Chapter Text
He couldnt believe what he just heard.
Lo'ak's jaw dropped.
Kiri shrieked.
Neteyam stared in silence.
Lo'ak looked over at his mother, reading her expression. Her eyes were teary
He repeated.
"We're... moving?.."
Jake nodded.
"What," He mumbled, speechless.
They were 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨. This was decided.
Finally, he spoke. "So you just decided that for us?"
"It's final." Jake exhaled through his nose.
"You can't do this to us! We grew up here. This is everything we've ever known! Our lives, our friends, our memories!"
"Should've thought about that before getting expelled then." he shot back.
"No.." Kiri started. "He did it for me, Dad.. You can't do this to us!" Kiri was always quick to defend Lo'ak even if she mostly kept silent.
"Kiri.. You have to understand, baby girl." Jake ushered her.
"You can't do this to us.. You can't decide that for 𝘶𝘴!"
"Lo'ak, ma'itan" Neytiri called him gently, though looking terriblely guilty herself.
"No! We can't leave everything behind!"
"He's right." Neteyam defended.
"It'll be like a fresh start. Might even find some new friends."
"No.." Lo'ak wispered.
"We're.. moving.." He wispered as if it hadn't processed fully yet. His eyes were wide looking down at the floor. He repeated it, again "We-we're moving." He breathed out. He let out a breath almost sounding like a laugh but not quite fully there. He said the words as a statement that was finalised, not questioning.
"C'mon Lo'ak. You all will get used to it." Jake reassured, suppressing the frustration down.
"So we're gonna move..?" Tuk said hesitantly.
"Yes, ma'ite. You're gonna make new friends" Neytiri said comfortingly, picking up the smaller girl in her arms and reassuring her.
"Where?"
"LA" Jake answered for her, seeing the distraught written on Neytiri's face.
"That's so far.."
"I know baby girl. You might even like it, you'll go to a new school, make some friends. All of you."
Silence.
"Listen, we're leaving in 3 weeks. Maybe even longer. Spend time accepting it and remembering this place, memorise it even. I know you grew up here, but it's final, we're moving."
"3 weeks!??" Lo'ak said, clearly upset at this new information.
"Yes, get used to it. Start packing."
No one said anything. Everyone slowly, one by one filed out.
Lo'ak knew, at this point, his life's gonna change, rapidly.
Part of him wasn't so mad. Maybe in this new place he'll be understood more. People might like him more. Could have a 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵. Could stop hating himself.
Lo'ak was sort of always like this. Ever since he was young. He was a happy kid, nonetheless. Could not stop grinning that crooked smile or laughing like what Neteyam said was the funniest thing ever. Had alot of comfort then too. Wish he'd savour it. Though, he likes not being coddled or being interrogated if he's okay. He craves the attention, yet freezes when someone truly talks to him.
He has it right next to him, could ask for it anytime, though chooses not to.
But he still gets it, wanted or not. His siblings are always there for him. Always annoying him.Though he knows he's not alone. He has his siblings. Always there to reassure him, help him when he falls. He won't ever admit it, or he might, he doesn't even know his own personality, but he couldn't live without them.