"You two reek of each other," Neytiri whispered a little too loudly for their liking, her eyes glowing with the laugh she was obviously trying to hold back, kicking off from where she had been leaning against the wide trunk of Hometree.
"I told you not to wait up for us," Tsu'tey growled out, his ears pinned back in annoyance.
"My apologies," Neytiri snickered, turning heel, and leading them up the levels of Hometree, "I did not mean to spoil your moment."
"I find that doubtful," Tsu'tey snapped back, but there was no heat behind the words as they continued walking, their hands still clasped together.
"Where did you run off to anyway?" Her eyes flicked back to Jake over her shoulder.
"I went to vitraya ramunong," Jake answered.
"How am I to communicate with the spirits there now that you two have defiled it?" she groaned.
"I am certain you will manage," Tsu'tey ignored the amused look she threw him as they approached their hammocks.
"I trust you have gotten it out of your system and you will allow me to sleep peacefully through the night," Neytiri grinned at them, climbing swiftly into her hammock as though physically dodging the glares being thrown her way, "even though your stench might keep me up."
"Goodnight, Neytiri," Jake tried to keep the laughter from his voice as he followed Tsu'tey into their own hammock, settling beside the man with a content hum.
"She is bothersome," Tsu'tey said as he wrapped an arm around Jake's mid-section.
"I'm glad you have a friend that understands you," Jake said, ignoring the complaint he knew the other man didn't mean, "I never had anything like that."
"She is your friend as well," Tsu'tey pulled Jake in close to his chest, "however annoying she may be."
Jake pressed against the hard plains of Tsu'tey's chest, wishing he could stay, "I'm sure Grace is waiting to be even more bothersome about why I was out so late."
"Will you tell her?"
"I probably won't have to," he felt his face burn a bit, "she can see all my vital signs. She noticed that first night we stayed up late, making out like teenagers. I'm sure she can put two and two together."
Tsu'tey made a noise in the back of his throat, something between understanding and displeasure, "she should mind her own business."
Jake let out a soft laugh of agreement, "go to sleep, you can watch me put my foot in my mouth again, I'm sure."
Tsu'tey seemed like he wanted to argue, but his eyes were heavy with sleep, "Goodnight, my Jake."
"Goodnight, yawntu."
-x-
Jake opened his eyes, allowing himself to feel the loss of the warmth that he had just been clinging to, before pressing up against the pod, hoping no one would be there to greet him.
"Well, well, well," the voice started before he'd even gotten the pod all the way open, "it's about time you got back."
Jake looked up to where Grace was sitting nearby, a tablet glowing softly in her lap.
"You didn't have to wait up," Jake said quietly, not wanting to wake Norm or Trudy.
"And miss out on the look on your face?" she grinned as he cursed internally, "seriously you two are like horny teens, do I need to set a curfew?"
He couldn't help the blush the overtook his face, but tried to hide it as he lowered himself into his wheelchair, "again," he said, wishing he was back with Tsu'tey, he'd even take Neytiri's constant teasing if it meant he didn't have to be here under Grace's laughing eyes, "you didn't have to wait up."
"I'm just messing with you," the mirth eased from Grace's voice, her smile softening as she caught Jake's eyes despite his efforts to look anywhere else, "I don't care what you get up to out there, and I brushed off any questions the two of them had," she jutted her thumb towards the bunks where the others were sleeping.
"Oh, well," Jake felt the tension in his chest ease slightly, though the color remained on his face, "thanks."
"Not that they'd care, you know," Grace said, returning to whatever she'd been working at on the tablet in her hands, "I know Norm has been an ass, but it's just because he loves this place. He wants to be out in it," her shoulder's fell a fraction, a gesture Jake felt certain he wasn't meant to see, "he's like me. He'd give anything to be out there with you, he wants to help, he's just not very good at showing it." She raised her eyes as though just then remembering that Jake was there listening, and offered him a sad smile before she stood from her chair, "you get some rest, you need to take care of this body too, remember."
"Yeah, okay," Jake stared after her as she stepped past him, walking towards the bunks.
