that catches his attention; he pays no attention to the gloom of the distant, nor to how deep it is or that it doesn't even have infinite air. He only keeps looking for the next thing that he will investigate in Grace's books as soon as he returns, like someone who searches for meaning to his dreams on the internet. Tonowari follows him closely, making sure nothing serious happens to him.

Jake touches a coral that contracts and his ears perked up in surprise leading to a smile. Tonowari again waves his hands, clearly speaking, but Jake doesn't understand.

""You're a barely breathing child, you have a world to discover.""

A sort of jellyfish lands on Tonowari's head and Jake lets out air from the laughter it causes him. He is so serious all the time, the slightest trace of ridicule is guffaw-worthy. Tonowari shakes his head and holds it. The gesture is simple "Breathe." Jake takes it and scrunches up his face. Sometimes the animals he does tsaehylu with are so weird. As he attaches the neural tail to it, glued to his back, he notices that his chest stings a little less

""Breathe."" Jake mimics Tonowari and he nods.

Jake doesn't know how many hours they were underwater, but it was phenomenal.

. . .

"Does your chest hurt?"

"A little, but... uh, that was good," he assures with a steady smile on his face. He lifts his head towards Tonowari. Both soaked from head to toe. Jake smiles wide, his fangs exposed all the way. "Shall we do something similar tomorrow?"

"Until you are able to stay underwater for as long as possible." replies Tonowari. There is a slight smile on his face. Barely a curl of the lips.

It gives him satisfaction to have caught Jake's attention so soon. He had feared it would be more complicated. After all, despite his body, he is Skypeople. Jake straightens up and shakes his arms a little.

"And that's going to take a while?"

"Probably. There's no one from the forest who wants to go out to follow the way of water." Jake starts to get curious. They've mentioned that many, many times. Especially when it comes to talking about destiny and goals in life.

"I don't blame them," Jake admits. "Have you ever flown? Above the waterline?" he clarifies. Jake knows they can get them high enough. Tonowari denies. "When Bob heals, we can try." he proposes with an undercurrent of excitement.

Tonowari lifts his ears and opens his eyes, pupils dilated. The proposal surprises him and even makes him blush - the little that can be noticed - for it is not something he imagined. It's not an illusion he has or something Jake would propose.

It is strange.

And charming

"It would be my pleasure." Tonowari replies with a softer gesture, Jake nods and steps back. He must go check on Bob.

Being back in his body makes him feel... worse than usual. His chest and lungs don't feel enough to how much he's breathing by inertia. Jake lifts the cover and coughs, sitting up. He rubs his chest with his hand and takes a deep breath.

Jake hopes this feeling doesn't get worse, he felt bad enough coming back from the forest without missing yet another place.

Chapter Text

His time with Tonowari is abnormally enjoyable. It is similar to the time he spends with Neytiri in an ambiguous and distinct way that Jake doesn't know what to call it. Perhaps because they spend too much time together, almost glued to each other and the Olo'eyktan seems determined to make him a full-fledged Metkayina, even if he doesn't have the body for it.

Swimming is difficult when his tail, legs and hands are not specifically for that. Even if he tries to swim side by side with Tonowari, it is impossible. His breathing, on the other hand, has become much, much better. Jake is increasingly able to last longer underwater without needing Txampaysye glued to his back.

It's comforting to be doing at least one thing right.

Jake still doesn't understand what anything Tonowari says with his hands means, in fact, it took him a while to realize that's what he's doing. He thought there were small fish and he was chasing them away or something like that, not that he wanted to communicate!

He has skirted the language issue as best he could. He's terribly bad at it. Even in his high school classes it wasn't an alternative. It is one of the subjects that frustrated him the most Why would he be interested in saying anything in Spanish? If they have a war with those nations.

Jake hopes it's the last thing they're going to take a "lesson" in and ride off on Bob's back as soon as it comes up. Unlikely, but he decides to have a little faith in it.

What is more pleasantly received, is swimming. Jake never thought it would be this rewarding. He questions whether he didn't consider it so before because he had nowhere to swim. There is little clean water on earth, even in pools. Few have such a great privilege.

An ordinary soldier, even with honors, cannot aspire to anything like that.

Something that, in this world, is as common as air or anything else.

"Don't you live well in your world?"

"No. Not at all. It's a dying world," Jake says, downplaying the matter. Accustomed to that fact. "It's nothing like this. The people, the space, not even the light" laughs feebly and Tonowari keeps his brow furrowed, almost disgusted at how little Jake has described of his world. "Although... there are good people, as in all wretched places." Jake shrugs.

Tonowari, sitting on the ground and still grim-faced, ends up clasping his hands together, blowing into each other and opening his arms sharply. Jake lifts his ears, lets his tail stand still and opens his eyes wide What was that? He doesn't know if it's a gesture he should understand or assume.

He hopes not.

"Those who meet you" Tonowari begins, abruptly cutting off the previous topic. "Are they good people?"

"Yes. I'd say them more than me" Jake scratches behind his neck. He doesn't want to lie about it. He assumes Tonowari gets the picture on the subject. They are Skypeople. By default, they are evil, a threat. So until proven otherwise. "I don't know if you know of Dr. Augustine."

"Yes, I know her. A very foolish woman," Tonowari replies with some contempt and Jake laughs through his nose. "She made a point of teaching their language, proposed schools and sent lessons in their language."

"Well, that explains a lot," Jake hisses, "She's good. She's interested in the tribes and-"

"And she caused blood to be spilled on the trees and land of the Omatikaya."

Jake chokes on his own saliva. It's obvious that Tonowari doesn't have a good idea about Grace. He considers it a shame, knowing how things happened at Grace's school, blaming her is both unfair and yet not.

It's confusing.

"She's willing to learn" comments Jake. "Too much... I'd say she's desperate to learn" laughs amused. "I'm sure it would make her happy to come here to learn everything you've taught me...except the physical part." he replies rolling his eyes.

Tonowari shakes his head and Jake doesn't insist on it. If there's one thing Tonowari is known for, it's his patience. Not so that he crosses the boundary of recklessness. Talking too much or persisting in something he has already rejected, is perfect to cause him a bad moment and receiving his harsh attitude is overwhelming. It hasn't happened to Jake, he has just seen it in others. Tribe teens who want to fool around and only get into trouble.

Whether it's a shark chasing them or they've gone to islands that aren't in their territory.

Jake looks at the horizon and wags his tail, Tonowari notices that out of inertia. It's very easy to tell what Jake is thinking depending on what his tail is doing:

Is he letting it still? Concentration.

Is he wagging it non-stop? Nervousness.

Is he wagging it? Is calm.

Is he moving at a regular, somewhat accelerated pace? Urgency.

Does it curl slightly to itself?

"Do you have to leave already?" questions Tonowari and Jake nods.

"Yes. Before they pull the plug on me. It would be awkward my body lying around" Jake replies standing up. His hair has grown quite long and despite the offer, he hasn't let anyone braid it. Jake likes to keep the small braids Neytiri has made for him. "I'll go to my-"

"You can try to stay a while and have dinner with us. So far, you haven't" Tonowari mentions and Jake wags his tail back and forth. Between restless and anxious, but most of all, the Olo'eyktan stands out as he curls in to itself The conclusion? He's curious and eager to accept. "Stay."

"Is that..."

「 I didn't know what to say to him to refuse. It's the first time he asked me to stay. So far, they had been a straight path to teaching me their way of life. There was something strange. Different? He was anxious for me to stay. At least that's what I sensed in the way he looked at me. Maybe I'm just overthinking it...though...」

「 ... 」

「 ... 」

「 ... 」

"Stay."

Tonowari takes Jake by the arm, giving him a light tug and affectionate squeeze. Jake continues to curl his tail unconsciously, nods his head slightly and Tonowari smiles slyly, satisfied.

「 No. I'm just overthinking it... How the fuck do I erase a part...? Ah- 」

「. 」

「. 」

「. 」

「.. 」

「... 」

「 Well, today I started with... 」

Eating with the Metkayina doesn't make much difference to the Omatikaya. All around one light, eating with hands and food on leaves. The biggest difference is eating fish and Jake couldn't tell if he likes this or meat better. It's a very close competition.

Sitting next to Tonowari he listens to the occasional thing he says. He's usually a quiet guy, keeping an eye on what they say and what might be needed. However, he is quieter now. The perception that night and dinner time is automatically safe. No wonder. Everything around is more dangerous at night and risking a fight in the dark is a bad idea.

Jake has also noticed that they have no luminescence on their face or body.

Ronal is nearby, next to Tonowari and Jake feels her gaze from time to time, as if he is being examined.

"Do you have any relationship with Neytiri?"

"Romantic? No. It's different... It's..."

Jake waves his hands and scrunches up his face, unsure how to describe it. Ronal leans forward a little. He ends up giving a snort.

"It's something that's there and it's very special" Jake explains and Tonowari waits for him to finish. "Without her I wouldn't be alive, I wouldn't have how to know about this world. Knowing how to run in the forest, knowing how to fly and... so just special in a way that's hard to explain" Jake pops a piece of fish into his mouth. "My only worry now, is that I couldn't go apologize for worrying her."

Ronal lowers her gaze for a moment, frowning and then saying something with just enough force:

"Maybe Eywa made you cross paths. Eywa knows your potential and led to someone who could help explain it to you" the Tsa'hik rejoins and Jake is sure it's the first time she hasn't shown disgust or dislike towards him. It's a nice change. "As well as getting here. You were to learn of the earth, air and sky... now it's your turn to learn the way of the water, to be one of us." she concludes thoughtfully and Jake licks his lips.

Nervous. That implies a hell of a lot and that Ronal would say it to begin with surprises him. Jake thought Ronal hated him or well, she does, but her bond with Eywa is stronger. It leads her to have to be objective when talking about the designs her goddess (Can he say she's a goddess?) communicates to him.

Or lets see.

Or so Jake understands.

In truth, Jake doesn't know anything anymore.

Much for today.

Even with the confusion that arises, it's a good night. It was warm to feel welcomed here. With less judgmental looks from everyone. When dinner is over Tonowari escorts him to his marui say goodbye and leave.

"What took you so long?" asks Grace, analyzing something in the microscope and Jake goes straight to the small fridge. They had the decency to bring some more decent food than usual.

"Nothing special," Jake replies, popping it in the microwave. Grace gives a simple hump and continues on her own. "I told Tonowari about you" Grace straightens up and swivels in the chair. Jake notices the slight gleam of expectation in her expression. "He wouldn't hear of it... He said it's forbidden."

"Seems like a lot of things don't change" She exhales disappointedly, pursing her lips. "At least they talk to you, though. Which is already a lot." Grace adds turning back to the microscope. Jake advances to the table and sets down the plate with the food on it. He doesn't know what it is. It looks like a bland, gray mass.

"Maybe I can convince him. Eventually." Jake concludes and Grace gives another hump.

If it's not to break the news to him that he can go, she doesn't want to know much more about it. Unless Jake wants to explain more about what he sees and lives there.

Jake wonders, are all those signs Tonowari is making underwater something he should understand? He's noticed them a couple of times - when he's not distracted - and at this point he can sense Tonowari's frustration. Jake swims and can maintain a good amount of time underwater, but...

Understanding their gestures is another matter. He seems totally ignorant and it happens also when they speak in their native tongue. So far they had kept the skypeople's tongue to make sure they learned it well and well, a little patience with Jake. The near death in the storm might have kept him stunned.

However, it was worse. Jake knows next to nothing about the language and it's frustrating. Very, very frustrating. Which ends up in that, in the evening, Tonowari gives him the lousy announcement:

"Starting tomorrow, we'll put the water aside and focus on you learning our language."

"But-"

"If you want to look like one of us, be one of us." stops Tonowari with a raised hand and cutting off Jake's coming claim. "You must learn to speak like us." announces the Olo'eyktan and Jake hisses.

"I think we can skip that part." Jake announces with his hands on his hips and pursed lips, nodding his head. "We can move forward with the tsaheylu part and-"

"Our... language" Tonowari insists relatively stiffly and Jake bites his lips. "You'll have to come prepared for that tomorrow. We'll start from first period" warns and looks behind Jake. "I doubt very much that your former teacher, Neytiri, would let you go without knowing anything."

Jake doesn't know how to explain to him that Neytiri actually tried, but between mutual exasperation and the urge to move on to other things, it made it remain on a very superficial level. He knows how to greet, he knows how to say goodbye to hunted animals, as well as some other things like names of the body, of some objects.

It is not his fault that the same objects and animals are not here.

The conclusion is that he has just turned this situation against him. An absolute disgrace.

"You need to pay more attention" Norm scolds and Jake rubs his eyes, having four Na'vi language books open in front of him. This doesn't help at all. "Once you make up your mind to concentrate it's not that hard. You just have to find the similar words. What does it sound like to you-"

"It all sounds to me like I'm talking like an idiot," Jake admits, dropping his hands sharply and slapping the table in the process. "There's...I don't know, a program to make it easier." he complains pointing to all the books in exasperation."

"You either learn or you don't Jake, you don't have a choice," says Grace moving a couple of jars off a shelf. She can't find where she left those tweezers and she needs them. "The dumbest thing you've done since you told me the truth, is think they weren't going to demand this from you." scoffs and Trudy not far behind tries to read what's in the books.

"I don't think I know English anymore. I don't understand shit." complains the pilot putting the book aside.

"It's not that complicated." assures Norm in exasperation. "It's simple. Look, let's take the example: Tsa'hik doesn't it sound spiritual? Doesn't it sound like it has something to do with Eywa? Olo'eyktan also sounds like a leader, it's-"

"Tsa'hik sounds to me like you typed a sneeze or you don't know how to use your cell phone keyboard." admits Jake with an anxious, strained smile.

"The other just sounds to me like there's a baby learning to talk." admits Trudy between indiscreet giggles.

"Alas, we're among idiots who only know how to shoot." complains Grace advancing to the second mobile cell to continue her analysis.

Norm will have to keep up with the pair incapable of learning anything he teaches.

Although it takes him many, many hours and therefore, he is too sleepy for the rest of the day, Jake is able to understand a few more things. The names of objects and animals are going phenomenally well. The real problem is that when you put it all together, he doesn't understand it.

Na'vi" is not a written language per se. Its rules for how it works are almost impossible to count, organize and study unless spend a couple of years on it. Which Norm did. Which Tommy did. Which Grace did and continues to do. Jake only arrived six months ago? To this point. This is asking too much of him.

Jake feels like his brain is going to melt and come out of his ear. It doesn't help to have a message from Quaritch, announcing that, again, he's forgotten to send him the logs. Lots and lots of them. He's had to record them after hours and in a hurry. Grace noticed this move and far from stopping him, she helps him to make up the hours and days, taking advantage of the fact that Jake has inadvertently left his profile open.

Any move that prevents Quaritch from having reliable information from the native peoples will be something Grace supports. One hundred and ten percent.

Sure, this has kept her from knowing some of the Metkayina culture, but she doesn't take it badly. If she doesn't know, but Quaritch doesn't either, it's still a big win. She is hopeful that eventually, Jake will stop trying to contact him. He'll stop thinking him a superior.

He's on her science team. Grace can make a case for him staying on as a necessary asset. Besides the avatar's money is already invested and to take Jake, is to waste those billions of dollars.

The more they talk and fix this, the more it will make Parker and Quaritch gnash their teeth.

And she'll be very happy with that.

Chapter Text

「Between speaking Na'vi and sign language... I'm freaking out. The language is still garbage and putting up with Norm's classes makes it even more garbage, not to mention that Tonowari thinks that in sign I'll understand spoken language faster. The bottom line is that I hate the language」.

""I swim eat reef.""

"Pay attention" Tonowari flicks his tail at him, irritated at this point that Jake just doesn't understand. He knows he should be patient with him, but it's ridiculous how much he gets confused. "You could be out hunting, an Akula would come from his back and end your time in this world." he asserts and Jake closes his eyes. He hates the language. With so much strength why must it be so complicated?

"Can't we just talk before we get in the water and be done with it?" Jake complains obfuscatingly.

"You must learn to talk with your hands, just as you have learned to hunt with them" Tonowari grabs him roughly by the wrists, forcing him to look at his palms. "Filling them with blood, with hatred and conflict must be set against what you can create with them. Let there not be only destruction."

"That's not going to change by learning to talk." Jake states without seeing the relationship. Tonowari shakes him slightly again.

"You are refusing to learn and notice what you yourself are capable of believing Are you just a destruction machine?"

「I wanted so badly to say yes. I'm a soldier What else am I other than that? Tommy most likely kept everything good about the two of us when we were in mom's womb. He'd probably be talking to clams by now had he come here. Tonowari refuses to understand that he is with a destroyer of worlds in front of him and his poetics are useless」.

「At least I'd like to think so. My hard head doesn't help what information gets in, but it does help to keep the urgency to make it just because I'm being challenged to make it」.

"I thought you had more capability, but clearly, you're very limited."

"Hey, hey, I don't even understand when they talk Do you seriously expect me to learn the same thing, but by waving my hands?" argues Jake, grumpy and floppy-eared. He wasn't even good in Spanish class and that was less different from English than Na'vi. It just sucked in general language.

"Denying yourself what you'll be able to do sinks you into lack of knowledge and you won't get out of there unless you decide to float, leaving your ignorance behind." Jake hates the speeches so well formed How do they do it so spontaneously? Did they have it studied?

""I hate you."" Jake gesticulates before flashing both middle fingers. The reaction itself is comical.

Tonowari's eyes widen, his pupils dilated and ears perked up, Jake keeps his lips pursed and eyebrows lowered. Tonowari may not know what it is exactly, but he must know it's an insult and that's enough for him.

「The lovely language classes didn't stop, but it sucked a little less in them. It turned out to be easier because I don't have to look for any specific accent in the word or form it in my mind. That didn't stop me from having to be practicing in the mobile cell, which is especially difficult when there are three people living with you and it's a space of less than ten meters in total」.

""Dear Tomowari, Olo'eyktan in the Mitkayina and..."" No, it was" Jake scrunches up his face, trying to remember how it was done. "It's... "Tonawari" no, "Tonowari" and..."

"What are you supposed to do besides shoo flies?" scoffs Grace pouring herself coffee. Jake drops his hands and looks at her with irritation. "Possibly it would be easier if you'd take me up there."

"Do you see me looking like a link chamber to get into every tribe I come across?"

"Yes. I should say so." Jake snorts and Grace laughs. Sitting both of them at the table and listening to the babbling of Norm who is still sleeping. Jake rubs his each and tries to remember again.

""Dear Tonowari, Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina and hunter of..." What were the names of the sharks?"

"Akula?"

"Aha. Uh... 'Akuna' no- 'Aku'" He stares I want a moment. "Don't you have a damn dictionary to help me?"

"I am the dictionary, Jake" Jake rolls his eyes and Grace finishes her coffee. "You know, you're a newborn excuse for a teenager. If it's costing you that much just tell him. We get the pass that we don't see, we don't hear, we don't feel and that's why it takes us longer to learn." Grace crosses her leg and reaches for a smoke.

"I don't need that excuse, I need to learn fast."

"Oh yeah, any special reason?"

Grace imagines perfectly well that Jake would have lowered his ears had he been in his Avatar body. Even with that, he has an impressive expressive ability with his eyes. He may be a seasoned soldier and a full-fledged man, but the more contact he makes with the Na'vi, the more he looks like a child. Picardy aside, she assumes that as with Neytiri, he wants to demonstrate and make proud whoever takes the effort to instruct him. Grace lights his cigar and takes a puff.

"You joined the army right out of high school?"

"Yes. I had nothing else to do. The smart one was always Tommy."

"Ummm... How would you say Tulkun?"

""Tulkuk"... Nono, "Tulkun"... What were the Tulkun?"

Grace tosses out one word after another and Jake tries to remember how to say it with signs. Not noticing that a while ago, Norm records it. Both for reference as to how the Metkayina and water peoples communicate... and for a good laugh at his constant mistake that makes him sound like he's chasing away flies.

""I am Jake Sully, of the sky people and I have come to learn from the Metkayina. My tutor is the Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina, Tonowari.""

"Effort yields the expected fruit. Very good, Jake Sully." Tonowari praises and Jake smiles excitedly, his ears perked up and tail fidgeting. Contrary to his suffering, he's barely been studying this for a month.

"Well, what's next?" Jake asks excitedly. Considering he may already have a Tsurak. Better than an Ilu because of how fast he can go.

"Swim."

"Sw...swim Swim?" Jake lowers his ears and his tail goes still. Not exactly what he expected, that's already been done. Tonowari can't resist laughing at his disbelief. He stands up and so does Jake.

