Chapter Text
Jae collapsed on his bed, grateful to be there at last. The sun was already going down when he managed to leave for home. Given he had regular duties to help clean up the town with his brigade and Karthik could only do so much to allow him time to work with Pavi and Nisha in secret, Jae was basically working multiple shifts every day. And given how stretched they already were for benders in the haven, that was hard already, going on day 4 of this schedule.
There was a knock on the door and he made a load groan, thinking he’d get up. He didn’t manage.
The door opened and a warm, familiar voice said, “Hey Jae! I was eating with the squad and finally got off and thought we could—oh.” The door shut and Jae heard Datu’s quiet footsteps before a big weight settled on the bed next to him. A warm hand rested on his back, rubbing it. “How you doing down there?”
Jae groaned and moved closer to Datu, glad that Datu took the hint and rubbed his back a bit more. “Exhausted. There’s so much work to do…” He still felt uncomfortable figuring out who to tell and what, and Datu had been labeled as do not tell anything to multiple times at this point.
He didn’t like keeping secrets like this. It went against everything he knew. And he especially didn’t like keeping them from Datu.
But he also reminded himself that the secrets were to protect Pavi and Nisha. Yes, Jae and Karthik’s freedom and jobs were at risk, as well, but two little girls depended on his silence. Really, the world did, given this was the Avatar. Or Avatars. He just had to get through it. And hate himself privately.
We’re all working on repairs, Jae thought as he shut his eyes. Datu was really good at massages, and he was doing almost half of one right now. It’s not like he’d realize I have other worries with all that on my mind.
“Well, think of it as a chance to work on your precision!” Datu said cheerfully. “You always think you could use improvement there.”
Jae grumbled a, “Thanks,” before he pushed himself up with a grimace and asked, “Do you want to do your back?” It wasn’t fair he was the only one getting some attention. Sure, he wasn’t as good at it as Datu, but…
“Mmm… better idea?” Datu leaned forward to kiss him on the lips.
Jae shut his eyes, trying to get his body to settle, especially when Datu reached up to hold Jae’s shoulders. Kissing Datu usually made everything go quiet around him, but Jae had schedules racing through his head, thinking about the strange red light possessing people and animals, why it came from the storm, what it all meant, and how best to help the new Pavi settle into living properly in the city… At least he wasn’t the only airbender helping her, but Karthik was relying more on Jae for his youth and better ability to connect to her than Karthik, who knew he was a bit intimidating.
When they pulled apart, Datu gave him a thoughtful look. “Babe, you’re so tense. We’re getting the city back in order. It’s okay. I mean, sure, we still don’t know what’s up with Commander Bountan, or what happened with the red light, but—"
“I know,” Jae said, glad he could at least talk about Bountan’s odd spell with Datu, given it had been too public to hush up. He leaned forward so that his head rested on Datu’s chest. “It’s just a lot. I’m glad we’re making good progress on the gate at least.” And it wasn’t like Pavi was a slow learner. Now that she was actually invested in completing her training, she was doing rather well, especially for someone so young, who’d been living on her own for so long. Really, Jae’s life should have been easier than he thought it was.
I’m not a little kid with that as much responsibility as Pavi has on her shoulders right now, he thought, sadly. She and Nisha have to deal with so much. I just have to help keep them safe.
“And yet,” Datu said, “you look depressed.” He sounded fond and a bit worried.
“How was your day?” Jae asked, wanting to not talk about his. That would be easier. “It can’t always be about me.”
Datu smirked, clearly seeing through what Jae was doing. “Busy. More animal wrangling, dealing with storehouses… A lot of goods were damaged. Thankfully the hospital was mostly okay, but there were a lot of scared people, and we’re finding more casualties.”
“You’ve been everywhere, huh?” Jae asked as he looked up at Datu’s handsome face. Datu had a big heart, and he worked hard. Jae almost wished he was training Pavi and Nisha, since he’d probably be better at it.
But he didn’t wish the anxiety on anyone.
“Even us non-benders get around,” Datu said with a smile. “Though an air skimmer would be helpful for speed…”
“When I’m free, we can go on another ride together,” Jae said with a smirk, remembering the last time they’d done that.
Datu winced and looked away nervously. “Actually, now that I think about it…”
Jae laughed and said, “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.” When Datu still looked nervous, Jae said, “Come on, I’m kidding. It’s okay to not like it.” It was hard to be comfortable in the air when you weren’t used to it, especially when you weren’t a bender. Though Datu was still a powerful martial artist, so it was rare to see him afraid of anything.
“You and my mother, I swear,” Datu said with a laugh. “Remember how her eyes lit up when I brought you home the first time and she was so excited you were, ‘That boy who’s always on the air skimmer’?”
Jae grinned and replied, “Well it made talking easier. And listening to her antics from when she was younger was fun! She got up to a lot. Still does.” She’d trained with Karthik, and they were still friends.
“I’m just glad my father was there,” Datu said. “He and I watched you both chatter on. It was nice. And kind of like bonding.” He sighed and said, “I still remember him patting me on the shoulder and going, ‘I always wondered if you’d fall for an airbender like I did.’” He sounded a bit nostalgic.
Things had been so much easier back then. Scary, because Jae had wanted to make a good impression, but easier, too, especially because Datu’s parents were kind, just like Datu. “Any regrets?” Jae asked.
