Still Breathing

Chapter 30. Mr. Rager

"You wanna be one of them?" ~ Kid Cudi

For the last couple weeks that the Sully's had been back with the Omatikaya, Quaritch felt extremely out of place. Everywhere he went, he felt the piercing stares of the Na'vi around him. The only person who actually seemed to like him was Tuk, and he hadn't seen much of her since they arrived since she was spending most of her time with her friends.

Even his own son was avoiding him, spending most of his time with Kiri and Lo'ak as well as giving his human body an occasional rest.

It seemed that only Jake and Tarsem would talk to him, but even then, that was strictly under orders. Quaritch felt lonely, for the first time in his life, he felt lonely.

Seeing the Na'vi running around freely without a care in the world, watching Tuk run around with her friend, watching his son and Kiri slowly becoming closer and closer overtime. Watching Lo'ak and Erica teach Aonung and Tsireya the ways of the forest.

Quaritch wished more than anything he could be a part of it.

As he sat in his empty tent all alone, eating whatever food Mo'at had brought to him that day, the sounds of footsteps approaching his tent caused him to look towards the entrance, focusing intently on it.

He was surprised to see his son in his human form come inside. The two shared a silent nod, not saying a single word as Spider sat down in front of his father with his own food. The two of them shovelling food silently into their mouths.

"Why didn't you tell Jake and Neytiri I saved you?" Spider asked suddenly, catching his father off guard by the unprompted question. It had been almost two months since that happened, why was he bringing it up now?

Quaritch finished chewing his food, clearing his throat before he answered his question. "I knew what she'd do to you if she found out the truth."

Spider didn't say anything after that, he just nodded before going back to eating the rest of his food despite it being the most difficult thing to do outside in his human form. Spider was truly shocked when his father gave up Kiri to save his life, then he lied to continue to keep him safe.

He was truly conflicted. He knew all of the horrible, shitty things his father did. But he cared about him, that had to mean something, right?

"You know, I really do think it's cool that you're gonna help us take down the Sky People." Spider tried to make conversation, hoping that maybe if it was just the two of them his father would tell the truth about why he's helping them. 

"But why are you really helping us?" Quaritch looked at his son, a flash of hurt glossing over his face for a moment. His son really thought he had other motives? Then again, he couldn't blame him. He did some awful, awful things.

"Like I said before, this is your home. I'm not gonna take it away from you." Quaritch answered casually as he finished off his meal, gulping down water to wash away the disgusting after taste that the teylu left.

Spider didn't know what to think or say at that moment. He was so angry at his father, for a lot of different reasons. For destroying this planet, for not thinking rationally when he was just a baby, for killing Neteyam. But there was another part of him, an even louder part of him, that was screaming at him to trust his father, to forgive him.

He was conflicted, he didn't know what to do.

He quickly excused himself, standing up and exiting the tent before Quaritch could say another word. Too many emotions were flurrying around him, he needed to think.