"You know how to breathe" Tonowari brushes his fingertips against his abdomen, "you know how to speak without a voice" climbs up to Jake's neck, not separating his hand from his dark blue body. "It's time you know how to swim; for real this time."

Tonowari gives him a little nudge on the forehead and Jake snorts. He's not the best swimmer, but he didn't think the next step was that. Jake walks after Tonowari to shore and they both dive into the water. The difference is obvious, Tonowari glides with incredible ease and although Jake instinctively uses his arms and legs, he doesn't move as fast and as well as he does. Tonowari reaches the bottom almost instantly. Jake scrunches up his face and takes advantage of corals to propel himself, otherwise he is more likely to drown before he even gets close to Tonowari.

On this specific occasion, Tonowari has a little more sympathy for Jake. The anatomy is not one that favors swimming; it is made for climbing or flying. Nevertheless, and as always, Jake is sure to be able to do it. Sooner or later. Later if he keeps getting distracted by every fish that passes in front of him.

""No fish on your planet?"" questions Tonowari and Jake ponders a bit, assuming he understands what he's saying.

""No chance to go to sea on my planet"" Jake takes a few moments before adding. ""Dirty.""

「Tommy was dedicated to seeing nature. There wasn't much of it, maybe that's why Pandora fascinated him the way it did. Maybe he wanted to think that at one time the earth was like that, to reflect it in This place full of brightness. Though truth be told, I don't think that's a fair comparison」.

Tonowari directs Jake and they dive deeper, having reached a Txampaysye that helps him hold his breath longer. Despite the trepidation, Jake lets himself be led into an abyss that would instinctively make him pull away. Tonowari persists, as if there is nothing wrong with that deep hole with no apparent end. The light is so dim that Jake and the Txampaysye's markings seem to be the only thing that shines. Tapping a wall with his tail produces a huge echo and the luminescence of vegetation and wildlife emerges. ""They don't usually light up at this hour. There's still some light seeping through.""

Jake wasn't paying attention, distracted by seeing the new vegetation in front of him. Despite his slow glide, he is able to move using the corals for support, peeking around every corner. Tonowari chases him closely, making sure nothing deadly or poisonous comes up that he needs to worry about. Even without him there, Jake was underwater for hours, as if he wouldn't get tired for a moment and he himself doesn't know what to think of it; the biggest difference is that having Tonowari by his side to take him to the coolest part of that abyss, makes the moment more entertaining and wonderful; without stopping the complicit and mysterious smiles between the two of them.

Tonowari considers that, thanks to the luminescent markings on his face, Jake looks like he belongs in the ocean rather than in the forest.

The way his eyes remain dilated and bright; his ears perked up and childlike smile of impression. Jake admires everything in the ocean and Tonowari admires him. How as if the charm of the child saved by Eywa, he turns out to be incredibly charming. Just like the ocean.

「It's not a fair comparison because... Pandora is a thousand times more beautiful than earth ever was. Maybe that's why they want to conquer here. Humans are good at destroying everything, even what they love the most. I know from experience and for that reason alone, I would hate for it to happen here. I don't want the forest that Neytiri loves so much to become a mere city or the ocean that Tonowari shows me so much and enjoys so much to dry up or stop being so blue」.

「Pandora does not deserve to die as the earth is doing. I wonder if it's really worth anything what I wish for, being that I have a way to facilitate that process」.

Jake follows Tonowari without asking questions. It's not like he can ask them these days. He finds it strange that they are going so far away from the island and going to what, previously, was called the "forbidden zone". Jake thought it was predators, but the closer he gets, he thinks it was just a lie so he wouldn't try to get away from the island on his own.

On the way Jake notices some kind of creature in the distance. He is sure he has seen it before. He has no time to analyze it. He must keep up with Tonowari.

They reach a small creek without much around. Just a few rocks sticking out of the water, as well as huge corals. What stands out is the extensive vegetation. The sandy shore space does not extend more than a couple of meters. Tonowari emerges first, draining water and unlike Jake, his hairstyle keeps his hair from coming in his face.

When he turns to find the avatar, he sees him tossing his hair back and shaking his head a bit to get the excess water off.

"Well, where are we?"

"Resting a bit." replies Tonowari moving forward across the sand. Jake raises an eyebrow and follows closely behind.

For long minutes, they do nothing but walk. If Tonowari doesn't give information at the beginning, it's because he will at the end. At this pace, Jake gradually gets to know his way of functioning. The most obvious gestures to the most subtle.

His neutrality and calmness are very much mixed with expectation. Just a serene and somewhat stern face; his anger implies that his pupils constrict and his frown is furrowed, very complicated to achieve in him; the smile or joy is general is also very scarce. There is little that makes him happy to the extent that it manifests itself.

It makes him happy to have peace in his tribe, it makes him happy that everything is going well; but that he smiles is something that Ronal usually achieves. It's a sign of how much they love each other. To that comes so much confusion for Jake, who thought they were paired up.

The next anomaly is that Tonowari smiles at him a lot lately. Perhaps a reflex to feeling pride that he succeeds.

"We're heading towards a cliff and you're going to throw me off to test if I can breathe in a surprise situation?"

The confusion in Tonowari is particularly comical to Jake. The way he pricks up his ears - as much as he can - opens his eyes and everything about him screams What did you just say? Or What just happened? Jake can't resist laughing at him and that face. Tonowari shakes his head.

"No. It's about a break nothing more. This is island is where the Olo'eyktan usually have a little time off." explains Tonowari and Jake looks around.

It's pretty remote and secluded. He guesses it's perfect for that use. Even the leaders need time to themselves, Jake supposes. He nods his head. He's still under the impression that he's going to push it off a cliff, but it may be simple paranoia. Typical.

"Did we really just come here to rest?"

"Yes."

Jake has to think of an excuse for Grace. This is much later than usual. He should have been back by now.

They cross a small stretch that is underwater, but barely reaches their knees. After that, some dense vines block their view. As they cross, Jake's eyes widen completely: this place is simply beautiful. Tonowari smiles slyly, pleased with the reaction.

"The nice thing about traveling, you can always find new views of the sky."

Aside from the stars that are simply endless, there are purple and aqua-green-toned stellar auroras. Jake also has the sight of other moons. It amazes him how much the view changes to what can be admired from the Hallelujah Mountains or the forest. He doesn't realize how hard he's breathing until Tonowari puts a hand on his abdomen.

"Easy. Hold it," Jake obeys, his abdomen swelling with air. "And release slowly..." Tonowari slowly brings his hand up, getting Jake to return to more normal breathing. Even Jake didn't understand that sudden attack of panic or nervousness.

The two sit on the sand, just watching the sky. Jake cocks his head to one side. He's not one to admire the sky. Not with how much he's seen it at this point. It's an incomprehensible situation how much it moves him...cheers him up? To see this. It's a feeling without a name and the smell of salt water makes it distinctive. His tail curls in on itself every now and then and accidentally, he ends up grabbing something, squeezing it.

This being Tonowari's tail, who wagged it on purpose to make that happen.

"More than a warrior, I think you're a explorer." opines Tonowari, glancing at Jake every now and then.

"Maybe... Or I'm just becoming like my brother." Jake replies without taking his eyes off the sky.

"Brother?"

"Yes. I had a twin. Someone just like me. He was coming. Not me. He was always the smart one in the family." Jake comments with a broken, somewhat sad smile.

Tommy's death is not something Jake processes yet. His emotions and him don't get along. They never have. Even at that, Tommy was better. It makes him empty to think about him and it's infuriating. Tonowari looks up at the sky equally.

"If he was your twin, then you were as destined as he was to be here" Jake half-opens his lips. "At the end of the day, twins are but one and the same soul, but broken... Maybe that's what you came here for, to complete what you lost."

Jake blinks repeatedly and turns to Tonowari. The markings on Jake's body glow brightly and again, Tonowari considers it as if he has stars on his skin, in his eyes. Genuinely someone from the stars.

He smiles at him and Jake squeezes Tonowari's tail tighter with his own.

「I don't know what the fuck I'm doing...」

「I just don't-」

「I don't know what the fuck I'm doing」.

Tonowari moves closer and presses his lips together with Jake. The opposite closes his eyes and lowers his ears, letting himself be done and not omitting complaint to the hand on his leg. Tonowari has huge hands and the skin is smooth, barely porous. Jake grabs the back of his neck to pull him a little closer and as they part, a nervous smile emerges on Jake's face, reciprocated by a calm, confident one from Tonowari.

「Damn it」.

Chapter Text

Seeing the sky while floating is also an almost spiritual experience. At this point, Jake feels like he's floating on a cloud all the time. Being on the water is relaxing and liberating in a way that, in the sky, it is not. Perhaps because of his dependence on Bob to be up there. Here he only needs his legs, his arms, his lungs...

It's more individual than ever.

Until he isn't.

Tonowari takes him by the hand before he gets too far away. The current weak, but not useless. He could end up in the open sea and not knowing where to move. Jake laughs through his nose.

"Grace is going to want to kill me when I get back."

"You'll be fine."

"Took you long enough. You can't stay in there that long" As soon as Jake opens the capsule, what he gets is Grace's scolding Why doesn't it surprise him? Jake just sits there staring at nothing for a few seconds. He tries to adjust to being in this body again. "What were you doing just now?" asks the scientist with her arms crossed.

"Nothing that's dangerous if that's what you want to know." He scratches the back of his neck. Wow, it feels heavier than he remembered.

Swimming is a threat. He can't get used to his weight out of the water anymore. He wants to get back in the water and not feel the weight of anything. He yawns and looks up at Grace, who continues to wait for a response.

"Right now, nothing. Tonowari took me to a nearby island to rest and watch the stars for a while." Jake answers between his teeth. More unconscious than conscious. He is suddenly hungry, but also too sleepy. This is insufferable. Grace purses her lips.

"You and Tonowari seem to be getting along just fine."

"Jake has charm with blue people," Trudy comments mockingly. "Dumber than a rock, but they adore him." she laughs indiscreetly and Grace doesn't stop herself from giggling. Norm is left with a full cheek and furrows his eyebrows.

"Wait. Shall we talk about what I think?"

"Norm, finish eating and go to sleep; Jake, same thing. I don't want two dumb kids who won't even attend to their name in the morning." Grace warns and Jake rubs his neck. He snorts loudly.

If they knew that apparently, it goes that way, they'd be surprised for sure. Or who knows what comment they'd make. His kiss with Tonowari, for the moment, is his and no one else's thing, but it makes him wonder, What the fuck am I doing?

"It could be dangerous what you're doing."

"I know, Ronal. It's something I'm very aware of."

The woman smiles sideways, somewhere between apprehensive and shy. Ronal knows Tonowari better than anyone else and because of that, she is aware that, in his very reserved, yet emotional way of being, Tonowari has feelings for the Uniltìrantokx (Jake). Something that began to develop not long after his arrival.

Ronal must admit that Jake has a kind of unknown charm. Like that of a child. It even justifies why Eywa is so determined to keep him alive and ask them to accept him as one of their own.

However, Ronal is worried about Tonowari and that maybe this won't work out the way he would want it to. That Jake will eventually fizzle out when his Ikran heals. That maybe it's all a lie. There is so much that can go wrong and she fears that Tonowari will end up hurt because of this.

Even though he looks so happy and delusional now.

"I know that just like me, you can sense something in him" Tonowari rests his right hand on Ronal's small shoulder. She tilts her head with a slight pout. "Trust me: it's not a mistake."

"I hope, for your sake, that it is... and try not to be too overbearing with him. Sometimes you intimidate."

"Really?"

"More than you know."

Ronal laughs at Tonowari's dilated pupils and perked ears. It's funny how unmindful of his own manner he is. That helps to get him obeyed in tense situations, but in romance it's a bad idea. Ronal pats Tonowari's hand fondly on his shoulder.

"It was your Tulkun who brought him here. I haven't stopped thinking about it," Ronal admits quietly. "Maybe it's a sign from Eywa precisely for this union, but I can't help but be scared for you" she confesses, uneasy, "still, I'm willing to hope for the best of results, if you really trust him."

Tonowari nods and Ronal nods after, a little more reassured that he has been warned. With this, Ronal can trust that, if Tonowari ends up doing something foolish, it will be because he is totally in love. Right now, he has a special affection and huge fixation. Love is still developing. Ronal would like and fervently desires to know what is going through Jake Sully's mind.

Hoping to find at least a sample of feeling similar to that of her Olo'eyktan. Knowing that Tonowari will have the affection he gives, back and eventually, bigger.

The subject was not discussed at all and Tonowari has not changed his way of treating him. The only thing that has changed, is that Ronal seems to be keeping a close eye on him. Almost watching that he doesn't do anything wrong or foolish. Jake is nervous about it. It doesn't work with wild Tsa'hiks stabbing him in the back of the head with just their murderous stares.

The lesson of the day is to feel the currents, learn to distinguish which is which and not get lost. It is similar to learning to distinguish which tree is which in the forest and knowing how to return home. Relatively simple and it's fun despite how messy it seems.

"I'm going to assume you guys can tell because you're used to it," Jake grumbles. It's very tricky to notice such imperceptible changes.

"It's all about patience." says Tonowari and Jake prances to the side. "And not having any Ilu want to play when you learn."

Jake is lucky enough? That the Ilu come very, very close to him to tease him. They love to give him constant nudges to knock him into the water and then, take him away for a while. They have never done anything dangerous. In that respect, they are like little kids teasing him.

Jake manages to shoo them away and before they can get back to what they're doing, everything goes to black. Tonowari gives an exclamation, noticing that Jake simply falls like lead into the water, eyes half-open and as if he were a real corpse. The nearby Metkayina notice what happened and rush to their Olo'eyktan, fearing that something bad happened.

"Did he faint?"

"Maybe some poisonous fish stung him." says someone else. Tonowari hoists Jake's body onto his back.

He gets cold, loses pulse, loses breath. He's like he is every night and every morning where he still doesn't move. A body without a soul. His concern is that it happened suddenly Did something bad happen to his real body? Why isn't he here anymore if it's daytime?

"Easy, easy, breathe."

Jake clutches the sides of the bed, tries to take in air in deep breaths because he feels choked. Grace makes him lie still and applies pressure so she can check his eyes. His pupils are worryingly dilated, and before speaking to him, she lets him be quiet for a few minutes.

Only when his breathing normalizes and he looks less upset does she ask, "Are you okay?" Jake nods, but he doesn't know if it's true or if he even understood the question correctly.

"What happened?" Jake asks in a hoarse, choking voice.

"A rabid Ikran came to knock us down and well, knocked out the power generator" explains Grace sitting next to the bed. "Luckily nothing serious happened to you" She adds checking her temperature. Jake sits on the bed. "Trudy and Norm already went to get another one. Before we suffocate."

"How long do we have?"

"Whole days, don't worry" Grace shakes her hand dismissively. "Is the avatar okay?"

"Yes. I was with Tonowari. He must have pulled it out of the water."

Jake takes a deep breath with the mask on. So that happened, he was suffocating from lack of oxygen; even if Grace, Trudy and Norm rushed him out of the capsule, it most likely wasn't enough to get the mask on him and keep him from nearly suffocates.

Ironic considering what he was doing before.

It also strikes him that Grace made sure he was okay before questioning about the avatar. A kind gesture on her part.

"I hope Tonowari didn't freak out that I suddenly died." laughs Jake helplessly, almost imagining his face. Grace shakes her head with a sly smile.

"Sure, it's so funny scared the ones who care about you, you ungrateful child." Grace gives him a fake shove and Jake shrugs. Sure wasn't a big deal.

It was a big deal.

"You all right? Ma'Jake."

His concentration pauses for a moment Ma'Jake? Neytiri calls him that and from what he understands, it's a rather affectionate way to call someone. Assuring they of a loved one belonging to their life. Jake decides to let it go for now. He doesn't recognize where he is. Surely it is not his usual bed. He sits up and feels his chest with a strange sensation, as if they pressed something very hard. He notices Ronal is here too and by the sight.

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine" Jake replies and Tonowari exhales in relief, dropping his gaze and closing his eyes. Ronal squints, Jake still dazed from being in Tonowari's marui. He's barely been here a couple of times and it's never been to "sleep". "There was a problem where I am and that's why I...slept?"

"Are you all right? Your... real body." asks Ronal pointing at him whole with one hand and Jake shakes his head.

"Yeah. Nothing serious happened. Just a scare."

Tonowari purses his lips, not very convinced by it, but he supposes it's enough for now. Ronal for his part, feels shivers. A dead body, but one that is still alive. That still has a soul inside, but something missing to make it work. It was so strange to examine what was wrong with him.

And Ronal can tell it's different, something in Jake is very different...

More present here than in that body that's supposed to be real.

Ronal didn't tell Tonowari, he was too preoccupied to put ideas and ramblings into him. The most she could do at that moment, was to assure him that they shouldn't worry. That Jake would be back, sooner or later. He did relatively early, it's going to be exactly one day since what happened.

"And are we still on what we were on the beach?"

"No. Rest for today." says Tonowari, almost without letting him finish speaking.

The fear of such a thing happening again is very obvious. Tonowari is clearly, almost blatantly, watching him. Jake doesn't know whether to be harassed or moved. One way or the other, it's clear that he gave them all a very good scare.

The level of care makes him wonder: do they consider me that much a part of them? Sure, he's training for it and the whole thing, but at the same time, he'd expect a little more indifference. With the Omatikaya it's that way. It only matters to Neytiri and two or three other people at most and that, stretching their level of importance.

Here... it's like there's a lot more hope for him. He doesn't know the reason. Is it Tonowari's fault? Maybe Ronal's, who also behaves less repellent these days. She analyzes it as usual, but she is not attacking. So much uncertainty has him sitting on the edge of the marui, feet in the water and watching the natural luminescence below.

The water is so clear, it's like a simple transparency. Jake sees fish, coral, even the smaller Ilus still awake. He senses Tonowari approaching his back. So accustomed to this spot, he recognizes him easily. Just as he would recognize Neytiri anywhere.

Doubt escapes, a mere anxious murmur:

"Why are you helping me? Of all people, I thought the tribes near the water would hate me more... You guys haven't let anyone get close. This is... nonsense." admits Jake who hadn't had time to ask this question. Tonowari stands to the side.

"A Tulkun saved your life. There is no greater sign of Eywa desiring your permanence on this land" Tonowari replies simply and Jake bobs his head, hair ground except for the braid. "And the Omatikaya have trusted you; the first Uniltìrantokx to wish to be part of a Na'vi clan" Jake licks his lip. "Teaching you the way of the water and allowing you to decide where you belong, is what you have truly come to do in this world."

「As time goes by and I see the trust they give me... I keep thinking I'm the worst wretch to ever set foot in this place. They show me their customs, their families, their homes and their lives to teach me and I? Just thinking about fulfilling the mission they gave me so I can walk again」.

「Here I walk... and I run, I can fly, I can swim and be freer than I have ever been on earth. Having Neytiri and now Tonowari makes me uneasy Should I go through with it? Should I leave and not collaborate anymore? Let myself be killed by the first animal that comes up to run away from the possible angry mob that will be the Omatikaya and the Metkayina when they find out my real reason for being」.

「I hadn't realized how much I began to wish Eywa existed. Maybe then, my life would have a meaning other than continuing to be an idiot with a gun in my hand and a pathological liar」.

"What's the way of the water?" Jake asks after the side silence.

Tonowari sits to the side and holds out his hands. His huge arms make Jake feel small despite being six feet tall. He places his hands on Tonowari's, who looks into his face with his usual seriousness. Studying the tiny luminescent dots on Jake's face.

"Water connects all things, life with death, darkness with light" Tonowari announces forcefully, Jake looks up; his yellow eyes with dilated pupil and raised ears. "When life ends, another one begins" Tonowari clasps his hands, holding Jake gently and climbing up his slender arms. "The Great Mother holds all her children in her heart" places both hands on Jake's chest. "The way of the water has no beginning and no end."

Jake lets out air, twitching his ears uncontrollably, as if Tonowari's words are still echoing in his head. Tonowari presses his chest and Jake doesn't resist the nervous, but elated smile. Tonowari smiles back equally. It's such a simple moment, but with the Na'vi, even the simplest situation feels fascinating. Pulling his hands away, Jake looks back. He questions Where can he really live?

Where would he want to live?

In the sky, in the forest, on land, in the ocean.

「The funniest thing of all, is how now the dream, the nightmare, is the earth and not Pandora. Every day I become more and more afraid of letting go of this world and those who guide me through it」.

