AU: Street Eden

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

People who have known Sokka since he was fifteen, sixteen, or even seventeen have often shared a common hope - that he will, eventually, calm the hell down about his work. Or at least cut down on the questions and excited babbling.

At thirty-four, Sokka is dangling from the roof of one of the two-story buildings in Eden, sitting in a sling constructed entirely of scavenged blankets, replacing a broken bulb in one of the lights they'd long installed on the street. The source of the blood they found on the walls from the beginning was known now and, honestly, they all felt better knowing there was light on the street in the middle of the night.

So.

Dangling Sokka from a roof, replacing a bulb and checking out the wires. Possibly whistling. Though it might be a yowling animal of some sort. As Zuko likes to say, Sokka couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.

Comments

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"I'm a twin."

It's really special, the way that sentence can be filled with so much bitterness and so much love at the same time. Only someone else with a sister could understand it.

"So Mom, and Buffy, and me. OK, I think I get it."

She hunches up a little, and leans towards him.

"Is this cause she's dead?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

A lean toward him is the invitation for that arm back around her shoulders, squeezing her. "Maybe. The new Avatar isn't born until the last one dies. But your mom died after you were born, so, if that's what it is, it's different.

"...is all this making you feel better or worse?"

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"Dunno."

Straight up honesty from Hana means she's feeling pretty shitty, but it's not all bad.

"They started after she died. Loo said they were just nightmares, 'cause she was getting them too, but I'm sure she's not."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"You are?" He tilts his head, trying to catch her gaze. "Why so sure?"

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"'Cause she doesn't get how important they are," is the only thing Hana can say.

"Sokka, I've seen all sorts of toy, but these dreams - they

scare

me."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

If they'll get Hana to openly admit to fear, Sokka has no trouble believing her. It's why he can't hide the worry in his eyes as he looks at her. He also goes back to petting her hair.

"Your mom was special, hon. Anything you got from her can't be bad.

"...she could be pretty scary, though. If that helps."

No? Doesn't help? What if Sokka smiles at her while he says it?

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

Hana slouches down into an accepting slouch and leans against him again.

"This sucks."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Curling his arm further around her shoulders, Sokka sighs and turns toward her, his chin against her hair. "Sure you don't want me to talk to your dad?" he asks quietly. "Dunno what to do about your dreams, other than talk to people about them, and your dad's been fighting longer than I have."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

Hana shrugs, pretending indifference.

"Don't wanna worry him."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka doesn't even try to keep himself from snorting. "Uh huh. You have met Zuko before, right? If there's nothing to actually worry about, he will make up something to worry about. I think he has a rare condition where he can't actually be happy without a hernia."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"So let him worry about Loo exploding from working too hard or Iroh turning into you," Hana protests.

"He doesn't need Mom-stuff."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"Hana, you know your dad loves to talk about your m-- what's wrong with Iroh turning into me? I'm awesome."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

Hana smirks brattishly.

"You remember the flaming boomerang incident?"

It took half the street to put out the resulting inferno.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"As I have never set fire to a bar before," Sokka begins, frowning at her brattish smirk, "that would have been an instance of Iroh not being me."

Luckily, Sokka isn't completely terrible at focusing-- anymore. Which is why he pushes her head back on his shoulder and resumes the petting. It's very soothing. Probably.

"Look, I loved your mom but if you really want to know about her and if she ever had dreams like this, or even if Harth ever did, Zuko's the one to ask."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"'Kay," Hana says sulkily. But it does mean Sokka's won. "If he sets himself on fire, I'm blaming you."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"You say that as if it should surprise me," Sokka replies, smirking at her. He squeezes her shoulder again before taking the ultimate plunge and adding in a kiss to her cheek. "And if you need someone sane to take to later, I'll help you as best I can.

"In finding that sane person."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"Right," Hana says, shying away just too late to avoid the kiss. One might almost say on purpose. "'Cause you never know where one might be hiding around here."

Then she's leaning fully on him, kicking the wall gently.

"Thanks, Uncle Sokka."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

She gets another squeeze for letting him kiss her - any affection given to Hana that doesn't end in getting punched is... well, much like any affection given to Mel that doesn't end in the same. Rare, but nice when you get it.

"Anytime, tiny."