At the Heart of the Family
by: Junsui Chikyuu
April 12, 2006
Since he was very little, Sokka can remember knowing that family is everything. That family will always be there for him and he for them. And though he might not have liked everyone in his family, he had to love them. Because what else was there?
For ages, he watched as Katara shined in the eyes of their parents. He watched as she grew up and became boisterous and opinionated. He watched as she no longer listened to him - or to anyone for that matter. He thought her disgraceful, in some moments, because what good person would put their own needs before the needs of the village? She's so damn selfish, he thought. He watched as she struggled for independence. And he convinced himself he wasn't jealous.
He loved the way that he was entrusted with her well-being when their father left. It made him feel wanted in the midst of being unwanted and left-behind - the only man in the village, someone to protect them, someone for people to look up to. She needed him. He knew she needed him. Whether it be to keep her out of trouble or give her hope or just hold her when she had nightmares, she needed him and he would be there.
It is for this reason that he followed his sister on her insane little quest - followed her and a boy he could neither trust nor stand. He watched the grey-eyed brat as he eyed his sister and had to constantly watch their backs (and fronts and sides) because those two relied too much on their magic... their "blending" or whatever it was called. And that sort of bravery (-idiocy-) and skill got in the way when he was trying to fulfill his role.
He was so focused on protecting her from outside enemies that he never realized the things she could do to herself. Like make "friends" too easily with guys. Especially with guys. Or be too naive (or not naive enough, in his opinion, if the blue-striped wonder's description of the cave was any indication). Or being too forgiving. She was just too trusting. And she wouldn't listen to him when he told her to watch out because all that guy would do was break her heart...
When everything was said and done, she'd made her choice. Was he supposed to feel anything but betrayed? "Sokka! This is my decision! And he makes me happy. You're my brother! Why can't you be happy for me? Don't you love me? Don't you want me to be happy?" But he loved her still through all her selfishness and bad decisions and everything he assured himself he would one day be needed to save her from again. He loved her because she was family and that's what family does. "Katara... I just want what's best for you... Of course I love you..."
Except, sometimes, he hated her.