Avatar the Way of Water (My Version)

Having Fun Together

The next morning, the twins were sitting on a palm tree at their viewpoint in front of the sea. Their reunion with their dad was not what they had expected. Instantly the moment they came back, he had lashed out at them for going beyond the reef even though Sylwa was clearly the victim of abandonment and Lo'ak was only trying to save her.

"You saved my life. And you haven't been given any credit for it," Sylwa felt like Lo'ak was never appreciated for anything he tried to do; it seemed as if no matter what he did, he would always be overshadowed by Neteyam.

"That doesn't matter to me," he tried to assure her, but a part of him felt hurt that their dad didn't give him any appreciation for what he had done. Yes, sometimes he was reckless. But that didn't mean he wasn't doing it for a good cause. Since the sky people's return, he felt that no matter what he did, it would never be good or perfect enough for Jake.

She reached over and clutched his hand, facially expressing her deep love and appreciation for him. And he smiled. At least she, Tsu'tey, Payaka, and Atuiko believed he was so brave.

They heard footsteps. "Children..." Their mother. They didn't turn to her.

"Mum. I know what I did was reckless and irresponsible but...I just...I'd never forgive myself if something happened to her out there," Lo'ak didn't want to fail her. "Not like last time,"

Neytiri clearly understood how much Sylwa nearly getting killed in the forest fire a year ago had made her youngest son feel so guilty that he'd do anything for her. "I'm proud of what you did,"

"Well, Dad isn't," scoffed the grumpy teen.

"He is proud. He was just really petrified. He really is glad that you're both back. He was worried sick as I was," her words did little to appease them. "Look..." she moved to sit with them. "...he's hard on you both because..."

"Because he doesn't understand us," bemoaned Sylwa. "He doesn't even try to,"

"Because...he was you two," her words intrigued them. "Always being rash and getting himself into all sorts of danger. The day I first met him, he was stupid to go into the forest alone by himself. I had to rescue him from a group of Viperwolves. I admired his bravery but I found him stupid at first,"

"How come he never told us that about him?" Lo'ak asked; surprised to hear this. All the time growing up, they had always known their dad to be a genuine hero. And quite recently a bit of a strict one.

"Because he wants you both to be better people. He's just trying to set a good example so you two can grow up and not make the same mistakes he did,"

"But does that mean he has to be so strict? Why can't he just be like he was before all this happened? Before the sky people came back and our happy forest life was all ruined?" Sylwa's cheek fell on her hand; to her, their dad was not exactly the same dad who had rescued her before. "Why can't he just be our dad again?"

"Hard times made hard people," their mother tried to downplay their domineering dad's nature but to little avail.

"We didn't ask to have to leave the only home we've ever known. We didn't ask to get bullied or mocked or mistreated by these people for looking more...alien," Lo'ak said, holding up his hand. "We've tried everywhere we can to fit in. But no matter what we do..." he huffed, not needing, or even wanting to finish. "I just wish he'd see us for who we are,"

"He does try to understand you," she rubbed his back.

"Then why doesn't he appreciate anything Lo'ak tries to do or listen to me?" Sylwa asked, wanting to ask that question for a long time.

"It proves that he loves you both,"

The twins just turned away; nothing their mother said made sense. "Twins, look at me," she begged. They turned to her. "Since the sky people have returned, our lives became in danger. And as a father, he has made a lot of sacrifices for you two and your siblings. And now that the daemon whom he betrayed is back, things are more serious than ever. He's twisted by fear. He just hasn't been in his right mind. But he has done everything he can to keep us all safe. That's the reason we came here. And with everything that we've had to adapt to do and tolerate, anything could happen. Just like you both being caught up in that storm. He'd rather be hard on you two than lose you," her words cannily touched their hearts. "Family is the most important thing. And like he always says, 'Sullys stick together'. This family wouldn't be who they are without him; without him, we wouldn't even be here right now. You both are just like him; he just doesn't see it yet. He will. You both just need to be patient,"