It was late in the evening by the time they finished getting the mobile unit set up high along the Hallelujah Mountains. Jake tried to busy himself but the longer the day dragged on the more anxious he became to return to Tsu'tey.

He had been staring at the same map of the typography of the Omaticaya territory for the better part of an hour, his eyes unfocused, mind far away, when Grace sidled up beside him, leaning casually against the wall.

"You okay there?" She asked quietly, her eyebrow raised.

Jake stayed silent for a moment, listening for the soft snoring of Norm and Trudy in their bunks on the far end of the structure. Only once he was satisfied they were the only ones awake did he allow himself to answer, barely above a whisper, "just wanting to get back out there."

"Think he's worried about you?" Grace asked, her features split between curiosity and sympathy.

"No," Jake shook his head, nervousness bubbled in his stomach, not used to discussing Tsu'tey with anyone, "he would have seen our conversation last night," Jake winced at that, remembering how he'd fallen apart in Grace's office, "he knew I wasn't coming today."

"Amazing," He heard Grace breath out, and felt a flush overtake his cheeks, "How does it work?"

"When one of us is awake and the other is asleep..." Jake felt each syllable like it was a part of himself he was ripping away to lay himself bare, exposed, weak, "we don't dream... we see the other person."

"When did it start?"

"That's how it's always been."

"Fascinating."

"I suppose."

"So, when you came here..."

"He knew I was coming."

"And when you ditched me and Norm..."

"I was just wandering around the forest until," Jake let out a soft laugh, "I think Neytiri spotted me, and went and told him."

"And he came out and met you?"

"I think he fell out of a tree he was moving so fast," Jake smiled to himself, "came bursting out of the brush with twigs caught in his hair."

"What's their explanation for it?" Grace asked, her eyes so wide and bright they looked like planets.

"Tsu'tey called us tì'i'avay krrä yawntu—soulmates chosen by Eywa, blessed with visions of each other when they are apart."

Grace was quiet for a while, no longer looking at Jake, her eyes somewhere far off, before she spoke, the words almost wistful, "god, no wonder you hate me."

Jake looked at her, taking in her tired eyes, "no," he spoke, his voice wasn't soft or careful, but it wasn't harsh, "I tried to, tried to hate you. But I saw you with them, I know how much you care for them. Sometimes I look at you and I feel so angry," he saw Grace flinch slightly, "but I know you're not my enemy, they used your love for them like they want to use mine. I don't know if I'll ever stop being angry, sometimes I look at you and I see you, but sometimes I look at you and I see..." he stopped, unclenching his fists, unsure when he'd clenched them at all, "he used to smile more, you know," he felt his eyes begin to prick with tears and willed them not to fall, "he used to be so happy. I can't ever forgive you for that."

He was being unkind, he knew that, knew that it was a choice to say barbed words, words laced with venom, but he needed her to know. He needed her to know that her willful ignorance, her actions, had lasting consequences.

"I'm sorry," she said the words like a prayer.

Jake allowed himself a moment to take a calming breath, "I know you are," he said, surprised at how kind the words sounded as they fell from his lips, "Goodnight, Grace."

She returned the sentiment in a quiet voice, and Jake left her without a second glance.

-x-

Morning couldn't come soon enough for Jake, only able to half pay attention to his surroundings with the knowledge that each moment got him closer to returning to Tsu'tey.

"Hold on there, ace," Grace called out, stopping Jake in his attempt to make his way to his pod, "I know you're eager to get out there," ther words knowing, "but you have to eat, your avatar body won't do you any good if this body starves to death."

"Yeah, alright," He relented, taking the protein bar from her outstretched hand, anticipation buzzing beneath his skin.

"Yours is the furthest one down the line," she said, following him once he'd scarfed down the food and continued on towards the line of pods, "it's the least glitchy."

"God forbid you get anything other than the best," he heard Norm mutter under his breath from where he was leaning against a nearby wall. Jake didn't care, he wasn't about to engage the grown man pouting like a child.

