I'm sorry this chapter took so long. It IS pretty long too, but it was also hard to write. If it wasn't already established, but some of the characters are a little OOC.
Hope you enjoy anyway.
Chapter 17
As the horn sounded during one of their morning lessons, Ao'nung quickly grabbed Jake and Lo'ak, who were also attending the class. It was fortunate that they were all together. "Teacher, I will look for your family!" Ao'nung declared, pointing towards the small forest behind the village. Only a few warriors, including Tonowari, knew of the prepared hiding spot in the woods for the Sully family. The preparations had started a week after Jake had asked for Uturu, and the clan had fully accepted them as their charge. A few members of the clan were called forth to prepare the hiding spot in a location that most of the clan would not know about. In case of an emergency, all family members would be escorted there to stay hidden, while ensuring that most of the clan would not be able to tell where they were hiding, in case of interrogation.
Not even Ronal knew the location of the hiding spot, but Ao'nung and Tsireya had received the information as teachers to the kids. Of course, the Sully's and the constructors also knew. Jake gave his student a solemn nod before rushing off with Lo'ak into the woods, while Ao'nung would go get them when the coast was clear.
"Be safe Bro!" were Lo'ak's parting words, which made Ao'nung forget his earlier annoyance. The other teen was not only entertaining and fun, but also a loyal friend and a good fighter, which Ao'nung had experienced firsthand.
As Ao'nung made his way through the village, he passed both the weaving hut and the Sully pod to check for other members. All came up empty, but he found his sister instead.
"Brother! Do you know if we have them all hidden? I took Kiri and Tuk back to the spring and saw Neteyam on my way back. He said he would get Neytiri, who was out hunting back there anyway. What about the others?" Tsireya asked, worry displayed in her big, expressive eyes.
"Don't worry, I have the others covered. Jake and Lo'ak are on their way," Ao'nung replied, seeing her visibly relaxing.
His baby sister was so obvious with her fondness of Lo'ak that even Ao'nung was unable to deny it. He rolled his eyes a little, but then changed his direction towards the beach. His parents were at the front of the crowd, where two new Na'vi and one Ikran were waiting. They pushed through the crowd, who let them pass with relative ease, and took their place next to Tonowari and Ronal. One woman was holding her arms up in a familiar fashion, and the other one stalked around the Ikran, giving the crowd a disquieting stare. Their skin colour and clothing were typical of the forest clans. His best guess was that they were both Omatikaya.
"Speak, strangers. Who are you?" His father's voice was calm but not friendly as he assessed the two women with an intimidating stare. His heavily pregnant mother topped the intimidation by three.
"I greet you, Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina. My name is Grace Augustine, and my companion is Tanu'ley." The woman wisely answered only the question asked, no more, no less. Her name rang a bell in the back of his mind. Ao'nung looked over to his mother, who had gone rigid next to him.
"Tell me, why have you come?" The chief asked Grace. She still held up both her hands, both of which sported five fingers.
"We come here on the orders of the Omatikaya Tsahik. She wishes us to help her son and daughter whom you have granted Ukturu. We come here to help." Ao'nung now looked at her with suspicion. Apparently, Teacher's mate was the daughter of Tsahik, not Tsahik herself. That, or this Grace was making things up. To his surprise, his mother stepped forward.
"How can you prove that your words are true, Grace Augustine? Why would you assume that people from your clan are here with us?" Ronal stepped closer to Grace, studying her face and hands.
"Indeed, we have no proof that Jake and Neytiri have truly found safety here with their kids, but I know him well. If he is here, he can prove my identity." Grace answered.
"And if their family truly came here for safety, we would not endanger them by letting them speak with a stranger. Tell me, how are you connected to the family?" The Tsahik kept on asking. Ao'nung was a little surprised at how protective his mother seemed to be of the family when he had fought with her only a couple of nights ago about their circumstances. He felt elated to know his words had reached her.
"You are wise to do so. As you can see, my body is that of a dream-walker. I'm no longer a dream-walker. My human body died years ago, but my soul was preserved by Eywa. She allowed me to continue my life in this body. I trained Jake Sully while he was human, and I supported him before the first war. We were good friends. I was a scientist before, as well as a teacher. He and Neytiri have adopted my daughter, Kiri, when I was unable to raise her." Grace said. Ao'nung now remembered where he had heard her name before. Teacher had told them that Kiri's birth mother, who had died, vanished from Eywa's hold back when they went to the cave of Ancestors. He studied the woman more and was startled by the obvious resemblance to Kiri. Her nose had this weird pointy shape.
