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The years on Pandora flowed by like the waters of a river. And like erosion reshaping the riverbank, Jake had changed.
Gradually, step by step, and sometimes frustratingly slowly. But he had changed in step with the clan.
There were times when this change accelerated. Like the first time Neytiri revealed the changes in his body. That day, he learned that even the woman who had taught him everything still had much to learn.
Learning about parenthood with her was one of the most beautiful experiences of Jake's life.
Neteyam was born and grew up like an enthusiastic young shoot. And Jake saw him as Neytiri's twin and was grateful to Eywa for that.
At the time, he simply thought he was happy that his firstborn resembled Neytiri. Eywa knows that if he can make his children resemble half of his soul, he will.
No, it was much later that he understood the reason for his thoughts.
Jake was never a man in touch with his emotions. Life on Earth no longer really encourages openness about one's feelings. They were more the type to tell you to stop complaining and that everyone has problems.
But it's when Lo'ak is old enough to socialize with other children that he understands. He sees the other children curiously touching his hands, the elders of the clan whispering about his resemblance to Toruk Makto. A blessing for some and a curse for others.
Jake knows what it's like to be different, apart from others. It's something that has followed him since his first body, since the day he woke up in the hospital and a doctor coldly told him he was disabled.
Even now, in a new body, he is betrayed. By his title of Toruk tamer, his role as clan leader, his facial features, and his five fingers.
He realizes that this is why he was grateful that Netayam was so similar to his mother. You look at him and see nothing but a Na'vi.
This is what Jake wants for his children. Escaped from the curse that humanity had been for him.
And for a long time, that had been his mind. Neteyam, son of Neytiri, and Lo'ak, son of Jake.
Time passes, and their family grows again. Kiri joins them, Spider struggles to find his place among them, and his boys continue to grow.
One day, Neytiri approached him after putting the children to bed.
-“Jake, our son. I’m starting to worry about his fangs; they still haven’t shown.” She said softly.
Jake turned to her, confused. He was sure he’d seen Lo’ak’s fangs before. The boy had shown them when he and Kiri were arguing.
Neytiri, who had undoubtedly noticed her husband’s confusion, added,
-“Neteyam, Ma Jake.”
But this only plunged him into further confusion.
-“Neteyam is a calm boy. He certainly hasn’t felt the need to show his fangs.”
Neytiri stared at her husband for a moment, sensing the tension etched on his face and suspecting it wasn’t just worry.
-“I’ll take him to my mother, Tsahik, tomorrow.”
Jake nods and forces a smile.
;"Well, if you're still worried, I could ask Norm to give him a scan."
In the end, they don't need a scan. Mo'at only has to glance at his grandson's teeth to see that they aren't the same shape as Lo'ak's. The space where his fangs should be, in front of the canines, is empty.
Jake freezes for a long time when Mo'at tells him this. He can feel Neytiri's worried gaze.
-"Will this affect his life, Tsahik?" Jake asks respectfully.
Mo'at looks at him with that look. That look that makes Jake feel like Mo'at knows exactly what's going through his mind.
-“His lack of fangs will influence his life as much as his brother’s and his sister Olo’eyktan’s hands.”
Neytiri nods beside him. And Jake thanks Eywa again for his wife’s kind gaze. This information changes nothing for her. He wishes it would for him as well.
But life goes on, and Jake realizes it really isn’t that important. It’s not as noticeable as the five fingers. And Neteyam is a calm enough boy that people don’t ask questions.
Sometimes Jake thinks it’s ironic that his eldest son, so like his mother, has such a composed personality compared to Lo’ak and Kiri. Mo’at had told him some of Neytiri’s childhood adventures, revealing that she was a very energetic little girl.
-“I conclude that Neteyam inherited that from you, Toruk Makto,” the eldest had told him.
He denied it. No, Lo’ak is just like him. More and more so with each passing day. Neteyam, his Neytiri’s son, couldn’t possibly have inherited his traits. Maybe from Tommy, but not from him. His teeth don’t matter.
After Tuk’s birth, he tries to stop thinking about it. To stop having this insane fear that haunts him.
Lo’ak will make it. No matter how impulsive he is. Jake will make sure his son makes it. Neteyam is with him, Neytiri, Kiri, and now little Tuk is with him.
His sons will make it. They are Na’vi, not human. No matter what ghosts they carry on their bodies.