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Walking through the cramped halls of Hell’s Gate was probably something that would never stop amazing him, because not so long ago, they weren’t cramped; they used to be so huge compared to his wheelchair bound self. And now, wheelchair-free, and 3 meters tall, he has to walk bent over so he won’t hit his head on the (drastically lower) ceiling. Ain’t it funny how fast life can change so much, and only in a short amount of time at that. Jake didn’t complain though. Getting a second chance at life like he had really was to good to be true. Crippled. Orphan. Outcast. No one should be able to bounce back from things like that, and yet he had. Had found new meaning, a family, a partner. Thank you Eywa indeed, Jake though to himself while instinctively giving Neytiri’s hand a small squeeze of gratitude. Taking comfort at shared closeness and physical affection, their fingers were unquestionably entwined together. As they walked, he had his arm reached behind his back towards her, leading the way through the compound, something he knew she was grateful for since she wasn’t super comfortable whenever they were at or around Hell’s Gate.
“No wonder Sky people are so miserable,” Jake heard Neytiri muttering as she walked a few paces behind him, which snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Hmm? You talking to me baby?” He asked, looking over his shoulder at her.
She looked up at him, she as well snapped out of her own thoughts.
This was one thing he loved about their relationship; that they were so comfortable around each other even in silence. Constant dialogue wasn’t always a necessity, so awkward silences wasn’t something they struggled with at all, for the most part.
“Kehe,” she said, pausing only to take a few breaths of carbon dioxide from her mask. “ Not really,” she continued, still muttering somewhat, but not as much as before.
“So…” he asked inquisitively, a raised brow accompanying his crooked smile which he dazzlingly directed at her.
The corners of her mouth raised minimally, showing hints of veiled amusement. “I was just thinking out loud, and my point is that it is not strange why Sky People are so miserable and ill tempered all the time.”
“And why is that?” Jake asked.
“They live inside these dead walls,” Neytiri stated simply, straight to the subject.
“Dead walls?” Jake asked, a bit perplexed, but also equally amused.
“Ngulpin. No colors. No life. No light. You live inside and never go out, never bask in the sun. Never feel the grass between your toes, or bath in the streams and rivers.”
Neytiri shook her head and tutted before continuing.
“There is no soul here,” she said, pointing at the walls and ceilings around them.
“No life. No link to Eywa. Can not see. Will not see.”
Jake laughed mirthfully. “Well I can’t contradict you there,” he answered with a wide grin on his handsome face.
“And you’re not wrong. This place is soulless. I never did like it much.” Soulless it was indeed, not just appearance wise, but also the whole atmosphere. Jake could vividly remember how frustrating it had been when he first arrived at Hell’s Gate. The place wasn’t exactly made for wheelchairs; cramped hallways and spaces, a distinctive lack of hand rails, stairs without ramps… Jake could go on for hours about that. Not only had the place been a bitch, but he had also been seen as a lesser, weaker being just because he was a cripple. Marine soldiers were terrified to see a in-person example of how their own lives could look in case they themselves suffered career ending injuries, (therefore, alas their trashy behavior and treatment of Jake, who had once been one of them). The strong prey on the weak, or something… Yeah, no shit.
While still quite drab and soulless, and grey, as Neytiri had expressed it, the place had however, quickly improved since the Sky People had left, and the scientists took over. It was only just a few short weeks ago it had happened, but somehow it already felt like a lifetime to Jake.
They came out of the cramped hallway and both were relieved too be able to walk upright again, stretching their necks and backs just as they reached the lab.
Jake gave three quick knocks on the side panel of the entrance, and a few moments later they came into view of Norm who’s head immediately snapped up from his desk towards them.
“Jake! Neytiri! It’s great to see you. I haven’t seen the two of you since the consciousness transfer!” Norm exclaimed happily, his hands up in the air expressively.
“Kaltxì NormSpellman. Oel ngati kameie,” Neytiri said with a respectful nod and pressed her fingers to her brow before she swept them down and away from her face, in the traditional gesture of the people.
