Disclaimer: I do not own nor profit from Avatar.
You should check out the video on Youtube called "Tsu'tey/Jake ~ Disturbia" by SammyE89. Best Tsu'tey/Jake vid I've found so far.
-o-o-o-
Jake was getting frustrated. He traced the patterns on his new, blue skin, torturing himself with the strange heat that blossomed and disappeared in the wake of his fingers. It had began, what… half a week ago?
He couldn't remember the exact moment. It had been during one of the Na'vi's ceremonial gatherings. It was hard to believe only a few months ago they had won the great battle and taken their planet back, with the exception of hybrid avatars like Jake and the odd, yet welcome, human.
Jake remembered that night like it had been yesterday. He had been sharing a drink with Norm, laughing, when he had thrown a random glance over the fire. On the other side of the gathering, he caught sight of the heated gaze of a certain Na'vi warrior. It was hard to miss, even in the dark, as the amber, cat-shaped orbs reflected the campfire's flickering glare.
Jake felt a shiver run down his spine, before the familiar irritation surged forth in reaction to that angry scowl. Giving a brief smile, the hybrid uncrossed one of his arms to give the Na'vi male a one fingered salute. Apparently 'fuck you' translated really well through all languages.
Tsu'tey's eyes widened a fraction. The shock even ran down to the odd flick of his tail.
Jake's smile widened. It never failed to brighten his day, just to get some other reaction out of the other than the normal frown.
The tables turned, however, when a cocky grin tilted the serious warrior's features. Jake's smile faltered. When those amber eyes ran down, then back up, Jake's form, the hybrid couldn't help the visible shiver that ran through him.
He almost didn't notice Norm talking until the other slugged him on the arm.
"Huh? Wha-?" Jake blinked, looking towards the scientist hybrid.
"It looked like I lost you there, for a moment, Jake. Everything okay?" Norm's brow was cocked, as he looked over his friend.
"Uh…" Jake darted a glance across the fire. But Tsu'tey was casually talking to random Na'vi around him, not even looking in Jake's direction. Wondering if he had just imagined it all, Jake continued slowly, "…yeah, yeah, of course."
It had been that night that he started feeling a little… funny. He could barely sleep at all, and random chills would run through him. He twisted and turned in his hammock as fevered dreams tortured him, ones he would never remember the moment he woke up.
The next night was another gathering. The second in a stream of celebrations the Olo'eyctan had planned for the Na'vi. Jake had been a little less than sober when he decided to get more drinks for both him and Norm. Laughing, he had grabbed up their two bowls, juggling a third in between, as he continued forward without looking. It was no surprise that he ran into someone an instant later.
Dropping the bowls clumsily to the ground, Jake whipped forward, ears twitching downward as he had immediately began his apology, only to find himself mesmerized.
The purple drink glistened on blue-patterned skin, rivulets running down the sculpted chest before him. Blinking, Jake found himself unable to look away as he traced the path of the liquid with his eyes. It started up at the hardened pecs before it dipped beneath the leather strap and waist guard of the other, hardened warrior. Then the liquid dribbled slowly over the bumps and contours of a healthy accumulation of abs before the trail finally disappeared underneath the waistband of his loincloth.
The moment Jake caught himself wondering where the last of the trail would end up, he snapped himself out of it. Of course, his drunken stupor didn't help the matter any. Stumbling forward, he gripped the sculpted arms of the other to steady himself, as he brought his gaze upwards.
The apology slipped right out of his lips, forgotten, as his innocent doe eyes locked onto the predatory cat eyes before him.
"…Tsu…tey…?" Jake managed to slur out slowly.
He prayed to God, or Eywa, that Tsu'tey hadn't noticed him checking him out.
He would be dead if he had.
With a sickening lurch in the pit of his stomach, he noticed the raised eyebrow of the Native male. He should've known Tsu'tey would never miss a thing.
Dead. So dead.