Ronal changed her line of questioning.
"I see, then who is your companion?" Grace allowed herself to lower her hands a little. She looked back to the other woman, who now stared back to his mother.
"Tanu'ley is-" but she was interrupted by this Tanu'ley herself when she stepped around Grace to stand straight before the Tsahik, lips twisted slightly to the side.
"I am Omatikaya and a skilled huntress and healer. I came here to protect." Her face was as stoic as his mothers though her appearance was more feral than that of his mother. Where Ronal wore pearls and shells with open hair flowing down her back, this Tanu'ley wore bones and teeth on her her arms and neck, secured with thick leathers straps that also adorned most of her lower arms and legs. Nearly all of her hair was pulled back in a rope like braid around her cue, only some lengthy pears hanging at the end of three braids hanging next to her right eye, looking like drops of blood next to her slanted and angry eyes. On the back of her head sat a rather curious headpiece of three big talons, curving along her scalp, red threads holding them in place above her braid.
If intimidation could be translated into attraction, Ao'nung would have fallen in love with this woman in the first few seconds of meeting her. But instead she sent cold shivers down his spine.
Ronal held her stare for a couple of seconds, then she returned back to Tonowari's side, giving him a small nod of approval. His father beckoned Ao'nung over to his side.
"Get Jake, only. He will tell us more." He ordered silently and Ao'nung gladly took off to fulfil his orders. To save time, he actually sprinted through the village and the woods, grateful to his Teacher, who made him run more and more often in his training.
A couple minutes later he arrived at a inconspicuous smaller tree, turned right and stood in front of a small increase of earth. He clicked his tongue, as if he was calling his Ilu and a bigger fern was moved to the side to reveal Jakes face.
"Teacher, father asks for your presence. Two strangers have arrived on an Ikran, claiming your acquaintance. They say the Omatikaya Tsahik has send them to help." Jake climbed out of the sub terrain spring, that had formed a cave around itself.
"Lead the way, Ao'nung." He says, nodding to his mate and all four children before following after him. They made good time on their way back, but slowed at the edge of the village.
"One more thing Teacher, one of the women says her name is Grace. She also said she was Kiri's mother." He informed the man, noticing the deep frown forming on his face.
"That is ridiculous. Grace has died decades ago." Jake murmured, pacing down the last meters to the beach.
The crowd was waiting for them, though Grace looked like she was speaking to Tanu'ley. The woman turned around, noticing Jake.
"Marine! There you are." She steps forward, but some Metkayina block her way. Jakes felt all air leaving his lungs.
"Grace?" His voice is barely above a whisper. Golden eyes, a pointy nose and a nearly forgotten half smile greet him.
"God, Jake!" She says, shoving at some shoulders as she makes her way towards him. Yep, attitude fitted as well.
"Grace? How… how are you here?" He asks, a mix of shock with the slightest touch of hope.
"Eywa thought you needed some help, and you'll need it, believe me." The former scientist said, reaching out her hand for a handshake. Maybe also for him to make sure she was real. He took it, still unable to grasp what he was seeing.
"You're alive." That earns him a sarcastic look.
"How very observant. Might just make a scientist out of you yet." She jokes, and it felt natural for Jake to reply in kind.
"Yeah, don't get your hopes up, you tyrant." Was his comeback. He turned to Tonowari next, giving him a nod.
"I do indeed know her. She's my friend."
"Very much so." Grace agrees. Too war I inclines her head, speaking in a loud voice that the guests would be allowed to stay for some time. Jake felt his elbow being pulled a little and turned to his miraculously alive friend.
"Jake, I've come with important news. Do you have a place where we can talk?" She throws a look over to the leading couple. Ronal comes closer, giving Jake a very small smile.
"Your sign was a very obvious one, yet I find myself amazed by Eywa's might." She says, and Jake remembers her words to Kiri, some days back. It somehow drives the point home, that his long dead friend had returned to the living, just like… just like Quaritch. Besides the confusion and joy, there is fear in his mind.
"Come, you can talk in our pod." Tonowari motioned them to follow him, leading the small group up the beach.