Datu’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
“I mean…” Jae sighed, realizing the weariness was getting to him. “I’ve been so tired lately with cleaning up the city. We’re both working more than we used to, I feel we never really get to spend time together…” And I’m hiding so much. Jae pressed his hands against Datu’s chest. “I feel bad I’m only catching you in moments like this.” At the end of the day, when they were both tired.
“It’s been less than a week,” Datu replied as he wrapped his arms around Jae’s chest and pulling him closer. “Things can be hard, but they’ve been hard before. And we’ll get through them. Soon enough, there’ll be another festival. And maybe we can get our shifts off at the same time and go try to have fun together.” He grinned. “If that’s possible for you?”
Jae grimaced. “I can have fun at festivals.” They could be loud and distracting, and he always felt the need to be on guard, so it was difficult.
“You just always schedule working during them,” Datu noted.
“Everyone else wants to go have fun,” Jae said. “I feel bad when they want it so much more than I do.” Plus, the squad was important in case of accidents. But after seeing Datu’s thoughtful look, Jae winced and asked, “Is that bothering you? That you want to go and I…? Datu, I’m sorry…” He knew he was screwing up somewhere.
“No,” Datu said, as his expression grew softer. “I like spending time with you whether or not it’s at a festival. Walking through town, getting a bite to eat… It’s all fun to me.” His expression grew sadder. “But regrets, Jae, really? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Yes. “No! It’s—! I mean…” Jae shut his eyes. “It’s not about our relationship. It’s really just work stress.” He reached a hand around Datu’s left hip and tugged him so they could fall down on the bed together, side by side. He just wanted to hold Datu close and forget everything. Forget anything in his life had changed since he’d noticed Pavi at the festival.
And leave a little girl to suffer in that awful storm? He thought. Sure, she was a survivor, but what if she’d been out there, alone, when it struck? He didn’t want to imagine…
“Well your anxiety doesn’t usually manifest that way,” Datu said as he moved his legs between Jae’s. But he smiled. “And here I wondered if you were thinking of Daemin again.”
“It was ages ago,” Jae said as he turned onto his back, glad at least Datu wasn’t thinking Jae was hiding something else. “You can’t still be jealous.”
“Look,” Datu said as he rested his left hand on Jae’s chest. “I love Daemin. He’s great. We also both know he’s still very handsy.”
“Which you don’t normally mind,” Jae pointed out. They’d talked about this before.
“I don’t,” Datu agreed. “Really, I don’t. He’s a great hugger. You know it, and I know it.”
I do, Jae thought, but didn’t say aloud. It was part of why the surprise hug rule was in place.
“And I’m glad you’re still friends and work great together,” Datu continued. “Just, you know… sometimes…” Datu looking away, clearly a little nervous. “It’s obvious he’s not fully over things.”
“I know,” Jae said. “But he’s just going to have to get over it.” He rolled over so he could rest on top of Datu’s large, muscular body. Even with the armor on, it was cozy. Jae’s long hair settled over the orange part of Datu’s collar.
Datu’s hands settled on Jae’s back, keeping him more stable.
“And I’ll talk to him if it gets worse,” Jae finished. It would be a really awkward conversation, but they’d get through it. They hadn’t ended on bad terms, exactly, and it wasn’t like Jae didn’t sometimes think about stuff between them, but Jae was happy with Datu. And it seemed like Daemin regretted things more. But neither of them wanted to stop being friends, and they really did work well on the squad together.
“But no regrets from you?” Datu asked.
“Well, I was pretty sure you’d dump me for making you a rebound,” Jae replied with a smirk.
Datu snorted and looked up at the ceiling. “As if! I thought you’d dump me for being clingy!”
“You’re not clingy,” Jae insisted. “You’re attentive. I like that.” He leaned forward and kissed Datu this time. He looked how much Datu looked out for him, when Jae often forgot to do so. Jae was known to get his head buried in things without thinking through them as much as necessary. And Datu tried to make that easier.
Datu murmured against him, and his hands moved down Jae’s back, teasing at his lower spine.
Jae broke the kiss and then lowered his head against Datu’s chest. “Could you stay the night? I sleep better when you’re around.”
“Oh,” Datu said with a teasing note to his voice, “is that the only reason?”
Jae’s face warmed. “No, of course not.” He twisted a little to press down on Datu’s body, making the taller man grunt. “But if you want to do more, I need to eat something first.”
Datu’s eyes widened in surprise. “You haven’t eaten yet?! But it’s so late!”
“I was busy,” Jae said as he sat up, feeling hungry. “And too tired to stop anywhere on the way home.” Truth be told, his head was so full of other things, he’d forgotten about food until now. But with Datu there for the night, he’d need sustenance.
Datu laughed quietly, and there was a fond look on his face that Jae wanted to drown in. “There are still some places open. Let’s go get you something hot. Besides me.”
“You are awful,” Jae said before leaning in to lightly kiss Datu’s cheek.
“And you love it,” Datu said as he gently grabbed Jae’s chin for another kiss on the lips.
When they parted, Jae leaned his forehead against Datu’s and said, “Yeah. I do.” He already felt refreshed, at least a little. Maybe it wouldn’t last. And tomorrow was another day. But he’d figure out how to get through all this, as long as Datu was with him.