IKIGAI / Jake Sully

Polok

"Hello Mrs. Levi'tra!" Polok, one of Lo'ak archery class mates greets me. He was a bit shorter than Lo'ak with a deeper blue that took after his mother. "I came bringing you a gift"

"Oh? Thank you Polok?" I say "You know you don't have to bring me anything"

It was flowers that he hand cut and I can already see Jake brooding in the back.

"I picked it in the fields outside of Omatikaya. My mom told me they're your favorite"

"Well she's right" I smile, walking off but he follows me.

"Gee I wonder why....maybe because I planted those flowers there..." Jake mutters as he sits sharping his knife.

"I was seeing if you need help with anything?" Polok asks me, ignoring my husband.

"Uh? No. I'm fine. Why don't you go hang out with Lo'ak" I say as I continue to make an herbal paste. Polok stands there, lovingly staring at me and now it's getting weird.

"Let me do that!" He offers "a lady should not get her hands dirty"

"Polok, you can always come and help me. Your Olo'eyktan" Jake says turning to glare at the small kid.

The fact that he's letting a 14 year old get under his skin is enough to explain Jake's territorial nature goes far.

"Yeah I could" Polok admits "but I like spending time with Mrs. Levi'tra"

"You mean Mrs. Sully?"

"What's a sully?"

"ME YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING...."

"Jake"

And he slumps down, pressing his throat mic for Lo'ak. Come get your stupid friend before I beat his ass.

"It's what earth refers to their mates" I corrected Polok.

"So would it be like Mrs. Jake? That sounds so...not romantic" he ponders "I think your name is pretty already so you should keep it like that"

"You...think so..." I mumbled. "Here, for you and your family."

I say handing him a few prepackaged medicine and some fruit that I finished cutting up. But clearly he only heard for him.

"For...me?!" Polok says glimmering in his eyes. "You're giving me a gift?"

"Don't get use to it kid" Jake replies.

"Thank you! You're so kind!" He mutters. Like I had given him a rare gemstone and professed my undying loyalty. He lunges over to hug me but Jake appears putting his foot on the kids head to keep his distance.

"LO'AK!"

"Polok bro! Where were you?! We're gonna be late for the party"

"I don't know I think I wanna hang out here with your mom"

"Huh? Why?" Lo'ak wonders thinking how utterly boring that would be. "She's just gonna make you clean and work."

"But she's so pretty"

"Ew" Lo'ak mumbles "She's like...old and...my mom..."

"Thanks...." I reply rolling my eyes. Least to know my kids think I'm that.

"Mom can I borrow this?" Kiri ask walking out in a one of my tops.

"NO!" Jake replies "THE HELL?! Put more damn clothes on!"

"But mom can wear this and not me?!"

"I for one have never seen Mrs. Levi'tra wear that." Polok notes "I would remember the details"

"Ew" Lo'ak shakes

"YOU STOP THINKING ABOUT MY WIFE!" Jake points then turning to Kiri. "AND YOU, WEAR AGE APPROPRIATE THINGS LIKE A FULL SHIRT NOT A DAMN BRA!"

"Dad! You sound so freaking controlling!"

"I AM CONTROLLING"

"Jake...." I groaned as he continued to banter off.

"Take a chill pill dude" Spider says rummaging through our food stock again.

"Dude?! He just called me dude? Who is dude? I'm DAD." He shouts waving his in the air as if this motion will command all the respect. His colony bows to him just not his kids...

"I'm more surprised he said chill pill...." I mumbled

"Seriously Polok you don't wanna stay my parents are really boring."

"What about this?" Kiri asks walking out in another disapproving outfit.

"Kiri...what do you think?" I shot back

"I think I look great"

"Is that another one of your outfits?" Polok asks me "you would look so great in it."

"STOP THINKING ABOUT MY WIFE AND FIND YOUR OWN!"

——————

When all the kids finally go to the bonfire, Jake wraps his arms around me.

"Are you still jealous over a 14 year old"

"next time I'm sending him off to military training with me so I can shoot him." Jake tells me. "little snot nosed, god I thought Tru was bad and he's..the fucking worst!"

"Are you claiming no one hits on you when you drop the kids off for anything"

"No!"

"Really...."

"NO! Levy!"