They arrived at the pod, but noticed that Grace's companion was still missing. Moments later the woman entered the pod with Ao'nung, some bigger object wrapped in water repelling leaves strapped to her back.
Jake was distracted when Ao'nung stepped up to him with a question.
"Teacher, should I return to your family?" An indirect question if the coast was truly clear. Jake felt a little pride at his students smart action and nodded.
"They can return here, our guests are no threat to us. And Ao'nung, please let me explain." Ao'nung agreed and got additional nods from both his parents, then left the pod. Jake turned around to Grace, only noticing an unblinking stare from her companion in passing.
"Grace, would you please explain what is going on? I mean I'm thrilled to see you again, but I don't understand." Jake started out. Grace threw Tonowari and Ronal a short assessing look, but began without further ado.
"There is a lot, Jake. But I'll start with the obvious. The RDA found a way to implant memories into functioning Avatar bodies. They revived Quaritch and some of his men in this way and did the same to my body, when they regained Hell's Gate. Apparently the higher ups still needed me for my knowledge and as extra leverage against you. They knew my part in the first war and hoped they could make some kind of deal with you. They also did not give me all my memories back. I can only guess they wanted to manipulate me into working with them, but that failed in the first two days of me being awake. How that failed, I'll tell you later…
Well I was able to escape with some help and went straight to the Tree of souls, where the last battle happened. I was confused why I was able to get there without being stopped by our clan. Usually no one would be allowed there, so I hoped I could run into them there. Please forgive me if I'm getting vague here, but Eywa called me to her and I was unconscious for several weeks after I connected to the tree. Jake… Eywa, she gave me back. She returned my soul into this body, telling me to come back later." Ronal gave Grace the most incredulous stare, that Jake would have laughed at, had the circumstances been different. His friend did use a rather casual way of speech, while describing a resurrection.
"Anyway, the next time I wake up I'm surrounded by people I knew, but seventeen years after my first death! Mo'at was an angel for taking care of me and she agreed to let me stay with the clan, of course Tarsem agreed as well. There I met Tanu'ley, but I also had a chance to see Norm and Max again. I met Maya and my students, back from the time when my school was still running." It hit home to Jake how long his friend had been gone.
The clan had truly loved her as a teacher. Some of her former students had even volunteered to babysit Kiri on occasion, but Kiri had seldomly agreed. She preferred her brother Neteyam to nearly anyone but Spider who was only a couple month older.
"I heard what had happened to you and your family and why you had to leave… they also told me about Kiri." Grace's eyes had a distinctive shine to her eyes, but she blinked her tears away to continue. Jake could not remember ever seeing such a tender expression of love on her face.
"At first I had a little recovering to do, but afterwards I was pulled into some crazy plan to get rid of the humans in the forest, or only the ones in Hell's Gate. You know who I mean, but something terrible happened." She stopped a little, glancing first at the young woman beside her, then back to Jake.
"I'm not fragile, stop talking in circles." She hissed at Grace, the muscles in her jaw tightening. Dread pooled in Jakes gut. Grace was always pretty outspoken and candid. Her hesitation made his worry more real and the anticipation nearly unbearable. She took some deep breaths.
"The thing is, Jake, the RDA did not only bring Quaritch back but also Thomas." Jake could not believe his ears.
"Thomas who? Because you can't-" he stopped, looking for answers in her eyes. Maybe another truth, anything really. His heart pounded in his ears, and there was a little ringing noise.
"You mean to tell me that Thomas, is Tommy. My twin who died 23 years ago on earth? Are you kidding me Grace?" The last part was hissed in English, confusing everyone but the woman he was accusing right now.
"No shit Marine! Tom is alive and pulling some even more idiotic stunts than you were." She replied, more worry than anger in her voice.
"He was the one who filled me in on the RDA's stupid Idea to manipulate us after he hacked into their system. He was the one who escaped with me and he was the one to persuade Mo'at into allowing us to stay in the clan. Jake, I tell you your brother is alive and out there!" Grace continued, ignoring all the shocked faces. Tonowari even looked a little uncomfortable being there, but his interest won over the discomfort. Ronal was cool as a cucumber to the outside, but Jake was sure her hands did not fidget that much usually. He himself was fighting to keep his breath steady, to calm down his heart rate that had raced off and out of his control. Despite his lungs working, he did not feel like he was getting a lot of air.