While she wasn’t overly fond of Hell’s Gate or any of the scientists (finding discomfort in the artificialness of the place, and suspicion of the people who did not understand Eywa) she had gotten to now Norm and Max well enough to actually be comfortable enough in their presences (but then again they had worked hard to earn her trust, and had ultimately succeeded).
“Oel ngati kameie Neytiri,” Norm answered back and returned the gesture before he turned towards Jake.
“Hi you big Smurf,” Norm said, spreading his arms out for a hug, and Jake immediately leaned down so his friend could reach him at all.
“Hello to you as well,” Jake said, throwing him a teasing wink.
“I never see you anymore!” It’s like your forgetting your old human friends,” Norm exclaimed with a melodramatic pose and tone, throwing a hand over his forehead.
“Norm. It’s been two weeks.” Jake said with an amused scoff.
“Besides,” Neytiri cut in. “We have been very busy since the Sky People left. Jake is Olo’eyktan now.”
She threw her husband a grin.
“And,” she said with a dramatic pause.
“The consciousness transfer was very draining for him. He has needed a lot of rest and… recreation,” she continued, throwing another smirk her husband’s way, which caused him to blush slightly, his ears falling back bashfully.
There had certainly been a lot of resting for the both of them in the last two weeks, but perhaps not the traditional sort of resting on would at first think of. For most part anyway. Jake wouldn’t apologize though. He couldn’t help it that his wife was both gorgeous and badass!
Clearing his throat, he soon bit back: “Well to be fair, so did you…”
They shared a look which could only be described as patiently longing, and if anything, it was a sure promise of “Later.” More didn’t need to be said, their suggestively swishing tails being the only further expression of their line of thought. The perks of tsaheylu really felt endless at times. Feelings of playfulness and attraction coursed through their shared bond, the heat of anticipation setting in the pits of both their stomachs. This was one thing he really loved about tsaheylu; that they were so closely intuned, and that they at time felt like one single entity. Calling it spiritual was a grave understatement, because it was so much more than just that.
“I’m just gonna pretend and neither saw or heard that,” Norm said, pretending to look nauseous.
“Seriously guys, that’s enough eye-fucking!” He shouted, which broke them out of their little moments.
“That you can do later when you’re FAR away from me!”
They both burst out laughing before Jake said, “Many apologizes Norm. I will try to keep my hands off my gorgeous wife.”
At his words Neytiri let out a loud “Bah!” Before she smacked the back of his head lightly and hissed playfully at him. “Skxawng!” She exclaimed.
Jake only rubbed the back of his neck and smile playfully at her.
“Try,” he repeated with a innocent but cheeky expression on his face.
“And I’m your skxawng,” he added sappily.
Norm only groaned (amused laughter lacing his voice even though he tried to hide it) and shook his head at them.
“Whatever guys,” he said as he stood up from his desk and motioned for them to follow him with a wave of his hand.
“Come, let’s go to the kitchen cantine. I was just gonna go grab some lunch anyway.”
•••
“Here you go,” Max said as he placed the coffee pot and mugs on the table before he sat down on the chair beside Norm who sat across from Jake and Neytiri who sat on the floor.
This way they were almost at the same eye level height as the two humans (only still reaching a bit taller even though they were sitting down.
It’s as if I’m a giant in a dollhouse, Jake thought amusedly.
“So how are things going down at the village?” Max then asked.
“Things are improving,” Jake said. “The village is practically already up and running. The other clans that stayed to help us have been a great addition in rebuilding our life. They are bound to return back to their own homes soon. We are very grateful towards them, but there’s still a long way to go, and we have much to grieve,” Jake said as he looked at Neytiri, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze which she returned.
“That’s great guys,” Norm said as he started pouring coffee into his mug which the others soon followed suit in doing (except for Neytiri who politely declined).
“So how’s being Olo’eyktan treating you,” Norm continued cheekily, delighted at getting a opportunity to take a swipe at Jake because he knew the (now blue) man hated being called his newly adopted title.
