[Rabbithole: South Pole, midnight-ish the night of Steph and Sokka's arrival]

[not-purple.livejournal.com]

The baby hiccups and starts to sob, and for a moment, Steph isn't sure where they are. The cold that bites down as she struggles sleepily to a sitting position and tries to comfort the baby one-handed while undoing her leathers with the other is her first clue -- South Pole -- and then the softness of the furs beneath them, rather than the rocky floor of the cave they've spent the week in. Southern Water Tribe.

It's late at night, but they're at Sokka's home. More detail than that can wait until her head isn't so muzzy. The toggles on her clothes are about the limit of her ability right now, with a hungry wailing baby tucked in the other arm.

A hungry, wailing Miki.

This is Steph's happy-face again, sleep-deprived or not.

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[not-goingback.livejournal.com]

With his hand still settled over the baby, Sokka groans when the crying starts, and again when Steph moves and he can't feel baby or woman anymore. He blinks slowly, rolling over onto his back to yawn and reach for Miki while Steph fumbles with her clothing, almost by rote. They've been doing this for a week by now, after all, which is why once Miki is settled on his chest with his hands over the tiny body to hold him steady, Sokka-- starts snoring again.

Quieter, though.

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Despite having said she wouldn't let him sleep ... Steph lets him sleep. She manages the fastenings, grimacing at the cold, and tugs sleepily at the pile of furs to get one around her shoulders before reaching for her son again to tuck him inside her tunic and let him latch on.

Crying subsides, and Steph resists the desire to just slide back down into sleep. She shifts around instead to lean against Sokka and stay at least a little bit upright.

Outside, there's soft footsteps, and then a shaft of moonlight as the tent fastening is opened. It's Nata, carrying a spear, obviously on watch.

"Do you need anything?"

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Making a soft sound at the warmth of Steph Contact, Sokka slides his arm over her legs, turning his head to nuzzle her hip.

Nata just looks amused and tries to keep her eyes on Steph.

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Steph manages a bleary-eyed smile for the girl. "Izz fire still going? I'd --" a jaw-cracking yawn. "--kill f'r cup'f tea..."

Nata loses the smile for a second, and then obviously decides it's a joke. "I'll bring you tea right away," she promises, withdrawing quickly.

Steph sighs. She hadn't meant it as an order.

Still ... she can apologise later.

Things To Do On This World: FIND COFFEE. Or some kind of substitute for it.

Freeing a hand from Miki's back, she winds her fingers through Sokka's hair instead, smiling at his nuzzle.

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"Mmmffggh," says Sokka.

But at least he squeezes her knee a little and smirks.

"Already orderin'round the locals?"

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She brushes his hair over his face. "G'back to sleep," she orders, laughing a little. "Or get up'n find my parka."

Because cold.

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Sokka just rolls onto his stomach and curls his arm around her hips, pulling her in tight against him - even if it puts his face against her hip, nearly in her lap. "Tell Miki we Southerner's gotta be speed eaters around here," he mumbles, nuzzling again. "So our moms don't get cold and hold it against us forever."

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She laughs, carefully so as not to jolt Miki. "He'll learn."

"...and I'm gonna borrow some better maternity clothes from your tribe. This one lets in too much air."

But arms around hips and midnight cuddles make it better. And the babysucking happily at her breast ... that makes it better, too. Even bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived she can't not give Miki an enormous dopey smile.

"G'sleep. Still be here in th'morning."

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"Just poke me when you're ready t'sleep again." Sokka yawns, monstrous, before settling down again with closed eyes. "I'll just fall on top of you to keep you warm.

"...put the baby somewhere safe first."

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Steph tugs on his hair affectionately.

"Put the baby down your throat," she threatens softly, laughing, just as Nata steps back in carrying two flasks of steaming tea -- and blinks at them uncertainly.

... Facepalm, Steph. Facepalm.

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"S'a joke, Nata," Sokka calls, muffled from Steph's hip.

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Steph shakes her head, apologetic. "I wouldn't," she reassures the woman, tucking Miki in a little more carefully, a movement he protests with a soft baby-sound. "We're -- warriors. I just have an inappropriate sense of humour."