He sat there a while, staring at the chair Grace had just occupied before a yawn tore through him that brought him back to reality and he turned to follow the direction Grace had gone.
-x-
When Jake awoke the next morning, an idea had taken form in the recesses of his mind. The idea only grew as he pulled himself from his bunk to see Norm approaching him with a bowl in hand, not quite meeting his eyes.
"Morning," Jake said carefully as Norm stopped in front of him.
"Morning," Norm said, thrusting the bowl out towards Jake, still refusing to meet his eyes.
Jake took it cautiously, only to look inside and find it full of steaming oatmeal, "oh, thanks," he tried shooting the other man a smile.
"Grace said to make sure you eat," he shrugged, his mouth set in a line.
"Thanks," Jake said again, scarfing down the food quickly, surprised when Norm held out his hand to take the empty dish.
"I don't hate you," Norm said, almost too quietly for Jake to hear, as he took the bowl from Jake, "I know it seems like it, but I don't. I just…" he let out a breath, "I worked really hard to get here, to work with Grace and with them," he threw his arm out, presumably indicating the Omaticaya, "and then you…"
"And I didn't," Jake finished for him, quelling the annoyance that usually turned his stomach whenever Norm whined about their difference in experience.
"Yeah…" Norm sighed, still not meeting Jake's eyes, "Grace said… that you have worked hard, spent almost your whole life dedicated to the Omaticaya… which doesn't make any sense. She said she couldn't explain it, that it wasn't her place to explain it, and Trudy said I was being an asshole," Jake couldn't help but laugh, and the corner of Norm's mouth twitched upwards at the sound, "so… until you're ready to explain it to me, if you're ever ready to explain it to me… I trust you, and I promise not to be such a dick."
"Thanks, Norm," Jake said, thinking over his words carefully before he continued, "I get it, being frustrated. And I know how it… how I look from your perspective. I appreciate you trusting me."
They exchanged nods before Norm stepped aside, allowing Jake to make his way towards the pods.
-x-
"Good morning," Jake said softly as he opened his eyes to see Tsu'tey already awake beside him.
"Good morning," Tsu'tey pressed a gentle kiss to Jake's lips before pulling back, "we are going out with another hunting party today."
Jake nodded, allowing himself a moment to appreciate the warmth of the body beside him, before brushing against the edges of the hammock, revealing them to the morning air.
"Let us go," Neytiri greeted from where she sat on her hammock, "you took too long getting here today, Jake-Sully."
"Good morning to you too," Jake rolled his eyes before climbing from the hammock and beginning their trek down to the forest floor.
"Did Grace give you trouble for being up late?" Neytiri asked, stretching the stiffness from her limbs.
"Yeah, she's worse than you," Jake shot back, feeling Tsu'tey hum in amusement beside him.
"That will not do," she smiled back at them, "no one is allowed to bother you two more than me."
"Trust me, you bother us plenty," Tsu'tey said with a grimace, the ghost of a smile on his lips despite himself as Neytiri threw her head back and laughed.
As they reached the forest floor and began making their way to fetch pa'lis for their trip, they were greeted by the same broad, serious woman as the previous night.
"Greetings, Sya'o," Neytiri nodded at the woman.
"Greetings," the woman, Sya'o, bowed politely to them, "the presence of Jake-Sully has been requested."
Jake looked at Tsu'tey and Neytiri with wide eyes, neither of them succeeding in covering their surprise at the words.
"Alone?" Neytiri asked, her eyes flitting between Jake and Sya'o.
"Alone," the woman nodded, her mouth drawn in an almost sympathetic line.
"The hunting party will wait for you," Tsu'tey said, turning and fixing Jake with a soft gaze, the warmth in his eyes meant to hide the worry lying beneath it, "I am certain it will not take long, do not worry."
Jake nodded, trying to shoot the two of them a reassuring smile before stepping away from them, towards Sya'o, who turned silently and began leading him back towards Hometree. Jake tried to calm his thoughts as they walked, not letting his mind run wild with what the Tsahìk and Olo'eyktan could possibly want with him.