Instead of anger, however, the Omaticayan warrior seemed to be appraising the hybrid with a look as heated as the night before. Except something was different. Tsu'tey flicked his eyes back up into Jake's, that same slow curl lifting one side of his lips, interest in his amber orbs. Jake wondered if he was imagining it, that everything was simply twisted around by the drink thumping through his veins to the beat of drums in the night.
But all the doubt was wiped instantly from Jake's mind, as well as sobered him up instantly, as he felt large hands brush the sides of his waist as a Tsu'tey's glistening tongue darted out to lick his own lips.
"Oh shit-" Jake stammered, shoving himself away from the other by his forgotten hold on Tsu'tey's arms.
But the knuckles he had felt brushing against his hips quickly turned into an unbreakable hold down at his waist, trapping him there before pulling his lean form closer to the well built and muscled form of the older warrior.
Jake's tail flicked nervously, his adam's apple bobbing rather painfully as he took a big gulp before letting out a questioning whisper, "…Tsu'tey?"
He watched, frozen, as that strong and proud face leaned closer. Tsu'tey didn't stop until Jake felt lips brush against his ear.
"You really must watch where you're going…" Tsu'tey murmured in low tones that vibrated up and down Jake's spine. Then the last acknowledgement was dipped in tones too deep and accented to not have a darker, promised meaning, "…JakeSully…"
Tsu'tey pulled back, squeezing slightly, before releasing Jake fully. The hybrid shivered, his ears caught between flaring in apprehension and flattening in hostility. He had no idea what just happened, and the other didn't look as though he was too keen on telling. With a smirk, and a brief flash of white teeth in the dark, Tsu'tey disappeared back into the celebration wrapped all around them.
Ever since that night, Tsu'tey seemed to have gained great pleasure from 'accidentally' brushing against Jake from time to time or even finding excuses to full on touch him. Jake didn't know what game the other male was playing, but he didn't like it. Especially since he couldn't help the jump in his heartbeat, or the shiver that the other warrior noticed and easily extracted from him by those simple, 'innocent' acts.
"Hey, dude, you coming?" Norm asked for the hundredth time that night.
"No." Jake sighed.
"What're you talking about. This is the last night, THE night, practically, of all the celebrations combined!" Norm exclaimed.
"Don't I know it…" Jake muttered to himself in concern. When asked what he said, Jake just slapped the scientist on the back and told him to go and have a great time.
The moment the other Na'vi hybrid disappeared around the curve of the enormous branch, Jake could hear his subconscious battling with himself.
'Coward.'
Jake frowned, 'No, I'm not. Just 'cause I'm not going to the party doesn't mean I'm a coward.'
'…'
Jake relaxed a little, 'Yeah, see, choosing not to go doesn't mean-'
'Coward in denial.'
Jake bristled, 'What the fuck?'
The loose stick Jake hadn't realized he was carrying suddenly snapped in two at his grip. Blinking sheepishly at the remains, he tossed the scrap into the brush far below as he shook his head. What was wrong with him?
He scrambled absentmindedly further up the branches of the tree, going higher than the more trafficked, larger arms located near the bottom of the canopy. He found a nice little crook to sprawl out in as he stared at the stars through the forest's leaf-covered fingers.
Yeah, this was better than going to some dumb ceremony party.
Eywa knows how drunk he and Norm would have gotten. Or how many Omaticayans would be coming up to him to offer him tribute for the part he played in the Great Battle. Or even how Tsu'tey would manage to get his hands on him this time.
Wait- what?
Did he actually like it when- No. No absolutely not.
Decidedly ignoring the last few thoughts, Jake rested his head on outstretched palms, allowing the night songs to carry his mind away to sleep.
-o-o-o-
Tsu'tey felt as though there was fire flowing through his veins.
Ever since that night, when he had seen how easily he could get a reaction out of the hybrid warrior, Tsu'tey had gotten great pleasure from provoking him. It was no sin to lust after another male in the Na'vi culture. Many males would share a bed before battle, and many more for longer than just that.