Chapter Text

It's impossible not to notice that they make preparations all over the island. He enter on a little earlier, wanting to see Bob. He can already move and his wing is doing very well. He doesn't fly yet, but it's possible for him to play around the island and hunt for his own food, instead of waiting to be fed.

The Metkayina have never had an Ikran around for so long, Jake can tell they ended up liking him. The only problem, according to Grace, is that the Ikran don't really like the lack of altitude or temperature, so it's unlikely that any will migrate here.

Jake dismisses the whole scientific explanation and convinces himself that eventually, it could happen. Nature on this planet, it rules the way it wants and science is unable to keep up with it.

Or rather, humans fail to keep up.

"Looks pretty good." opines Tonowari, he and Jake watch Bob jump from tree to tree and roar for joy. Jake nods in agreement.

"He'll be able to fly a bit, but not long distances or to get me home." Jake comments loosely and Tonowari doesn't avoid a laddish grin at that. "Why does everyone seem so excited today?" asks wagging his tail and Tonowari turns towards the coast, pointing to the horizon.

"Soon it will be the arrival of the Tulkun, it will be reuniting with our brothers and that, for obvious reasons, is a cause for joy and celebration." Tonowari explains simply. Jake gives a simple Aah and scratches his head.

"And can I be here for that moment?"

It seems to be something important to the Metkayina and he doesn't want to intrude where he's not called. Tonowari turns sharply, grimacing almost offended by the question. Jake stretches his lips, will take that as a no. He runs his hand through his hair, it's grown too long and is a little hard to keep in one position.

"Of course you can be" Tonowari says to Jake's surprise "Lkeitam is the one who brought you to us, you should meet him properly" Jake blinks repeatedly. Right, he's had it repeated to him so much and still, he misses that bit of information. "It'll be a few nights from now, but we're ready to hear their good news."

"I understand" Jake smacks his lips and furrows his eyebrows. "Does everyone have a Tulkun?"

"It's not about a mount like..." Tonowari points to Bob who comes stumbling back across the floor, roaring until he bumps his head against Jake, who starts coddling him as usual. "They are our brothers" puts a hand on his chest and the stern gesture intimidates Jake, making him wag his tail, restless. "They are as much a part of us as they are a part of them, a part of us."

Jake considers Tonowari started speaking his language because there's no way he understands what he's talking about. He looks at the horizon again, furrowing his eyebrows.

"And is it possible for me to bond with one?" Jake asks the air. His eternal obsession is to make tsaheylu with any creature possible.

After learning that the Tanathor is also possible to ride, he was left wanting to try. Although that would kill him and then Grace would finish him off. Tonowari gives a soft laugh.

"No Omatikaya has ever done it. Neither has anyone from the forest, let alone a Dreamwaker."

Is it encouragement, is it a possibility? Or a warning not to. Whatever the answer, Jake is left with uncertainty hanging over him.

jake scratches his beard and frowns. The signal here is horrible. The magnetic field of the mountains makes sending or receiving messages here a problem. Not that he's thrilled to receive another notification from Quaritch demanding reports. Not at all. He just hopes he doesn't receive any.

He has already made his logs in such a way as not to reveal very vital information about the Metkayina. Not much about their routes, how they fight or how their animals work. The most revealing thing he has mentioned, is that they are able to go to very wide depths and have a very special bond with the Tulkun.

Which feels revealing enough on its own and now Jake feels bad about it.

Jake rubs his face with his hand and looks to the side, Trudy asleep on Norm - privacy in this matchbox doesn't exist - and Grace on her own. As usual.

"I think this is the first time in months I've seen you out of the capsule this long." Grace teases. Jake rolls his eyes and lets out a breath.

"You didn't mean to send this for me." chides Jake and Grace shrugs, lights a cigarette and leans back from the table to eat.

"It's your job. I've got enough on my plate." justifies the scientist.

They are silent for a few minutes.

"Tonowari told me that the Tulkun are coming soon," Jake comments, "Some kind of visit, migration or something."

"Tulkun migration" Grace says and holds up the cigar before frowning. "And you can be there?" Jake nods. "I'd kill to see it" she admits through her teeth, frustrated. "Tulkun are overly intelligent animals. They understand sign language, they compose music, they do lots and lots of things, but obviously, studying them is complicated."

"I once heard at the base that there is a marine biologist."

"And yet, he's done nothing but discover the worst news of all."

Grace doesn't say what it's about, perhaps so as not to involve him. Jake doesn't have the energy to push. If they just give him the information, he'll be happy. Grace clicks her tongue.

"Not just their presence, all the marine wildlife moves with them. It's a perfect time to study..." She talks and talks, Jake understands none of it. A total zero, but he lets her be. Best not to interrupt her. " If only I could get any closer." she complains aloud, frustrated.

Jake looks back at the screen with the files being sent.

"She'd just come and watch. She won't do anything else. The Omatikaya let her walk with them" assures Jake, chasing after Tonowari who clearly, doesn't want to have this conversation again. "It's not a threat nor-"

Tonowari turns Jake sharply, making him stop and take a couple of steps back.

"We've already had this conversation and the answer is the same: Grace Augustine cannot come to Awa'atlu," he says solemnly and grumpily. Jake clicks his tongue in annoyance. "Your case is different and for that reason alone, you are here, but no other Dreamwalker or Skypeople will come here." The conclusion is even harsher and Jake moves his jaw, frustrated.

"She just wants to see," Jake insists. "She won't do any harm. I can promise you that."

As he could see coming, it was to no avail. Tonowari didn't budge that time, the next time, the one after that, and the four other times Jake tried. That's the only peace he has in his conscience: he tried.

Grace was obviously disappointed, but she appreciated Jake's effort on the subject. She knows he's not lying to her about that particular one. It's obvious he's hiding something, but it has nothing to do with this particular subject. It must be about Tonowari as it was about Neytiri before.

With the exception of Grace, his closeness with Tonowari is exceptionally great. A couple of times of going floating while watching the sky, wearing more garments made up of pearls, beads and seashells; there isn't much to talk about most of the time, yet they are more pleased to be quietly alone with each other.

Each day the arrival of the Tulkun draws nearer and the atmosphere is hectic in response. At most there are a couple of days left.

Jake stayed playing with a few Ilus and teenagers who decided to approach. All of them equally attentive and curious about Jake. Tonowari is busy with other business, so he has "the afternoon off".

He shakes his head, his ears perked up and hair damp. He looks back and furrows his brows, the horizon yellowed and orange by the sunset, the Metkayina returning. After making sure no one is nearby, Jake jumps into the water by himself, swimming with the momentum of a current and doing no more than that. Swim.

Swim.

Enjoy the current.

Enjoying the sea.

Running his hand through the Ilu that swim by his side and let him hold on to go further.

Jake comes up for air eventually, but keeps swimming.

He notices something in the distance? Like a large animal. Looking him. Almost watching him. Jake pays no attention to it, as it is not approaching and is not a threat.

Jake is already used to it being there.

Night falls, Pandora's natural luminescence takes its place and he's still there.

「I never thought I would like swimming the way I do. Tonowari taught me to feel the currents, to let myself be carried by them; it's hard without having his tail, but it's just like running through branches and trees, riding an Ikran and flying through the Hallelujah」 mountains.

「Suddenly it all seems like a dream...」

「And I don't wake up when it reaches nice parts, it stretches and stretches. [Laughter] It's an eternal dream」.

"Did you have a nice trip?"

Jake lowers his ears and purses his lips. Tonowari told him not to go swimming alone at night. As beautiful as it is, there are dangers and they usually arise at night. To make matters worse, no one would be remotely close to help him. He takes Tonowari's hands and leans against a rock to get out. It's the first time the Olo'eyktan is dry and Jake soaked.

"I losted by the urge to swim." Jake excuses vaguely and Tonowari gives a confident smile, full of satisfaction.

"So you're finally learning to be one of us."

Jake laughs through his nose, lowering his ears in some embarrassment and squeezing Tonowari's hands by accident. The surprise comes from feeling the gesture back. Jake cocks his head, Tonowari stares at him and they end up putting their foreheads together. Jake sighs, eyes closed and rubs the lightly. It's very comfortable, it's a kind of strange security and satisfaction that makes him feel at ease.

Or at least Jake wishes he did.

"There is a very special glow about you Jake. You are not like the other Uniltìrantokx or the people of the sky. Don't let them sink you, you don't belong on the ground; you're from the ocean and the sky." Tonowari assures him in a low voice, strong and full of confidence, but with that hidden affectionate touch more accentuated than ever. Jake reckons he's never been spoken to like that before.

No one ever saw anything special in him. Something worthwhile and besides that, that the affection was genuine. It's a lot of different things that make him feel anxious and almost feverish.

「Eventually I must wake up」.

Tonowari catches Jake before he falls to the ground. The body limp and unconscious. Tonowari sighs with some disappointment at this.

Jake sits still in the link capsule for a few minutes, looking at his motionless, thin, useless legs. He rubs his face with his hand, annoyed at the thick beard and everything around him. He wants to go back there, pretend this part of his life doesn't exist.

"Did you have sweet dreams, Corporal?"

Jake tenses and looks to the right, where Quaritch is cleaning a weapon. In the link capsule in front is Norm, but using his Avatar and Grace came in late today, so he must still be in there. In theory, Jake is alone with Quaritch and is perfect evidence that the dream is over. Hopefully not for long...

Although it will feel like an eternal wait.

Chapter Text

Quaritch's arrival is unwelcome in many ways. First, the most obvious: he was still connected and it feels horrible when the connection is suddenly interrupted. Jake wouldn't want to have to put him through a situation that isn't forced. The second reason is that he is in terrible shape. Thinner than usual, with long hair and noticeable beard.

When they go to Hell's Gate Jake tries to shave and cut his hair. That way he won't make a bad impression on his superiors. Be that as it may, Quaritch decided that he does what he wants (nothing Jake doesn't know) and here he is, judging him. The soldier held out hope that he wouldn't have to go through this any time soon. He doesn't have the mental fortitude for this right now.

Not with the quiet day he had.

"Sir, don't do that; I feel my soul leaving my body." Jake rubs his neck and clears his throat. Again he doesn't feel enough air in his lungs.

"I wouldn't have to if my soldier decided to send his reports on time" Quaritch admonishes without changing his posture. He analyzes Jake meticulously. The very baggy clothes, the beard, the hair, how obvious it is that he hasn't slept well in days. "So, what's your report today?" smiles slyly and sarcastically. "Since we're here."

Jake gives a snort, climbs down into the chair and out of nowhere, Quaritch helps him lower his legs. He doesn't feel anything in them and yet, he gets a shiver so strong that he even sensed it in them.

The only thing he has felt from the waist down in years. His gesture of strangeness, though obvious, is deliberately ignored by the commander. As if that wasn't enough, being the obvious and clear thing that it bothers him that they are doing this, Quaritch moves the chair. Jake is left with his hands in his lap.

Quaritch sets it down in front of the table and Jake furrows his eyebrows further Where did this food come from? He's sure there's nothing like it here. He can tell Quaritch must have brought it. The man rests his hand on the table and points to the plate with his head.

"Eat up, you can tell it's been a long time coming, Corporal." Jake questions is this a trap? Is he expecting something specific? Whatever it is, he can't figure it out.

Uncomfortable with Quaritch's intense, steady gaze, he eats everything on the plate. The only certainty is that it had been a long time since he had eaten this well. Not in this body at least. Quaritch pats him on the back and Jake licks his lips. A few minutes later, Quaritch sits down in front of Jake.

"Well? Your report, soldier?" Quaritch questions again and Jake averts his gaze for a moment, curving his lips in annoyance before speaking.

"The Metkayina's throwing a shindig or something" He scratches the back of his neck and leans back in the chair. "It'll be in a couple of weeks. I guess they'll be distracted."

Bullshit. Pure lies and bullshit.

"And what are they going to be celebrating?"

"Something about Eywa. They haven't wanted to tell me much about it. I'm not invited at the moment," Jake replies and Quaritch squints. "The leader told me that, if I get to do what he has planned, he'll let me do it. Until then, I don't have much to say about it."

"Another weak spot? Something they care a lot about... like the glowing tree of the savages in the forest." Quaritch taps his thumb against the table and Jake bites his lower lip before answering.

"They idolize the sea. Unless you dump the same amount in oil to ruin it, there's not much that's relevant to them that I know of" Despite being a way to distract him, he also has no idea if there's a sacred place for them. A tree of souls, but for the Metkayina would they be underwater? Unknown to him. "I know they have connections to other tribes. I would say this is the largest."

"It is, it is" Quaritch states laughing and stretches in his seat. "After all, the other conglomeration of savages went elsewhere. We made them scram" Jake cocks his head to one side "They thought they could take us, but, I tell you the truth Corporal" He leans forward. "Leaving them so much room makes them think they've got a chance."

Quaritch rests his hand on the wheelchair. Jake remains as he is, fidgeting.

"So much so that several of them thought they might attack. Using their animals as supposed insurance and" He shrugs, looking up for a moment with indifference and even derision. "They ended up all dying. Just like the kids at that dumb school in Augustine."

Quaritch gets up and stands behind Jake, his hands on the other's shoulders. The soldier again feels that unpleasant chill, accompanied by the deepest unease Why is Quaritch touching him so much?

"That's the way it is son, eventually we'll kill them all, but that way the ones on top feel less guilty" Quaritch ironizes. "Taking them out one by one..." Jake scrunches up his face, his shoulders starting to ache. "Keep an eye out for some animals coming. Some whales or something."

"Tulkun?" he stammers, uncomfortable. Quaritch gives an affirmative. A sort of snort.

"Yes. Those things. They're looking for them. Shit Parker wants. What matters is obeying, not asking questions Remember that Corporal?" Jake's reply is barely audible, his complaint about the pain in his shoulders beginning to echo in the almost hollow space devoid of life apart from the two of them. "Good. I expect your reports on time from now on. I can't travel here because of bad connection and delays."

"Of course sir." Jake replies and waits for Quaritch to walk away.

He doesn't, on the contrary, he puts a hand on his head and pats it, as if he wants to check how much hair he has or something of the sort. Jake has no idea and doesn't know how to ask him to move away at once. Not without being disrespectful to his superior.

"You should shave, soldier. At this rate, you're going to look like another one of Augustine's scientists."

And with that last, Quaritch finally stops having his hands all over Jake. The man exhales quietly, but relieved. Quaritch puts on his mask and with some final mumbling, pulls back. Jake notices his limp, weak arms. He tries to move the chair and can't. He rubs his chest with his hand and exhales loudly.

"Do you want me to help you?"

Grace reaches over and takes the same spot Quaritch did a few minutes ago. Jake shakes his head and takes a deep breath.

Hold the air in your abdomen...

And let it flow slowly to the rest of your body.

Jake repeats.

Grace stands there, accompanying him. She didn't know Quaritch was here and comes out in the last four minutes of conversation, with the bad feeling of so much touch. Quaritch isn't close with anyone. She has never seen him behave like this with anyone. Just the usual military strength cheesiness.

Including the silly nicknames to be in code.

It's just different with Jake. It always has been. From the minute one he saw potential in him, but she's worried that it might escalate in a way that's unpleasant for Jake.

It takes forever, but as he calms down, Jake is able to go to bed; Grace has made and given him tea. Not very good, it has a lot of water in it, but better than sleeping with the restlessness the whole event caused.

"I notice you're disturbed."

Jake has been distracted all day, very, very distracted, to the point of not even bothering that a couple of Ilu have been pulling his tail. It takes the avatar a while to notice Tonowari talking to him.

"Did something bad happen?"

"Something... like that."

Tonowari grabs his head and presses his thumb against Jake's forehead. At this point, Jake finds it soothing and something he needs. As if the pressure forces his worries out of his head. Tonowari grabs his face with both hands soon after and presses his forehead together. Jake takes a deep breath and when they separate, Tonowari presses his cheeks a little.

"Better?"

"Yes. Better" Jake smiles slyly and faintly. "I'd rather go for a swim for a while, though."

"The Tulkun will be here shortly, don't rush."

Jake nods and goes to play with Bob for a while. He can tell he's getting better and better. He's taken to fishing on his own. With help from some Ilus, he doesn't sink to his death, so even he is getting used to being here.

He has told Grace a bit about the change in the Ikran's behavior and she has been very happy to write about it. Jake at this point considers himself her field scientist.

As a few hours pass, what they expected finally happens: the Tulkun arrive in Awa'atlu territory and all the Metkayina go to meet them. Jake jumps into the water, climbing onto the back of an Ilu out of sheer curiosity.

Underwater, they look even bigger than they did out of the water that time. He is able to hear the way they sound and they make him think too much of those old documentaries of whales on earth. It turns out to be slightly nostalgic.

Eventually he crosses paths with Tonowari, who was looking for him. They both make their way to the Tulkun who has a long string of tattoos and they match Tonowari's tattoos all over his body; he stands out from the rest as he has a black back and white underside. Jake greets him and laughs helplessly.

「I don't know how to define it exactly. I just understood it. Like somehow my brain decided to work right for once. I understood what he was saying, how he mentioned that he was glad to see me well and that he was still there to see me. It was a situation...weird? It was good」

「It reminded me of Tonowari in an inexplicable way. It's too obvious that they are spirit brothers. Or at least that's what they explained to me about it. I still don't have much idea about it」.

「I wonder what the RDA might want from these animals Do they have anything special that might work? I understand the Unobtanium, but the Tulkun...」

「They are creatures that live without bothering anyone What can they want from them? 」

""That's Ronal's Tulkun"" Tonowari points out and Jake turns in that direction. ""For a long time she's been trying to have offspring, but she's not succeeding yet. There's hope that eventually it will happen.""

""I doubt it won't happen.""

It's the first time Jake sees Ronal happy. It is a very abrupt change, but it confirms to him that she is not bitter absolutely all the time. Her Tulkun is smaller and with different markings, as well as grayer.

Jake is surprised to be suddenly engulfed by something big, being the fin of Tonowari's Tulkun and he hears laughter echoing. Tonowari doesn't avoid laughing and goes to help Jake up again. Tonowari can tell Jake was stunned.

They both sit on the fin of the Tulkun that swims away from the reef and surfaces. Jake shakes his head and takes a deep breath of air. He laughs towards Tonowari who pats the Tulkun that carries them away.

"And at what point do they bond?"

"Usually when the children become adults."

"Oh."

"Shouldn't worry you, you're a kid still anyway." taunts Tonowari. Jake gives him a shove that manages to knock him into the water with no problem, his lips stretched and tail fidgeting.

"Don't call me a kid." Jake claims in a grumble and Tonowari sticks his head out of the water,

Jake makes out in the distance what may be a Tulkun. Maybe that's been what's been watching him the whole time.

They end up on the same island as usual and Jake enjoys just being there, floating without doing much else. Tonowari continues to catch up with his Tulkun in the meantime. The day feels so short even though it has been so long. Jake would have preferred it not to end.

Chapter Text

"Do they sound like whales?"

"Yes, but I understand them anyway. I don't know if it's an automatic thing" Jake scratches the back of his neck and cranes his neck, slightly sore. He wants to go to sleep, but Grace hasn't stopped questioning him about the Tulkun. "They know signs perfectly and it's like talking to another human... a pretty big one." he concludes wryly.

Grace starts mumbling a million things that, as usual, Jake doesn't care about or understand for the most part. It turns to scientific talk with Norm and this is where Jake stops being relevant. It doesn't mean he leaves.

He just sits there and eventually falls asleep, head thrown back and mouth open. Trudy notices and so as not to interrupt them, she's the one who moves Jake to lay him down on his bed.

"Oh finally!" Jake celebrates and looks back, Bob squeals and does it again, tearing at the ground with the claws of his wings. "Easy buddy, doesn't mean I'm going to abandon you or anything." he jokes patting him on the head.

Tonowari would finally let him ride a Tsurak. It's like the water Ikran in Jake's opinion and while going on Ilu and Tulkun was fun, he wants to try what Tonowari rides with whenever there's hunting to be done or he has to visit another village.  Tonowari doubts that this is the best idea, but he doesn't have many other options. Jake is adamant that he is a warrior.

He doubts it very much, but he will have to see with his own eyes how he does with that.

The difference between an Ilu and a Tsurak is quite big. There are no friendly or calm Tsurak. They are all bad tempered and no matter how tame they are, they will most likely want to leave once you try to learn how to ride them. Essentially different from knowing how to do it, where the trust is already there and it shows in the bond.

