alien; lo'ak

⥤ Chapter Sixteen : Together ⥢

⥤ Chapter Sixteen : Together ⥢

Lo'ak and (Y/N) swim by themselves. He watches her, admiring her, as she looks for seashells.

Even after becoming full Na'vi, she still develops sea features the longer she's in the water.

After finding shells, she gives herself time to dry off. Lo'ak helps her pick the best shell from the collection.

"Why are we doing this again?" He asks, not really caring why. He's enjoying being with her regardless.

He feels so close to her, he almost forgot about the Avatar situation when she had her seizure. He worries for her regardless, and hasn't left her side since that happened.

"It's for something I made," (Y/N) shakes it off.

When he finally picks a shell, she pokes a hole through it. She takes off the necklace she made in the lab, and adds the seashell to it. She has something representing everything important to her: Lo'ak, Neteyam, Kiri, Tuk, Jake and Neytiri, Spider, and now one for her full transition.

Lo'ak notices the arrowhead on her necklace, smiling at how she's come to keep it.

She puts the necklace back on, feeling happy at how it's complete.

Then, the sound of a horn blows. Lo'ak and (Y/N) are calm though, seeing the Metkayina clan celebrate this sound.

Joining the Sully family back in the hut, (Y/N) and Lo'ak watch as the reef people dive into the water.

"What's going on?" Tuk asks.

Tsireya pops out of the water, motioning for her friends to join. "The Tulkun have returned."

Tuk excitedly jumps in, Tsireya keeping her close. Neteyam and Kiri jump in, the brother protective over his sister since her seizure.

Tulkun swim and jump out of the water. They all dance beneath the surface, and reunite with their brother and sister Na'vi.

Lo'ak and (Y/N) recognize the animals, then look to each other to remember Payakan.

The two teens sneak off together, going to see their friend.

-

They dive and swim with Payakan, the teens having knowledge of his legend with the Metkayina.

According to Tsireya, Payakan is outcast for killing.

The teens tread water, their ocean friend floating in front of them.

"Why are you outcast?" Lo'ak signs to the creature, while also asking aloud.

Payakan's eye looks to both of them, almost hesitating to tell his story.

(Y/N) signs, "We are outcast too." She holds Lo'ak's hand, holding up both of their five-fingered hands. He gets butterflies at her holding his hand.

The creature makes a noise, having made a decision. He dives down, the teens following him under.

They watch him swim to turn around. Then, he opens his mouth wide, swallowing the teens.

Startled, Lo'ak and (Y/N) grab hands. Their fingers intertwine perfectly.

Once inside the tulkun's mouth, the skin on the inside begins to glow. All of the dots connect to one thing in the middle of Payakan: his queue.

Lo'ak swims to it, leaving (Y/N) to tread water. She watches as he connects to the creature.

From an outside perspective, it is a quick process. Lo'ak opens his eyes, and disconnects his queue. He motions for (Y/N) to come.

She swims over, nervous. But she trusts Lo'ak, and she trusts Payakan. She connect her queue.

Payakan shows her memories. Tulkun escape ships from Skypeople. Floating red buoys keep tulkun still, as they are killed. Blood pours into the water, from both tulkun and Metkayina, as the Na'vi join in their fight for freedom. Payakan loses his mother in the process, as well as his fin.

(Y/N) disconnects, having understood Payakan.

Her and Lo'ak mount the creature's fin. Lo'ak pets him, "I'm so sorry..." (Y/N) pets him too, this time Lo'ak reaching over to hold her hand on Payakan. She smiles, butterflies in her stomach.

She looks to Payakan and signs, "Together." She means that her and Lo'ak will always have his back, and that he shall no longer feel like an outcast with them.