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.

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[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Reaching up, Sokka catches hold of her dangling hand and shakes his head. "No, honey, you didn't do anything. She's just having a hard time right now and is taking it out on you. I know it sucks but she isn't trying to hurt you."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"So much for twins being close," she says, squeezing Sokka's hand tightly. "I'm worried, Sokka. Is she OK?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Laughing a little, Sokka tilts his head as he looks at her. "You're as close as any other siblings, I promise. And she's fine, just confused about some things. I'm hoping she actually did go find your dad and wasn't just saying that to get me off her back."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

Louise slumps a little, clearly at a loss to what this might be. Then her eyes snap open wide.

"She's not pregnant, is she?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

He'd been just about to release her hand and go back to work but that question has Sokka's chin lifted sharply so he can stare at Louise in something close to, but not quite, horror. "No! Of course not!

"...she's slept with someone?"

At the most, he's hoping that it's only been ONE someone.

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"I don't know!" Louise blurts out defensively. "I... OK, probably not. But still, what's so big that it's go-and-talk-to-Dad time?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Slumping in his sling again, this time in relief, Sokka looks at his oldest niece for a long moment before speaking.

"...remember when you got your first moon and after crying about it for a week, came and told me? Do you know how many times I had to fight with Hana about why I wouldn't tell her what was going on with you?"

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"Hana has

not

just started," Louise snaps back. "I know that, at least."

Yeah, she's not getting it.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

No, she's not. This is when Sokka reflects on just how useful growing up with Katara was.

"No, but I bet you would've lit me on fire on the spot if I'd just told her what was bothering you the first time she asked."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

Louise pouts at him again, then slumps in concession.

"You promise she's OK?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"If she needed you," Sokka begins, squeezing her hand and slumping himself to catch her gaze, "I would tell you in a heartbeat. And bring the rope to help you secure her for the following intervention."

'Cause he's just that good of an uncle.

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"You'd better," Loo says, grudgingly letting the subject go, "'cause I just whipped Dad's ass at twin swords."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka stares.

And blinks.

And releases Louise's hand to grab onto his sling and lean waaaaaaaaaay back to peer down the street. "Shit. You think I can warn her from here?"

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"Hey," she snaps playfully. "Cut me some slack, you know she'd just cut me down without even trying."

Bitter? A little.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Only a little?

There's a pause for Sokka to blink and he's straightening to eyeball her a little back. "...Okay, see, I was more worried about how your dad would be feeling after his daughter kicked his ass. But now that you've opened the door to the Insecurity Room, you wanna move on to that?"

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"Oh."

Now doesn't Loo feel stupid?

"S'nothing, really. It's just... I try so rutting hard and I'm down there every day and she does nothing and you know he's going to forgive her because she already knows all the moves and toy."

She rubs the back of her neck. "I know she can't help being so good at everything, but it's annoying."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

He smiles but there's no humor in Sokka's expression. It takes a moment, and it's the second time in less than an hour, but he scrambles up onto the roof and has an arm around a niece's shoulders shortly. "Yeah, I know. But you know he'll be mad at her for not being responsible about her training, even if she is good at it."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

Except she has this big angst, and oh god, Loo feels shit for begrudging her sister angst, of all things.

"I'm a bad person for being so sulky about it, aren't I?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"Hope not, 'cause that'd mean I'm the worst person ever with how I felt about my sister growing up." Shaking her a little to try and coax a smile from her, Sokka tugs her ponytail gently. "You try hard and she doesn't but she's still good at it. You've got a right to be sulky about it, but you can't blame her for having talent at it, even if you want to. Besides, you're a better Firebender, huh? Sure, she can tear you apart at close range, but it's hard to jump across a few rooftoofs when you're a human-sized fireball."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he gets a smile for that, and a nudge in the arm.

"Yeeeeah," Louise admits. "You know I just got my ass handed to me by a Firebending ten-year old?"

This time there isn't a trace of bitterness.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

It makes it easier for Sokka to grin widely with pride when there's no bitterness. "Well, Iroh's just a genius. I've seen him train with your dad - he has an easier time of it than he did with engineering, and you've seen what he can do with that."

He kicks her leg for that nudge. "You're the best Firebender of you three, just doesnt seem like it since you're all so tied close to each other. But... you know, your dad isn't just teaching you fighting or else he wouldn't get upset when Hana ditches. He's not even teaching theory, and I know Iroh's got a memory for it. He's teaching responsibility and care which, let's face it, Hana's low on and Iroh bounces around with but you, you, my oldest and dearest niece, are rolling in it. It's a good thing."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

"Oh great, responsibility."

It's really hard to sulk when your favourite uncle just called you his favourite neice. Especially when he's got a harder choice of it than you have.

"I'm gonna grow up to be humourless as Dad, aren't I?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"I'm trying my best but you've slowly started to succumb to his evil and think all my jokes aren't funny," Sokka replies, pouting at her. "And don't whine about responsibility - it means you'll see stuff through, take care of the people around you. Having that natural ability to get people to trust you? Good thing." Lifting a hand, Sokka looks at her sternly and points a finger at her.

"Use your powers only for good, young Louise."

[fire-frays.livejournal.com]

Louise laughs and pushes hie finger away, trying her best to pout and failing.

"'Course I will," she says, trying to sound innocent. "Trust me."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

He smiles and there's never been anything more genuine, his arm settling around her shoulders and he knows she'll let him give her cheek a kiss without a fight.

"Always will."