Technically, it had been ever since the night he had caught the skxawng with his warriors surrounding him. Even in the face of death, Jake had bared a weapon and his teeth, though once Tsu'tey showed up, he had realized his survival would depend on surrendering. He had thrown down his dagger, though he had not quivered in fear like some weakling pup. Rather, he had grinned, laughed even, in the face of death. Beneath the layers of Sky People and Na'vi mixed flesh, had been a strong heart, full of courage.
That didn't change Jake from being a skxawng, however.
Through Neytiri's guidance and training, his body had developed. His muscles had hardened and his body had become more sure. Despite informing Neytiri that a rock could see more, she didn't give up. And as Tsu'tey continued watching from the sidelines, he knew her instincts had been right. That Jake could be trained. Could be one of them.
It had become so routine, watching Jake, making sure he didn't cause trouble for their people, that he didn't notice when it had changed to something else. When Neytiri had declared Jake ready to take his Ikran, to become a hunter, Tsu'tey felt so sick with worry that he barely looked at him that day.
His doubt, however, had been chiseled away with surprise at the fact at how well Jake could keep up with him as they scaled the rocks and the floating mountains to the place the Ikran nested. Despite Tsu'tey's more advanced skill and toned body, Jake was always just one step behind, as though he hadn't only been with them for three months. Almost as though he had been a Na'vi his whole life.
Tsu'tey would almost admit that a small measure of pride had started to show through.
Then Neytiri had showed up, and Tsu'tey had seen the greeting of affection between the two. His heart felt like the Toruk had speared him deep inside and wrenched it out with its mighty beak. Of course he had noticed the telltale signs of closeness, of love, between JakeSully and Neytiri. In a moment of weakness, of pure unadulterated jealousy, he had declared Jake to be the first. Of course, Jake had stepped up to the plate without blinking an eye, even handing his bow to Tsu'tey as though he was just a carrier boy rather than a mighty warrior. Snatching it, it wasn't until Neytiri had shot Tsu'tey a frown of disbelief that he had realized what he had done.
He had sentenced Jake to die.
He was almost relieved when Neytiri followed Jake out, giving him extra guidance as he neared the flock of Ikran.
When Jake had almost fallen off the cliff, Tsu'tey felt his heart jump up his throat, his mind almost calling out to his own Ikran to save the other. To mask his fear, Tsu'tey merely laughed, trying to spur Jake on. It worked as he saw anger flit into Jake's features, forcing himself back up over the edge and tackling the struggling Ikran. In the end of the day, Jake won. And Tsu'tey was more than relieved.
This memory triggered one from the Great Battle. And Tsu'tey found the drums of the night fires, and the throngs of people fading away, as he reminisced about the events that had occurred during that time.
=o= ONE WEEK AGO =o=
Even as the air brushed its cold fingers against his skin, Tsu'tey still felt the warm hand that Jake had placed on his chest, pleading with Tsu'tey to fight with him.
He shook off the thoughts as his people continued killing and dying around him, the loud sounds of the Sky People's guns overshadowing the cries of death and battle.
His people will not have died in vain!
Aiming his Ikran towards the Sky People's main instrument of death, their 'bomb' as JakeSully had named, Tsu'tey grabbed his bow and prepared himself.
He leaped and rolled into the alien metal hull of the large airship, his skin detesting its cold feel. His warrior braid whipped behind him as he rolled up to a knee and took aim, sending one of his thick arrows through a Sky Person's frail body. He spun around and cracked another's neck with the backhanded blow of his bow. The others started shooting, and he felt a few graze his outer thigh and his side. Roaring his displeasure and anger, he took them out, one by one.
There was only one left, and he charged towards the fearful Tawtute.
Then suddenly Tsu'tey was falling through the air. Immense pain throbbing from his shoulder. The damned Tawtute had clipped him good on the shoulder with one of their louder guns, spinning him off of the ship.
He closed his eyes as he fell through the sky, knowing this height was too great to survive from. He had failed. He let the feelings of grief and despair claw through him, before preparing himself to meet Eywa.
