A/N: guys, i'm so sry again😔......... LMAO GOT U. anywho, I hate writing lo'ak sh sm😓 LIKE NOOO MY BBY. it just makes sense to me for him to do that, and that being his way to cope. it also helps me show how much jake's parenting has truly affected him. I also write it in case ppl can relate to it (I srsly hope u can't) bc ik how helpful it can be to have urself and issues represented in writing, especially with a comfort character!! same goes for the whole li'laak/tarsem abuse thing. LOL sry my notes r so long😭
- - -
I quickly gathered my things and silently hid behind a tree. The eerie noises persisted, and I closed my eyes with bated breath, trying to gain the confidence to peek around the tree.
After a few moments of an excruciating inner-battle, I moved just enough so I could see past the tree.
Oh, shit.
It was a camp- a demon camp. They were a few trailers, accompanied by several tents and fireplaces scattered across a clearing in the forest- which I'm sure they cleared themselves.
I inched a little around the tree- now being close enough to hear a conversation happening nearby between what looked to be a soldier and a scientist.
Their mutterings began to make sense, and I made out only a few snippets of the obviously longer discussion they had been having- "When is he gonna attack, has he told you guys yet?"
"Nah, hasn't told as a thing. But- what I do know, is that he's gonna hit, and soon." The person speaking snickered, chewing their gum as they continued- a smirk now present onn their mouth. "Tell them Sully kids they better watch out- parents too."
I gasped- quickly realizing my mistake and clasping a hand over my mouth whilst hiding my body with the tree.
The talking stopped for a moment- but soon resumed, and I closed my eyes in relief.
Quaritch was going to attack the Sully family- no, my family, in a matter of days- soon, really soon. I had to tell them, and quickly.
I crept out of earshot of the Sky People, making a mental note to where I was and starting my journey back towards the Omatikaya clan.
Even though I had been simply wondering around for the past week or two- I still was very careful to remember where I had come from and how to get back (if needed).
A million thoughts raced through my head as I walked- or I suppose you could say jogged back to my clan. The most prominent one being- my family is in danger, but it was accompanied by a million unwanted ones as well.
Would Lo'ak be mad? Of course he would, I've probably put him through hell and back- or he just doesn't care. No, he does- and if he doesn't, well- well then I'll just have to take it and find out when I get back.
What about Neytiri- or Neteyam, everyone else, would they be mad?
I estimated I would be back by tomorrow evening. I hadn't really travelled that far, but the distance seemed longer since I was frolicking and constantly stopping.
I felt horrible. How could I ever do this to Lo'ak? I don't know how he would ever forgive me- and if he didn't love me before, he definitely didn't love me now.
- - -
Lo'ak had fallen into a deep pit of depression.
By now it had been a full week or so- he wasn't counting (the days were now a blur) since Li'laak had left. And at this point, all hopes Lo'ak had of her returning, were now diminished- gone and never to return.
He mostly laid in his bed all day. Not eating, not talking, not sleeping, not training; just drawing mindless patterns into the blankets- pretending it was Li'laak's skin.
All of her stuff was still everywhere- her scent was still everywhere. He couldn't stand it. He hated her for leaving, but he wouldn't- no, he couldn't ever stop loving her.
Everyone would constantly check in on him- coming into his hut at various times of the day, just to be disappointed once again at the same hopeless sight.
Yup, that was him- the big disappointment.
Neytiri would always bring him food, placing it by his bed and rubbing his back- muttering loving words that were unheard by her son. But Lo'ak never even touched the food, he let the wooden plates and bowls pile by his bedside- and eventually- Neytiri stopped bringing him his meals.
By now, he had a lengthy line of freshly healed slices going down his arm- becoming more and more visible by the day. He now did it morning and night, it was the only thing keeping him going.
He would soon be caught, and he knew it- but he didn't care, he didn't care about anything anymore.
He knew he couldn't keep living his life like this- but what even was life now? Without her, without her it was nothing- nothing meant anything, and it never would now.
What even was the point of living without her?
- - -
My calculations had been correct, and I was now standing on the outskirts of my beloved home. I expected myself to be overjoyed with the fact that I was back- but I was frozen, frozen with fear.
What if they all ignored me? What if Lo'ak ignored me? What if I was banished? Is Kxitx still there? I caused all this myself- why did I ever go away in the first place?!
Alright Li'laak, stop with the what ifs and get yourself together. All that mattered was the fact that my family was in danger, so I needed to man up and just get my stupid ass to them.
I took a deep breath, clenching my bow and nodding in determination as I began to march my way towards the center of the village- prepared for the worst.
But I was not met with what I expected.
As soon as I came into view, a little figure started sprinting over to me, screaming my name.
"Li'laak! Li'laak! Li'laak is back! She's back!"
She ran into me, and I hesitantly hugged her. Soon warming up and getting to my knees- smiling as I pressed my cheek against her hair and rubbed the small in her back.
"Tuk, Tuk, Tuk," I muttered,a small smile forming on my face.
"Li'laak!" A deeper voice called out happily. I looked up to see Neteyam jogging over to me- a huge smile on his face and his arms held out wide.
My smiled broadened, and I got to my feet- Tuk now clinging to my waist. Neteyam ran into my arms as well- enveloping me into a warm embrace.
Next came Neytiri, she ran over- immediately pulling me away from her other two children and placing both her hands on my shoulders.
She scanned my body- turning me around once or twice. "Eywa child, are you hurt? Where have you been?" She muttered hysterically.
I placed my hands over hers, reassuring her with a smile, "I am fine Neytiri." She relaxed a bit- and my smiled faded slightly. "I am so sorry for leaving."
Her ears flattened and she tilted her head, "Oh, child. I am so sorry for what happened," she muttered and pulled me into a hug as well.
"Li'laak!" I heard a squeal fast approaching- one that I recognized to be Tsireya's, who soon joined in on the hug I was currently experiencing.