Tom had always been a very hard topic for him to talk about. He gripped his necklace in a vice grip. Could it really be true?
"Prove it. Prove to me that my brother is alive." He demanded and was startled that his voice came out pretty steady when he felt anything but.
To some surprise it was not Grace but her companion, that answered his demand. With deft motions she released the straps around her torso, that held the wrapped object securely to her back. She pulled it free and handed it to him with both hands.
Jake accepted it with both hands and gingerly pulled the leaves aside. It was an intricately carved guitar. The first one he had seen in decades.
But the young woman was not done, because she started humming a tune that he very clearly remembered hearing so long ago. Her voice caused shivers down his spine as the music swept through his body, hurling up forgotten memories in his head.
He had used to tease Tommy for his obsession with some old movies and their music score. Tommy had made him watch the Lord of the rings several times, but not necessarily for the story. His brother had been interested in that as well, but the music really captured his attention. He had insistently practised the Ed Sheeran song 'I see fire' to perfection, until Jake had been sick of it.
His statement of 'If I never hear this song again, It'd be too soon' had been incorrect, because he wanted to hear it again now. He had wished to hear it again after the cremation and years later, but after the destruction of Hometree, no one would have appreciated him singing a song about a burning forest. Jake was also not a good singer.
That had always been his brother.
She was partly through the first chorus, when Jake held up his hand in an universal sing to stop. He did not need his eyes burning like this.
"I get it… so where is he now?" He asked, and at Grace's sharp intake of breath, Jake was ready to just jump up and leave.
"Tom returned to the Skypeople's den yesterday. The demons threatened the life of your scientist friend and his child after they took them from their home. We do not know if he is still alive." The young woman said, her voice cold and on point. Grace held up her hands in a futile attempt to stop her companion from speaking. She had non of it and barrelled on even as she was throwing him of his cool all over again.
"We assumed that your friend, might have given away your location, and we have come with three more warriors to assist you in any way you need us too." The following silence was crushing.
"So my revived twin is back with the humans along with…Norm and Maya? All of them possibly dead. Also Quaritch is on his way here?" Jake asked and he received a sharp nod and a heavy sight from each of the respective women.
"I see." Jake said. His head hanging low.
"Excuse me for a moment." He put the instrument on his lap aside, rose up and stepped out of the pod, relishing the sun burning down on his face and warming his cold body.
Jake walked away a little further from the entrance, near some fruit trees, leaning against the smooth bark. His hand leaned down on his knees to help him fight for air.
Jake's vision had black dots dancing at the edges and his hands and feet felt numb. He needed something to concentrate on and mentally asked Kiri for forgiveness as he reached out to get his dagger, but a hand stopped him.
"Breathe Ma Jake. Breathe for me." She took a deep breath herself, and pressed one of his hands above her heart. It's beat was slightly faster than normal, but the steady rhythm fought some of his most existential fears. Life, beating right beneath his fingers. A voice that he was so intimately familiar with. Her eyes full of strength and comfort. Her smell, the definition of home.
After several breaths, he was able to follow her pace.
Breathe in
Hold
Breathe out
Hold
Repeat.
His heartbeat calmed down and his vision cleared. The slightest tremor in his legs vanished and he was able to stand up straight again.
"Thank you, my love." He whispered, gladly accepting her hands on his shoulder and leaning his forehead against Neytiri's. What would he be without her? She was his reason to fight now, his reason to live. His heart and being was so completely hers he would make any sacrifice she'd asked him to, just like she would for him. She had given up the forest, while Jake had given up on Spider. Both very bitter pills to swallow, but swallowed non the less, because it would mean safety for each other and the rest of their family.
But how should he tell her that both of their efforts had been in vain? That Quaritch was still coming after them?
They stepped back after a few stolen seconds, glancing over to some angry whispers, heard from behind the next tent. A moment later Lo'ak stuck his head from behind it, but he was quickly pulled back. Some more indistinguishable whispers and Tuk sprang from her hiding spot, ignoring some outcries, coming from her eldest siblings, and taking of in a sprint towards them.
Jake chuckled a little as he held out his arms to catch his daughter, that sprang into them. Her tiny arms wound around his neck and her head tucked itself beneath his chin.
