~~~Superstes~~~UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING

Sneak level 100

Feya thought the way Tsireya spoke about Lo'ak was adorable, but she had to agree with the fact that he was slightly misunderstood. From her interactions with him, especially when they were captured, there was a lot going on for him. "Yes," she agreed, "he is." 

"He has always doubted himself." Kiri added, holding out her abnormal hand. "But he allows these stupid insecurities to get the better of him. He believes he is a dissapointment  to our family, even though he isn't." 

Tsireya visibly saddened upon hearing this. She stroked the fin across her arm and eventually spoke, "We should do something to cheer him up. I'm sure he is miserable, especially right now." 

Kiri and Fe'ya nodded their heads in agreement. 

"With Neteyam gone, I'm sure he is beating himself up over it." Feya commented, her heart wrenching. "Maybe we could all go see Payakan or something?" 

"He would do that by himself. He needs something more... direct." Tsireya said. 

Then, a knowing tension formed in the atmosphere above the three girl's heads. Each of them knew nothing would cheer Lo'ak up more than bringing Neteyam back, but that wasn't easy to carry out. He wouldn't feel better until that happened. 

"Let's just make him a necklace." Feya decided, "That will be simple but good enough for now. " 

                                                                                       ~~~   

Lo'ak stood before his father's bulky frame that towered over his own skinny figure. His mother stood a couple feet back, her all-knowing eyes glued to her teenage son. Lo'ak just hovered there awkwardly, his posture hunched. 

"What is it?" Jake asked, his one calm. He subtly glanced at Neytiri. "You wanted to ask me something."

 "I, uh--" Lo'ak began, his mind unfocused. It had been a while since he'd actively seeked his father out to talk. But once Jake gave him an encouraging nod, Lo'ak found his words. "I wanted to ask if I could join the rescue mission. For Neteyam." 

Spider was lurking outside the marui, waiting for his brother to emerge out of the entrance. It was him who'd initially hyped Lo'ak up to ask this. 

Jake seemingly sighed out of exasperation and his posture also drooped, and he shook his head. "No, son. I can't let you come with us. It's too dangerous." 

Lo'ak's stomach sank with disappointment. But after the whole demon ship disaster, and after his brother's grave injury, he possessed more understanding on why his father wasn't going to allow him to join the rescue squad. Now he knew Dad really did just want to him safe. But that didn't mean he still didn't think, in the back of his head, that it had something to do with his clumsy, reckless actions. 

Lo'ak swallowed and nodded his head, slowly turning away. He wasn't going to try and argue back with his father. Not this time, at least. He was desperate to maintain the calmness and care of their relationship that had bloomed after the I see you when they laid against Payakan's fin. 

"Hey, kid, wait." 

Lo'ak turned back around, his ears perking. "Yeah?" 

"You can't go on the mission, but I do need you to do something for me." Jake said, his expression entrusting. 

Lo'ak's heart leaped for once after weeks. "What is it?" 

Jake pointed to the variety of pistols and rifles that were strewn across a big metal chest, along with a bunch of other little objects, rags, and machinery tools. "I need you to clean those out for me before we go. Remember how I taught you?" 

Lo'ak nodded vigorously, his tail waving behind him. "Yes, I do."  

"Good." Jake strode past his son and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Then you better get to it." 

Lo'ak smiled and immediately positioned himself before the chest and began cleaning and washing out the inside of the weapons. Neytiri watched him work, smiling at him and her husband. 

Lo'ak was determined to make these the cleanest, shiniest, most amazing firearms in all of Pandora.   

Matthew 19:26-With God all things are possible.