bound - avatar oc x oc

part 38

"Dad! Dad, help! It's Neteyam!" Lo'ak screamed, his voice cracking as Neteyam's gasps echoed in his ears.

Jake sprinted over the rocks, his ears pinned flat and eyes wide with fear. "Oh no..." he muttered as he reached toward them.

"It's Neteyam! He's hurt, hurry please!" Lo'ak yelled, desperation thick in his voice as Jake helped pull them up.

"Bro, watch his head. Watch his head," he said to Spider as they carefully lifted Neteyam over the rocks. His gasps grew louder as they laid him gently onto the ground.

Jake quickly assessed the wound, his eyes following the blood trickling from his son's chest. He carefully lifted Neteyam's shoulder, turning his body—only to see the bullet had passed straight through.

"Oh no..." he muttered again, gently lowering his son back down, dread settling deep in his chest.

"Dad, I—" Neteyam tried, each breath a struggle.

"It's okay. I'm here," Jake said, his voice soft but trembling. The sound of an Ikran overhead pulled at their attention.

Neytiri landed roughly, sprinting toward her son. "No, no, no, no..." she murmured under her breath, eyes locked on the blood and the wound Lo'ak was trying to compress.

Jake knelt beside Neteyam, stroking his cheek. "It's okay, I'm here. It's okay, son. I gotcha."

Neteyam's eyes turned to his mother. "I want to go home," he gasped, each breath harder than the last.

"I know, I know. It's okay. We're going home. We are going home," Jake said, voice cracking as he cradled his son's cheek.

With one last breath—"Dad, I—" The gasping stopped. Everything stopped.

Neytiri stared as his pupils dilated and the final breath left his chest. Disbelief settled over her like a fog. "Neteyam," she whispered, her hand clutching his tightly.

Jake closed his eyes and bowed his head, his ears flat with grief. Neytiri, now frantic, leaned over their son, shaking him, unwilling to believe what had just happened.

"No, no, no, no. Neteyam!" she screamed as the truth hit her. Jake reached out, trying to steady her as she clutched her son's face.

"Oh, Great Mother. No, Great Mother. Please," she sobbed, rocking his body. "Oh my son. My son." Her wailing filled the air as those around them bowed their heads, tears streaming down their faces. Lo'ak's hands trembled, still stained with his brother's blood.

"My son! No! No!"

Jake stared blankly, completely dissociated—until the voice crackled through his earpiece.

"Can you hear me, Corporal?"

His stomach dropped. Neytiri's cries became distant as the voice consumed his focus.

"Yeah, yeah, I think you can. I got your daughters. Same deal as before. You for them."

Jake's head turned sharply toward the ship, his tail lashing in rage. He had just lost a son—and now, his daughters were being held hostage.

He turned to his remaining son.

"Where are your sisters?"

Lo'ak looked up, guilt and sorrow flooding his eyes.

"Your sisters. Where are they?" Jake asked again, his voice rising with fear and fury.

"Akaia, she is on the ship. The others..." Lo'ak faltered. "The others, I don't know."

Jake's eyes narrowed. "What about Kiri and Tuk? Where are they?!"

"They're on the ship," Tsireya answered before he could lash out again. "They are tied up on the ship."