"How will it affect me now that this earliest and strongest of protections is gone?"
Sokka sighed. His sister had wandered off in the extensive grounds of the Fire Lord again. While he was not worried about what she would encounter, he sensed there was something inside her… He didn't want her to be alone if anything happened.
Before he could start after her, however, the Fire Lord himself interrupted him.
"Ah, Sokka. I have been looking for someone to share a good cup of tea with me." Sokka bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Lord Iroh, but Katara's run off into your gardens and I was just leaving to find her…" Iroh half smiled and dipped his chin in acknowledgement of Sokka's unspoken words. Then his smile blurred until it remained only at the corners of his lips, allowing Iroh to retain hope in his countenance while lending gravity to his words.
"How is your sister? I'm afraid I haven't seen her myself for a few days." The underlying tone of Iroh's gentle query caught Sokka's attention. A hard glint settled in his eyes.
"She's doing quite well. She's very strong." The dregs of Iroh's smile disappeared and he frowned. In Sokka's eagerness to protect his sister he had read Iroh's intentions incorrectly. He responded in a conciliatory tone.
"Indeed. No one could dispute it. Her determination and her faith in a young boy saved the world." The roughness of Sokka's indignation was smoothed as he realized his mistake. He could only murmur a small "yes" in reply. "Well, when you find her, bring her back for tea. I'll wait for the two of you." Sokka thanked him before bounding off.
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Sokka found his sister on a stone bench. The search had taken longer than he expected because he had first scouted out every pond, stream, and fountain. He had been sure Katara would seek out water. He was slightly shaken when he discovered he was wrong. He announced his presence by pretending to be angry.
"There you are! I looked everywhere for you!" Katara turned to his voice and Sokka saw her eyes were a little sore. She laughed a little, smiled apologetically. She knew he wasn't really mad but she felt guilty anyway.
"Hey, Sokka. I'm sorry. I guess I'm not used to reporting to you yet." Now it was Sokka who felt guilty. Because of Katara's selflessness, he had been the last to see their father while she had stayed behind in Ba Sing Sei. It all felt so long ago, but Katara would never see their father again. Sokka sat on the bench next to her, put an arm around her shoulders, and squeezed.
"What's the plan, Chief?" Katara meant it as a joke, but the weight of the words pained them both.
"I think it's time to go home."
"Home?" Katara's voice trembled a little.
"We both have plenty to do. After all, you're the first Master Waterbender our tribe has had in a long time. And I—" Sokka cut himself off abruptly. It was too much, at that moment, to mention his duties because he had inherited them. Katara nodded quickly and the moment passed. "But right now, Iroh wants us to have tea with him." Sokka continued. Katara nodded again and stood, brushing herself off.
"That'll be nice. I haven't seen him for a few days." She looked to Sokka for reassurance.
"He's had a lot of meetings and stuff. You know, Fire Lord and all." Katara smiled faintly, then frowned with sudden dread.
"Zuko's not going to be there, is he?" Sokka resisted the urge to wince at her words. They had both become friends with Zuko, but Katara had always understood him better. That was her nature. Ever since the news about their father, however, Katara had avoided him. Sokka knew Zuko didn't know why, and Sokka knew it bothered him. Sokka shook his head.
"Iroh didn't say anything about it, so probably not." Katara nodded, satisfied, as they began walking. Sokka knew she would be okay, knew they would be okay, but for now he would be strong for Katara when she wasn't strong enough for herself.
Note: All quotes at the beginning of the chapters will be from F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night unless otherwise noted.