All right readers... I am issuing an apology once more for giving you all such a short chapter and then leaving for so long (though, anything has to be better than the years between chapters 9 and 10... right?)
Shortly after I posted chapter 10, I began working on chapter 11, but found myself quite literally unable to do so. To make a long-suffering story short, I have returned two months later after a minor brain surgery and am finally feeling well enough to pick up where we left off!
Hopefully we won't have any more interruptions.
-x-
Dread set into Jake's bones as he followed Neytiri and Tsu'tey up the spiral branches of Hometree. He could feel, rather than see, the thrum of the tribe gathered on the level above them as they climbed, and he pulled self-consciously at the loincloth he had been instructed to change into.
As they crested the final slope, all chatter stopped. Jake looked out into the crowd of Na'vi bodies, every eye trained on him alone, and felt as though he was drowning.
The only thing that kept him from actively trying to sink into the depths of the flora far below him was the sight of Tsu'tey's shoulders drawn tight, tensed and ready to take on any possible threat.
He wanted to reach out and smooth the taut muscles, ease away the burden his presence was causing.
"Will you two calm yourselves please," Neytiri cut through his thoughts with a harsh whisper, "just sit down and try not to pass out. I will get food."
She did not give them a chance to reply, leaving them to stare after her like lost children.
Jake willed himself to look at Tsu'tey's face and was unsurprised to see his mouth set in a thin line, his eyebrows drawn together. What did surprise him, however, when Tsu'tey shifted to meet his gaze, was the fear he saw in those familiar eyes. It was gone in an instant, replaced by what was most likely meant to be confidence.
At that, Tsu'tey turned and began leading them carefully through the sea of gawking faces until they found a spot for the three of them.
They had just sat down, their knees not quite touching, when Neytiri cut back through to them, balancing large leaves stacked with food in her arms.
"Thank you," Jake managed a small smile as he and Tsu'tey took the provided food and spread it out in front of themselves.
"So, Jake-Sully," Neytiri smiled widely as she settled on the other side of Tsu'tey, "are you excited to try the food?"
"Oh," Jake perked up at the question, happy for the distraction, "yeah! I had utu mauti at camp a day or two ago, it was amazing!"
"Utu mauti?" Neytiri grinned, "Tsu'tey that's your favorite, yes?"
"He already knows that, Neytiri," Tsu'tey muttered despite the blush working its way up his cheeks.
Jake heard Neytiri's stifled chuckle, but she said no more as they slipped into companionable silence.
They began to eat, taking portions from the large serving leaves onto their own smaller leaves. Jake may have been put off by the sight of the Teylu grubs stacked high before him, but he had long ago gotten used to traditional Na'vi meals, and gladly consumed his share.
As the meal went on peacefully, Jake could almost quell the stress and worry that coursed its way through his veins at a sickening pace. The peace was broken however, when a pair of feet entered the field of view of Jake's ducked head, stopping in front of him.
He raised his head to look at the figure before him, taking in the narrowed eyes and down turned mouth of a Na'vi man Jake did not recognize. Before he could think of something to say, a greeting to ease the tension, he heard Tsu'tey growl low in his throat.
"It would be best for you to keep your eyes to yourself, Nha'su, should you wish for them to remain in your head," Tsu'tey warned in a low, even voice.
"My apologies," the young man spoke calmly, dipping down in a low mock bow, his braids nearly brushing Jake's face with the motion, "how could I forget I am in the presence of the future Tsahìk, Olo'eyktan, and his concubine."
The word had only just fallen from the other man's lips when Tsu'tey shot to his feet, bringing himself chest to chest with the man before them.
A fresh hush fell over the Omaticaya clan, all eyes now focused on the spectacle unfolding before them.
"Say that again," Tsu'tey spoke through barred teeth, his hands clenched at his sides.
"What is the matter, Tsu'tey," the Na'vi man sneered, flashing split slicked canines, his eyes still narrowed, "that's what he is," Jake felt frozen to the surface beneath him as the stranger's golden eyes raked over him slowly "and what a pretty pet he is."
"You will do well to remember your place," Tsu'tey spoke from deep within his chest, every muscle tensed.
Jake tore his eyes away from the men towering above him to Neytiri, who gave him a nearly imperceptible shake of her head, a silent warning that this was Tsu'tey's battle alone. He did not miss, however, her right-hand flexing ever so slightly towards the hunting knife strapped to her thigh and felt no small sense of relief that he was not the only one affected.
