Avatar The Way Of Water [Oneshot Stories]

𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘺.

neteyam and lo'ak sat separatly in their rooms, neteyam lay on his bed scrolling on his phone consuming whatever media he could find to take his mind off the fight him and jake has the previous night, they fought quite regularly-well im not sure if you can even call it fighting since neteyam didnt like talking back. hed just sit there with his head down  trying not to sobs as his stomach twisted whilest jake yelled-not to mention most of the time it wasnt even his fault. it was simply his just taking the blame for his younger siblings-mostly lo'ak.  neteyam wanted nthing more to be seen to feel seen especialy by his father, his father was his biggest role model and he always tried his best to make him proud, eber since he was a little boy. he would always find a way to try and impress him, weather it was getting good grades, cleaning the house, cooking for the family or looking after his siblings. hed always try his hardest for his father, but after all was said and done, he still never felt truly seen, truly apreaceated. but he wouldnt stp there. he;d keep trying, all nighters working on school, over working himself and giving up all his free time practicly being his siblings bodygaureds. it felt like jake still didnt see him,  by the end of each day hed be left feeling burn out and tired, but still not seen. it felt like nothing he did was ever good enough for his father. he wanted nothing more but for his dad to be proud of him. his eyes remaind glued to his screen, where a silly cat video was playing. but he wasnt really paying atention. his mind was somewhere else. and before he knew it a stream of tears stained his saphire cheeks. "why ami crying? i cant be crying? whats wrong with me?" the desparation settled in with the realisation, a wave of disguist washed over him. he had to be strong, he couldnt be crying, he wasnt weak, he was a warrior. he sat up franticly wiping at his face to get rid of the streem of tears..when suddenly..a notification poped up..it was a text,  he looked down at his phone screen, and sure enough there was a text from the       

  '꧁•⊹٭𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚢𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 !٭⊹•꧂' group chat.  tuk named it and neteyam smiled a little everytime he saw it. it was cute. the text was from jake and if read 'meet me at the treehouse boys.' neteyams tummy flipped a little as he read it. were he and lo'ak in trouble again? what did lo'ak do this time? he sighed heading to the bathroom to wash his face.                    once finished he opend his bedroom door and immedietly saw lo'ak in the hall. "hey bro" lo'ak's face was twisted with a look of anciety. "wha'td you do now baby brother?" neteyam sighs ruffeling up lo'aks hair. "nothing i swaer!" lo'ak shoved neteyam a nervous chuckle leaving his lips. "whatever you say baby bro..lets go" the walk to to the treehut was long and tense. the silince rang through the empty halls of the house as the angsiety built up in both of them.
they enterd the garden closing the door behind them, neteyams eyes wonderd around in awe. he had lived here all his life buy yet every time he enterd the garden it left him mesmerized it was just so beautiful.  the way the trees formed a perfect canopy, the vines growing around the trunks, and most iportantly the tree house, it just all reminded him of his childhood, a simplier time, when they would all play together for hours. and all the strories his parents told them in that tree house, all hudled 'up together gigling uncontrolably, everything was so simple then.

neteyam snapped back to reality when he heard a loud voice. "that was fast" he turns to face a smiley jake perched on one of the low hanging tree branches "come." he pats the empy spots next to him. neteyams heartbeat increases and a naouses feeling washes over him sending chills all over his body, he hasnt seen his dad like this in a while..and the soft expresseion on his face looks..almost nauseating . 

"yes sir.." lo'ak and neteyam sat next to their father, the whole garden in their view. it was strangely calming, nothing could be heard other then the crickets and birds., the could summer breeze blowing against the trees as the sun set. neteyams nerves begin to settle at the sight, the disappearing sun painting the sky a purple orange and the silhouette of sparrows soaring through the skies. "so why'd you call us, dad?" lo'aks voice was barely a whisper as she slightly shivered at the breeze. "i wanted to speak with you, my sons." jakes hands make their way to lo'ak and neteyams shoulders, squeezing them tight. 

"im very proud of you two, okay?" neteyam couldn't comphrehend what he was hearing, *proud*? his father was proud? "and im sorry for yestarday, and everyday before that...i love you both and im very proud of you." he turned facing his oldest son "espesially you, my mighty warrior" he planted a small kiss on neteyams forhead. "and you, lo'ak..im proud of you okay? and im sorry for ever making you feel like an outcast and like you weren't enough." 

tears welled up in both boys eyes at their fathers words, "thankyou dad" neteyam leaned into his fathers shoulder. jake held both of them close as he stoked their hair, his eyes remained glued on the view in front of them. "im very sorry my baby boys, i promise to be better from now on, okay?" "its okay dad , really." lo'ak smiled sweetly at his father, he didn't want him to feel guilty. in a way he understood why he was harsh on them, he knew he hadn't been the best son-or brother for a matter of fact, and he couldn't imagine how frustrating it would be to be responsible for him. jake laid down on the woven floor of the tree hut, pulling his sons down to lay with him. neteyam snuggled up on his dads chest and lo'ak curled up beside him.

a soft purring sound emitted from the boys chests as they cuddled with their father, jake's heart warmed at the sight, he hadn't realised how much his missed  being close with his sons. "wow..i haven't heard you two purr in ages" his voice remains soft as his breathing slowed, he hadn't realised how much he really needed this. neteyam felt so comforted in that moment, his eyes grew heavy as he squirmed to find a comfortable spot on his father. in that moment he felt truly seen. it felt like something he'd been searching for his entire life, a true feeling of comfort and worth.

"𝑰 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒔."

september, 20, 2023