"Will you stop whining," Grace snapped at the man as she continued to follow behind Jake.

"It's just not fair," Norm was seething, the angry, frustrated expression translating strangely on his boyish, stretched out features, "I trained three years for this mission, he falls off the turnip truck and all the sudden he's cultural ambassador?"

"Jake is just as knowledgeable in the Na'vi culture and language as you are, Norm, maybe even more so," Grace said coldly, Jake shot her a look somewhere between a warning and a plea, she placed a hand on his shoulder as reassurance, "it could have just as easily been you that they stumbled upon, Norm, but it wasn't, it was Jake. And you can pout about it like a petulant child all you want, that doesn't change facts."

"Whatever," Norm scoffed, storming off, as though he had anywhere to go.

"Alright," Grace said, brushing off the encounter as Jake lifted himself into his pod, "let's get you back where you belong."

He wouldn't admit it, but warmth bloomed in his chest at her words, "Yeah," he smiled despite himself, "let's go."

-x-

Warm sunlight bathed over him as his eyes fluttered open, mitigated though it was through the fibers of the hammock.

"My Jake," the words puffed against his ear, "You have returned to me."

Jake turned, a little clumsily, to face the body that lay beside him.

"How long have you been awake," Jake asked softly, reaching out, the desire to touch the other man suddenly overwhelming, his hand grazing a bicep before moving slowly, gently, to the plains of Tsu'tey's chest.

"I awoke when you arrived," Tsu'tey spoke softly, his eyes gazing into Jake's, "You have had an unpleasant time."

"I'm sorry I told Grace," Jake felt shame closing in around his throat.

"It seems Neytiri and I are the ones who told her, as it was our conversation she overheard," Tsu'tey soothed, his hand reaching out, placing it firmly on the small on Jake's back, pulling him in closer, if only a fraction, "You have nothing to apologize for, your words and actions have gotten you away from the Sky People who wish us harm, for that I am grateful."

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that," Jake said, "I got so angry..."

"My Jake, yawntu, I wish to see you in every way," Tsu'tey spoke, his hand rubbing small circles along Jake's spine, "I understand your anger, I feel the same anger you do. I apologize, I have let this anger change me into a man you do not prefer."

"What?" Jake had allowed himself to melt into Tsu'tey's strong form, but he pushed away slightly at the words so he could look up into Tsu'tey's eyes, but Tsu'tey would not meet his gaze.

"You told Grace you could not forgive her, because the consequences of her actions had changed me," Tsu'tey's words came out calm, but his body was stiff against Jake's.

"Tsu'tey," Jake wanted to grab the man's jaw and force him to look at him, "there isn't one version of you I prefer over the other, I just want you to be happy."

"You make me happy," Tsu'tey whispered out, finally meeting Jake's eyes, letting him see the fear they held.

"I love you," Jake wasn't aware he'd said the words until they had left his lips, hanging between them like a spell.

Tsu'tey's eyes widened, the fear they held multiplying tenfold before disappearing and something bright and soft taking its place, "I love you, my Jake."

He felt like he couldn't breathe as he leaned forward, catching the lips the words had just fallen from in his own. There was no hunger or desperation behind the kiss, it was gentle, a balm soothing away the fear and doubts that had plagued their minds.

Jake felt as though he could have stay in that kiss forever, but they broke away after a moment, parting just far enough that their lips continued to graze as they spoke.

"We should begin our day," Tsu'tey said, his tone conveying that he wanted to do no such thing.

"Neytiri will yell at us soon," Jake smiled.

"We're joining a hunting group today," Tsu'tey informed him, his breath puffing hot against Jake's lips.

"You sure you'll be able to concentrate?" Jake teased.

"I am certain I can manage."

"You sure? Someone told me you love me so much, you'd think I'd hung the stars."

"A ridiculous notion."

"Is it?"

"No."

They stayed a moment longer, longer than they know they should have, hands grasping at each other, lips barely touching, so happy they could have sworn it was a dream.