Nata looks a little relieved, setting one mug on the little table within Steph's reach and eyeing Sokka.

"Does he -- want tea? I thought just in case."

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"Tea?"

One of few things that actually gets Sokka to sit up and blink over at Nata. It's still dark outside, he can see, and that makes him want to bury his head back under the blankets.

But Steph is up. And Nata is watching with that disapproving look that always unnerved him as a kid.

He tries to sit up without groaning and smile his most innocent I'm An Honest Nice Guy smile as he reaches for his tea. "Thanks, Nata."

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Nata scowls at him, but she's relieved by that more than by Steph's look. Spirits are chancy creatures, but Sokka's always Sokka. She passes the tea over and crouches across the tent.

"My pleasure. Is there anything else you want?"

[not-goingback.livejournal.com]

Sokka's reaction to that scowl is a bright, goofy grin - especially if it gets him tea. Curling his hands around the mug, he sits up next to Steph, sliding an arm behind her absently to hold himself up and support her at the same time.

It also lets him lean over and peer at Miki as he enjoys his midnight snack.

"We're good," he says quietly, mindful of the sleepy baby and taking a sip. "You didn't have to get up, Nata, he's woken us up every night since he was born. We're used to it."

[not-purple.livejournal.com]

"I was already awake," Nata says, with a smile. "We keep watches now."

She looks down at Steph and the baby, and grins. "And I remember when mine were this age. Tea is the least I can do."

Steph looks up from Miki and smiles at her gratefully, even as she shifts to snuggle into Sokka's side, taking shameless advantage of that supporting arm.

"Thank you, so much, seriously. It's really nice to be around people again." She'd make some joke about Sokka not being a real person, but she worries they might believe her.

Instead she just leans back against his shoulder, grinning a little as the collar of his furs tickle her neck, and carefully detaches Miki from her left breast to shift him over to the right.

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Usually, Sokka would be very interested in the ritual of Miki's feeding times (specifically the 'bottles' used), but now he's frowning at Nata - thoughtful, not angry. "Have you had trouble here or is it just a precaution, taking watch?"

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"Mostly just a precaution," Nata assures him. "There's little we could do if someone came anyway, save hide; although it's nice to have a warrior back with us."

Steph glances up, as if to suggest that there's two of them, but -- again with the not wanting to upset them.

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"Two," Sokka says for her, sipping his tea again. It's an absent comment, a correction he's had to make many times over the last year. "How do you train? Do you have any weapons besides spears?"

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"Only the same way you trained last year," she reminds him, and then shakes her head. "Sorry -- last year for us. We're a little isolated out here. I'm trying to learn the boomerang, but there's no-one to teach now."

This last she admits a little guiltily.

"I wouldn't," she adds hurriedly, "if there were any men to fight. I don't mean to be taking a man's job. It's just someone needs to protect us."

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Sokka stares at her. His expression is a little unreadable, but if Steph glances over, she'll be able to read it in a second.

He's trying so hard not to laugh.

"I can teach you, if you want. I know some other things, too, if any of the other women want to join. I'm sure Steph will, too, once she's feeling better." This last is said with a glance to Steph, brows raised as he curls his arm more securely around her.

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"Absolutely," Steph agrees, grinning at Sokka's amusement. "I can teach you how to fight like -- well, you're all taller than me, but I can still give you tips on how to fight against bigger opponents without being disadvantaged. And I'm not too bad with a boomerang. Not as good as Socks."

She adjusts Miki a little, giggling at the look of shock on Nata's face.

"I know I look too little to fight, but that's an advantage too."

Nata blinks at her. "No, it's just -- well, you're a woman."

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"...you do remember Katara, don't you, Nata? And I know my grandmother can club a fish better than anyone else in the village."

He smiles crookedly and finishes his tea, setting the mug aside. "If you all are okay with it, if the men are when they get back... it might be time for the Southern Tribe to start changing. Not to match the other nations, but be better than them."

He and Steph have traveled enough to know that it won't be too hard to do that.

[not-purple.livejournal.com]

"That's a different thing to fighting," Nata says, a little shocked still.