It takes four people to keep the Tsurak still. Jake straps his hand to the saddle, considering that this way he won't fall off as fast and being in the water, it might help. Here at least he doesn't have to worry about dying from a fall like he did taming Bob.

What name can he give his Tsurak...?

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asks Tonowari and Jake nods, taking the twim to make tsaheylu.

"Yeah, it'll be fun." Jake assures, smiling from time to time as a nervous gesture. The others look at each other with the same thought:

He's so foolish, somehow it makes sense that Tonowari likes him so much.

Tonowari wouldn't be able to be with someone complacent. Despite being a leader and expecting what he commands to be done, he's not exactly someone who is domineering. With Ronal anyone can tell how easy it is for him to follow orders and Jake making his own way is something that blends very well with Tonowari's passive and quiet personality.

Jake is explosive, he's silly, he's bold, he's stupid and he's determined. A perfect mix.

"Good." exhales Tonowari surrendered with the subject.

When they tsaheylu, they release the Tsurak and just as they might expect, it swims off in a hurry. Jake clenches his jaw and holds on with all his might, holds his breath once he sinks and the momentum is worse.

Eventually Jake lets go and pulls his head out of the water, looking around. He hears the odd chuckle quite far away.

"It lasted a little longer than I expected." admits one of those who helped with the Tsurak.

"It held, which is already a lot more than I expected." says another with a chuckle. Tonowari shakes his head, smiling. Now they'll have to look for him.

Jake was trying all day and except for when he dives earlier than expected, it went pretty well. Especially the part about flying over the water. A familiar and known feeling that allowed for more connection with the animal.

Jake even saw that watchful animal in the distance, doing its usual thing: keeping watch. Jake is curious. He plans to approach it later. When Tonowari is not watching.

On their millionth and last attempt of the day, as it would soon start to get dark, they all point and watch what's in the sky: a bluish Ikran approaching. It descends and Jake can't resist the huge grin, diving down to go faster to shore. Tonowari frowns Visit?

Jake shakes himself once out of the water and advances on the Ikran's descendant, almost pushing that person from how fast he's walking towards it. Jake gets a shove, a bump, a snort, the line he was expecting, "I THOUGHT YOU HAD DIED IN THE STORM! SKXAWNG!" and finally after a few seconds, a hug.

"I missed you too Neytiri." Jake says without avoiding the amusement it provokes in him.

Neytiri may miss him all she wants, but she won't let go of his attitude, it's expected. Breaking away, Neytiri takes him by the face and examines him. Jake maintains a gentle, weak smile. As usual when they are alone and together. Neytiri lets out a deep breath.

"I thought I would never see you again." Neytiri muses hurt and frightened at the thought. Jake shakes his head.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily" Jake jokes and Neytiri feels her bottom lip quiver, lowering her gaze as well as her ears. "I see you." whispers Jake and Neytiri says in a shaky voice:

"I see you."

Jake presses his forehead together with her, rubbing it lightly and gently. As affectionate as usual. Neytiri keeps hold of his wrist once they part. She greets Tonowari, who observes with a curious look how intimate it all was. How obvious Jake's affection for Neytiri is.

Whom he described her so long ago as someone so dear, it is impossible to put into words.

"Good to see you Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina." greets Neytiri and Tonowari reciprocates. "Sorry for the unexpected visit."

"I figured you would eventually come, Jake told me you are his teacher" Neytiri nods and wonders how much Jake has talked to Tonowari? Do they even spend time together? "Any reason you came?"

"I just wanted to make sure he was okay. Grace told me he was here since the storm" Neytitiri replies, cocking her head to the side and being slightly wary of him. Jake questions why the grab? Neytiri doesn't let go, but he doesn't know why she's holding him. "And to know why he still wasn't coming back to Home Tree."

"Oh, that. Bob's hurt. His wing broke, he's already been knitted, but he's not ready to fly yet. Not that far."

Neytiri tilts her head to the other side, examining Tonowari and the opposite gives a slight snort, wrinkling her nose.

"You are welcome to stay tonight if you like." Tonowari states and withdraws without further ado. Neytiri nods and watches him leave.

Jake and Neytiri go to where Bob is, leaving Seze with him and taking advantage of the secluded area to talk as usual. Neytitiri gives a snort. She's not used to the smell of saltpeter.

"I didn't think you'd come," Jake admits. "I know it takes a long time, but I don't want to leave Bob behind."

"I know. It's a good thing," Neytiri says with a slight, sly smile. "Shows what you're capable of" she muses and turns her gaze to the horizon. "Although I notice you a bit... Distinct?"

"Maybe because I smell like salt."

"No. That's not it."

Neytiri reaches behind Jake and loosens his small braids. She plays with the long hair so she can style it in a way she likes. Jake lets her be, as always. He dozes through this touch. It's a threat. If he falls asleep, he'd tune out.

"I sense you lighter," Neytiri says in a soft voice. "As if the strong heart inside your chest finally found an element that makes it happy."

"I like the sea. Water in general... the way of water" Jake lets out air and closes his eyes. This makes him very sleepy. "I like being here, feeling part of them. As much as I like flying between the mountains." Neytiri laughs.

"Yes, I can tell, Ma'Jake."

When she's almost done braiding all his hair so it's not going to bother him so much in the water, because Jake wouldn't do it himself, she strokes the back of his neck. Jake senses shivers from the contraction and the closed eyes just brings back a bad memory. The way he startles startles Neytiri.

"Did something bad happen?"

"Not here."

"It was a demon."

"Neytiri-"

"A demon did something to you. They always do bad things," Neytiri says going on with what she does. "That's why Eywa brought you to us. They don't deserve you."

「Seeing and talking to Neytiri just made me feel like the worst motherfucker on the planet. They keep saying that Eywa brought me here, that Eywa sent me with them because I deserve something good. Something better」

「I highly doubt that's the case, let's be honest: I'm the fucker who's going to destroy their home for having a fucking favor」.

「I haven't said anything important these days, but how does it change anything? I already talked about Home Tree! Even when stupid shit I said about the Metkayina and Awa'atlu will be problematic」.

「And I'll end up hurting all these people who say I deserve better...」

「They deserve better than me in their lives. I won't stop thinking that it's Tommy who should be taking this place and not me」.

"Shall we fly for a while?"

Jake smiles with his eyes closed and nods. He'd like that .

. . .

Ronal looks at Tonowari and then up at the sky, where Neytiri and Jake can be seen flying. A couple of teenagers playing nothing more. It's so obvious and even charming. Although she didn't get close, she saw the brief moment of Jake and Neytiri reuniting and what was said was confirmed.

They are soul mates. They are two people made to love each other intensely, a connection that could not be broken indifferent to the time and distance between them.

However, that is something that bothers Tonowari. Something that hurts or distresses him. Ronal places a hand on the Olo'eyktan's shoulder, catching his attention.

"Are you all right?"

"Of course." Tonowari replies sincerely.

Perhaps not at his best, but neither is he in pain or agony. He just feels uneasiness inside his chest and a bad taste in his mouth.

. . .

Neytiri flies over near the water, laughing and playing with the Ilu who jump up and down to play with each other. Jake dives into the water and grabs one, moving even faster than Seze to Neytiri's surprise.

It is so amazing to her how easy it is for Jake to move even in the dark and dangerous water. Up to an island with nothing in particular and out of the water, Jake grabs her arms.

"Come on."

"Nono-"

"It'll be fun, come on." he prompts and with a half-hearted pout, Neytiri agrees, letting herself go.

Although she doesn't know how to breathe in the same way, Jake quickly spots a jellyfish and gives it to her, indicating that, with it, she can breathe. The difference is obvious. Neytiri is not able to distinguish the current and slip into it, she just holds on to Jake's arm and when they get to what he wants to show her, Neytiri's eyes dilate.

They both play.

They both chase the shoals and other bright animals underwater. The fluorescent pints on their foreheads glowing brightly amidst the gloom and as they emerge, despite it being a very long time, Neytiri laughs openly, giving him a teasing nudge.

. . .

"You're leaving already?"

"Yes."

Jake doesn't know why Ronal is in his marui, but it could mean bad news.

Chapter Text

Neytiri is outside, feeding a few last snacks to her Ikran, so Ronal has a few minutes before she shows up and kicks her out of the marui if she's not done talking to Jake yet.

"Do you need anything special?" he asks, intimidated from the constant, attacking stare Ronal gives him. It's almost unbearable. She gives a snort, her brow furrowed as always.

"I want you to be clear about one thing, Jake Sully" Whenever he's named with his last name, it's because something bad is going to happen shortly. "In case you're indifferent or very clueless to it, Tonowari has a very special fondness for you."

Believe me it's very clear to me, he thinks uncomfortably Where is this conversation going? Jake know Tonowari and Ronal have... something. They said so, and they wouldn't kiss if it weren't that way.

"So I must demand that you don't generate the wrong idea in him" Ronal takes a step closer and even though she is smaller than him, Jake thinks at any moment she would jump in and slit his throat in motion. "Don't generate the wrong hope inside his heart" She places a hand on his chest. "How kind he's been to you."

"It's not my intention to do you any harm," Jake assures her, anxious. "If it's from spending what's left of the day with Neytiri, I couldn't help it. I hadn't seen her for months. I didn't even think it would be a problem. I've already told you what she is to me."

Neytiri quietly listens to the conversation and questions herself: is there an established relationship with Tonowari? Something intimate. She questions whether they have made tsaheylu. She doubts it very much. Tonowari is the Olo'eyktan and would not go that far with someone who does not even belong to a clan. If Jake is not accepted earlier into the Omatikaya, who initially took him in, it is because he is not to be trusted.

It would be very counterproductive. It would even be like going against the best interests of his people.

"I hope it really is," Ronal admits with a raised chin. "If I see you cause pain to my Olo'eyktan, you will pay for it with your life, Jake Sully."

Ronal withdraws without further ado and Jake scratches the back of his neck. That was rather awkward. Neytiri leaning on the right mast of the marui just looms another awkward or heavy conversation ahead of him.

"You chose Tonowari as your mate?"

Jake's tail stands bristling and stretched, had he had his human body, he would have blushed. He furrows his eyebrows and sits down at the same time Neytiri does so in front of him. The woman takes his hands, being so different by the lack of a finger.

"When you become one of us, you have the right to choose who will be your mate," Neytiri explains softly, playing with Jake's hands. Running her fingers over the marks, outlining each one. "It can be a female. If you like the way she sings, the way she talks, the way she hunts... Or a male, if you like his smile, the way he talks or is able to run his life."

Neytiri holds Jake's hands tightly, pulling him a little closer to her.

"And if that person accepts you, you will be able to tsaheylu" Jake opens his eyes and with floppy ears, wags his tail, restless. "You will be united body and soul with that person. Until the end of your days, you can only be with that person. It is a physical, spiritual union, and one that Eywa blesses," Neytiri explains with such force and such concern that Jake feels a little choked up. "You have to... choose very well what you want. Who you want... And if you want Tonowari, you must be aware of what that means."

"It means you chose the way of water."

"It means you chose Awa'atlu."

"It means you chose the ocean."

"It means you chose us."

It is overwhelming for Neytiri to talk about this. That she makes him see that it is such an intimate and deep relationship, that it is his soul being tethered to whomever he chooses to join.

Merging with that other person for the rest of his life.

And she also talks as if... he's going to stay here. As if he's going to be eternally between them. Until the day he dies, but it's not something that's possible. Jake would like to explain, but she speaks again:

"Jake," she says in a faint whisper. "Eywa made me not to kill you... and told my mother to make me instruct you. You and I were brought together by Eywa. So that you would learn to walk among us; learn to see, hear, feel and live as we do and there will be no instant that I will not care for you, but you must promise me" Neytiri rests her right hand on Jake's chest, who inhales and exhales deeply. "That when you must walk alone, you're going to know what to do."

「I don't know what to do」

「I've never known what to do」

「Much less now」

「I don't know what to think about all this. I never took the time to think about that topic and that maybe, it's what Tonowari expects from me: to choose him as a partner, to stay permanently in Pandora, but it's not something I can do. It's not up to me. This body is not even mine」.

「Neytiri asked me something so difficult. I had to tell her yes because I didn't want to hurt her. She's worried about me and I still feel like shit for being a fucking traitor among these people who care so much」.

「I don't know. I don't know what I'm supposed to do」

「If Eywa really exists, she loved the whole circus she formed around me. She must be enjoying all this mental chaos I have」.

"I promise." replies Jake and Neytiri smiles sideways. She kneels down and grabs his face with both hands, giving him a kiss on his forehead and making it inside his mind, becoming even more stormy.

Jake doesn't want to hurt anyone.

And that is what is most likely to happen if everything continues this way.

The first thing he finds when he wakes up is Neytiri shaking him and asking him to wake up. It's a bad way to start a day that was bad on its own. Grace complaining that she had no cigarettes, Trudy hasn't arrived with food stocks, Norm is also unbearable because he doesn't get his reports.

All in all, a bloody mess with extension there. He gets up dazed and rushed, being pulled outside by Neytiri. What he gets is a very strange image: a ship not far from here. so much so that it's possible to see it.

"What...?"

"They came all the way here again!" someone shouts in a shrill tone. "They're invading us!"

"Nono, wait, wait," Jake stops, walking past all of them and over to where Tonowari and Ronal are. "It's not coming this way. It's the reverse side of the ship. They're going east" He points. "They're not coming this way."

"Doesn't explain why they're so close." chides Tonowari, grumpily and Jake looks at the ship and then at him.

"I'm...I'm going to see what they're doing. Maybe I can do something about it." he proposes uncertainly.

Tonowari gives Ronal a look, both equally incredulous and unconvinced. Jake whistles, calling out to Bob and the Ikran makes an appearance. He saw him flying with Seze yesterday, maybe he's a little better off than he thought and it's not that far. He could take him up to and then swim back here.

Neytiri puts on her visor, determined to accompany him in case assistance is needed. Bob is happy for the tsaheylu and flying is initially difficult for him, but it is not impossible to stay in the air. It just slows him down. Once in the sky, Jake becomes aware of his own uncertainty and curiosity.

Why is it so important to have information from the coastal tribes.

The answer he receives makes him too angry, but again, there is no way for him to express it. Neytiri holds her breath, stopped at the same height as Jake.

"It can't be." She stammers, her expression hurt and angry at the same time.

What they observe is a dead Tulkun, having too many blades buried in his flesh. Jake thinks he hears even a hint of her whimpering. That she is still alive and suddenly, a machine lands on her head, piercing her and causing a final howl of pain.

"No! Don't!" Jake manages to stop Neytiri from attacking. If they reveal their location, they could go against the Metkayina. "We have to... we have to go. We have to warn Tonowari. Now Let's go!"

Neytitiri tries to fire an arrow, but with a final whimper she backs off. Bob is tired and can barely keep flying, but he makes it to Awa'atlu with almost no trouble.

"What's this about?" asks Tonowari instantly, all of them approaching Jake to find out. "What are those invaders doing here?"

"They're killing the Tulkun."

The look of offense and anger on Tonowari's face is by far the worst he's ever seen on him. It is so unbecoming that it generates disgust in him. Jake grabs his arm, anxious and wanting to stop whatever he's thinking. The slightest chance he wants to go attack.

"That Tulkun is already dead. I don't know whose sister she was, but there is nothing we can do now but wait for them to leave" Jake enunciates, wanting to persuade the enraged Olo'eyktan. "We-must-wait."

"For them to continue murdering our brothers? They must pay in blood for what they have done!" The Metkayina's cry is the same one you can hear from the Omatikaya when they are determined to fight for their territory.

It is the same suicidal chant that now more than ever, Jake does not want to hear. He does not want them to march to their death for something that objectively no longer has a solution. This would not be a fight, but walking to the grave.

"And I understand!" Jake assures loudly, he wants Tonowari to hear him and he won't if he doesn't speak louder than everyone else. Just as scared, angry and offended. He must be the voice of reason among so much emotion and hurt pride. "I understand perfectly, but they're not going to make it if they die now!"

Tonowari scowls further, genuinely enraged and beginning to take Jake's attitude badly.

"Are you defending them?"

"No! That's not what I do!" states Jake with speed. "What I want is for you to listen to me" He squeezes Tonowari's arm, his jaw tense and imposing towards him harder and harder. "And that you don't lead your people to die."

Tonowari snorts and abruptly releases his grip. Jake turns to the others and drops his arms. Even Neytiri waits for whatever Jake might say.

"They haven't stopped telling me that many died trying to fight the sky people" Jake licks his lips quickly and his tail twitches restlessly. "And neither have failed to tell me how being their brothers, they choose to follow the path the Tulkun have dictated."

"We must defend them."

"Then do so by warning them!" Jake exclaims back to Tonowari. "Warn them what is happening. That they are looking for them and they must stay away, they must avoid their attacks, their ships, their sounds They must avoid it at all costs!" Ronal bows his head slightly. Watching with awe the strength with which Jake speaks, with which he directs and wishes with all his heart that casualties will be minimal, praying for them to be nil. "If it is inevitable Fight for them! But until it is not, you must do everything to protect them."

Tonowari takes a moment to know what to do. Whether to go along with the most primal desire of everyone present or to go along with Jake's advice. He closes his eyes, releases to a deep breath.

"Warn our brothers! We can't afford another loss!" announces Tonowari and without waiting a second, many run to the water. They have to send the message at any cost. Jake puffs out his chest for a moment.

Ah, yes they heard him.

. . .

"Did it bother you earlier?"

Tonowari turns to Jake, who is peering out from the entrance of the marui. Tonowari shakes his head and rises from his seat. He remains in front of Jake, who has his ears down and his tail still.

"A good leader listens to whatever needs to be said and admits when there is a better opinion than his own," Tonowari explains. "Your proposal was the sensible thing to do at the time. Even though the anger was driving us in another direction."

"I understand that you are angry... And I am sorry that that Tulkun is dead."

"Don't be sorry on their behalf, they're not sorry." warns Tonowari and Jake looks at him with his head down.

"I know, but at least I am sorry. I know Grace is too" Tonowari smiles slyly, always talking about Grace. "And... I'd like to say I know what they want from the Tulkun, but they won't give me that kind of information."

Being a doble agent would make him feel a hell of a lot better. It would be making up for what he'd done. Somehow. Tonowari shakes his head.

"There is no motivation in a murder where the reason is mere violence," Tonowari says. "Don't worry, Jake Sully, it's okay."

He nods with pursed lips. Tonowari grabs his arm and gives him a delicate tug to himself.

"You can stay with me a while longer."

"I'm beginning to think you like having me around."

"Of course I like having you around, Jake Sully."

Time served to detail Tonowari's tattoos. The fact that he has so many markings on his body. Face, shoulders, arms, chest.

"You've never told me about the tattoos."

"No?"

"No. I seem to have a forgetful teacher." Jake teases and Tonowari cocks his head. He steps in front of Jake and places his hands on Jake's shoulders.

"The shoulders, signify a barrier that protects those on the inside, like a thick wall that keeps out the roughest waves" His hands slide to Jake's shapely, but thin arms "The arms, signify strength, power, they are used by those who go hunting in the deep, danger-filled water" Tonowari presses both hands to Jake's chest, who feels the pair of warm, huge hands on his skin, "The chest, is the heart, the kindness of one who cares and watches over the home."

Jake bites his lips and takes Tonowari's face gently, with a faint, shy tremor in his hands.

"And what do the ones on your face mean?"

Tonowari squints and leans back delicately into Jake's hands.

"It is the safety and protection of the clan...it is the protection of the peace we possess and to make it last beyond our generation, that the songs that are sung, may not be of war."

Jake bristles at the sudden kiss on his palm. Tonowari grabs him by the wrist and gently pulls his hands down.

"When it's time What tattoos do you intend to wear?"

Jake furrows his eyebrows and immediately thinks about what they would be on his arms. If he stays here. If he doesn't return to the Omatikaya and stays in the forest....

If he stays...

How could he stay?

Does he want to stay?

"Even if it's not in the ocean, following the water way, you want to stay, Jake Sully. It's something that, even if you don't want to see it, it's in plain sight in how your whole being, doesn't even want to leave at night."

"Would you like me to stay?"

The question is simple and even silly, almost childish. Tonowari keeps the gesture calm and affable, nods his head, accentuating the smile a bit more, bright eyes eagerly riveted on Jake.

"Of course I'd love for you to stay, Ma'Jake."

Jake lets out air and grips Tonowari's forearms. Clinging to them, unconsciously, not wanting to let go.

Maybe he does know what he wants.

More not what he should do.

"Bob's better now. Let's fly tomorrow." Jake invites almost unrelatedly and Tonowari nods again.

"As you wish."

