Am I going to apologize for not updating this story for two years?... Yes. I have tried to revisit this story a dozen different times and could never think of where to take it. Well, call it a miracle, or call it an outlet to relieve some of the stress of an "essential worker" during a worldwide pandemic... but whatever it is, I'm back. Hopefully I can keep up the momentum and not go on another two year hiatus! Thanks for all the comments over the years encouraging me to continue!

-x-

There's a roaring in Jake's ears as Tsu'tey and Neytiri usher him away from the sea of golden eyes boring their way under his skin. He had acted on instinct, blurted out the best explanation he could muster, but now the adrenaline had his heart pounding in his throat. He didn't have time to process what had happened, what Tsu'tey had said, until the pair herded him inside an opening in the body of hometree, vines falling across the entrance to create a natural cover once they were inside the dimly lit alcove.

"Well, that could have gone worse," Neytiri breathed out, relief easing the line of her shoulders.

Jake was about to open his mouth to speak, but stopped as Tsu'tey turned and fixed Neytiri with a look Jake could not see. Whatever message was relayed between them, Neytiri raised her arms in mock salute.

"I will leave so that you two may talk," she relented, shooting Jake a sly, if not slightly sympathetic, look before turning on her heels and parting the vines to leave, her tail flicking at the air as she went.

Silence hung around them like fog, neither man daring to look at the other.

"Was that the truth, what you said out there?" Jake asked just above a whisper, his arm gesturing out in the direction of the common area they'd just left.

Tsu'tey finally turned fully towards Jake, his eyes fixed firmly on a point over Jake's shoulder.

"I have told no lies since our meeting, Jake-Sully," he pursed his lips, struggling to speak gently and evenly, "I apologize. I did not mean to make our bond known to you."

"What?" Jake sputtered, "Why the fuck not?"

Tsu'tey couldn't help the tug he felt at the corner of his mouth, overwhelmed with the endearment he felt towards the brackish attitude he had missed so dearly. "I did not wish..." he paused, searching for the right words, "to make you feel obligated to return my... sentiments... if you do not feel the same way."

Jake made to speak, but Tsu'tey cut him off, the words spilling from his lips beyond his control.

"I know humans do not have the concept of soulmate as my people do. I have seen you... watched you... with others. I would never wish to lead you to believe that our relationship has no value to me if you do not perceive me as a soulmate..."

"You..." it was Jake's turn to interrupt, "are an idiot."

Tsu'tey recoiled slightly, his wide eyes narrowed, but before he could retaliate, Jake continued.

"Didn't you notice anything weird about the... other people I've been with?"

Anger began to well in Tsu'tey's chest as a simpering look settled into Jake's features, unable to comprehend what he had possibly done to illicit such cruelty from the man before him.

"They all looked like you, idiot."

A blush of deep blue burst across Tsu'tey's face, "I do not..." his heart beat like a wild animal against his chest "I do not recall."

"Well they did," Jake laughed, a blush spreading from the bridge of his nose to the tips of his ears despite himself, "as close as I could find anyway." His laughter settled as his face fell into a sheepish expression, "I'm sorry you had to... see me with others... I know that's not... how things are done here."

Tsu'tey almost choked in his haste to reply, "just as I know that your actions are standard on your planet. I do not fault you for having your own customs, I did not intend to make you feel guilt for your actions. I apologize for my failure in clarity and for intending to keep the truth of our bond from you."

Jake looked at Tsu'tey, whose stoic features and rigid posture were betrayed by the anxious flicking of his tail, as affection bloomed in his chest. "Tell me the word," Jake took a step towards Tsu'tey, watching his eyes widen at the movement, "tell me the name for what we are, what this is."

Tsu'tey released a breath he didn't know he had been holding "tì'i'avay krrä yawntu" the words slipped effortlessly from his lips, words he hadn't said aloud since his mother had first explained the bond to him as a child.

Jake repeated the term, taking another step closer so he was close enough to Tsu'tey to feel the heat from his skin "I recognize the last word" Jake breathed out, his vision tunneling, focusing on the slope of the other man's collar bone, the hard line of his jaw, "yawntu means... lover, beloved..." his ears burned so hot he almost couldn't stand it "what does the rest mean?"

Tsu'tey swallowed around the lump in his throat, "tì'i'avay krrä means forever, until the end of time," Jake's eyes shoot up to lock onto his for the first time since Neytiri had left, nearly derailed his train of thought, "tì'i'avay krrä yawntu... are mates... created by Eywa, made specifically for each other. Blessed with visions when they... we... are apart."

"Eywa picked a hell of a distance to start us out at" Jake chuckled nervously, his breath puffing against Tsu'tey's lips.

"Yet here you are in front of me," Tsu'tey spoke just loud enough for Jake to hear.

"Here I am" Jake affirmed, Tsu'tey's eyes searching his, their pupils blown.

They began to push ever so slightly forward, giving each other plenty of time to back out.

Just as they felt the first barely-there brush of lips, the sound of vines rustling beside them startled them apart.

"What could possibly be important enough to interrupt us at this exact moment?" Tsu'tey snapped as Neytiri's smirking face emerged from the vines.

"First of all," Neytiri began, wholly unaffected by Tsu'tey's displeasure, "I've been out here the whole time, you two are like babies: stupid and bad at talking." She continued on before either man could protest, "Secondly, dinner is beginning, my mother and father will be suspicious if you two are not present."

"Very well," Tsu'tey growled, his harsh tone betrayed by the softness in his eyes as he looked back at Jake, "we must get you changed."

The words shook Jake from the pleasant haze from moments ago, reminding him where he was.

"Let us go, Jake-Scully," Tsu'tey muttered, placing a hand on the small of Jake's back to lead him out of the protection of the alcove.

"Yeah, okay," Jake swallowed, his voice thick as he felt Tsu'tey's touch seer his skin like a brand. He dared to hazard a glance at the other man's face only to catch Tsu'tey's eyes quickly flicking away from him.

"You two, you are very cute," Neytiri shot them a sly glance over her shoulder, "stupid, but cute."

"Neytiri.." Tsu'tey growled out in a warning .

"Everything will be fine," Neytiri raised her hands in a dismissive gesture, unaffected by his tone, "Eywa has brought you together, it will not be for nothing."

Jake could only hope she was right.