Steph gives her a sheepish grin and reaches for her own tea, now that it's cooled enough not to be a risk to Miki.

"What do you mean changing?" Nata asks, before Steph can say anything, though. Her tone is heavy with doubt. "There's not even thirty of us, Sokka, not even when the men return."

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"That doesn't mean you can't learn to defend yourself - you and all the rest of the women. I was fifteen twenty years ago, but for you, Nata, it's only been one." He makes a face, trying not to sigh. "You remember better than I do how awful I was, and I remember perfectly getting my butt kicked by the Fire prince.

"The tribe is small, it's not powerless. Not if we don't let it be."

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Nata looks at them, expression brightening slowly.

"Will you tell Gran-Gran this?"

Because that's where real power in the tribe resides. Everyone knows.

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"Oh, hell yes, I will," Sokka replies with a snort. "I'll tell her while I'm doing all those chores you guys have been neglecting all year! I can't believe there's still a hole in the wall."

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Nata looks sheepish, hugging her fur-wrapped knees. "We've tried to mend it, but we haven't materials for any proper scaffolding, and it's not been a cold enough winter for the ice to re-freeze any further. It's still thin where that damned Fire ship crashed."

Miki makes a happy little burble in Steph's arms. Steph, curled up against Sokka in much the same way, slides down a little and hugs him closer. "'s Zuko's ship, wasn't it?" she asks, sleepily trying to keep track of the conversation.

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Muttering an affirmative quietly to Steph, Sokka figures it's probably best to wait to go into that story further. Nata wouldn't understand the fond tone Sokka would use and, honestly, he doesn't want to explain it.

On the other hand, bringing up Zuko reminds Sokka that he very much so has access to stronger materials than ice. He'll just have to send word to the Fire Lord in the morning - or just bypass him and go straight to the Crown Prince.

"It's okay, Nata, I was just kidding," he assures her, smile turning fond when he glances down at a sinking Steph. "We should get back to sleep. You should, too, if your watch is up soon."

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"Have to burp him or he'll cry again," Steph mumbles, and drags her eyes open again to peek into his nappy while she's reminded of it. There's so much to keep track of. She figures she'll learn, though.

"I can look after him if you need to sleep," Nata suggests, getting back to her feet. "My watch isn't over till Sangok's hidden behind the peaks there."

Steph makes a 'buh' sort of face until she realises the woman is talking about a star, tucking her breasts back in but not making any move to give Miki up. "'s okay. Socks needs the practice."

(That's blatantly untrue; Sokka has a lot more experience with newborns than Steph. But she's not giving the baby to anyone else, just yet.)

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Smirking at Steph, amused, Sokka reaches over to carefully take Miki into his arms. "Do not. Thank you for the tea, Nata."

The second the woman leaves, he's planning on collapsing back into the furs.

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He might be beaten to it by Steph, as soon as she's baby-free and all tucked back in and hooded again. "'s freezing," she complains sleepily, wrapping her arms around herself and flopping back.

But she waits until Nata's left to say it.

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Sokka grins as he slides back down again, settling Miki against his chest, hands over his back to keep him steady. "Told you it would be," he replies, punctuated by a monstrous yawn. It's certainly colder than he remembers, colder than the North was. He's trying to remember how he lived here for fifteen years.

He's definitely insulating the hut better later.

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It's much colder than Gotham ever was, that's for sure. And they've been in the Fire Nation's summer for months now; it's a shock to both of them.

Steph pulls a couple of layers of fur over both of their heads, and wriggles around until she can put her face near to Miki's on Sokka's chest and keep his tiny nose warmed by her breath. Of course, this means he'll spit up over both of them, but that's okay. She's getting used to smelling like baby.

(She loves it.)

"I like your people," she mumbles, putting hands up to make sure Sokka's ears are warm too. "Nice."

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Sokka's got his hood up - which only means he's even more amused when Steph's hands cover his ears. "You're gonna wake up all sore if you try and sleep like that," he cautions her, grinning a little even as his eyes close. "They're good... I hope they'll let me fix stuff, though, really fix it. I know Iroh'll send me iron and maybe one of those electric lamps they've been using..."