It was a good dose of revenge that happened. Tonowari doesn't usually fly that high. Only a meter or two at most. Being over thirty has him just short of puking. Jake enjoys every moment of his nervousness and obvious urge to dive into the water even if he breaks a bone in the process. He must say he noticed the watchful animal's back in the water, he ignores it for now. Just to torment Tonowari a bit more, he decides to climb in altitude and with that, the Olo'eyktan clings on as if his life depended on it.

They stop, Bob clinging to a rock to catch his breath. Jake starts laughing and Tonowari catches it, despite still being terrified of the ridiculous amount of maneuvering they did.

"I get that you wanted to scare me. We can move on to something less creepy."

"I didn't think an Olo'eyktan could be scared so easily."

Tonowari gives a snort and Jake laughs. Bob drops back and flies over the water. A group of Ilus jump out of the water, playing. They splash into them and Jake takes flight. It is almost completely dark, so the view is in itself extraordinary. Tonowari admires this new perspective. He has never been so close to the stars.

Jake climbs up above a layer of clouds and gliding forward, even he can enjoy the view. He inhales and exhales sharply, eager and enthralled. Tonowari is able to sense that eagerness.

"You like it up here." comments Tonowari quietly.

"I just like having no limit of any kind."

He enjoys running, swimming, flying and anything else he can do by feeling his whole body. One that feels like the worst prison the more the days go by. He is sick of himself being small, being disabled, needing the wheelchair.

Jake doesn't know how he feels about being human.

Not anymore.

They land on a random island, the long, thin braids falling down his right shoulder and revealing his face. He exhales, frustrated. Before long he will have to disconnect. Tonowari's hand on his waist jumps him. The opposite rests his forehead on his for a moment. Tonowari's hair is down, making it look more abundant.

"Anxieties take hold of you so quickly and it's understandable, but you must be stronger than them. Don't let them get you down."

He takes what Tonowari holds out to him with one hand. It is a blue braid with small beads and shells woven in. Out of reflex Jake smiles for a moment and with help from the opposite, adds it to the braids Neytiri made.

"Did you know she put beads in here?"

"I've never had that much hair before, so I don't know how to style it in any way. I think Neytiri is happy to do it for me." explains Jake.

Even if it were dreadlocks, he'd be happy with anything Neytiri does. Something about Tonowari makes him feel more important somehow. Like he finally has something of him. Tonowari locks lips with Jake and Jake eagerly reciprocates. Unlike the first time, where there was shyness and wariness on both sides, it's a more eager contact.

Hungrier.

Jake grabs Tonowari by the nape of his neck; Tonowari grabs Jake by the head, with his fingers in his hair and giving a gentle tug on the tsim, with his right hand on his lower back to pull him closer to his body.

He sighs and continues to press his lips together with Tonowari How does he interpret the grip? He mimics it and with that, Tonowari scrapes his fangs against Jake's lips. As they separate, they gasp and Tonowari nuzzles his cheek, smiling slyly.

If only... This was constant reality and not something that needed to end.

"Did you finish recording?" Jake nods and scratches the back of his neck, uncomfortable with a bit of neck pain. "You took longer today," Grace comments, lighting a cigarette. "Anything special happen?" Jake denies and Grace lets out a smoke. "That's weird. It's the-"

"What do they get from the Tulkun? Why do they hunt them?"

The question catches her off guard even though she expected it eventually. She leans against the table they use for eating and Jake waits patiently for Grace to finish smoking. When she does, the scientist crushes the cigarette and folds her arms. Her gesture is reproachful to say the least. Jake notices a trace of sadness.

"During expeditions to study them, someone found a carcass. They extracted everything from it," relates, and Jake can almost feel that there's nothing wrong with that. It's a corpse, but now, they kill them. "There were many, many tests done and in the end it yielded that" Grace exhales in annoyance, not even wanting to say it. "What's inside their brains is a liquid called Amrita..."

Jake vaguely remembers it from months ago, when they went to Hell's gate and talked to Parker.

"That liquid stops human aging" Jake furrows his eyebrows and widens his eyes, causing an offended and surprised gesture at the same time. He's pretty sure he was told about it and didn't remember, rediscovering it is like a punch to the nose. "It's not much you get for each Tulkun, you have to process it after all. Make it a little less... raw" Grace rolls her eyes and lowers her head. "They've been more interested in that these days, after all, the mass of Tulkuns sighted, they've multiplied."

"But that doesn't mean they can kill them all" Jake argues instantly. "They have a voice, they reason, they're as smart as we are."

"You know that doesn't matter to them" replies Grace with a bitter, even mocking smile. "What matters is that the money that funds this expedition falls after all."

Jake stands for a few seconds thinking and finally a concern comes to his mind:

"What will they do with the people who pay whatever the Amrita costs?" Grace reaches for a cigarette. She needs to smoke more. "There's no room on earth, there's no point in making anyone immortal."

"Of course not, but they want money. Eventually, everything on earth will disappear-who knows. Maybe the plan is to come here. I think that's what they're really after out of everything I do" Grace confesses with that tone of disappointment. "So many years of studying this place, for others to use and destroy it. Like the earth."

Jake clicks his tongue and truly, this is the first time Grace has noticed him angry. Jake is someone who is unexpressive and rather dry. So this emotional display is unique to say the least. Grace hopes it's not something serious or that it will lead to foolishness.

Chapter Text

For the thousandth time, accompanying Tonowari and his hunting party, he notices the watcher and with more closeness, he details it: a Tulkun. Unlike the others, it is all alone and doesn't do much more than float near some coral.

Jake thinks the animal is chasing him. He has seen it too many times already. Even when he flew over the area with Neytiri, he was there.

Or she was.

Jake has no idea.

Taking advantage of the fact that the hunt ended early and that Tonowari has Olo'eyktan business to attend to, Jake decides to go visit this lonely Tulkun. The first thing he finds is that he has a broken fin and, to make matters worse, a lot of scars all over his body. Swimming close to him, he sits on one of his fins, stretched out and suspiciously pointed at him as soon as he got close enough.

Jake rests a hand on it and furrows his brow, searching to understand what he's trying to say. Out of the water, it's more complicated to perceive.

"Are you alone?" he asks gesturing with his hand.

Yes.

"Oh... Don't you have a pack? Did they hunt them?" asks Jake and the Tulkun advances slightly, considering that being stranded and talking is a bit boring.

No. They died. I'm on my own now.

"Yeah... they took something from you." Jake comments, making mention of the broken fin.

It's fair payment for what I did.

"Oh yeah?"

I didn't follow our path, I decided to take one full of blood. My brothers' and my own. Now, I have to live with it.

"That sounds depressing," Jake comments without delving too deeply into the matter. "Why have you been hanging around, do you need something?"

Signing is so complicated, he feels like he's going to take all day on this. Fortunately he's catching on. Now that he thinks about it, he didn't tell him his name.

I noticed you were alone. Ever since you fell out of the sky, you've been alone and broken.

Jake furrows his eyebrows What is he talking about? He saw it and what does he mean by broken?

You remind me of many who have lost their siblings. Who have lost a part of them. Viciously ripped away by a force not divine, but cruel... You're broken. Like so many.

Jake opens and closes his mouth, stunned. How can he know something like that? How can he notice it? It seems unbelievable and even impossible to him that it could be so. His hair falls over his shoulder because of how much he leans. Jake is about to ask his name, but a shout in the distance stops him:

"Jake! Get away from him!"

"What?"

The Tulkun swings its fin so that Jake falls into the water and hurries away. Tonowari up to the avatar and holds the Tsurak still, off to the side and giving Jake room to come up. The grumpy gesture only adds to Jake's confusion What's wrong with him, what's he missing?

"Payakan?"

"He's a Tulkun who fell into madness," Tonowari explains as they walk towards the Marui. "He murdered all his brothers, caused a massacre and filled the water with blood" Jake slowly furrows his eyebrows Did he really do that? Doesn't sound like it makes much sense. "For breaking Tulkun law he's destined to wander in solitude. He shouldn't have gone near it."

"I don't know if-"

"Don't go near him again "Tonowari orders and Jake is left with the word in his mouth. "It's a threat. It's impossible to know if he won't decide to attack at any moment. He could kill you." he states between paranoid and grumpy.

"I don't think that's exactly what he wants. Besides, he was pretty calm," Jake asserts. Even at the cost of contradicting what Tonowari says. "I tell you what-"

"I've already spoken, Jake. This is where that conversation ends."

Jake twitches his jaw and watches him walk away, head slightly drooping and eyes upward. Tonowari is so foolish sometimes. How infuriating. He looks off into the horizon. He could compare Payakan to soldiers who have gone mad from too long a service, but...

He doesn't get that feeling at all. It was a rather quiet moment. Enjoyable and clear. Payakan could have killed him at any time, but chose not to. Not to mention his constant vigilance. How he's also making sure he's okay.

If Tonowari is someone foolish, Jake is even more foolish than him. Secretly and unseen by anyone, as soon as he woke up he rode out on an Ilu to go look for Payakan. Too curious about what he has to say about it.

It is hard to find him, he is far away and almost hidden behind some rocks. However, finding him he swims underneath him, checking how many wounds he has. They are countless. Long furrows that have healed as much as possible. He climbs onto Payakan's fin, who floats with part of his body out of the water to allow for this moment.

"Hello... I was told your name is Payakan. I'm Jake." He introduces himself, ending up with his hand on his chest.

Ummm... I have a long time of watching you learn the way of the water, but I didn't know your name. It's good to know now.

Jake smiles for a moment, somewhere between amused and somewhat excited by this. There's a rush of adrenaline, a consequence of Tonowari's warning to stay away.

The Ilu in which he came eats and plays among the corals underwater, so even to him, Payakan does not generate a sense of danger. Rather quite the opposite, it inspires a certain protection and calm.

"Are you always in this area?"

No. I was crossing here the day you fell from the sky and stayed, I wanted to see that you were okay.

"Uh, thanks for that."

You're welcome.

Jake talks to Payakan, they talk a long time. A very, very long time. The Tulkun is good with poetry. Which got several chuckles out of Jake. He's someone who's usually indifferent to such things. After all, literature and languages aren't his thing. Surprise for absolutely no one. However, for Payakan made the effort. He has so much time alone, he has thought about too many things and had no one to share them with.

At the risk of making Tonowari very angry, he goes to visit Payakan almost every day. It feels good. In some ways, it reminds him a lot of Tommy. Someone who in essence could be dangerous -Tommy was just like him in weight and size- and he decides to be a mass of tranquility and peace.

It's a kind of relief that Jake wouldn't know how to describe, and it feels good.

About the third week of doing the same thing, a doubt pops into Jake's head, lying on Payakan's fin:

"What really happened? How did you lose the fin, your family and end up alone?"

Payakan doesn't answer and on the contrary, makes him fall into the water, even sinks him a little. Without time to get out, he notices that Payakan opens his mouth. Huge and with which he could devour more than ten Ilus at the same time if he wanted to. Jake notices something shiny far away, at the end.

His mouth is huge and although he hesitates initially, with the idea of leaving simply because he won't do something stupid like that, he goes in. Jake swims by propelling himself with his arms and reaches what looks like his uvula. It surprises him that it unfolds and exposes the usual nerves in everyone's tsim.

Doubt. Doing tsaheylu can be dangerous. He can assume that this way, bonding godbrothers How could it be otherwise? He furrows his eyebrows a little.

Wants to know what happened.

And maybe, if they are spirit brothers, Tonowari will realize that Payakan is not a threat.

He will no longer be alone...

Making a connection, Jake's pupils dilate tremendously.

"It wasn't an assassin, he was fighting a RDA hunter ship!"

Jake's outrage momentarily startles Tonowari, who then goes on the defensive. He rises from his post and Ronal frowns. No one knows what the event that led to Payakan's exile was like. Only the village leaders. That Jake knows can only come from one reason: he made tsaheylu with him. She covers her mouth even for a moment, advancing towards him and taking his arm for a moment.

"You-"

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO COME NEAR HIM!" claims Tonowari, Ronal turns away, somewhat intimidated. "HE'S A RISK!"

"No it isn't! Jake fought to stop them from attacking these islands!" claims Jake back, opening his arms. "He wanted to help and that's all-"

"And his help only led to the Tulkun dying, many young dying All because he decided not to go the way of the Tulkun!" argues the taller one. He has never held that gesture towards Jake for so long. For this is the first time Jake has deliberately disobeyed an order from him. One that, to make matters worse, was made for his own good. "He has the blood of all his brothers, staining everything he touches-"

"If that bothers you so much why is this happening?" the simple hand gesture, you can tell he's talking about that thing they have. Tonowari leans back a little. "I've told you a thousand times: I'm a warrior. On my planet, where I come from, I killed people because that's what I was commanded to do. There was no noble reason or any shit like that" Jake smiles cynically about it. "And a lot of my comrades died, lots and lots of them. I'm the only one left from my squad. Isn't that the same thing?"

"You are not a Tulkun."

"But I am now the spirit brother of one who is exactly like me." Jake announces cocking his head to one side and Tonowari lets out an exaggeratedly loud snort.

Ronal senses annoyance as well as resignation in Tonowari. That Jake did something tremendously stupid and that it is well punishable within their society. A Tulkun who went out of the way and laws of his peers, is nothing more than an outcast who must die in solitude. Not to receive a brother.

What Tonowari cannot see in his blindness, however, is that like Payakan, Jake is an outcast among his people. They made a particular connection. One that exists because of the condition that has brought them to this point.

Perhaps another sign of why Eywa wanted Jake here.

Jake is aware that these are his last days among the Metkayina. After all, Bob is now cured and can fly as much as he likes. It is undoubtedly the worst time to make Tonowari hate him, or maybe the best?

Whatever the reason, it somehow makes him feel disappointed that Tonowari would be so angry about this. Payakan may have whatever bad name and stigma they want, but the reality for him is very clear: Payakan tried to do some good through the only measure that seemed capable of achieving change.

It went wrong, he regrets, too hard. So much so that it hurts just to remember the tsaheylu and what it conveyed.

And the disappointment is simple. If Tonowari feels so much contempt for such a situation what is left of him? He has done worse. At least Payakan had a noble justification for his actions. Jake for his part, went to war because he had nothing else in life. It was his only alternative, for nothing on earth appealed to him.

Lawyer, doctor, engineer, fireman. None of that is for him. He is not someone noble, not someone smart either. He was just cannon fodder and he is here again. He killed a lot of people and maybe that's why he deserves to have lost his legs.

And not to have them back.

Tonowari despises his existence, just as he despises Payakan's existence.

On second thought: it's the best way to leave here. To know what he can or cannot count on.

Chapter Text

Your world makes me sad.

"Welcome to the club. It's depressing. Especially knowing this place."

Do you want to go back there?

Jake sighs, not knowing how to answer that question. It's very enjoyable lying on Payakan's flipper. It seems like his second favorite place these days. He'll be gone in four nights. He'll be back at Home Tree after too long in this place.

It will be a pretty wild change. He hopes they won't judge him too much.

On the other hand, he is aware that he must be near the sea. Even if it's just a few days a week if that's possible. Payakan will be in those areas, so they can spend time together. Being in exile, Payakan doesn't have much of a place to go. Not without running into another group of Tulkun and being severely judged by them.

I am sorry for the rancor that has arisen with Tonowari because of me. It was not my intention.

"Don't worry... he doesn't understand. It's something he hasn't lived through enough to do so. In that respect, I envy him," Jake admits sitting down. "Having a goal, a reason in life... I don't even know what I'm doing on this planet to begin with" laughs and shakes his head, bites his lower lip. "I never had a reason. That's why I went into the military. I'm not like Tommy."

That's what makes you special. Maybe you didn't have a goal there, but here you have one. Eywa chose you for a reason.

"Because it's so much fun to watch the drama and complication I get into with the Na'vi. That's for sure" Jake laughs cynically. "Wherever it is, she gets a laugh at my expense" swings Jake his feet and takes a deep breath. "It's... complicated You know, I don't understand what to do at this point."

Yes you do, you just haven't decided to do it.

"You think so?"

I don't think so. I know, Jake: I could see it, just as you saw me.

His gesture becomes soft and even shy. Payakan seems to know more about him than Jake himself. It's a little creepy to have this two-way connection with Payakan, however, he supposes that's how Bob feels and it's only fair in a way.

They are quite far from Awa'atlu.

Very much so.

So he is not surprised to see an RDA ship. What it causes is concern, it is obvious they are chasing something and maybe they are doing well. He hears a groan from Payakan.

They are going to kill someone.

"What?!"

Jake dives and is immediately able to pick up the howls of pain. Somehow, the ringing sounds familiar. Payakan dives down and Jake beckons to him, "We have to help him. No matter what we do, we have to keep them from killing him. Maybe with that, they'll stop hunting for a while. Until we find a better solution."

How do you expect us to help?

Jake emerges from the water and notices Bob not far away. He whistles and the Ikran approaches in a hurry. Using Payakan as a ground for an instant, he climbs onto the back of his Ikran. Payakan heads in the direction of the ship, seamlessly tracing what Jake intends to do.

It's two - or rather, three counting Bob - against an armed ship. It could go very well or very badly depending on their luck.

Jake takes advantage of the clouds to swoop down without anyone noticing him. Once on board, he positions himself behind several small submarines. He waits for a while until no one is there and grabs a person. He snatches the gun from him and knocks him unconscious by asphyxiation.

With that person lying on the ground he loads the gun and starts firing at all the fuel barrels on board. The explosion is huge, as is the attention it draws. He climbs onto Bob's back in a hurry and takes off before they can hit him with even a single shot.

Attention must be divided between Jake and Payakan, who hits the ship from the side and sends it rocking from side to side. Jake jumps onto the back of the Tulkun that has been attacked and filled with harpoons.

Pulling out just one costs him all his strength, but it makes him happy to get it. Payakan keeps pushing the boat, making it impossible for anyone to go and stop him or even realize who he is.

He miraculously dodges someone's shot and dives into the water, sinking and seeing the endoskeletons stabbing more of the Tulkun who cries out in pain, begging for help. Jake goes straight for one of them and using one of the harpoons I pulled out, breaks the glass.

The endoskeleton floods and whoever pilots it drowns; the others try to flee, Payakan doesn't allow it, crushing them with his body and some huge corals. Jake removes all the remaining harpoons and at that moment he notices something.

The Tulkun has tattoos.

The Tulkun is Lkeitam.

"We have to get to Awa'atlu fast. They can cure you there."

Lkeitam wheezes and sinks, too weak to float or move. Payakan intercepts him and starts swimming to take the other with him. It will be easy with how sluggish Lkeitam is.

Jake climbs out of the water and takes off for a small rock. Bob soon assists him, taking off from there and leaving the boat still exploding with nothing else.

"Lkeitam!"

Tonowari runs towards the shore, with the Tulkun having half of its snout in the sand and wheezing in pain. Blood leaks from his body from the countless open wounds. At first stay, he thinks Payakan hurt him and brought him here as a Threat? An attack? Because of the argument he had with Jake.

Despite the anger wanting to erupt out of him like a volcanic eruption, Jake's arrival clears everything up. He comes down from his Ikran at high speed.

"The sky people attacked him" Jake announces agitated, tired. "They're... they're to the south. I don't know how they got to him, but he was alone. The others must have fled... they almost killed him, if he's not dealt with already, he's going to die."

Tonowari looks to the side and with everyone's help, they manage to get him back in the water and direct him to a small pond, there they can treat him better. Jake checks to make sure nothing is stuck in him. He is in danger of being a tracker, fortunately there is nothing. Only the big wounds.

The healers set about treating him and by sundown, he's out of danger.

"What happened to those who attacked him?" asks Tonowari, still watching his spirit brother float around weak and sore.

Tonowari takes a moment to explain that his reason for being alone is that the Tulkun were warned and would abandon anyone who was shot with a harpoon. That way, a whole group would not die. It is, unfortunately, the only way to avoid losses.

"I don't know if it just blew up. I rushed here. If they knew I attacked them, there would probably be trouble back home."

Tonowari grabs Jake by the shoulder for a moment before hugging him. Jake holds his tail still and stiff. He wasn't expecting this. Tonowari breaks away and joins foreheads with Jake. The Metkayina with his eyes closed and concern mixed with relief.

"Thank you so much for what you did, Jake."

Jake smiles slightly at him once he breaks away and looks down at the water for a moment.

"Payakan helped too you know?"

Tonowari doesn't mention anything about it and Jake wouldn't press the issue. Not for today.

