Avatar 1 time period. Pre-Pandora Jake has his vivid dreams, and flashbacks to his time on the war front. On Pandora, both grow worse and more intrusive on his life. He can't sleep a single night without a vivid nightmare of people and trees burning. He catalogs it in his video diary due to Max's insistence that mental health is vital data. What Jake wasn't ready for was Grace approaching him about it. oddly interested in details of the dreams and hallucinations. Even demanding he try drawing out some of it despite his protests of 'don't want to' & 'I can't draw.' Jake is outright pissed when he finds out Grace shared that info with others. Especially when Quaritch catches wind of it. He's ashamed that they affect him so much. Pissed that they won't stop. Miserable due to the contents.

Once he drives his Avatar, it seems okay at first. Better. only a slight whisper that shouldn't be there. Or a glimpse in the corner of his eyes. Nothing like the sight of massive faces filling rooms, coated in burning blood and lacking skin.

Then Grace stands beside him, confused as he points out a Na'vi hunter watching them. Jake think she's dense, or half blind. Maybe even fucking with him. Then that hunter gets closer, and Jake realizes he's mauled from the ribs down. A walking dead man. Jake can't hold back vomit before he turns away and rushes back to Trudy's Samson.

Hey everyone! So it's been a while, life is insane. But I wanted to tell y'all that I'm getting back in to writing. It's a slow process but I'm excited to show you what I've made! I know on the poll it said that you guys wanted something Avatar but not in the Papa Patel au. While I am working on those this just sprung to mine and I wrote it literally in like one day, lol. But either way I hope you enjoy it!

Banners by: Kodaswrld

“Uncle Max,” Lo’ak’s curious voice rang out from the humming and droning of the usual machines. 

Max was snapped out of his focus by the squaky voice of the young Navi boy. His deep brown eyes moved from the formulas that decorated his screen to the children who were in the lab. 

Today hadn’t been anything exciting, at least by Max’s standards. There were no raids for any resources, no sight of the RDA, and, thankfully, not too much wrangling of children. The kids had decided that today would be a lab day. Much to the annoyance of Neytiri, but Jake couldn't have been happier. As if meant the two would finally get some alone time.  There was already a bet going around with the scientists that Jake would be getting the woman pregnant in the next month at least. If Jake had gone into the Air Force instead of the Marines, his callsign would definitely be Horndog. 

"Yea buddy?"  Max looked towards his semi-adopted nephew, whose gaze seemed fixed upon him. Even at the age of 6, Lo’ak was a tall boy. The top of his head reached up past Max’s shoulder, and soon, he would be getting his growth spurt. The man inwardly wondered how tall the boy would be. He was sprouting up faster than any weed, and it seemed that he soon would be taller than Jake. Oh, Max hoped he was alive to see Jake’s face when that happened. Seeing his friend, have to look up towards his youngest son. 

 Oh…it was gonna be hilarious. 

Kiri was sitting on one of the rails that lined the facility. A tablet was perched on her lap as she was watching videos from Grace. Max's heart always softened when he saw just how enthralled the young girl was when seeing videos of her mother. Seeing just how much Kiri was like Grace always made tears burn in his eyes, and his throat choke up. If only Grace were here, she could see just how amazing her daughter was.  Neteyam wasn't far either. The oldest boy had been fiddling with some twine-like material since he had gotten there. When Max had questioned him hours ago, Neteyam sheepishly admitted that his weaving wasn't that good and that he needed to practice more. The young boy had stated how he thought that the lab would be the best place away from their home, as it was quieter. 

It was an obvious lie, but Max didn't say a word.  He hated that even at such a young age, Neteyam seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. By the great mother herself, Max truly needed to talk to Jake and Neytiri about putting so much pressure on the boy. He was only 7, and if it wasn't for the Navi's grand genetics, Max would bet that the boy would be getting grey hairs already! So whenever the boy came to the lab for some relaxation time, Max never stopped him. He wanted him to be a kid for as long as possible.  The children were born during a war. Giving them the gift of keeping their innocence for as long as possible was the least the man could do. 

The last individual of this quartet was his son, Spider. Who had taken up his favorite spot, the chair right next to Max. At this point, everyone in the lab knew that if there was a seat next to Max when he was working, it was Spider's seat. No matter if it was day or night, Spider always had a seat right next to his papa. It was a subtle way for both of them to show their love. For Max, it was a way to show Spider that no matter when or where, he always had a spot next to Max's side. With Spider, it was a show of how no matter how much he craved the life of the navi, he would always see Max as his father.  It was a love that Max wouldn't trade for the world. 

However, the peace was soon disrupted as Lo'ak asked a very surprising question. 

“If Spider’s dad is Quaritch, and you’re his papa. Does that mean you and Quaritch were married?” 

I wanted to ask if you ever think about how the scientists ever talk to spider about his situation? i imagine a toddler spider wondering why he doesn’t have parents or family (i like to think he thinks of the scientists as family but he notices his family is different from the Sullys)

im craving for more moments with spider’s science family 😭

Dawww, thank you sooo much for the compliment!

Now, to answer your question: To be entirely honest with you, I don't think the scientists ever really talked with Spider by virtue of never having been his family in the first place.

I am so so so so sorry, seriously. And I deffos get why you find the idea of his science family appealing. But I just cannot see it. None of these adults really gave a fuck about him, and that's what makes me so sad and angry for the poor kid. Because I could atleast understand Jake and Neytiri somewhat in their approach- they were clan leaders. Neytiri was deeply traumatised. Spider had to stay near human settlements and resources for his very basic survival, something that was not guaranteed if he stayed with the Sullies full time. Seeing how one odd fall, or one slip of his mask, could mean a painfull death for him.

The scientists have no excuses.

Idk if you have read the avatar comics, but in them we meet Spider's "adoptive" human family. The McCoskers. And those people obviously did not care for and dare I say even mildly abused Spider. You know what the scientists did? Nothing. Nothing at all, despite logic dictating that they should have atleast guessed something being up by sheer proximity. Neither Norm nor Max were worried at all when Spider got captured, they did not speak up for him when he was nearly send back to earth in the same comic line we get to know the McCoskers in, and they did not even care when Spider was outside on Pandora (very dangerous planet even for adults, no matter how well Spider can handle it) most of the day. Many other users on here have already talked about the neglect Spider has gone through, so I will keep it short. But still. He was neglected.

Again I am deeply sorry. But I just cannot see them truly giving a fuck or taking the time to comfort the kid. At most they did the bare minimum out of sheer obligation and feeling bad. Perhaps Norm deigns to explain to the poor child who his father was and how he died, but even then it would probably just end up in Spider feeling even worse for coming from a "demon". Quite frankly said I am suprised this kid has not yet gone apeshit and joined the RDA for real, it's probably what I would have done.

Recom Quaritch yowling at the top of his lungs: I'VE BEEN SUCH A GOOD BOY!!! -_--_- Spider: Mom? did you hear something?

These three teaming up shortly after the Sullys leave for their expedition to the Ash Clan's territory. Idk they accidentally find themselves on Bridgehead or smthng (Max P. stays behind with the Metkayina)