That's when the unexpected happened.
Gravity stung his shoulder as his weight jerked back from freefall, his hand being grasped by something warm.
"Don't tell me you're giving up already, Tsu'tey." Jake's grin sprawled out in his words, even before the hardened warrior opened his eyes to look into that smirking face.
"Jake…Sully…?" He said slowly, his mind still catching up.
"Nice to know your mind's still intact in there, somewhere." Jake grinned again, hauling the other up onto the back of his red, yellow and black beast.
That's when Tsu'tey realized, not only had Jake saved his life, but he was also now riding atop of the great Toruk.
"I will get you back for your statements later." Tsu'tey threatened absentmindedly, taking the time to feel the immense power of the untamed beast beneath him.
"Oh, yeah. You're welcome." Jake rolled his eyes
Grabbing a couple grenades from the back of his weapon straps, Jake called out behind him, "Watch him for me, will ya?"
Before Tsu'tey could even open his mouth, Jake was gone, having jumped right off of the beast to the metal airship below.
Wondering what he was to do with the Toruk, especially since he wasn't bonded to it, Tsu'tey growled at Jake's thoughtlessness.
He caught the eye of the Toruk looking at him warily.
"If you eat me, I'll kill you." Tsu'tey growled.
The Toruk merely snorted, turning its gaze back forwards.
Suddenly Jake was back, almost toppling Tsu'tey over in the process. Before the wounded warrior could go overboard, Jake's sturdy arm reached over and grasped the older warrior around the waist. Tsu'tey frowned at the warm contact, feeling heat flushing through his skin. He was about to snap something when suddenly Jake's whole front was flush with his cold back. Tsu'tey went rigid, his mind barely registering enough to wonder what the hell the hybrid was up to.
Then he saw Jake's other hand reaching around him for the tsa'heylu, the bond, that would link Jake with the Toruk.
Growling at his own reaction, Tsu'tey bit out, "I would appreciate it if you did not treat me like a rag doll."
"Man, am I glad I saved your ass." Jake retorted, "Look, if you're that uncomfortable-"
"I am not uncomf-" Tsu'tey started to say indignantly.
"- then why don't you just call your own Ikran and fly off to whatever part of the battle you want to?" Jake continued as though Tsu'tey hadn't said anything.
A pang of pain, like a gutful of bullets, hit Tsu'tey hard. He had almost forgotten. The suicide run he had made had the human gunner shooting a stream of bullets at them. He had made it but his Ikran… he was…
"He died." Tsu'tey said shortly, letting no emotion through.
But despite the nickname, Jake was no moron.
He could read the tenseness of Tsu'tey's back, the rigid way he held that proud jaw, the painful beating of his heart that was currently pressed against Jake's chest.
"Shit… Tsu'tey, I'm sorry. I'm such an idiot sometimes." Jake felt remorse rip through him at his carelessness.
"Skxawng." Tsu'tey provided.
"Exactly." Jake agreed.
For some, insane reason, whether it was the sincerity of the hybrid, or the mere fact that he was perfectly willing to call himself a complete moron, Tsu'tey found his heart lifted a little.
A chuckle reverberated through his chest, as Tsu'tey turned his head sideways, catching a glimpse of the painted man behind him, "You… are a complete skxawng JakeSully. One I have yet to figure out…"
"Haven't the scientists told you yet? No one can figure me out." Jake grinned from ear to ear.
Tsu'tey gripped the Toruk hard as they suddenly banked without warning, bullets whizzing past, as if to remind them of the battle they were still in the middle of. He felt, more than heard, the hybrid warrior behind him turn serious.
"There's one last airship I gotta take out." He said between clenched teeth, almost sounding like he was talking to himself.
Tsu'tey could feel a vein of hatred underlying that simple sentence. And he turned slightly to catch a glimpse of the look in Jake's eyes. It was something he had never seen before in those eyes he had sworn were so full of naïve innocence.
The look was one of pure, unfiltered, vengeance.