With the youngest escape, their other three children and a severely confused Ao'nung followed her out of hiding.
"Our children are awful at staying silent, Ma Jake." Neytiri said in her wonderfully deadpan voice, that made him laugh a little. The situation made him forget a little about their sinister reality, that he had yet to break to his family. But Jake couldn't, not right now. Maybe tomorrow.
He wound his free arm around his wife's waist, pulling her close enough to whisper into her ear. Her eyes softened and she gave him her beautiful smile. When the family and Ao'nung, finally gathered together, Jake was stuck with several questioning looks. He took a deep breath, before addressing them all.
"Two people arrived for us. They are from our clan and mean no harm." Apparently that was no news, when he interpreted Lo'ak's inpatient stare. Ao'nung had had to tell them something he guessed.
"The RDA has gone of, resurrecting more people than just Quaritch." There was an angry hiss from Neytiri and some more fearful looks from his three elder children. Jake felt so out of control just saying the man's name. Ao'nung still looked helplessly lost.
"You might like them though." Jake promised.
"When the humans took over Hell's Gate, they also got their Hands on Grace's Avatar." The reminder turned their collective stares angry, especially Kiri's.
"They invented some method to implant the host's memories into their bodies, practically bringing them back to life. In her case it is special because Eywa returned her soul as well." Kiri's eyes went wide with a mix of hope and fear.
"Don't tell me-"
"Yes Kiri, Grace is alive, and she is here. We talked, and it is surreal, but it is truly her." His family looked at him in shock, before Kiri sobbed out loud, rushing into the tent. Neytiri doing much the same, without the sobs, seconds later. Tuk wriggled in his arms, interested in seeing what both her mother and sister were so curious about and she was gone as soon as he sat her down.
"Father, do you really mean that?" Came the question from Neteyam. He'd never bonded to the humans like Kiri and Lo'ak had, but even Neteyam had been angry when they lost Grace's Avatar. While he held no own fondness for the woman, she was his sisters mother and his parents treasured friend. His anger had been for their sake's.
"Yes son. I was also pretty disbelieving, but it is indeed her." He replied.
"Mother was very insistent when they arrived. She is good at reading Eywa's will and detecting lies." Ao'nung added.
"She also reminded me of the prophecy she told us after Kiri couldn't find Grace within Eywa." Jake let out a tired chuckle.
"It was quite literal indeed."
"That is so awesome dad." Lo'ak cheered, blind to the underlying worries of his father. Jake would have neither expected not wanted it, so he was relieved.
"I always liked her, when you told us stories about her. Now I can meet her!" He exclaimed in excitement and went to Tonowari's and Ronald's pod, leaving him outside with his student and eldest son.
"Teacher, you don't look happy." The boy stated, gaining Jakes attention. Neteyam agreed with a nod, giving Jake a look that now reminded him even more of Tom than usual.
"Oh I am happy that Grace is alive." He avoided the question, yes. He was also surprised by Ao'nung's rather careful question. The boy tried to be confident and arrogant for most of the time, hiding some of his insecurities he might just feel more comfortable showing.
"Thank you Ao'nung, It was a lot for me to take in. I'll be right behind you." Hearing a clear dismissal the chief's son walked back to his pod. Neteyam did not leave. Jake should have guessed it.
"Father, what do you need?" The question should not have startled him as much as it did. Why would his son not ask for what he clearly knew troubled Jake? From the stern look in Neteyam's eyes, Jake took a moment to really think about his answer.
"I need time son. Time to sort out my mind and heart." Jake admitted, shoulders slumping again under the weight of the looming danger.
"Then I'll speak with mother and keep my siblings entertained. If you need some time later on, give me a sign and you won't be disturbed." Neteyam said voice calm and steady, but his twitching hands and tail gave away the agitation he felt. Jake felt so warm looking at his son, who was proving all over again, why his parents trusted him so much.
"May I hug you son?" He asked, wishing to respect his sons decision. At some point during the war he had stopped casually embracing his older children. If he spoke to them like adults and forced them to act like them then he should also respect their privacy like he would with adults. He would only hug them if they initiated the touch or the situation was drastic enough to make him forget his resolve. His children should not feel the need to fulfil his emotional desires.
"Of course you can Dad." Came Neteyams instant reply. His son stepped forward encircling his torso in a tight grip before Jake was ready to move. The relief was an instant thing, feeling his precious child in his arms he ducked his head to lean on carefully kept braids.
