~~~Superstes~~~UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING

Pleasing a storm.

"Jake, you are overreacting. I'm sure they both want to let loose, after the fight. Especially after sleeping for two days." 

I sat down next to her and sighed, more annoyed than ever. "I don't understand it--she's been shot, he's deaf and stricken with vertigo. I'm surprised they can even walk." 

"You'd be surprised what heights they go to for love." Neytiri gazed at me wistfully, "It is so sweet--you should see them."  

"I'm pretty sure I saw her slap him a couple times," I deadpanned, "during his time at camp." 

It was no secret that Neteyam and Fe'ya had a thing for each other, even if they deny it--they can't hide anything for the life of them. I see them loping around together, grinning and laughing, playing games, doing whatever. But why did they have to run away repeatedly? Why couldn't they just stay here and do what they do. It wasn't that difficult. 

"Jake," Neytiri chuckled, "Neteyam, with Fe'ya, will be perfectly fine. Stop fretting over useless things."  

I rolled my eyes, moving my mind onto other things. "Where's Lo'ak?" 

                                                                                                      ~~~

When I found him sitting alone in the dark, outside the mauri, I instantly knew it would be the perfect time to speak with him. I didn't wait for him to notice me, I just sat down beside him and looked at the stars. 

"You know I love you, kid." I said, hardly glancing at him. "More than anything." 

Lo'ak was silent for a minute. He gazed at the black, moonlit sky. "I know. I... I love you, too. You're my father." 

"No, no--I have to say I'm sorry." At this, I look at him and we lock eyes. "I'm sorry for ignoring you, and making you feel insignificant--it's hard to meet expectations." 

"You wouldn't know." He retorts sourly, looking down. At first, I was agitated--but I quenched my anger by telling myself he had the right to say it. 

"Actually," I spoke, "I do know. I understand a lot more than you'd think. You have no idea how hard it was to be a marine--not to mention a warrior--with no legs. I was teased, bullied, criticized, all that jazz. In the sense of..." I held up my hand and smiled. "Having these 'freaky' features, I understand. It's no different for me, either." 

I grabbed his hand and spread apart his thin, long fingers and his thumb. He looked at me, a crease in forehead. 

"See, these--" I put my finger between his eyebrows, "I have. Just like you. I know your brother doesn't have any alien features, but I think of it as a marking of my old life. One that...wasn't this one, but it wasn't bad, either. I loved my human life. If I wasn't human, I would have never met your mother, or had you, or become Toruk Makto." 

Lo'ak smiled a little. 

"I know Neteyam pulled his little stunt with his Toruk, and that probably made things worse for you. But your no less capable of doing the same--your time will come, I promise. But it might come differently, and you might not like that. But think about it...if you hadn't left that rainy night after we found Roa's body, we'd all be dead." 

I put my arm around his shoulder. "You've got to accept the credit where it's actually at, kid. Not where you want it to be. And there will always, always be more chances to prove your worth."

"But there is nothing on this planet that you have to prove to me." 

                                                                                                ~~~

The rain was pouring hard as we made our way home. I could hardly see--through the lush, dense trees and foliage, the downpour made it darker. My feet were covered in mud, and so were Neteyam's. 

I trekked through the forest with my hand over my eyes, hoping it would give me a bit of shelter. It was cold, too. Shivers ran up my spine and my bones, but my insides pooled with warmth and comfort. I looked back at Neteyam and smiled, feeling jittery about our stolen moments back in the deep part of the woods. He cast me a shy grin in return, eyes glowing amber in the enchanting darkness. 

"What a beautiful night it is, right?" I uttered, turning back to the trail ahead of me. Then I remembered and felt guilty quicker than a flash. Since I couldn't communicate verbally, I stepped back and clasped his hand in mine. 

He glanced at me, and I laughed. 

"You are very.... excitable tonight." Neteyam observed, "What's changed?" 

I looked at him and giggled even more. With a sudden burst of energy, I began to sprint through the woods, busting through the plants and dragging me with him. Neteyam dashed behind me, snickers erupting from him like a flow of joy escaping after a long, long time caged up. 

Before long we were both horse-laughing as the trees and foliage whizzed by us. The rain pattered against my face with stinging, cold droplets, but I had never felt happier than this.