"We must go examine that boat is far away. It is essential to prevent it from murdering more" Tonowari announces and the clamor of the warriors around him. "We must make the ocean safe for our brothers!" he announces and more support comes from them. "We will need your help, Jake Sully Will you join us?"

"Of course." he states complicitly and Tonowari smiles slightly at him, nodding his head.

Ronal watches the hunters leave along with Tonowari. He must stay in case there is any retaliation against Awa'atlu in any way. Watching over his home to those who remain. He notices Jake, who rides on Bob's back and in that way, will be able to be an aerial support.

Ronal closes his eyes, praying to Eywa that nothing happens to them there.

The ship is in terrible condition and there doesn't seem to be anyone there. Jake doesn't trust it, keeping the knife in his hand and constant indication to those after him. Tonowari monitors the perimeter, that it is not a trap or similar.

The only thing he notices at the moment, is that the water is dirty and the smell is disgusting. He fears that some Tsurak might get sick from even being in contact with the substances given off by the boat. After confirming that no one is there, they all climb onto the half-sinking metal platform.

"They should have evacuated and left in a lifeboat" He keeps the knife in his chest strap and gives a snap, frustrated. "I killed the ones in the water, nothing else, so the crew should be fine. Most of them."

"Even after the fire?" He points to the obvious burns and Jake shrugs.

"We're surrounded by clean water. They were able to put it out in time and maybe no one died from it. Injured at best," he replies. "Maybe they sent a helicopter to pick them up...there should be signs of where they saw. Those ships release fuel."

"No sign of that" says someone else. "No sign of any ships either.

"They came in by air."

"That's most likely."

"Hopefully, they didn't send anyone else to do this," Tonowari says, leaning on his spear. "What do you think? Jake Sully."

"That they'll send another ship as soon as they find out what happened here" Jake admits pessimistically. "There's that-"

His comment is cut off abruptly, Tonowari along with two people react quickly to grab him before he falls. It being obvious the event they have already experienced and on this occasion, it feels more serious than in the previous ones. Jake inert and with barely a pulse in his arms, like an empty body without a soul.

Chapter Text

Jake hits the top cover of the capsule, choked and upset by the sudden and forceful disconnection. Norm opens it and helps him to sit up, as well as to keep him from accidentally hurting himself. Jake groans aloud. "Now what the fuck is going on?" He asks breathlessly and breaking out in a cold sweat. Norm stammers, the commotion outside answers instead:

"I don't know if you know this, soldier boy, but you can't just suddenly come in here and do whatever you want and disrupt my team's work" Grace speaks rather loudly and with how badly she gets along with everyone in the RDA, it could be anyone. "Let alone pull the plug. You might cause atrophy in his brain that may already be damaged on its own."

"Grace is quite the charmer." ironizes Trudy with an amused smile. Helping Jake while teasing him at the same time is a gift.

"This is an interruption of a military nature-"

"Guess what, I don't care. Now get the hell out of here before I lose my patience," Grace warns sternly. "I don't have to take orders from you."

"No, but you do from Parker. Here if you're so interested."

Heavy footsteps come in their direction and soon Jake is able to see Quaritch. He doesn't even surprised with his presence. Jake recognized the voice, but wanted to think he was hallucinating it nothing more. He takes a choked, troubled breath, mentally cursing. Just what he was missing. He inwardly prays that this has nothing to do with the attack on the ship. Because if it is that, he's really screwed.

"Out." Quaritch orders Norm and Trudy. Without much choice or strength to stand their ground against Quaritch, they retreat and leave Jake alone, sitting on the edge of the pod. His shirt is damp with sweat.

"Sir." Jake salutes with his hand at his throat. Quaritch remains standing in front of Jake. Scrutinize him with my eyes. So much and so hard that Jake begins to believe that this is indeed about the ship.

"Your reports came in on time and everything worked properly. You shouldn't have any reprimands" Quaritch reports, "but a problem has arisen" Jake lifts his head slightly. "A ship was suddenly attacked. The operation was disrupted, the ship was lost and so was the cargo."

"With all due respect sir what does that have to do with me...?"

Jake has never felt so nauseous as he does now. It's unbearable. Quaritch holds out a trash can for him and Jake vomits into it. Maybe not a direct effect of the abrupt disconnection, but a sign that he's exhausted. The level of time spent in this body is so minimal that it's tricky to adjust to the vulnerability of it.

"You're still on that island boy," Quaritch says once Jake finishes vomiting. "We want to know if you know which of the savages was to blame for the attack."

"The Metkayina weren't. They're pacifists to the point where it's disgusting." Jake states breathlessly. He sets the closed canister aside and rubs his face. He feels like shit. Quaritch gives a light chuckle and leans against the open capsule.

"I doubt any of these savages are pacifists, soldier," opines the sneering man. "Parker wants you at home base to watch the recordings and give us your opinion as an expert on the subject."

This is definitely not a good day. Barely five minutes of it were salvageable.

"They don't fly. He doesn't have banshees," Jake explains, watching the footage which thankfully isn't very close. It's impossible to tell it's him. He even has a different hairstyle so no one would make the association. "It must be some Na'vi that flew over the area and saw what was going on."

"So we lose a ship, equipment and gear just because some backwoods random decided to play hero Please!" whines Parker, exasperated and impatient. "An entire shipment of Amrita has already been covenanted and we don't even have half of it."

"That's what you missed?" asks Jake, playing dumb. "And what's that working on?"

"None of your business, Corporal," admonishes Quaritch. "Just as I said at the time" The colonel sits on the edge of the holo table. "We must put defenses on the ships. Two armed people are not enough against the savages."

"And that budget comes out of the trees?" scoffs Parker and Quaritch shrugs.

"I've got enough men to cover the situation. Here they do nothing but waste time. A few on a ship and budget isn't a problem." he assures confidently and Jake knows he has how to be.

The Metkayina couldn't handle firearms. That's something he confirmed in Payakan's memoirs. Without trees to hide behind and a more aggressive variety of animals, it's impossible for the coastal tribes to stand a chance. Be it defense or direct attack to save the Tulkun.

"So are they going to send more ships?" he asks leaning his arms on the console. "I can try to maneuver. Make them far away and the hunting won't have any more problems." he offers looking at the holographic image nothing more. Jake is sure that the colonel is seen, he would realize that there would be a problem.

That this is a very obvious trap.

"No. The bulldozers have arrived and I need you to be in the tree," Parker hurries and Jake nods, biting his lips. Quaritch squints, suspiciously, "Have you get those idiots out and clear a path for us."

"Understood sir."

Complacent answers are the ones that always get out of the way, they're the ones that get anyone suspicious, especially when talking about Parker. Jake is saved by this and the man dismisses the meeting. Before moving anywhere he is grabbed by the wheelchair, being carried without asking and causing him a momentary scare. He tries to hold the chair with his hands, but the push is stronger.

Through the reflection of one of the windows it is possible to see that it is Quaritch. The military man has a dark and furious gesture, Jake has no choice but to leave his hands on his lap and wait for them to reach their destination. He's not going to cause a scene and doubts very much that anyone will help him anyway. This isn't the lab area, he's essentially in enemy territory and with the boss of said territory.

They arrive at Quaritch's office and Jake stifles an annoyed expression. Not out of respect, but to avoid any trouble. Being there alone, Quaritch stands nearby. Barely a step away.

"Are you hiding something from me, soldier?"

"No, sir."

"I have a feeling you are."

Jake doesn't answer. A simple "I didn't know you read minds, Colonel," passes through his mind, but he keeps it to himself. Quaritch gives a snort and grabs Jake's right leg. "Sir?"

"According to your report, you don't feel anything Is that right?"

"Yes. There's nothing."

Quaritch nods slightly and Jake clenches his hands, his heart beating furiously and painfully inside his chest. Quaritch presses and indeed, there is no response at all. Jake doesn't change expression or complain. Quaritch has the sadistic idea to stick a knife in (or try to) to see if there is even blood flowing into the useless limbs.

Medical processes have advanced so far, they could make these useless, bony, malnourished appendages work. It's a little hard for him to imagine Jake standing. Somehow, it suits him better to be like this. Small, incapable, obedient and forced to obey even if he doesn't want to. Jake cringes after startling: Quaritch grabs him by the crotch and squeezes him there.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING...!"

"Wow, looks like you do feel here" he mocks sadistically, a sly smile on his lips. "Good to know."

He grabs Jake's hands and squeezes again in the area, causing Jake to give a whimper and his expression to disfigure in panic. He manages to break free and with that, push Quaritch away. He falls out of his chair and lies on his side on the floor. Feeling pathetic at his inability to run away or do more to defend himself. Even though he gets up, the chair is lying on the floor and the time it will take to get it up is too long. He won't be able to get out of here fast.

Quaritch laughs, puts it next to Jake and crouches down in front of him.

"I hope you're not hiding anything from me, boy. It would be awkward to have to find out how much you may or may not feel." Quaritch is still smiling. That confident, amused gesture, his eyes bright with expectation to make good on his threat even if Jake gets it right.

And knowing it just makes him, again, feel shivers run through his body, with the irremediable fear and loneliness making him tremble like a leaf about to fall off the branch

"Jake, wait -"

Grace gets a rather strong slap from Jake. She grabs his shoulder and the reaction is not only sharp, it also almost causes Jake to fall out of the chair. The soldier lets out a sharp intake of breath and Grace reaches around him to look him in the face. She rests her hand on the chair, not touching him and kneels in front of him.

"What happened?"

Jake answers nothing and shakes his head. He mumbles a simple "I must connect now." He wants to run away from this place. He wants to run away from this body and be with Tonowari again. As if somehow, having his company would help him feel less vulnerable and alone. Grace knows Jake uses the avatar to escape what makes him uncomfortable and it's sad in part.

Because that's not him.

It's just an avatar.

Not the real person.

"Jake, I know Quaritch is demanding and heavy with you" She doesn't know how else to say it. He doesn't know how much this problem has escalated. Not without Jake explaining, "I want you to know that I'm going to help you in any way I can. Even if you've done stupid things and still do, I won't leave you alone with this."

Jake purses his lips. He hurts the corners of his mouth from how hard he bites down. He takes a deep breath and Grace slowly moves in to hug him. It's uncomfortable. It's necessary. Jake leans back from her shoulder for a moment.

"I'm fine." He insists. Too ashemed to talk about it.

Here. Now. He doesn't have the strength to do it. Grace nods and pats his shoulders. She'll insist later, when he's less nervous.

"Did they hurt you?"

The last thing he needed now was for Tonowari to worry about him as well. It took only a few seconds for the Olo'eyktan to notice. Jake's jaw twitches and he looks up, still keeping his head down.

"No. Nothing happened. They don't know what I did either" Tonowari is left unsatisfied. That's not what he asked. "We have to... go to other routes. The Tulkun can't circulate where they always do. They'll get killed."

"Now, I'm talking about you. Not the Tulkun Did something bad happen?" Tonowari insists and Jake clicks his tongue.

"No. I'm fine," he replies. "I...have to get back to Home Tree" he announces with his hands on his hips. "I'll leave later-"

"Yes. You have to go there to be named one of us."

Jake freezes. They what? He turns to the entrance of the marui and peeks in, Neytiri discreetly leaning against the curved wood. She maintains a sad gesture, as if in a glance, she also notices that something happened with Jake. The avatar opens and closes his mouth, past.

"What?"

"You're ready... all your time here proves you're ready" Neytiri advances towards him. "It'll happen tomorrow."

Jake doesn't suppress the smile. As if this simple announcement erases everything that happened with Quaritch a few hours ago.

Chapter Text

"It was a demon."

"Excuse me?"

"Who hurt him" Neytiri clarifies, looking over to where Jake is, settling the mount on Bob. "It was one of the demons" she muses under her breath with an enraged, predatory leave. "He's better than them and so, they try to make him like them. They're demons."

"We can't wipe them out."

"Maybe we can. When the time comes" Neytiri cocks her head and directs her gaze to Tonowari. "Once he is an Omatikaya, he will be free to choose his own path. You know that right?"

Tonowari clenches the spear in his hand. Of course he knows, it's what has had him so anxious since early on. He's not afraid Jake won't come. He's shown that his spirit doesn't rule between peoples or spaces. He just wants to flow. Between the wind, the clouds; between the trees and bushes; between the water and the corals. Jake is more than a Dreamwalker.

He is one of them and he is one with Eywa.

He will come.

He knows he will come.

But he also knows he's out there, taking his chances among those demons.

"He is a warrior. He's so proud he won't admit he was hurt" muses Neytiri, "he wants to be one of us, to fight with us... And I'm going to watch his back for it."

"He has a strong heart."

"Yes. Very strong."

Tonowari is left thinking. It's very true what Neytiri says. Jake has a warrior's spirit. Full of pride and eager to protect even though he doesn't notice it himself. It's almost charming in how silly Jake comes across. On the other hand, the uneasiness of whatever happened floods him. He wants to know. An idea furrows his mind and he approaches Neytiri to ask about it.

At the same time, Jake goes to the rock path in the water, saying goodbye to Payakan and promising him that he will be back soon. Not knowing that it would be very shortly.

"I thought I'd never see your blue ass around here again." ironizes Grace as soon as she sees Jake land.

He laughs and Grace analyzes him. His back is wider as are his arms and shoulders. She can tell he's been swimming. The change in hairstyle, clothes and accessories is something she notes to herself. She wants to write a book on the coastal culture of the Na'vi and maybe Jake will help her with that. The avatar approaches her, crossing his arms and Neytiri descends soon after.

"I didn't know you'd be interested in seeing it," Jake replies. Grace gives a snort and nudges him lightly. Neytiri arranges one of Jake's braids. "Maybe even Tsu'Tey misses it Right?" questions aloud, watching him in the distance. The man grunts and continues on his way.

"As comical as ever" says Grace. "Good to see you well" Jake rolls his eyes. Of course. She's glad to see the Avatar well. "Maybe I could-"

"Whatever you have in mind, cancel it" Jake announces to Grace's amazement. "Tonowari said you can go there. His Tulkun is still badly injured and he's hopeful you'll help a little with that."

Grace perks up her ears and her pupils dilate. Startled at the news. Jake takes her by the arm and leads her to Bob, who is only happy about so much activity after months lying still on the ground. Neytiri had to help Grace up. She had clearly never flown in an Ikran and this would be a very traumatic first experience.

Which would be worth it just to go to Awa'atlu.

"Pleasure to finally meet you, Grace Augustine."

"Likewise, Tonowari, Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina."

Jake rolls his eyes. He wonders if there was really that much of a problem with letting her come before. Clearly it was going to be easier than dealing with him. Grace is extremely out of place in her RDA clothing, however, Jake assumes that getting her into Na'vi clothing is going to be more of a hassle than anything else.

Unless she's required to be here.

Grace, for obvious reasons, speaks in their language with no problem and the Metkayina are impressed with her smooth handling. As if the hope they had in Jake, it shows inside Grace. After checking on Lkeitam a bit, making sure he's not at risk of death and a few other little details, Grace considers her mission accomplished.

"The wounds are deep and there are some infected. Unfortunately, being strange weapons, they have no way to heal him," she explains, much to Tonowari's concern. "I can bring medicine tomorrow. Enough so that it will clear the infection and he can heal properly."

"I would be very grateful for that" Grace smiles kindly. "You don't have an Ikran?"

"Oh, no, I'm not Jake. He was the one Eywa chose to go that route" She crosses her arms and shrugs. "I'm a better spectator than actress." Ironizes the scientist and Tonowari cocks her head.

"Jake has told me that you study our traditions."

"Indeed. It's part of my job. I've had many, many years here. I consider Pandora my home." she replies frankly and Tonowari narrows his eyes.

"Haven't you thought that Eywa chose you too? If after so many years you are able to talk like us, understand us and yearn for healing unlike the other skypeople."

Grace raises her eyebrows and her tail stays still. She has never thought of it that way because Eywa itself is not real. At least that is her opinion. In the face of the Na'vi in general, she holds herself out as a believer to avoid conflict. This situation is the most anomalous she has had in a long time. It makes her feel flattered and strange at the same time.

"I have a feeling you allowed me to come for another reason," Grace admits, wanting to change the subject. "May I know what it is?" she questions discreetly and Tonowari with a chuckle, closing his eyes and leaving the spear propped to the side.

"It seems it is normal for Dreamwalkers to not see their own potential" Tonowari scoffs, "but yes, you are correct, there is another reason I allowed you to come to Awa'atlu."

Grace is distracted for a moment, Jake on top of a Tulkun floating in the lagoon near the island. He talks animatedly to the animal. That must be Payakan.

"Did something happen with Jake? This morning I noticed him strange when he woke up and although questioned, he is unable to admit that a problem has happened. That he has been hurt" explains Tonowari and Grace has a question on top Why does he care to know? It's a question Grace would expect from Neytiri, not Tonowari. Though it is her fault for knowing him but until recently and it is the little Jake has told her of the Olo'eyktan Metkayina. "I was hoping you could tell me."

Grace bites her lower lip for a moment.

"I can't tell you for sure" She warns, "but his military superior, Quaritch, he's been very present these past few months" She gives a snort of pure annoyance and Tonowari frowns, what a bad sign. "He tries to force him to do things he doesn't want to."

"Like what?"

"Information from this place. From the Metkayina, from the Omatikaya" Tonowari frowns Did Jake do that? "Jake always gives false leads. Wrong coordinates disguising it as a meeting place and the like. I'm afraid he's starting to realize the trap and has acted against him to keep him on his side."

"Done what?" Tonowari asks with narrowed eyes and a bad suspicion. Grace opens and closes her mouth. She wouldn't know exactly, she just has the suspicion because there's no other way for Jake to freak out like this.

Threatening him with guns is foolish and ineffective.

Sending him to earth is easy, but it's no fear either.

The only thing he can think of is that Quaritch is using Jake's vulnerability against him. It's the only thing that really bothers him and makes him irritated at the way he behaves whenever Quaritch is around. He also doesn't forget how encircled Quaritch was in the mobile cell.

It has to be that and when he tells Tonowari, Tonowari's eyes widen in surprise, looking somewhere between angry, shocked and disgusted at the same time.

"Ampi ketsuklewn"

Ah, Neytiri was right, what torments Jake, is a demon.

"He's the leader? No one does anything?"

"He's a colonel. He's someone of power and even if it were said, I don't think there's any answer. He does his job."

"Skypeople are disgusting." Tonowari complains aloud, with genuine contempt. Grace nods her head.

"They are. Although... there are their little exceptions."

Tonowari snorts. Yes, a few. Unfortunately, they are very few.

Due to Grace's good reception and enthusiasm, Tonowari allowed her to visit and stay whenever she wanted, as long as she came alone and without any of her strange artifacts. Frustratingly, she needs at least some of her equipment to be able to do anything here.

Study the wildlife, take photos, store data. Nevertheless, she is content with Tonowari's acceptance of her. It's much more than he could have asked for. They returned to Home Tree for the night. Tomorrow would be great day, the Initiation and Grace wants to be there.

What she can't get out of her head was the way Tonowari and Jake said goodbye. The way they looked at each other and the hand grip, taking the whole forearm after sliding her hand across the skin...

Should I notice anything?"

Grace decides to ask the question after disconnecting.

"Tonowari... he's keeping a close eye on you" comments with the cigar already lit in her fingers. Jake nods, lowering himself into the chair. "Is there any special reason?"

"Maybe?" he replies somewhat chagrined at this. Grace stares at him for a moment.

"Something you want to tell me? Maybe in private."

Jake looks around. He nods his head. He figures he can trust Grace. She's been the one helping with his made-up logs, so this is... normal Right? She's reliable.

She's always been reliable.

That's why Tonowari let her stay in Awa'atlu.

Alone in Grace's office, one she never uses, she closes the door and leans back on the desk to listen to what Jake has to say. The military man lets out a snort, scratching his head full of hair he should cut.

"He offered to teach me from the start. It was like Neytiri we're... close" That's the best and simplest way to classify it. Grace expects him to elaborate more. That he doesn't think that's enough. "And I think he wants me to be his partner."

The cigar almost fell out.

"Partner? I-it's... say... yawnetu" Jake nods. "And... and be muntxatan" He nods again. Grace drops her shoulders and stubs out her cigarette. "You can't be serious." Jake looks away. "Jake... How do you plan on making that work? You're not in that body forever. It's-"

"I know that, but..." Jake clicks his tongue and shakes his head. "I don't know what to do. Neytiri told me I could choose and if I chose me back, it could happen. Tonowari..."

He waves his hands. Expressing himself... he's so bad at it. He doesn't know how to explain Tonowari and everything they've been through. That feeling of freedom and affection he feels with him like he hasn't felt with anyone. Not like this.

