Calm Before The Storm, Jake Sully

038, Stories.

"How did training go?" Denahi asked.

The children had settled in the pod.

Neteyam, Lo'ak and Kiri chatting in a separate corner whilst Tuk and Malhua taking a quick nap after a tiring day of practicing diving.

Denahi had cooked some fish for their meal.

Jake walked in with a sunk head.

Only lifting his to place a kiss on Denahi's head.

She noticed his low demeanour, and how he didn't answer her question instantly.

"It went.. okay," Jake finally replied.

Denahi watched as he sat down, next Tuk and began to play with her hair.

Doing that was a fast distraction for him.

Denahi crawled to his side, placing her arms around his neck to give him some comfort.

"You will not get it straight away, Ma'Jake. It all takes time," Denahi explained before kissing the tip of his nose.

He smiled at that small gesture.

But, her words hadn't seemed to stick.

He was Toruk Makto.

A mighty warrior— and he couldn't even ride a skimwing with perfection.

"Enough about me," Jake said before pulling Denahi away and resting her on his lap.

She looked at him with a smile, "Dinner is almost ready, but we will talk later."

Jake nodded at that.

He couldn't escape this conversation.

Denahi cared too much.

"You sure it ain't burnt?" Jake asked before looking at the fish, eyebrows furrowing.

Denahi sighed before putting the fish onto a cloth, letting it cool before serving.

Fish was cooked differently to her usual meat.

And, Jake was sure it had burnt.

Though, he wasn't going to tell her that because Denahi seemed proud to have even cooked fish.

"C'mon, dinner is done!" Jake shouted.

Lo'ak stood and walked to Denahi, holding out a small bowl ready for the meal.

Kiri and Neteyam walking close behind and laughing at their brothers quick reaction to food.

"I'll wake them," Neteyam said.

He leaned down and gently shook both Tuk and Malhua awake.

If they slept anymore, they'd miss their meal and wouldn't be able to sleep that night.

Malhua woke instantly whereas Tuk took a few more shoves.

"Five more minutes..." Tuk strained.

Neteyam chuckled before pushing Tuk again, waking her fully up.

She went to hiss at him but the smell of food made her sit up, and grab a bowl.

Malhua walked with her hand in Neteyam's to Denahi, getting their meals and sitting with Lo'ak.

After the family had finished their meal, all the children listened to stories from Jake.

"Your uncle Mukata would've made our lives a living Hell..." Jake explained.

Denahi chuckled.

He really would have.

He would've took the children hunting with him, he would've took them anywhere.

Probably breaking more things than he usually used to do.

But, Mukata would've loved them.

His own family.

Knowing it had grown more than expected.

His love for his family was unconditional.

"I don't think I've seen more broken arrows, in my life, than what he had broke," Jake said.

Malhua was curled in his lap, the others resting on their own mats.

Though, Tuk had splayed across Kiri's.

"I couldn't imagine the amount of broken stuff with the amount of you..." Jake continued.

His voice began to break as he continued telling little stories about Mukata, helping to send his children to sleep.

Denahi smiled from behind.

She was cleaning the meal up, but sometimes stopped her actions to hear Jake's words.

Little tears forming in her eyes, but a happy smile filling her face.

She missed him dearly.

Despite, the struggle he used to give her.

Mukata deserved to be with them.

He had deserved to live a life to its fullest, have a family of his own one day, experience what Denahi finally got to.

Soon after, they had all fallen asleep.

Jake picked Malhua up and rested her carefully into her own mat, pulling the cover over her.

"You wanted to talk?" Jake said to Denahi.

She looked at their peaceful bodies.

Her head nodded, "Not here."