"How am I meant to respect an Olo'eyktan who lays between the spread legs of a Sky Person whore?" the man, Nha'su, may have planned to continue, but was cut off as Tsu'tey tackled him to the ground.
Jake braced himself for the brawl he was sure was about to follow, an expectation apparently shared by Nha'su who fell in a heap of flailing limbs, searching for any means to return the blow. Instead, Tsu'tey was able to maneuver himself with a fluid grace that found his knee between the other man's shoulders and a hand wrapped tightly around the braid containing his queue, holding him firmly in place.
"My bond with Jake-Sully was chosen by Eywa," Tsu'tey's eyes were still focused on the man below him but he spoke so that everyone in the clearing would hear, "he will be an Omaticaya Warrior as I am an Omaticaya Warrior and you will respect him as you respect me."
At that, Tsu'tey stood and returned to his place between Jake and Neytiri, never casting a second glance back to the Na'vi man he had left sprawled out on the floor.
"I apologize for the interruption, Jake-Sully" Tsu'tey said in a calm, even voice that may have fooled Jake had he not known the man his entire life.
Jake offered no verbal reply, gave no thanks for what Tsu'tey had done, because he knew any such offerings would be brushed away. So instead, after Tsu'tey has settled beside Jake once more, in lieu of saying anything in reply, Jake simply shifted so their legs pressed together and if he heard something akin to a purr escape Tsu'tey's throat, he did not acknowledge it.
-x-
The meal finished in relative silence after that, and soon Jake found himself ushered away once more, now to the third level of the Great Tree, where all the hammocks were strung.
The three of them walked in companionable silence until they reached Tsu'tey and Neytiri's respective sleeping areas, some ways away from the other Omaticaya Warriors.
"Ooo," Neytiri said suddenly, turning to face the two men, her palm raised as if to suggest serious thought "I wonder what you two dream when you're together."
"It is none of your business what we dream about, you nosy woman" Tsu'tey replied, his mouth drawn in an unenthusiastic line.
"So, I have to hear you whine and cry about your dreams for well over twenty cycles, and now he's here and it's finally interesting, but now it's none of my business?" Neytiri attempted something between a scowl and a pout but couldn't quite fight off a smirk.
"I did not whine and cry," Tsu'tey admonished, a navy blush creeping up his high cheek bones again, betraying any bite his tone may have carried "goodnight, Neytiri."
"Goodnight, Tsu'tey, Jake-Sully," she relented with a gleeful smile and a nod before climbing gracefully into her hammock as it wrapped around her like a cocoon.
Jake watched after her, amusement lifting some of the weight that had been bearing down on his chest for the better part of the night.
"Jake-Sully," Tsu'tey's voice broke through the haze of Jake's thoughts. Jake went to meet his eyes, but Tsu'tey's gaze was fixed on the foliage above their heads, "I do not wish to make assumptions, I, of course, wish to respect any boundaries you may desire to place, however due to the short notice of this evening it might be easiest-"
"You're rambling," Jake interrupted, a grin spreading across his lips at the indignant look the statement brought to Tsu'tey's face.
"Would you like to share my hammock?" Tsu'tey asked, his jaw set in faux indifference.
Affection bloomed warm in Jake's chest. He wished to reach out and smooth the squared shoulders and straight back of the man before him, to take his chin in his hands and force him to meet his eyes.
He settled, instead, on brushing the pads of his index and middle finger along the inside of Tsu'tey's wrist, "of course."
Tsu'tey still would not meet Jake's eyes, but the sharp edges of his shoulders and jaw softened, if only just. He gestured to the empty hammock with a stiff sweep of his arm, the tenseness of his demeanor betrayed by the nervous flicking of his tail.
The task of climbing into the hammock, strung high above the forest floor, may have been an intimidating one had Jake not watched Tsu'tey maneuver himself into its fibers for over two decades—had spent so many weekends securing tarps to construction platforms as a boy, mimicking the life of the boy he dreamed of.
He had only just settled in when he felt the weight of the structure shift, tipping uneasily for only a moment before Tsu'tey lay beside him, reaching over him to brush his fingers over the edge so it closed around them.
They lay facing one another, noses nearly brushing. For the first time in hours Tsu'tey met Jake's eyes and he suddenly felt as he had when he had first seen the Na'vi crash through the brush of the forest.
