A/N: Okay, so it's been a hot minute since I last touched this story, so if things feel a bit off, that's on me. I'm still getting back into the groove of things, and to be honest, the plot is kinda fuzzy right now. But don't worry—I'm rereading everything to refresh my memory and make sure it all comes together. Promise it'll make sense soon.

Thanks for being patient with me!

Angel

You slowly sat down at the mess hall table, the faint hum of the lab filling the space around you as Jake settled into his chair beside you. The weight of what just happened still hung heavily in the air, but you tried to push it aside, focusing on the present. You could feel Grace's gaze on you, still full of that concern. It made you shift uncomfortably, but you just gave her another reassuring smile.

"We did what we had to do," you said, voice calm despite the adrenaline still coursing through your veins. "Jake and I weren't about to let that Thanator take us down, especially when it was dragging us so far off course."

Jake let out a small chuckle, the sound deep and rough like it had come from the very depths of his chest. "Yeah, well, it wasn't just the Thanator. We had a few other things on our tail, too." He paused for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck with a sigh. "But the way we worked together, we... kinda got lucky."

Norm looked between the two of you, still a little lost, and then pushed his glasses up his nose. "Lucky? You ran off without any backup, into unknown territory, and survived? That's not luck, that's... impossible."

You exchanged a glance with Jake, sharing a silent moment of acknowledgment. "You don't get it," you replied softly. "We were connected to the land, connected to each other. In the avatars, it's like we're not just ourselves anymore—we're a part of something bigger. And maybe that's how we survived."

Grace shook her head, disbelief on her face. "I'm still struggling to wrap my mind around it. The avatars, the whole link between you and the planet—it's all too surreal."

"It's not about surviving," Jake added quietly, as though speaking to himself more than anyone else. "It's about becoming something else. Something better. Something that can't be broken by just a Thanator, or anything else out there."

For a moment, the table was silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air like the calm before a storm. Grace finally broke the silence, her voice full of a strange mix of awe and frustration. "Somehow, you two keep getting out of the most insane situations. I can't imagine how, but I suppose that's the mystery of it all."

You smirked, leaning back in your chair as the tension melted away. "Mysteries are our specialty."

Jake just grinned. "But it doesn't hurt to have a little extra help from the planet."

"Yeah, I suppose that's true," Norm muttered, still trying to make sense of everything. "You two make surviving look way too easy."

You gave him a wink, but inside, you knew it was anything but. Surviving was one thing. But understanding this strange connection you shared with Pandora? That was a whole different challenge.

Grace clapped her hands, a sharp sound that snapped the tension in the air. "Well, at least we know you've survived," she said, a hint of relief softening her usual no-nonsense tone. "I was worried for a moment there."

You couldn't help but grin at her, your white scaly tail flicking lazily behind you as you leaned back in your seat. "You worry too much, Grace," you teased lightly, though the warmth in your voice carried your gratitude.

Just as the mood began to lighten, two of the base's more obnoxious grunts strolled by, their smirks loud even before their mouths opened. "Looking good, L/N," one of them whistled, his tone oily. The other chuckled under his breath, the kind of laugh that was meant to dig under your skin.

You rolled your eyes skyward, exhaling slowly as your ears twitched in irritation. Their jeers didn't sting, not anymore. You were used to it—their comments, their sideways glances. To them, you were just another "science experiment," an avatar pilot with no place to belong. Still, it grated.

Jake, however, wasn't about to let it slide. His jaw tightened as he shot the goons a glare that could've melted metal. "Don't they ever lay off your back?" he asked, his voice low but sharp, like a blade that hadn't quite struck yet.

You shrugged, the motion casual, though your tail gave an involuntary swish. "Nope. Guess I'm just that fascinating," you replied dryly, resting your chin on your hand. "It's like having my own personal fan club—except way less charming."

Jake snorted, shaking his head. "Fan club? More like a couple of idiots with too much time on their hands." His tone softened, a quiet protectiveness seeping through as he added, "You shouldn't have to put up with that crap."

You glanced at him, a small smile tugging at your lips. "It's not a big deal, Jake. I've got thicker skin than that," you said, flicking your tail for emphasis. "Literally."

Grace let out a huff, her expression caught somewhere between amused and exasperated. "You two are unbelievable," she muttered, but there was a glimmer of affection in her eyes. "Just don't let it get to your heads."

"Too late," you and Jake said in unison, sharing a look that made the tension break for good. You couldn't help but laugh, the sound light and easy, despite the chaos of the day.

Norm stretched and yawned, rubbing the back of his neck as he got up from the table. "Well, I'm calling it a night," he announced, his voice tired but warm. He gave you a pointed look. "You should, too. You've had one hell of a day."

You nodded, rising to follow him to the bunks. "Yeah, sleep sounds good right about now."

But before you could take more than a couple of steps, Trudy appeared in your path, her expression somewhere between sheepish and sincere. "Hey," she said, scratching the back of her neck. "Look, about those two goons earlier—don't let it get to you, okay? They're idiots. You're pretty, that's all."

You couldn't help but stifle a laugh, her words catching you off guard. "Trudy, it's fine," you assured her with a small grin. "Honestly, I've been dealing with that sort of thing my whole life. Back on Earth, people used to tease me all the time just because I was a Dragonborn. It's not unusual. My whole family's been shunned for years."

Her brow furrowed, a flash of indignation lighting her eyes. "That's so messed up. People are the worst sometimes."

You nudged her lightly with your hip, cutting off her righteous anger with a playful smile. "It is what it is. Builds character, or something like that." Then, with a dramatic sigh, you added, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to sleep before I accidentally burn this entire base to the ground. You know, fire-breath and sleep deprivation? Not a good combo."

Trudy stepped aside with a grin of her own, throwing her hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. Go get your beauty rest, hot stuff."

You slipped past her, your tail swishing lazily behind you as you made your way toward the bunks. You didn't notice the way Jake's eyes lingered on you, his gaze thoughtful and lingering as he watched you leave. Something unspoken hung in the air, but you were already too far away to catch it.