"Thank you. It should be me comforting you, though." Jake said, loosening his arms to release his son, but Neteyam kept his strong hold on him.
"I feel very comfortable right here." Neteyam mumbled with his face hidden against Jakes chest. The father looked at his son in awe, hesitating a little before he pulled him close again with a little more force.
"Anytime you wish son. I feel comfortable as well." Jake whispered, not sure how steady his voice would be with all the emotions tying up to his throat.
The pair followed the rest of the family back to the chiefs pod some time later to find Grace toppled back on the floor, with a happy Kiri crying in her arms, Lo'ak an Tuk sat next to them, cheering or just smiling. Neytiri, to his unending surprise, was hugging Ronal, whose eyes were warm, hands patting the others back. Neteyam sat near his mother, wide eyes switching between both scenes before giving Jake an amused eye roll.
Jake walked over to the young woman in the room, who was holding onto the guitar again. She had retreated further into the back of the pod, observing the interactions from further away with something of a permanent scowl, that felt he had seen somewhere. Despite his efforts Jake was never good with names or faces, so with the clan growing more and more, it was hard to keep an oversight of all the families. That he didn't know of her was not unsurprising, yet her face with her strong jaw and burning eyes reminded him of someone.
She instantly noticed his approach and shuffled a little to make space for her. He sat down, a calm look schooled on his face.
"Why does this guitar look so precious to you?" Meaning: what is your relationship to Tommy?
"For the time he stayed in the clan I have volunteered to be his teacher. I made him a hunter and he is now rider of Ikran." Jakes brows furrowed. She must be skilled then to be allowed to teach.
"He did that in what? Two months?" She nodded and Jake cursed.
"Same old overachiever. Regular or normal just don't exist in his vocabulary." Jake grumbled, feeling weird at the same time, because he was talking about Tommy. Tommy his apparently not so dead twin. Why was there so much hope burning in his chest?
"He said you would say that, but I can attest to his knowledge of the meaning to these words." Her deadpan was pretty much on the same level as Neytiri's. Pretty damn impressive that is.
"And why the guitar? Did he make it himself?" Jake asked, but this time she shook her head. Jake wouldn't have put it past Tommy, they guy was to good with his hands and brain for it to be fair.
"It was a gift from Do'han and our clans carpenter. He treasured it a lot and entrusted me to keep it safe along with a book." She said in a quiet voice.
"Then you're friends with him?" Jake continued to ask. She looked minimally uncomfortable, before answering.
"We know each other well and he trusts me with his life." Her answer was a little vague.
"Then you must be a good teacher, when he trusts you. I can't remember ever meeting any of his friends besides Norm." Jake guessed.
"Because he had someone else to care for?" the strangely calm yet cool woman asked. Jake felt uncomfortable under her stare, like he had the first time meeting Mo'at. Considering that she must have been more than 15 years his junior, that was quite impressive. He also got the feeling she cared more about his relationship with his brother that she let on.
"Tom did care for me a lot, as I did for him. We were each others support. Someone we could always rely on. I have no Idea how this will change as we see each other again." Jake responded a little insulted by both her actions and imlipcations. If we see each other again was left unsaid.
The Tom he could remember would only really spend time on either work or with Jake. They had trusted only each other for a long time.
"He treats his friends well and trusts only the people close to you." She answers carefully. Jake has a feeling that she is not telling something.
"But he trusts you, you said." He countered.
"Indeed he does, and he is devoted to you. He thinks and works for your gain and safety. You are his priority." Why does he feel a certain animosity coming from her?
"He was mine as well, before he died. I guess this old habit was hard to stop." Jake easily admitted. It turned them into a weird but freely chosen co-dependency. When they only had each other they were mostly comfortable. If Jake ever wanted to have friends, or was even interested in a girl, he would let Tommy assess them. Some found it creepy, how well his twin was able to read people but not really talk to them. Jake was only ever good at reading Tommy and he found his twin was painfully oblivious most of the time.
His assessment, when he had the presence of mind, were spot on for more than 90% and Jake had tried to prove him wrong on several occasions. Tommy gloated each time when he was proven right in the end though. Jake gloated back, when only he noticed when a girl sent his brother intense looks, while his brothers head was stuck in his own world.