Jake remembers his mother's love, father's love, brother's love, the occasional battalion mate. Even what he feels for Neytiri. These are sensations that are nothing like what Tonowari causes and the clear invitation he makes to him.

The simple and unspoken request.

That be my partner imprinted in the kisses they have given each other and the alone outings they have had.

Jake feels the urgency to make it happen no matter how silly it is. Grace is right How will he make it work? The avatar isn't his real body Is he going to connect every day of his life? Even if by that time Tonowari, the Metkayina, Neytiri and the Omatikaya don't hate him for being a double agent.

It feels so simple the idea of being with someone who makes him feel loved, but it's so complicated to get there. Grace moves her jaw and delays formulating the following:

"Do you want it that bad? Is it really what you want?"

Jake has no goal. He came here to hang out and took the first assignment he was given for lack of anything else.

"Yes. Yes I do."

Grace rubs her brow. No one who gets this complicated can not want it. She covers her mouth with her hand and they last a while in silence.

"I don't know what shocks me more: that you managed to make the Metkayina's Olo'eyktan fall in love with you or that it actually comes so easily to you to be in love with him."

Jake shrugs. He never claimed to be straight. It's the last thing he's worried about.

"It just happened."

"I don't understand how. With how dumb you are."

"It seems to be part of my charm."

Grace laughs through her nose. Maybe it is.

"The weird part is that I like a blue alien."

"And that you want to connect with him." Grace doesn't hold in the facetious laughter as she speaks, ending in a guffaw, and Jake ends up laughing just the same.

Yeah. That's what's really weird.

"Well, Corporal, the bulldozers are coming tomorrow."

Jake fiddles with the silverware on the table. As soon as he's done eating, Quaritch comes over here. Just his luck. He must have eaten in the lab. Indifferent to Max scolding him. Quaritch sits off to the side.

"You accomplished your mission." he announces.

"The Omatikaya are still in there." Quaritch shrugs. It's none of his business. If they're still in there by the time they take down the tree, it'll be their fault. As far as he's concerned, Jake's already told him they need to leave. "What's going to happen-"

"In a week you'll be able to get on a ship and go home" Jake is stunned What is he talking about? "They've given the go-ahead for the operation," Quaritch announces with a smile, and Jake is stunned for a moment, "Can you believe it? You'll have your legs back. Before you know it, you'll be just like a marathon runner across the land." scoffs the commander.

"Ah."

"I was hoping for more excitement."

"I'm not good with that, sir."

Quaritch laughs through his nose. That's true, Jake demonstrates the least.

"I hope you know that, without you, none of this operation would have been possible. You should feel proud."

I don't at all, Jake thinks, Quaritch pats him on the shoulder.

"Mission completed-"

"I'm going to... plug back in," Jake announces, not even sure why he's telling him. Maybe so he doesn't expect him to be in one place. To let him know he'll be in a crowded area Maybe? "They're going to name me one of them. Like an initiation."

"Why would it take something like that?"

"It's something I want to do."

Quaritch leans toward Jake, spoken softly, a warning:

"Don't forget who your people are, son. What's out there" He points to the window for a moment. "It's nothing but jungle and a bunch of savages who can roam it. We're your people. Keep that in mind."

And with the final warning he steps back. Jake lets out air and inhales slowly. Remembering where he belongs...

Truth be told, he's never felt like he belongs anywhere, so how would he know who to be loyal to?

The only thing he uses as a reference is where he's been able to be happy and feel welcome... It hasn't happened on earth, not on this base either, but out there with those so-called savages.

Chapter Text

Being initiated is a rare experience. It makes Jake feel happy, nervous and shaky at the same time. However, he hides it quite well. Neytiri was the one who did the ceremonial painting for him and he never fails to see it. Continuing along the lines of what you talked about with Grace, why do you like blue aliens so much?

They are cute. Maybe because they're human enough to notice.

Jake is sure they think the same of him. At least Tonowari does. Neytiri doesn't help but laugh.

"You left that in your hair." she mentions to the braid Tonowari gave him. Jake doesn't avoid laughing.

"It goes well with everything else don't you think?" he says referring to the blue beads Neytiri put on him a few weeks ago. Neytiri nods with a smile and as she finishes, she stares at him. She takes Jake's hands and murmurs:

"Even if choosing your muntxatu... you take someone else" Neytiri sounds slightly tearful and Jake initially, doesn't understand what terrifies or unsettles her. "Don't ever forget that you are Ma'Jake" she asks quietly. "And that I will be your wife if that's what you wanted."

Jake opens his eyes wide. He hadn't thought of that part until now. Anyone can tell he's spending it with his head somewhere else. He can almost imagine that Ronal gave a similar talk to Tonowari. There's no way it couldn't be.

"We are vitra eylan. Nothing will change that." She rests her hand on Jake's chest and he does the same. He smiles warmly.

"Nothing could change it." agrees Jake, placing his hand on the same spot. Almost the size of Neytiri's chest, spanning so much space by having a finger longer than them. Neytiri breathes softly.

Jake feels her heart and breathes like he's underwater.

He likes the way it feels...

The pair of hearts that so gently allow themselves to feel.

They feel so good.

By the time he left for Awa'atlu, he was officially an Omatikaya.

Grace sees Jake from afar getting lost among the Marui. She can guess correctly that he is going to look for Tonowari. She lets the matter be and sets out to check on Lkeitam -who which is accompanied by Payakan-, also apply the medicine she brought for him. Taking her time explaining what ingredients she has, how to get them.

Boring stuff Jake is never going to find out about, arriving at Tonowari's marui who seemed to be waiting for him, standing up as soon as he was minimally in sight. The Olo'eyktan smiles at him and Jake does the same.

"I am officially an Omatikaya."

"Congratulations, Ma'Jake."

They give each other a knowing look and just as Grace was the one who saw Jake go towards the Marui, it is Ronal who sees them both dive into the water and disappear into it. She doesn't know if with an Ilu, a Tsurak. Whatever means by which they propel themselves, it is obvious that they are not coming back today. Ronal rubs her collarbone, praying for this to end well.

At the same time, Payakan stays with Lkeitam, being evidence of what is going on with the brothers of these Tulkun.

. . .

Jake is surprised that they go to a place that is overflowing with bright and very distinctive corals. Like a concentration of rocks, corals and anemones. Upon seeing it more, he finds it resembling a tree. Like the tree of souls, but underwater.

They don't dwell on it for long, arriving at an island not far away, just a space of land to one side. The special thing about it, is how the water looks purple at night, reflecting the vegetation below, the auroras in the sky, the sight of the moon and so many things that Jake doesn't have room to count them all.

"You know that, being part of a clan, you have the right to choose a mate Right?" asks Tonowari quietly.

"Yes. Neytiri explained it to me."

Jake narrows his gaze at him.

"It only remains for me to know if that person wants me as a mate as well."

Tonowari's wide smile makes him lower his ears and his eyes dilate. Tonowari slowly takes his tsim and Jake does the same. Nervous and euphoric, he pulls it closer to Tonowari's. The nerve endings join and intertwine.

Jake blinks repeatedly. It's nothing like doing tsaheylu with an Ikran, a Tulkun... with anything. He doesn't even have words to describe the sensation he receives. Gawking and anxious, he turns his gaze to Tonowari, gasping and realizing the intensity with which he is being watched.

Tonowari grabs him by the back of the neck and pulls him close, almost tugging him closer. Jake wraps his shoulders around him, climbing all the way into Tonowari's lap. His eyes closed and determined to press his lips harder against the other's, to clash his teeth lightly, to risk breaking the weak corners with his large fangs.

He affectionately rubs part of his face with Tonowari's, leaning against it and still panting. Ecstatic and lost in who knows which Pandora's moon. Tonowari hugs him tightly, kissing him on the collarbone. Her voice deeper and huskier as he says:

"You're mine Jake... we're bonded for life."

Jake shivers and curls his tail around Tonowari's right arm, "It's good to belong to someone... and to have them."

His daze does not allow him to think or express better what he wants to say. As is that welcoming feeling he was looking for so much. The feeling that he belongs somewhere. Perceiving every last beat in Tonowari's heart and how what he feels, is joy to have him embraced in this way.

To affirm that the union they have, will only be broken by death and nothing else.

Having sex is not much different than usual, only ten times more rapturous and intense. To be able to feel the same as the opposite, the rapturous pleasure and infinite craving, as well as the pleasure it is capable of generating.

Tonowari tucked between his legs and inside his body, sliding in and out with ease and as if he knows exactly what to do, as if he has fantasized so much about this moment that he is unable to control himself one bit. He bites Jake on the neck, on the collarbone and a little on the chest bulging from all that swimming.

He caresses him, squeezes him and holds him, all the while admiring the face compunctioning in pleasure, the legs locked on his hip and the tail squeezing him on the thigh as one more certainty that he will continue here attached to him in every possible way.

Jake grits his teeth and eyes, ears drooping, curving his back in orgasm. He doesn't know how many it is anymore. It's a lot, isn't it? He doesn't know anything anymore.

He barely remembers what his name is because Tonowari moans it. His voice high-pitched for very specific moments, where he himself doesn't know what to do to satiate the need. Jake pulls him by the hair to entice him, invading his mouth with his tongue. Tonowari rests his forearms on the sand and grabs Jake by the hair, his long fingers buried in the black hair that loses some of its ornaments.

Part of the clothes they wear are left lying on the sand because of how careless they are; now Jake climbing on Tonowari and keeping his hands on his chest as he prances on top of what manhood. He presses his right hand, where Tonowari's heart seems about to break the ribs and reach his hand to be taken. He sticks out his tongue for a moment, out of breath.

Inhale...

Shivering, Tonowari slides his right hand down Jake's abdomen, up his chest.

And exhales.

I can't handle two things at once.

Tonowari laughs, grabbing him by the waist and pushing, Jake barely moves, but he can't breathe. He chokes. It's a lot and at no point, he stopped feeling this way.

Ending up opening his eyes inside his capsule and Tonowari's words churning in his head:

We are together for life.

"Not here." he mutters, opening the capsule and sitting up. Grace holds out a glass to him and Jake looks at it funny. It smells like whiskey.

"Happy honeymoon."

He wants to throw the glass in her face and wipe that mischievous grin off her face.

The first thing he finds when he wakes up, he can purr. Which he didn't know he could... Could he? He thought it was a joke about them being cats. Not that it could actually happen. He stirs and Tonowari laughs, sitting up. Jake rubs his face and sitting up, gives a small groan.

"I don't mean to embarrass you, but no wonder you're complaining." comments Tonowari and tries to pull his hair back. "I had a hell of a long time without this loose." he admits quietly.

"Is that my fault too?"

"Yes."

Jake snorts. He's had too much time without doing anything. He's gotten more out of control than he should have. He scratches his head and notices how in the sand are all his hair ornaments, his clothes, his accessories in general. It's a mess. Jake notices Tonowari and lowers his ears with dilated eyes.

Tonowari looks better with his hair totally loose. Without the braids and without the bun. His hair is full of well-defined curls and waves. On the other hand, Jake's hair is straight, just falling down his shoulders, chest and back.

He is surprised by the kiss on his cheek and the caress under his chin, causing that slight unconscious purr.

"Ma'Jake." purrs Tonowari happily and Jake sits on top of him, hugging him. Embarrassment is going to eat him alive.

It was awkward getting back to Awa'atlu. Although dressed, the teeth and scratch marks are very obvious and the hair gives away that it was more intense than the marks alone expose. Grace tries to hold in her laughter. Jake's tail is suspiciously still, as if trying to cover part of his rear end.

"Our Olo'eyktan has chosen a mate." announces Ronal and Tonowari smiles. Many come forward to congratulate and Jake would really, really like to have no one around. His body aches.

Tonowari weighs more than he thought.

"Welcome to the Metkayina, Jake Sully." greets Ronal taking him by the forearm and he reciprocates the greeting.

"It is my pleasure to officially join." he replies tersely and awkwardly.

. . .

"It's natural to travel to visit other tribes, it's not like you should cut off contact with Neytiri." comments Tonowari, thinking that's what has Jake restless. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Now he wonders what the hell he is going to do. Home Tree, the bulldozers, he is a Metkayina and partner of the Olo'eyktan, he must tell Neytiri the truth, tell Tonowari the truth. There are many things.

The most urgent is Home Tree, although from what he saw, there is no hurry with the bulldozers. They are very slow for the colossal size, it will take time to fix them to work and to get them to Home Tree. It stands out because of the grip on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," Jake nods with false assurance. "I'll go to Home Tree and tell Neytiri. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon." he announces and looks outside. "I think Grace is better off here. She's more entertaining than ever."

"We'll convince her to wear other clothes."

"Good luck with that." Jake teases honestly. Tonowari puts his forehead together with Jake for a moment and presses his hand to his chest.

"Have a good travel."

"See you soon." dismisses Jake.

He doesn't let Grace know he's leaving. Let her continue in her time with the Metkayina children. Jake can tell she loves being a teacher with any kid she comes across.

"Ma'Jake! How quick you are!" taunts Neytiri giving him a shove.

"My teacher told me I could choose partner and I decided to take heed. That's all." he jokes in correspondence and Neytiri laughs more.

Neytitiri has her hair down today and being so early in the evening, she decides it's a good time to show Jake something. She takes him by the arm and leads him through the forest until they come to an area of lilac glowing trees. Jake walks through them next to Neytiri, who excitedly tells him about what they mean.

"Even if you stay with the Metkayina, you are one of us" she announces tenderly towards him. "You'll be able to make a bow out of tree wood, have a hammock and... Be here." she concludes without almost breathing. Jake smiles slyly.

"Did you think I wouldn't come back? Tonowari doesn't change that I wouldn't abandon you." Jake promises taking her by the hand. Neytiri nods and takes her tsim.

"You've already chosen a mate...and so it will be forever" Jake takes hIS tsim and pulls it closer, curious, "but you and I are bonded too" The connections bind and tangle. "Until we go to Eywa." She concludes as she hugs him.

Jake hugs her tightly too. He closes his eyes and senses...that feeling he had with Tommy when they were kids, that he felt when he bonded with Payakan. It's so nostalgic and so beautiful that he doesn't manage to separate from Neytiri all night, falling asleep there.

"You left me stranded," Grace says as soon as Jake disconnects. "You can't just walk away and leave me there like a rag."

"You were having so much fun with the Metkayina Who am I to interrupt?" excuses Jake with a smirk as he's out of the capsule. Everything went so well today it doesn't seem true.

"That's no excuse for leaving her there without saying anything" Grace complains "Did Tonowari leave you so bad that you forgot about me?"

"Hey...!"

"What happened to Tonowari?" asks Trudy, interested and amused at Jake's embarrassment. The man gives a snort and it's Grace who answers.

"They're partners now. Essentially, they got married" Trudy opens her eyes and sees Jake wild-eyed. Norm falls out of the chair he was rocking in.

"Did you really you...!"

"It happen! Ok?!"

Grace enjoys the embarrassment of it, that much is more than obvious.

And I wish the mood could have stayed that way the next day. He woke up with Neytiri pulling him to keep the tractors from killing him, just like they destroyed the voice trees; he destroyed the camera and although he thought about saying everything, he was suddenly disconnected. A feeling starting to become all too familiar, awful sweating and shrieking as soon as he sits down.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"

"You crossed the line." growls Quaritch before punching him and knocking him unconscious.

Chapter Text

Jake sometimes questions whether he can't have too much happiness. It's as if the event slips through his fingers once he thinks he is securely attached.

He thought he could enjoy his time as Omatikaya, be with Neytiri, be with Tonowari - who must not know anything about what happened. It all fell apart in a single second. He is overwhelmed and severely exhausted. Now there is no tree, he is officially clanless, his avatar lying among the ashes. The only good thing is that Grace wasn't there.

"I warned you, son" Quaritch's voice generates an involuntary shiver and shudder in him. He turns his head slightly to the right. He doesn't know why he's here alone with Quaritch. "You must have been on the side of your people" takes a swig from the beer bottle. "You picked the wrong side."

"Shouldn't I be in jail or something?" Jake asks irritably. Quaritch laughs indiscreetly and leans on the desk in front of Jake.

"And you are going to be, but" Quaritch sets the empty bottle aside, "I keep thinking about how much you disappoint me, Jake" He averts his gaze, as if I care. "It's simple to see. We are your own. You're human, not a savage like them Or did you just fall in love with her?"

Jake doesn't say anything about it. He's not going to add fuel to that specific fire.

"I'll take that as a yes" Quaritch scoffs. "You could have had your legs back, a real life, rather than rotting in the ground back, but you decided to do this" He clasps his hands together and shrugs. "These are the consequences of your actions Jake."

"Are you my dad now?" he asks wryly, with a crooked, exasperated grin.

"No, if I had been, you'd be more obedient" Jake scoffs at the comment. He doubts it very much. He can't imagine Quaritch as a father. "And we wouldn't be omitting all this."

"As you say, sir."

Quaritch stares at him for a couple of minutes and stands up. Jake can't move the chair anywhere, they put a brake on the wheel. The only thing he'd accomplish, is to fall to the floor. He's humiliated enough for today. He's not going to add that to the list.

The colonel leans back on the chair's armrests and Jake throws his head back. The man tilts his head.

"It's disappointing," Quaritch insists. "With your legs working, this would have been more fun."

"Of what...?"

Jake puts his hands in front of Quaritch's chest, trying to push him away and stop what he's doing.

. . .

"What, they are just talking! How much can he...?!"

"GO GET HIM AND ALREADY PARKER!"

The man rolls his eyes and throws up his hands. Augustine irritates him more and more every day. The only thing that cheers him up, is that he'll be able to get rid of her now. He figures a good last favor is to go find Sully so they can leave together. He's also disappointed with how things turned out, but there's not much else to do at this point.

He walks into Quaritch's office without knocking, nonchalant. "Hey, I need Sul-"

The words get stuck in his mouth and he tries to process the scene in front of him. It's not one he'd think he'd have. It further justifies why Augustine was so hysterical.

Jake tries to breathe, unable to do so. He has a bruise on his cheekbone and swelling in his eye, his lips shiny and irritated. Lying face down with his arms gagged behind his back. Quaritch is clearly annoyed.

"What... What are you doing, what do you think you're doing!" shrieks Parker and Quaritch clicks his tongue, pulling his fingers out from inside Sully and grabbing a piece of cloth to wipe himself. "Are you out of your mind?! We just have to imprison him! None of this!"

"Since when do prisoners of war have human rights?" Quaritch asks mockingly and Jake tries to sit up. He can't move his legs, so he just lies there, half naked and sprawled out completely; embarrassment is nothing short of consuming him.

"Since we passed the twenty-first century!" Parker avoids looking that way. He doesn't want to see. He wants to remove the image from his head. "Take him to the cell with Augustine and that's it. Got it?"

He backs up a couple of steps, with Quaritch facing him. If it weren't for the fact that Parker knows he has more power than Quaritch does, he would have run away by now. "Understood? You think you're in charge?" he asks smirking, and Parker sputters.

"Son of a bitch." Quaritch hisses turning to Jake.

"You've got a even more dirty mouth" Parker's eyes widen further And by that what does he mean? "Don't make it worse" he snaps and turns back to Parker. "Okay. In the cell with Augustine. Until we kill the rest of the savages Right?" Parker fails to respond in any way. "Understood." Quaritch concludes and Parker feels his soul return to his body. He puts a hand to his chest and realizes how much he's sweating.

Jake tries not to feel pathetic. Quaritch pulls on a pair of pants and carries him off without further ado, patting him on the shoulder a couple of times and bending down to speak in his ear:

"I've got all the time in the world until they get you on that ship soldier, don't cry victory. I warned you not to hide things."

Jake grits his teeth, clenching his hands in his lap.

. . .

"Are you all right, Jake-"

The man says nothing and moves to a corner of the room. He feels like vomiting. He feels like getting rid of this body to eliminate from his mind and from his own soul what he felt permeating to the depths of his being. Grace bites her lips.

"Thanks for sending Parker." mutters Jake after a while. Grace sits down next to him and does nothing else. Norm bangs his head against the wall.

"So we're stranded here until Mr. Raping Asshole comes again." sums up Norm and Grace shakes her head, sort of. "Great... Maybe-"

Trudy appeared.

Trudy pulled them out.

And even though Jake circled this hallway in a miserable, defeated fashion a while ago, he does so now ready to kill whatever comes his way. Jake has to admit, it's funny to see Norm taking aim. He can tell he doesn't even know how to use a squirt gun.

