Invisible String - Jake Sully

18

"Jake, I've never been kissed before," she smiled bashfully, fluttering her eyelashes.

Jake smirked, "you did good, love. You are so good to me," he whispered, lowering his face to hers. Tawn shut her eyes tightly, trying to prepare herself for the next round, but all she could hear was Jake's laughter.

He plopped back beside her. Tawn opened her eyes and looked at him with confusion, "why no more?" she pouted.

Jake smirked, placing his hand on her cheek and letting his thumb caress her bottom lip, "because you need to sleep, now sleep," he ordered, pulling her to him again.

Tawn pouted, but she closed her eyes anyway. She didn't know that kissing was so tiresome; nevertheless, she enjoyed it. Now she knew what her favourite thing was, and it was Jake's kisses.

She smiled to herself, letting sleep wash over her.

---

True to his words, when Tawn woke up, Jake's arms were still around her. She felt well-rested now. For the first time after that day, she felt light and happy without forcing herself to be happy.

Tawn carefully pried his arm away from her waist and got up. She looked at him, still in a deep sleep, before laughing to herself. She didn't know he needed his nap.

Tawn bent down to kiss his cheek before walking out of her marui and stretching her limbs from the great sleep she had.

She walked down to the beach, wanting to feel the water on her skin and the breeze on her face. She needed it after a long week of self-pity.

Once she was at the shore, Tawn walked deeper and then dived down. She missed this feeling. She swam her sadness and frustration away, and when she returned back to the shore, she felt clean.

She plopped down on the shore, taking in the sunny day since before the dark cloud hovered over them and poured rain on her village.

The rainy season didn't help her with her mood. The sky was gloomy, so naturally she would be too. But when she noticed a small chance of her getting some sun, she would take advantage of it, of course.

She looked out at the ocean. She wondered where Zovi was now. He left a few days ago. When Tawn wanted to see him off, Jake insisted on coming with her, saying he wanted to thank Zovi for that night.

She hoped he was okay.

"Tawn?"

She turned towards the voice. Her eyebrows raised when she saw who it was.

"Yes, Lo'ak?"

The boy sighed, walking closer to her and sitting beside her, "look, I'm sorry about what I said. I was so frustrated because those accusations are not true. He didn't kill all those tulkuns and Na'vi," he started, "but I get it now, and I felt so horrible to you, I shouldn't have said those things to you."

Tawn smiled slightly, "it's okay, Lo'ak, I understand. You are just protective of your new friend."

Lo'ak nodded, "Neteyam and Kiri told me to say sorry to you 'cause they said you were sad, and Tuk practically forced me to apologise," he sighed, looking down at the sand.

Tawn raised one of her eyebrows at the boy, "so you're telling me you apologise because of them and not because of you?" she challenged.

Lo'ak looked at her with wide eyes, "Shit, Tawn, I didn't mean it like that. What I meant to say is they helped open my eyes to how wrong I treated you," he said in a panic.

Tawn giggled, enjoying his panicked face, "don't worry, Lo'ak, I forgive you."

Lo'ak nodded, a smile sat on his face, "I appreciate you, Tawn, you changed us for the better, and I appreciate it. Neteyam seems so relaxed now compared to before, Tuk finally could feel a mother's love through you, Kiri was happier now that you helped her with settling in a new environment, and dad seems happier and nicer," he chuckled at the last part. "ever since mom died, there was always a missing a piece in our family, but now we found it, and it's you Tawn. So even if we leave, we would never leave you behind," Lo'ak finished, looking at her with so much respect in his eyes.