They once even got some Therapy sessions, where Jake had described his relationship to his only living relative and was told he and Tommy bordered on obsessive in their care for one another, or at least. The lady told him to maybe do some things separately to make sure that both Jake and Tom would be fine on their own.
Jake had not so politely flipped her of and left the room. Weeks later both Tommy and Jake received an envelope that detailed a whole collection of possible mental problems, that both of them rummaged through and then turned to paper planes. At least she got one thing right.
The twins didn't respect authority of their elders and yes, that was their neglectful and abusive parents fault. Maybe the obsessive thing as well.
They wouldn't get them to spend less time with each other anyway. They had been each others world. As fucked up as it sounded, they had cared for nearly no one besides themselves.
Both knew they were not in optimal mental health, but they were happy together, at least for the five years they lived together and relied on each other.
Of course they kept in close touch during Jakes training and deployments. Tommy was mostly supportive, but sometimes called him an idiot for worrying him so much. He made the best Birthday gifts and even sent them to Venezuela during the war there. They even learned some Spanish together.
Tommy had sped trough university up to his PhD, done in collaboration with the RDA and the Avatar program. Jake used to joke, that if he ever got shot, Tommy would grow him any organ he needed.
Tommy took it dead serious and wrote his thesis about cloning organs. It was just the right amount of biology and creepy mixed up, while being majorly helpful to the medical world. He did indeed clone two functioning lungs (enhanced to withstand the smog pollution) and several livers (also enhanced to detoxify more of the polluted water and food) during his third year in college.
Jake snapped out of his musings when Tuk came over to plop herself into his lap. He had completely forgotten what he had been talking to the fierce young woman about.
"Dad, I'm pretty sure Kiri is strangling her extra Mom." She said. Jake furrowed his brows at the title Grace had been given. He looked over to the pair, where mother and daughter still hugged, Kiri practically draped over Grace's lap, as the woman was able to get back up into a seated position.
His chest tightened a little, but overall he felt so much right now, that his insecurity of Kiri now loving Neytiri and him any less just had no more space.
His wife came over to take his former conversation partner's spot, who had somehow moved over to another corner of the tent without him noticing. She held on to the guitar, caressing the strings and engravings while observing the family interaction with her permanent scowl.
"Do you know her name?" He asked her, but she hesitantly shook her head.
"What is this thing she is holding" Neytiri asked, watching the young woman with squinted eyes.
"It's a guitar, a Terran instrument." Jake explained, his throat getting a little tied up.
"I never really heard any music from the humans." Neytiri admitted a little confused.
"Why does she have such an instrument?" Jake was unsure if he could answer that. He looked her in the eyes, trying to express what he had not told her yet. His entire inner turmoil resurfaced of his brother being alive somewhere and very much in danger. He just couldn't find the words to tell her even though he had promised himself to never lie to his family. Especially not Neytiri. Her expression turned worried again as she placed a calming hand to his back.
"Breathe Ma Jake. It will be okay, whatever you have to say, we'll get through this." She soothed, but Jakes breath kept coming in silent but short intervals.
"Why are you telling dad to breathe mom? Can't he do that by himself?" Came the innocent question from his baby girl. He tried not to make any noise, to avoid any further concern, but as soon as Tuk had spoken, all eyes zeroed in on him. It did not help at all, because now Jake stopped breathing at all. His eyes turned to Neteyam, practically begging him to understand and his wonderful boy did understand. He walked over, ready to take Tuk out of his fathers lap.
"Why does this instrument make it hard for you to breathe Dad?" She continued, unable to see her fathers fragile mental state. Neytiri tried to get Tuk to stop her questions, but it was to late anyway. Jake was hard pressed to not just run from the pod. He got sympathetic looks from both Tonowari and Ronal, though Ao'nung looked still very much confused if not worried.
He was not ready to tell his family yet. They were so happy Grace was alive and with them, he could not ruin this for them. Not just jet.
Jake felt how Tuk was lifted out of his lap with little resistance, though he was unable to thank Neteyam for his assistance.
His training with Tonowari payed of really well, because the familiar black dots in his vision and only appeared several minutes after he had stopped breathing. He pressed his eyes shut in a childish attempt to flee this situation but was pulled up and out of the tent moments later. The loud ringing in his head made all the other voices drone out, except for the: "come on marine, we're getting you some peace and quiet." Said directly by his side. Some angry or worried cries reached him as he was pulled outside but none of them followed.
