Invisible String - Jake Sully

9

He watched as Tuk walked between Tawn and Kiri, probably searching for that motherly love that Tawn seemed to provide. Lo'ak also walked towards the four of them, sitting beside Jake cautiously. 

Neteyam noticed a shift in the wind when he looked at the scene. He noticed how soft his father's eyes were when looking at his most troublesome son. Their father seemed to be relaxed.

Neteyam then saw the way Jake looked at Tawn was different than usual. He noticed a look of adoration in his eyes.  Neteyam was happy that Tawn seemed to bring out the best in his father. He thanked Eywa for her gift.

"Neteyam?" speak of the angel. He shifted his gaze to Tawn, "do you want to help me finish your breakfast," Tawn offered.

Neteyam nodded and followed her to the pot perching on top of the makeshift fire, "you might want to refill the pot. I used some hot water for Kiri," Tawn suggested, sitting down again and chopping the food.

Neteyam filled the pot with water and brought it to the makeshift holder on top of the fire. He helped Tawn with cutting some vegetable and dumping it into the pot.

"How are you Neteyam?" Tawn asked. They were both far away enough from the rest of the family so they couldn't listen to their conversation.

Neteyam was quiet for a moment, "I'm fine. You should ask the others and not me."

Tawn smiled sadly at the young warrior. She knew too well that he was trying to mask his emotions, "well, I know little Tuk was okay now, along with Kiri. Lo'ak was feeling guilty because he wasn't there for all of you but you? You seem to be masking your feelings," Tawn said, if she was honest, she made an educated guess based on their personality.

Tawn was cool and sympathetic that way.

Neteyam sighed, "I'm certainly okay now. I hope dad forgives me," he sighed dejectedly.

Tawn shook her head at Neteyam's thinking, "give your dad some credit," she looked back to where the rest of the family were. She watched Jake joking around and smiling at his kids, Tawn really hoped their conversation incited something within him, "he understands, he's probably grateful you were there, saving her," Tawn assured.

Neteyam gazed up at her before letting a small smile slip from his lips.

Tawn nodded confidently before dumping all the vegetables and protein on her cutting board into the pot.

"What's next?" Neteyam asked.

"Well, we wait for the food to cook, and then you all can have breakfast," Tawn said, "it's soup based, so it's fine for Kiri."

Neteyam nodded, his eyes shifting to his family, "You would make a wonderful sa'nok, Tawn," he complimented.

Tawn felt heat rushing to her face. She smiled bashfully at Neteyam. She did want to be a mother, a sa'nok, but for now, being a sa'nok to her students was enough. It should be enough.

"Thank you, Neteyam," Tawn said sincerely.

"Do you have a mate Tawn? Or someone you have your eyes on?" Neteyam said nonchalantly, stirring up the soup.

Tawn wasn't going to let her guards down in front of a teenager, so she calmly reached for some spices and sprinkled them into the soup, "I don't."

Neteyam's eyebrows rose in disbelief, "oh really? There must've been someone you have a crush on," Neteyam pressed.

Tawn squinted her eyes at Neteyam, "why the sudden interest in my love life?"

Neteyam shrugged, "no reason. I mean, it's weird that you don't have a mate. If you were an omitakayan, I'd ask for your hand as soon as I did my ikinimaya."