What If? (P1) || Jake / Reader || Draft

Training

You're not surprised to hear a rather loud thud hit the ground behind you — even Neytiri and Ka'ani having confused looks on their faces when Jake doesn't show.

"I'll get him." You offer, sighing in embarrassment almost.
     Just like before, his worst enemy with training truly was jumping from these heights.

"Jake?" You step ahead to call out - assuming he's rolled off somewhere.
   "This isn't funny, where'd you go?"

There's some rustling going on a bit far from you, and you don't think much of it at first - until a small bird-like creature hops out and flies off like nothing.

"Jake, if you've fallen unconscious, I swear to-"

You barely catch the sound of something scraping against the tree above you, but absolutely catch the feeling of Jake on your back as you fall forward and tumble with him - tightly in his arms as you do.

You lift your hand up to wipe away at the stray grass all over the place, and dirt on your chest.
     "Well I'm glad you're alive, even if you are heavy as hell."

"Yeah." He grins. "That ... didn't go over as well as I thought."

You two both stand, brushing off the grass and dirt. "So what? You thought you'd see if I was ready to carry you by throwing yourself on me? What kind of plan is that?"

"One that tests your adrenaline and reflexes as well." He remarks.

"Man-" You reach up to pick out a few things in your hair. "-not even a solid month here and already the men are throwing themselves at me. How obnoxious."

"They better not be." Jake steps forward and helps from the back. "I've seen the way some of them look at you."

"You act like some of the Na'vi don't admire you as well, Jake."

"Oh? Are you jealous?"

"Nope, if they want to babysit - they can take you off my hands for a while. I won't complain."

"Not even gonna fight for me, baby? how insulting."

You stop in your tracks, and turn around to place a hand on his chest. "As if I'd need to. You'd come running back."
    And you swipe your hand along his arm to get any smaller leaves he missed. "Or.. rolling back, anyway."

"Hey. I'm doing my best. It's hard to get a good grip on those leaves."

——

You and Jake sit on a rather large branch, peering out over the jungle below. You both sit quietly, taking in the ambiance around you — and counting out the seconds until the next thunder strike.

As the rain begins to fall, Jake snuggles in closer to you, watching as the drops of water trickle down your back.

Despite the added danger of being in the tree during the storm, you both relish in this experience that you missed during the first round of this. Only getting to experience Hometree for a matter of months, after all.

"So.. I've been thinking." Jake offers.

"Don't hurt yourself, that sounds dangerous."

He nudges you with his elbow, and tsks as he lowly chuckles with that bad mouth of yours.
    "I mean, Neytiri has ... taken a liking to me." He admits. "She said she sees a lot of Grace's values in me, and she cherishes it.
  Which... I'm thinking I could use that to my advantage. Maybe I could try talking to her, and she could ask Mo'at about letting Grace back in?"

You sit up a bit straighter, and turn to face him more head on.
   "Are you.. sure? I don't want you to feel like you have to, I think I've got this down pretty well."

"I won't stop you if you want to, but considering which Na'vi mentor favors either of us the most - I might have the upper hand here."

"Neytiri likes me, too." You tease. "— There's just not a lot for her to teach me. Unlike your blank slate, I mean.
She's impressed, but I know after all these years together, she likes having projects to work on sometimes.
   You should've seen her over the years.. she took on training so many other kids. She'd have me come along from time to time. I was her favorite student that time around."

"And Tsu'tey?" He asks. "I figured he would've kept you around all the same."

"He.." You ponder for a small moment, breathing out at you contemplate telling him about his death. "It's a long story."

"What do you mean?"

"I've already told you too much, I'm sure."

He places a hand on your knee, and leans in as he wipes off a few drops coming down the side of his face.
    "You can tell me anything, baby. I won't tell anyone unless you want me to do so. It doesn't have to change anything.
   Whatever it is, I'll accept that."

"He died.. shortly after we graduated. In the war. I won't say anything beyond that."

He makes out the sadness in your face. Knowing you'd both lost another dear friend far too soon.

"Oh." Jake sounds, sadly.. gently rubbing his thumb on your knee. "Did we at least get along in the end?"

"Yes." You smile sweetly at the reminder. "-you both did quite well, actually."

A hint of a grin forms on his face.
   "I'll look forward to that."

———-

Jake is kneeling on the ground, with his hand over the side of a hexapede, gently comforting it.
   Hes sweating with nerves as he tries to remember the exact phrase, and falls short after a few terms — sighing deeply as his ears fold back in frustration.
    It's not so different than the first time, the language was hardest on him then, too.

You watch him from a distance as Neytiri comes to him to help recite - both of you facing him with a mixture of concern.

After he slays it, Neytiri takes over the rest. And here he comes in your direction, frowning.

"I'm still doing it wrong." He opens with.

You take a deep breath and step forward, reaching out to touch your lover's arm.

"Jake." You call out, sincerely. "-You can do this. I know you can. But you have to trust yourself. Be patient.
    —-I've been where you are. And I know how hard it is."

He looks at you, perhaps a bit bewildered.
    "Right." He mentions. "I keep forgetting you had just as much trouble. I know how much is at stake, so it gets to me."

You place a hand on his chest, and offer a gentle kiss on his cheek as he wraps an arm around your lower waist.
    "I know what you're feeling right now, Jake."

He places his hands on either side of your face, and leans in for a quick kiss.
    "What would I do without you?"

"I don't know, that's a good question." You seem to think about it for a sarcastic moment. "—-probably starve."

He pulls you in closer, almost as a threat as your entire front nearly slams against his.
     "I won't starve if it's you I'm devouring."

You do gulp nervously at first, expecting more witty banter — definitely not this.

He chuckles at the way you keep your view off - too shy to look up as you know it may lead to something more.

He tucks a finger under your chin, forcing you to do so any way - and it's almost insufferable how close he places his nose to yours - the ends barely brushing together.

"What?" He smiles so innocently. "Too much?"
   As if he doesn't make it worse by digging his nails into your skin, or staring down at you with half-lidded lustful eyes.
    It would be easier to avoid, if not for the blossoming feelings only heightened with both avatars reaching the tail end of puberty.

Too many damn hormones.

And they certainly don't make dealing with the wider range of processing everything any easier.