"If it makes them feel any better, I didn't shoot shit," Trudy says quietly, passing the exomasks. "My fucking conscience is clear." she mumbles with a proud smile."

"I believe you. We saw Lyle complain." says Norm and Jake laughs indiscreetly.

He asks Max to stay and the four of them hurry to the helicopter. He accepts Norm's help to climb in and Grace pulls up the chair. Several spotlights fix on them and gunfire from the base hits the craft. Grace is the last one up, but they manage to escape without much more trouble. Trudy smiling at having made it and Jake's outrageous celebration.

"S-shit-"

"What the...? Oh no, Grace."

"Where's the aid kit?!" questions Norm in a hurry, unable to find it. Trudy furrows her brow, not getting an answer as to what's going on back there. Jake begins to press on the wound on Grace's abdomen.

"Just when the day couldn't get any worse." complains Grace breathlessly.

"What do we do, where do we go?" asks Trudy. Jake looks to the side and a thought Dumb? Comes to his mind.

"Let's go to Awa'atlu."

Fear and trepidation settles over the Metkayina, watching the helicopter land in the arena. They all have their weapons at the ready and if they don't jump in to attack immediately, it's because Tonowari ordered it so. Waiting for what motivates this invasion. Jake didn't show up all day, Grace suddenly "passed out" in the morning.

There's something wrong.

He scrunches up his face at Norm, who comes out first with his hands up in the air.

"I'm Norm! I'm a scientist and a friend of Jake's! I'm not armed!" he announces in a shaky voice and looking like a little noodle standing there. Tonowari takes a couple of steps closer. "I'm just going to put Jake down! We don't have his avatar here!" he warns, before they want to kill him for fearing the worst.

"Hold on." announces Tonowari to everyone, who remain in position.

He reaches the helicopter and the confusion is great What is that chair with wheels? "Norm, I can get off by myself, I've already done it." Jake complains loudly and the familiar voice makes Tonowari finish approaching.

His expression is a mix between confusion and surprise Is this person Jake?

Jake looks up and it's chilling how giant Tonowari is from where he stands. The Metkayina thinks about whether to reach out and touch him, his hesitation is obvious and Jake can't identify what's going through his mind. Tonowari ends up taking him by the arm. So thin and small it's barely two of his fingers.

Tonowari shivers and a panic settles in his chest: is Jake always this small? Why don't his legs move? Why is he so thin?

Tonowari finds it hard to believe that Jake's real body...is such a frail and vulnerable one. If he compares him to his partner, he's small. He's weak. Too weak. He can't be alone like this. "Jake?"

His startled babble makes Jake feel bad. Wow, now that's disappointment.

"Yes" he replies not knowing what else to add. Tonowari throws her head back. Her pupils dilated and eyes wide open. "I need you to help me. I'll tell you everything later, but I need you and Ronal to help me" Tonowari notices he has blood on his clothes Is he hurt? Is he wounded? Did they do something to him? "No-"

Tonowari lifts him out of the chair without it being a problem, Norm and Trudy hold back laughter, it really is very easy for a Na'vi to grab Jake like a toy. He detects no injury beyond his black eye and is disturbed by how thin as well as limp Jake's legs are.

"It's not mine!" he claims. "It's Grace's. She's dying. I need you to help her" Ronal reaches over and out of curiosity, touches Jake on one leg, pulling her hand away with a shudder. "Are you listening to me!?"

"Why aren't your legs moving?"

"They're damaged. And Grace is going to die. I need, you, to, help, me."

Tonowari turns to Norm, who helps Grace down. The woman pale and sweaty from the blood she keeps losing. Ronal frowns, lowering her gaze. Unease comes over her. Help them? We shouldn't help them. This-

"Y'all know it's not a risk" Tonowari puts Jake back in the wheelchair. "Please help her. She-"

"She can take his other body" says Ronal. "Pass his soul from that one... to this one" points out Grace's avatar, which they brought at her request. Ronal thought they came looking for her. "That's what you want right?"

"Whatever will save her. Please."

Ronal and Tonowari look at each other.

"We shouldn't..." mutters Ronal.

"Let Eywa decide on this." He recommends taking the Tsa'hik's wrist.

Going all the way to the Metkayina soul tree was very difficult, mainly because Trudy and Norm couldn't go, only Jake. Being there and stripping Grace, his avatar and sinking both of them, was Jake's main anguish.

"What are they going to do?"

"She must go through Eywa and return" Ronal explains, "she is the one who will decide if she should return." informs, not wanting to take responsibility to a mistake. To them not being able to save her.

Not much has happened since the injury. Grace should be fine. Jake wants to trust that she can be okay. As dawn approaches and with all the Metkayina present, he begins the ritual led by Ronal. Jake clings to Tonowari's arm, nervous.

"It's going to be fine," Tonowari says quietly. Jake frowns and looks at him. "You got here before she got weak. She'll be able to make it" Jake takes a deep breath and bubbles come out of the mask. "What happened?" he questions in a low, soft voice. He notices Jake disturbed. That it's not just Grace's life that has him at the end of his rope.

Jake ignores it. His mind is focused on one thing. He actively ignores everything that happened with Quaritch. It's his best method of defense: take a single subject and pretend nothing else exists.

Tonowari holds him almost too tightly. It's lucky Jake doesn't feel his legs, because it would be painful. The Metkayina can't help it, afraid that the slightest current will carry him away and think that maybe there is some more trouble involved. Tonowari is still unable to accept how small and vulnerable his companion is in his skypeople body.

It is unheard of.

Even without knowing, Neytiri installed paranoia in Tonowari who thinks: the demon did something to him.

Jake doesn't know what's going on, it's long, or at least that's how he feels for fearing that Grace will definitely die. The luminescence suddenly drops and Ronal gently removes the exomask from Grace's face. Several minutes pass where nothing seems to have happened until Grace's avatar opens her eyes.

Ronal helps her to the surface and Jake breathes heavily.

They made it in time.

"Are you disappointed?"

"I thought you'd be a little bigger." admits Tonowari and Jake doesn't help but laugh.

With Grace alive, the most relevant issue for the Metkayina is Jake. Starting with his weak, small and convalescing body in his opinion.

"Sorry for the disappointment."

"It's okay... Your legs...?"

"In a war" says Jake. "I got shot in the back and I can't feel anything in them" Tonowari frowns. Disgusted and confused. "Listen, we need to talk about something..."

"I'm listening."

Jake doesn't know if Tonowari is condescending, kind, or what's really going on in that weird head of his. Tonowari takes everything he tells him well. Or less badly than Jake expected. Tonowari seemed prepared for it, at the same time as not very surprised.

Giving the benefit of the doubt.

"Will they attack us too?"

"No."

"Did you get any information from us?"

"Not much. Barely that y'all are fishing and follow a peaceful path." Tonowari nods and thinks for a bit.

"What do you plan to do?"

Jake looks to the side, where Grace is trying to get used to her new body with Ronal's help. He licks his lips and bites the bottom one.

"I have to do something, just" Jake interrupts himself, clenching his fists. "I don't know if I'll achieve what I'm aiming for. It's suicidal."

"When you don't."

Tonowari's sneer brings a smile to his face. The Metkayina grabs his head and gives him a faint shake.

"Come back... when you're done with what you have to do. I'll be waiting. Promise me you'll come back alive."

"All right. I promise."

Tonowari gives him a kiss on the head and not far away notices Trudy laughing. Yes, this must look very comical.

Did Jake tell Tonowari about Quaritch?

No.

Why would he?

He's his partner.

Tonowari wants to know?

Of course he does.

Is this the best time?

No. Jake will wait until get back.

Maybe he'll bring some good news with him.

Chapter Text

"Aren't you going to join the fight?"

"We don't fight," Tonowari says, patting Lkeitam's head and unable to help it, feeling a certain wariness at how close Payakan is. "We avoid getting involved in trouble. It's what the Tulkun have taught us."

Grace purses her lips, unconvinced.

Tonowari doesn't avoid laughing at her awkward gesture. They have no GDR clothes, so Grace must wear what they gave her. A long string of fishnets across her chest and a skirt that covers the front of her crotch. It's cool, but this bare buttocks thing is not her thing.

Maybe it should be, though. She's not going to have the clothes she wants anymore. Not if everything goes well.

Seeing her dead body was... creepy and weird. So was being like this. It's kind of like a dream she didn't even know she had. It makes her happy and sad in equal ways.

It's more joy than sadness anyway.

"Aren't you afraid Jake will do something stupid?"

"I've expected foolishness from him since he's been thinking of getting on a Tsurak since day one." Grace closes her eyes, yes, that sounds like Jake.

In the stillness of Awa'atlu they don't know about how the whole revolution Jake formed unfolds. It is almost ironic that he is the one leading, being that he had branded himself incapable of leading. Unable to lead and he gathered more than fifteen clans.

All willing to fight alongside him: Toruk Makto.

"The demon hurt you more."

Jake doesn't answer her about it, the tree of souls behind them both. Neytiri reaches for Jake's hand and he avoids it. He wouldn't want to talk and she is purposely seeking that conversation.

"Ma'Jake-"

"Tonowari made me promise to come back alive," he comments quietly. "Can I ask you not to die?" Neytiri laughs through her nose and arranges him one of the many feathers she placed in his hairdo. She likes the way it looks.

So big, so strong, so imposing. It's Toruk Makto at his best.

It's her Jake with a strong heart...

Or at least that's what he shows in front of the others.

"That demon hurt you" Neytiri insists in a low voice. "And I won't let him hurt you again" She promises, kneels down and grabs his head, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Jake closes his eyes, purring unconsciously. "I won't die... and neither will you. We won't fall... not with the strong-hearted Toruk Makto guiding us."

Neytiri trusts him greatly for the risk he took, for coming back, for taking this fight as his own and being part of his clan.

The clans believe in him, for only the one who tries to tame Toruk can lead them to a victory.

Tonowari trusts him, it just makes him without reason stronger.

There are many people who trust him and he does not want to disappoint them. He has to win.

He needs to win.

The plan started badly. They were losing. Everything seemed to indicate that they would lose. No one answered, there seemed to be no one in the sky and Jake only listens to his own heart about to explode. Anxious, almost desperate; Neytiri does not answer, the last thing she said was that Seze was killed and she is alone.

If I'm really important, if you really chose me... please help me. Jake thinks on the verge of a panic attack. Eywa... Eywa must be real and if she wants him to defend this people, she must help him.

He needs her.

He needs her-

"I think... I think Eywa heard you..."

Is Neytiri's initial faint murmur before exclaiming louder. "EYWA HEARD YOU!"

A huge shadow covers Awa'atlu and panic grips everyone Why is so much happening in such a short time?! However, the alerts are in vain. The Toruk descends and to everyone's surprise, Jake comes down from the back of the huge flying being. Along with him comes Neytiri, who jumps up and down in excitement and almost pulls Grace down in a hug.

"This..." stammers Ronal with a hand on her chest, dumbfounded. Jake walks over and smiles slyly towards Tonowari, who doesn't seem to fit in his impression in the same way.

"I see you." It's the first thing he says and Tonowari releases his breath with a smile.

"I see you."

Tonowari hugs him and brings his forehead together with him, rubbing it gently as he clutches the body he is used to feeling between his hands. Neytiri watches the reunion with tender eyes.

She keeps thinking about the demon....

"Do you think you're one of them Sully?" questions Quaritch. Neytitiri struggles to get out from under the deceased Tanathor "It's time to wake up."
 
Neytiri gives a groan of anguish. In that box is Jake. His real body. If the demon destroys him, he will die. Quaritch strikes and Jake staggers, falling asleep for a moment, with effort he manages to intercept it and barely push it away, fighting or trying to. Quaritch grabs him by the tsim and lifts him up that way.

"Another disappointment Sully" He pulls him close and Neytiri snorts, raging He must not go near Jake! Slowly her leg is able to get free. "I warned you to wait in your cell" Neytiri pauses for a brief moment, frowning. Jake groans and shakes himself, trying unsuccessfully to pull away. "Now, you're going to die nothing more. Without having used your legs one last time."

Neytiri reaches for the bow and accurately shoots Quaritch in the chest. The man drops Jake, who vanishes. Neytiri shoots one more arrow and covers Jake with her body, snarling at Quaritch in his last moments of life.

The endoskeleton falls and she checks Jake. No pulse, no nothing. She runs to the mobile cell and notices the body convulsing not far away. Between sobs and anguished moans, she lifts him up. Why isn't he breathing either? The air mask to one side gives her the signal. He puts it on and in that brief moment she only thinks...

How is he so small?

How is someone with such a strong heart so small and fragile?

Jake breathes and smiles at Neytiri, who in tears does the same, hugging him to herself.

She was able to protect him from the demon and Jake, he freed them from all the others.

The big celebration for Toruk Makto's triumph is more than huge. There are little problems to be solved here and there. There is no Olo'eyktan in the Omatikaya clan, there is no one to take that position either and it was Jake who put Tsu'Tey out of his misery, so it is his duty to take the position.

Which directly clashes with his intention to stay with the Metkayina. Tonowari is his partner after all. Also Payakan who would be very sad if Jake lasts months away.

A mess they won't solve today.

It will be later, much later. When Skypeople leave Pandora and the dark ages are over. For now, to enjoy the feast that took place in a neutral zone.

A coast that faces Awa'atlu, but also the forest that the Omatikaya walk through. The other clans are also present, enjoying time together after having spent the day mourning their fallen and thanking them for their bravery in combat.

"Do you want to see the Earth?" Tonowari nods. "It's not very interesting." admits Jake. Both of them sitting a little apart. Payakan swims not far away, tossing water at the Ikran flying playfully overhead. "It's just a place about to die."

"I want to see the hell those who have hurt us for years will go to. Those who have caused so much pain," Tonowari expounds, looking at the horizon. It is the most macabre thought Jake has ever heard him think. "Also to know the place where so many monsters came from and to mourn the few who do not deserve such agony." Tonowari turns to Jake and he nods, lips pursed to the right.

"You saw it... part of it."

"Not enough."

Jake gives a snort. In the tsaheylu they see part of the opposite. Tonowari appreciated part of the Earth. Or at least that's what Jake assumes. Tonowari actually admired Jake's life from his eyes. Childhood with his brother, his family, life in general.

A rather gray and not very encouraging one.

Tonowari is convinced that's why he came here as a child: to be able to live the life he really deserved, before they wanted to contaminate him with ideas of death and destruction. Tonowari will always think the best of Jake and the worst of others, even if it is not objectively correct.

However, how could it be otherwise? He's his partner, he's "Ma'Jake", he's going to justify him even in the worst of crimes.

"I won't go back there" mutters Jake who looks up and his eyes are flooded with the stars in the sky, "but... being here, it's not just this body. It's... that other one I always have to go back to."

"You don't have to" Tonowari puts a hand on the shoulder and Jake, who turns to look at him in awe. "You can be one of us... just like Grace is" Jake half-opens his lips. "If you really want to stay."

Jake bites his lips, watery-eyed and hugging Tonowari. The Olo'eyktan welcomes him with open arms and applying all his strength in surrounding him, in making him feel protected like he wasn't before.

It is so dissonant to see Tonowari in Hell's Gate. It just doesn't make sense for him to be in here. All the humans, except for a few - like Norm and Max - stayed. Only they have permission to do so.

Being in this base, Tonowari only feels greater rejection of everything Skypeople is. The environment makes him uncomfortable and irritated, seeing what the land is like only makes the feeling worse. Overall, it's a huge discomfort that living once is enough.

"In here?"

"Yes."

Tonowari touches a finger to the linking capsule. Jake asks him not to try to open it, it would be too annoying. Tonowari is afraid of this whole place. It has a weird energy that maybe the others don't sense. They don't know how. Grace is not far away overseeing the materials they have, how long they're going to last. That sort of thing.

Norm did the favor of hiding the clothes. She has to get used to wearing the Omatikaya garments once and for all.

"The demon, he opened this, didn't he?" Jake scrunches up his face, he wouldn't want to talk about it. "Neytiri finished him."

"Yes. She was very happy about that." laughs Jake listlessly and Tonowari gives a snort.

"Did he hurt you again?"

Silence.

"Jake."

Nothing.

"There's no reason to feel ashamed of an attack from someone like that. From a miserable coward" replies Tonowari, disgusted at the very idea of Quaritch even if he never saw him in person or in picture. "To have endured and faced his power is something you should be proud of." he states with conviction and Jake exhalesces.

"I just... I don't want to feel weak anymore," Jake says and looks at the working capsule. The inner chamber exposes his sleeping face. "And... be free at last."

Tonowari takes his partner's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Jake is imprisoned in that precarious body. An insufferable prison for such a strong heart and free soul.

"When we get home, you will be."

Jake smiles sly and soft. He hopes it's true.

Grace squeezes Neytiri's hand tightly, both watching the ritual taking place at the tree of souls. Jake's pale, thin body lying on the ground, with multiple roots holding it and attached to it.

Why didn't they do it in Awa'Atlu? Tonowari decided not to take the slightest risk and that it was wiser to carry it out in the open. There was danger of Jake drowning because of this change. Besides, he is an Omatikaya. His initiation was as an Omatikaya.

They must welcome him as a new born.

Neytiri gently detaches Jake's exomask and kisses him on the forehead. This little body he held a couple of times and the one she would hold if the avatar's body had fallen.

It too deserves to be dismissed as the husk that it is. She sits beside the other body, holding the face in her hands and smiling broadly, affectionately as Jake's eyes open. Vibrant as they never have before.

"I see you." muses Neytiri.

"I see you." reciprocates Jake before exhaling loudly.

The celebration is huge: Eywa wants him here, even with them; Grace hugs Jake tightly, celebrating equally and Jake has only one thought on his mind.

I want to go to the water.

Tonowari is able to hear something, a kind of loud, excited chanting. Near the coast, planning the hunting parties they would conduct for the week. He is forced to turn to the horizon, where the Tulkun approaches with an Ikran on its back. Out of the water comes one that brings a huge smile to his face. He strides towards the shore, welcoming Jake in his arms who clutches him instantly.

Bringing their foreheads together with big smiles on their faces.

"I see you." says Jake almost breathless. drenched from head to toe and with his hair braided over his shoulder. His fidgeting tail that curls every so often.

"I see you, Ma'Jake." Tonowari gently rubs his forehead with Jake's, his hands on his waist and his tail just as fidgety.

Breaking away, Jake greets Ronal who directs an equally friendly gesture at him. A slight smile on her lips and the inevitable satisfaction in her words: "I'm glad to see you here with us, Jake Sully.

The Metkayina celebration is huge. Their Olo'eyktan has a mate and this one decided to stay with them, to the point of discarding everything of his former race.

The first thing Jake tattooed, was his chest. Symbolizing the peace and protection he longs to give to this planet to those who accepted him into it; then it was his arms, for the strength he has to carry it out and finally it was on his face.

Metkayina symbols.

Omatikaya symbols.

Belonging to both and wanting nothing more than the good of both.

And finally on his back, where rested the marks that he is Toruk Makto, as well as Tonowari's companion.

A huge vortex occupying both of their backs. While Jake has the wind, Tonowari has the water and from time to time, it's what they see when they wake up in the marui they share to sleep.

"You look good with tattoos."

"With how much they hurt, it's a relief." laughs Jake.

Tonowari gives a small laugh and pulls him in to have him half lying on top of him; Jake curls his tail around Tonowari's thigh and gives him a kiss on the lips; his hair tickling the Olo'eyktan's collarbone.

His greatest discovery: what he really wanted, came in the water and he is sure his path will end in the water just the same. Next to Tonowari and that, is the part that makes him the happiest.

Finally and for the first time in his life, he feels that he is happy and that is the purpose of living it.

It is enough.

It's perfect.

Jake hugs Tonowari and exhales, closing his eyes, snuggling.

It feels so good to be loved and to be happy after he thought he could never make it. He made it.

「I'll never come back here again and... What an amazing turn everything took. I wish you could have seen all of this Tommy. Although if what they say is true, you're here with me watching it Isn't it amazing? I was able to do something right... Now I remember you told me a lot about Pandora. As a paradisiacal and perfect place: it is. It is in every aspect. Thank you for having kept all the neurons when we were born. If it had been different, I might not be here」.

「I miss you... And I also remember you asked me to be happy. Just before I went off to lose my legs in a silly war. Now I am. Thank you for everything, little brother. Maybe in another life, we can see each other and in that time, we can get along... I'm not promising it will be soon. I still have a lot to do here. A lot to live and enjoy」.

「And this is my last log... Goodbye. Jake Sully out」