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

Connection 🔞

Jake crawls into the bed, and you can feel the outer form of his exoskeleton pressing against your thigh.
   He tugs at the edge of the blanket, as if he's unwrapping his own gift.

Almost three weeks since getting the avatars back, and life has been on a repetitive pattern lately. At least it was planned out - you'd know what every day looked like.

But.. it was getting harder to stay on the same schedules, bored by the sense of things.

Jake presses his hand against the bed, and leans in to kiss you awake. It's been a while, and you've napped for far too long. Training was soon, as was dinner — and he hardly wanted you to miss either.

"Baby." He speaks so gently. "You gotta get up."

You simply groan and push at his cheek, wanting a few more minutes in bed. Time didn't matter, you were exhausted with having to stay linked for longer periods of time - especially while dealing with the avatars pregnancy symptoms.

Jake grabs your wrist, and you can feel some sort of new attachment wrapped around his fingers.
   You open one eye in curiosity, and pull his hand in closer. It's some sort of programmed watch, maybe? Perhaps something to link with his implants?

"You like it?" He asks, watching as you so curiously study it. "Max made it for me. No more arm crutches, no more finger controls. The wraps I have on are just to help from how bad my fingers ache due to over use."

You had missed his session with the guys this morning — off on your own as Grace insisted you needed a checkup and blood tests. As well as one other thing.

Jake pulls himself back, eager to show off his adjusted contraption. It's lighter, but sturdier on the feet so he has more weight to keep his legs pinned down. It's still a bit .. creaky? Perhaps.
  But the sort of stutter it gives helps, since Jake would need a tougher and slower machine to work against to build up muscle again.

There's some improvement, but even with advanced medicine — doctors all around, and near constant practice, he'd need more time until he could walk without the balance settings and occasional railings.

He still tries to show off, though. Having to hold himself up on the chair and position himself better.
   He's like a toddler prancing around in one of those walker toys.

Jake shows how easy it is to tell the watch what to do, a simple flick of his wrist one way or another while bending one finger — and it sets a leg in motion to step forward.

"Holy shit." You rub at your eyes and pull yourself to the edge of the bed. "You're walking without the supports? When did this happen?"

"Just this morning." He smiles so proudly. "I had to use them to get up the stairs and come here, and it helps to have a leg kneeling on something.. or even just sitting on my heels helps for a break.
   I have good control of my hips, I've figured that bit out." And he's more than happy to show off as he turns himself around. "My center of gravity is off from what it used to be, but I'm getting there."

"Can I ask something?" You almost hesitate to, and he stumbles back over to you before placing his hands on either side of the bed.

He smiles at the clumsiness, and kisses your forehead.
    "Go ahead."

"If.. if you're transferring like before.. how come you want to go through all of this? You got the avatar back."

"Because, I started this little project — and it's fun to get to see it through."

You still worry, though. That he's doing it for the wrong reasons.
    "Jake." You place your hands on either side of his cheeks. "I want you to know that it's okay if you're eager to get it done. I don't want you to wait or hold off because of me."
   You trail a hand down his shirt, and rest it on his hip. "We can use other means than sex to get what we want."