Jake didn’t feel like a leader. All his life (and especially when he was a active Marine soldier) he had always been following orders; had always served under someone else with a higher rank, and a bigger experience. So suddenly being thrown into a leading position of power really had been a gut punching life change for Jake. Despite uncertainty, self doubt, and feelings of inadequacy he tried to make the best of the lot he’d been given anyhow. And with Neytiri standing steadfast by his side, with her reassuring presence and her infinite trust of him, he felt like anything was possible. Perhaps he could succeed, maybe even become great. He just hoped he would be able to make the people proud; that he would not fail them like he had when Hometree had fallen and burnt to the ground.
“Don’t even talk about it,” Jake said while giving the scientist a halfhearted pointed look and the middle finger which made the others burst out laughing.
He picked up the coffee mug which, like most other things, had become minuscule compared to before his transfer.
“Ha, it’s like a espresso shot,” Jake said while fingering the small mug.
“The mug is TINY in my big blue hands!”
“That’s what happens when you become a permanent Na’vi Jake,” Max answered with a sheepish shrug of his shoulders.
“Es-pre-so?” Neytiri cut in with heavily accented pronunciation.
“It a specific sort of coffee,” Norm said pointing at the pot.
“This isn’t espresso. This is just regular black coffe. The basic form you could say.”
“And espresso is much stronger than this stuff, so it’s served in very small cups because otherwise one is in for one hell of a caffeine kick,” Max cut in.
Neytiri gave another questioning look, and Jake helpfully added in “Caffeine is a large substance in coffee.”
By now he was used to explaining human stuff to the Omatikaya, and he knew that humans tended to speak in way to confusing and unfamiliar terms when having discussions with the Na’vi. The scientists might have learnt and studied about them for years, sometimes decades, but even they could be quite clueless and clumsy at time. Funny that he, the most science-uninterested and aloof person had in the end become the one to understand the Na’vi the best.
“Right,” she said with a nod and a slightly skeptical smile.
“Yeah,” Jake replied.
“And now that I’m no longer human, which is still and will probably always be unbelievably crazy, everything has become so tiny. Obviously I’m the one who actually became bigger, but from my perspective…”
He pointed to the mug in his hand.
“Things are smaller than before.”
Turning to the cup he started mumbling, “Oh, coffee, coffe, coffee. You dark gold. I have missed you,” he said almost reverently, eyes closed and head raised upwards.
“Jake, it’s only been two weeks,” Norm said with a laugh.
“Two very long weeks,” he said in a mock serious voice while he pulled of a pompous high face, eyes closed and mouth pouting.
“Should we leave the two of you alone then?” Max cut in with a cheeky grin.
“It is all he has been talking about since his transfer,” Neytiri added, overjoyed at the opportunity to tease her mate since he usually was the one doing all the teasing. Constantly spewing witty, quick remarks, and basking in sarcasm as he was, it was hilarious for them to be able to give him some of his own medicine.
“Ha, ha. Very funny guys,” Jake said, opening one eye in their direction and scrunched his nose at them.
“I really feel for you Jake-y,” Norm spoke.
“I really do blue guy.” “Tough life,” said Max, teeth flashing as he pushed his glasses back up his nose.
”Well, what don’t you do for love,” he said, now with a smile on his face as he leaned toward Neytiri to kiss her on the head. She contentedly leaned back into him, and also smiled.
Jake brought the small mug up to his face to take a few long sought after sips of the hot beverage, the rich aroma wafting through the air. While it didn’t smell exactly like before, Jake wasn’t going to let that stop him. He had missed coffee.
He took a sip and… quickly threw himself to the side, facing away from the two humans who sat in front of him, and spat out the coffe, spraying the floor in front of him. The others, all taken by surprise, looked on in astonishment.
“Oh GOD! That’s AWFUL!” Jake shouted as he put the mug down, away from him.
In jerky movements he started wiping at his tongue trying the get rid of the taste.
“What did you do to the coffee?!” He blurted out in dismay.
“You must have dropped something into it, because it’s impossible to burn coffee that bad! Bah!!!”
“Right. I am glad I passed. Doesn’t seem like much to have” Neytiri said while the corners of her mouth twitched up and down.
She was trying desperately to not start laughing at her mate, because she knew he would probably never live this down.