"I can't believe I'm here," Jake whispered, taking in every inch of the sculpted features and wide golden eyes before him.
"I too am..." Jake found it hard to breath as he watched Tsu'tey swallow, as though the next words were hard for him to muster, "astounded by your presence, Jake-Sully."
"You can just call me Jake, you know," he said with a small smile, allowing his body to relax slightly, resting against Tsu'tey's long limbs, so rigid they felt like stone.
Tsu'tey's lips parted as though intending to reply, but after a moment, offered only the slightest of nods in acknowledgment.
In the silence around them, Jake could nearly hear the pounding of Tsu'tey's heart, beating furiously against his chest.
"You've changed a bit since I saw you last," Jake whispered, bringing up his hand and cupping Tsu'tey's sharp jaw.
He felt the other man's breath hitch at the contact, but he seemed to recover, a smile threatening his lips, "You have changed quite a lot," his eyes raking over the borrowed body.
"Oh," Jake couldn't help the snort of laughter that bubbled up from his chest, "so you're funny now, are you?"
Tsu'tey hummed at that, his body relaxing marginally, his eyes softening as he held Jake's gaze.
"When I sleep, I'll go back to my body," Jake said, his voice sobering, "I'm sure they're all there waiting to ask me where I went."
"What will you tell them?" Tsu'tey asked, his voice calm.
"If I tell them I'm still lost in the forest, they'll want to retrieve me," Jake worried his lower lip between his teeth, his eyes darting back and forth weighing his options.
"Tell them we found you and welcomed you," Tsu'tey said, "that is what they want, to have a Sky Person as a spy here, yes?"
"I mean..." Jake continued worrying his lip, ignoring the copper hint of blood on his tongue, "they haven't said that expressly, and I don't know if you saw, but I haven't exactly been making friends there, they might not trust me."
A smile tugged at the corner of Tsu'tey's lips, "I saw you being quiet rude to that scarred man in the metal machine and the woman named Grace, but I have faith that the Sky People's greed will overcome any misgivings they may feel about you."
Jake let out a sigh, feeling it puff against the other man's face, so close to his own. He knew, no matter how slim his chances were, what lies he would have to concoct, he would find a way. He had come so far, light years away from Earth in search of the man he now had held beneath his palm.
"Did you miss me?" Jake asked suddenly, so quiet he wasn't sure he had said anything at all. Heat burst across his face once the words were out, unsure why he'd allowed himself to ask the question aloud, but sure he was now turning a shade of deep blue.
As the next second beat on, Jake opened his mouth to dismiss the question, but was interrupted as Tsu'tey, for the first time, allowed his body to fully relax—every part of him slotting against Jake. When he answered, the words were spoken so soft and close they ghosted against his lips, "Endlessly, my Jake."
"Fuck," Jake breathed out, any semblance of willpower he had left crumbling to the forest floor below. It took almost no movement at all to close the space between them, the hand resting on Tsu'tey's jaw shifting back to card through the braids at the nape of his neck.
Barely a second had passed before Tsu'tey reacted to the press of lips to his own, hands that had been held stiffly at his side were reaching out, carding along ribs and hips.
Small, desperate noises escaped a throat as Jake licked Tsu'tey's mouth open, and he'd go to his grave swearing they came from Tsu'tey, but truth be told it was probably both of them.
They lay there for a long while, hands exploring over blush burnt skin, legs tangled together, kissing with the desperation of all the years spent apart, yearning, pinning.
Eventually they slowed, hands stilling in their study of each other, kisses returning to a soft pressing of lips until they could bear to pull away.
"You should sleep," Jake spoke softly, resisting the urge to chuckle as Tsu'tey's eyes found focus on his kiss swollen lips, "You can watch me try and talk my way out of the mess I've gotten myself into."
"I believe you will succeed," Tsu'tey spoke, dragging his eyes away from Jake's lips to meet his gaze, "Eywa has connected us for a reason, has brought you here for a purpose, I believe that you, my Jake, will become a great Omaticaya Warrior."
"I hope you're right," Jake said softly.
"Goodnight, my Jake," Tsu'tey's voice had already begun to grow low with sleep.
"Goodnight, Tsu'tey," Jake affirmed as he took in the sight of the Na'vi, half asleep already, before closing his eyes and trying not to dread what was to come when he opened them again.