A sharp slap to his back made him inhale out of shock, but ultimately helped him to regain his senses a little.
"You can't literally turn any more blue marine, so don't even try this shit, while I'm here." He heard Grace mumble. She pulled him to an empty spot on the beach where he was pushed down to sit.
"I've got something for you that I hope will help. You have to tell me if you feel better or worse, because damn I'm no therapist. I only know you missed him. Can't imagine why though, because he's a pain." Jake's bleary eyes focused on the earpiece she had pressed into his hand while continuing her grumbling. He guessed he wouldn't have to miss her grumbling anymore.
As he did not immediately react, Grace snatched the earpiece back again, fixating it to his ear.
"We made an audio recording the night Tom got his Ikran and the guitar. We got him to play for us and Norm had to document it." Her voice was a little shaky at the end. She pushed a little button on her device and Jake heard the sound of the guitar playing. Soft whispers of a crowd were heard as well and twenty seconds in the lyrics of, "What a wonderful world" by Louis Armstrong were sung by the one voice he had wanted to hear for so many years now.
He sounded the same as the last time he played. Happy, healthy, alive. Jake pulled his legs up, hiding his face in his arms and listened to the beautifully performed song by his overly talented brother. He consoled himself that Tommy had always been a horrible cook and only good at cleaning windows.
"I'll make sure the others are fine. Take your time, I put it in a loop." Grace said. She placed her recorder in his hand and then moved back to the pods.
Jake was focusing solely on this song. At the end of the first loop he was grabbing his necklace, but breathing steadily again. Hadn't his cynical brother told him that earth did not deserve this song anymore? Maybe Pandora did?
By the end of the third repetition, he was sobbing with shaking shoulders and a watery smile on his face. Jake had gifted his brother his first guitar with a dare. Both of them had rather destructive ways of dealing with stress, and he remembered his recent fallback. The music should replace this bad habit for Tommy and of course the idiot had spent every free second learning how to play it. Jake never saw how Tommy let himself be bullied after that again.
By the ninth repetition he accepted his once favourite person was finally in the same world as him again just like he had wished. He would have been called childish for sure, but they did not know that Tommy was the only reason he could ever compare a family to a fortress. They had been a fortress together that had been broken the day he watched his brothers body burn. Jake wanted to have him back. He missed Tommy so much and was not afraid to look childish if it meant having him back.
It took Jake twenty repetitions (or he just didn't count further) to get his bearings together and move back to his family's pod. All but Tuk were still awake, taking him in as he returned with red rimmed eyes, slumped shoulders and a soft smile. Kirk and Lo'ak looked like they wanted to say something, but their mothers and older brothers stare held them back.
Jake went to each one of them, offering them a hug and kiss goodnight in a fashion that he had given up years ago. They all accepted it willingly, Kiri and Lo'ak nearly suffocating him with their hugs. Neteyam just leaned on him for a long time, pressing his forehead to his fathers lips and enjoying the strong hand of his father in his neck.
They went to sleep after that and so did Grace, who had been invited to stay with them. Apparently her companion had left with her Ikran to get the three warriors that followed them, settled in. Tonowari was so gracious to offer them some empty pods.
Neytiri sat waiting for him to say something. He instead gave her the headpiece and started the song all over again. She looked confused at first but listened with wrapped attention. He could clearly see her shocked face, when Tommy began singing, because she knew it sounded like Jake, but not at all at the same time. A minute in and tears gathered in her wide eyes, at the end of the song they fell from her eyes. She returned the headpiece to him, some understanding between them, but not enough.
"Tommy is alive. Quaritch has him." He said and she nodded. Neytiri pulled him down to their shared mat, hugging him tight. She would be the only one capable of understanding what his brother had meant to him. As if she heard his guess she offered him her cue, asking him to share with her. He did so, grateful for her unshaken support. Neytiri was filled in on everything he had heart that night, a plethora of shock and anger flitting through her, before she calmed down enough to sleep.
They dreamed together that night, listening to his brothers singing voice and remembering when he was alive as a human.
Finally a physical description of my favourite girl Tanu'ley. Can anyone guess why she seems so familiar?
You're welcome to share your suspicions :D
See you next time!