It tasted like burnt mud, something much more bitter than iron, and something Jake possibly couldn’t even describe. Surely it’s was just a flux. Something had to be wrong with this specific pot of coffee. It had to be, because life without coffee… Jake shuddered at just the thought. Oh his poor tastebuds.
“Uhh, I… I don’t think so,” Norm said hesitatantly as he brought his own mug up to his mouth to test Jake’s thesis.
“Umm… I dunno Jake. To me it doesn’t taste weird. It seems normal to me,” he said with a half amused shrug.
“But-but… No… Nooo,” he (almost) whined.
Max followed Norm in suit and tasted his own coffee.
“Sorry Jake, but it tastes normal to me as well.”
“But…?” Jake started before he interrupted himself, eyes growing wide in imagined horror.”
“No, no, no! I’m the problem?!” He rambled on.
“I’m no longer human, so my tastebuds aren’t adapted to human tastes anymore.”
His voice was growing smaller towards the and as his face fell, now into a real pout. He was looking utterly miserable, and Neytiri couldn’t help but let out a few snickers which threw a pointed look from Jake.
“I would say that’s probably a correct assumption Jake,” said Max, sharing a small smile with Norm who then replied, “Yes Jake. Na’vi and humans are vastly different, so your tastebuds being different makes a lot of sense. Your not human anymore dude, so your not supposed to like human edibles!”
“But…” Jake said again.
“So no more coffee Jake,” Max added.
The look the two scientists shared could possibly be called diabolical. They knew Jake was having a literal existential crisis, but seeing Jake loosing his composure like this wasn’t something that happened everyday. Loathe to admit it, Norm and Max was enjoying it immensely. Good thing Jake Sully wasn’t a bitter person.
“No more coffee,” Jake said emptily.
He wanted to cry, maybe even die. What was life even like without coffee?
“Life is a bitch,” Norm said with a shrug of his shoulders.
Jake stared at his friend for a moment, lips pursed, ears twitching, and tail trashing behind him.
Then another realization came to him, one perhaps even more horrifying than not being able to drink coffee anymore.
“Fuck!” Jake shouted.
“What now?” Neytiri asked him. She had no idea about most of what her mate was rambling about, but he was clearly extremely devastated because of it at the moment.
With a vulnerable, almost puppyish look, he looked pleadingly and questioningly and said, “Does that mean I’m never going to be able to eat junk food again?! No pizza…? No… burgers?”
The quiver in his voice was very faint, but very obviously there.
“I’m afraid it might be so Jake,” Max replied with a face that now was bordering a lot more on the sorry scale than compared to just a few moments earlier.
At the almost childlike whine Jake let out, Neytiri exclaimed with a laugh, “Ma oeyë Eywa! You humans and your complicated ways! Always fussing over everything and anything.”
At her words Jake turned towards her with a serious look. “You’ve never tried American junk food, so you really have no idea what you are missing baby”
Snorting at his words, Neytiri replied, “Ma yawne, I will gladly never try demon food.”
Giving the man a wink, she then said, “Fwäkì ke fwefwi. Mantis doesn’t whistle; don’t expect someone to do something that isn’t in their inherent nature,” which caused him to grumble minimally at her use of the Na’vi idiom.
She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, and quietly, almost whispering into his ear which twitched at her closeness, she said, “At least you have teylu, my love,” which quickly made him perk up.
“Well, Grandma’s Teylu is a damn fine dish, so I guess I shouldn’t complain.”
Na’vi translations:
Kehe: No
Ngulpin: Grey (color)
Kaltxì: Hello
Oel ngati kameie: I see you
Olo’eyktan: Male clan leader
Skxawng: Idiot, Moron.
Ma oeyë Eywa: My god/Eywa
Fwäki ke fwefwi: Mantis doesn’t whistle; don’t expect someone to do something that isn’t in their inherent nature (Na’vi idiom)
Teylu: The Teylu larvae is a main source of protein for the Na’vi besides Sturmbeest and Hexapede. Teylu is said to taste slightly sweet and is usually steamed. The Navi also cook them along with vegetables on a stick over a open fire which makes it very similar to Terran shish kebab.