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"Better me wake up sore'n Miki wake up without a nose." She shifts around a little bit, brushing fingers over his face before settling back with one hand patting circles on Miki's back, in a slightly less awkwardly-curled position.

The baby thinks this is great, and wants to wake up and play, judging by his hiccupy gurgling and the happy baby burps he lets out under their hands.

"...you, my son, are gonna hafta get used t'being burped in bed," Steph informs him firmly. After all, the alternative is getting up and walking with him, and that is so not an appealing thought right now. "An' sleeping when daddy'n'mum sleep."

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Chuckling, Sokka curls a hand carefully over Miki's hair, trying to soothe his soon back to sleep. "You'll get used t'the cold, Steph, promise. Go back t'sleep, I'll clean him up."

And he will - once he finishes struggling to sit up.

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But Sokka's more tired than she is, Steph starts to say.

... on the other hand, it's been a week, and already she's losing the urge to protest when offered help. Pride is a distant memory when neither of them gets more than three hours of sleep at any one time.

"...can walk w'you," she offers anyway, gathering the baby into her own arms while Sokka sits, smiling when his uncoordinated waving hand bumps into her nose and he blinks wide blue eyes in surprise. "Don' need sleep 'smuch." The little open baby-mouth gets a kiss before she has to give him back to his dad.

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"Shut up. Go to sleep." Sokka leans down to take Miki and kisses Steph on the way. "And don't be dumb. I'll be back in a few minutes." Holding Miki carefully at his chest while he pulls his boots on, Sokka's hood is up a moment later as he pulls Miki's up, too. A little rag goes on his shoulder, over the same one Miki is bouncing, and he heads out into the cold to walk a bit, patting his son's back.

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She really does mean to get up and walk with him. .... just she's going to shut her eyes for a moment longer first. And another. And ...

He will find her soundly asleep in his spot when he gets back.


Outside, Issa and Nata are talking quietly by the break in the wall, and the bright Sangok is hovering over the peak of the icebergs -- it's obviously change of watch time. The moon's high and bright enough for the little village to be lit silver-bright. Miki watches it all with big eyes and little burring gurgly noises as his dad bounces him.

Issa smiles and waves.

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Either Miki is tiny or Sokka's hands are big - either way, he's grateful that he can settle a hand over his son's back and hold him steady enough to wave back at Issa, smiling. He doesn't walk toward the women, though, letting them have their time alone.

Besides... he's in the middle of his village and the stars are out.

"When I was little," he whispers to Miki, grinning a little when the baby gurgles again, "my dad used to tell the same stories over and over again. Really long, rambling stories about the stars and stuff I basically already knew, he was just talking.

"If you're lucky, maybe I'll do the same for you."

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Miki's eyes still don't focus on much that's not close by, but his Dad's nose is an object of fascination, and worthy of a happy hiccup.

Perhaps this is a sign he would like Daddy to continue.

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Or a sign that Sokka's nose is fasinating. He's kind of amused either way.

"Okay, lemme think... I'm tired and your mom's gonna whine if we don't come back soon... I'll tell you about Sangok and the fire princess." After all, the star is right in front of his face and that story was always one of Katara's favorites.

"Did you know the princess actually had a name? The Fire Nation calls it Princess Naupaka and the Water fisherman. Well, Naupaka and Sangok lived a long, long time ago, when Water and Fire people could live near each other without death and destruction and doom. And one day..."

Ten minutes later, Sokka is entering the hut again, as quiet as possible. After all, Miki is asleep in his arms and who knows how long that will last.

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One of Steph's eyes flickers as the shaft of moonlight from the opening falls over her face, but when it's just Sokka she shuts her eyes again and mumbles something incoherent.

It probably translates as It's bloody cold in here without you, not-yet-but-soon!-husband, get your ass into bed.

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Grinning at the supposed translation, Sokka kicks his boots off, slips into the furs, and ignores Steph's whine when cold leather meets her skin.

She won't remember in the morning, anyway, and so long as he doesn't get smacked, it really doesn't matter.