Modern!AU Sukka. This will be a series of related vignettes for Sukka Week 2013. It's already Monday, and I'm from the eastern part of the globe so I think I'll be posting it a day earlier than the designated date. Ah well!

Day 1: Dreaming

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. If I did, LoK will be swimming in Sukka spawn.

dreaming - [verb]; a series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep

He would never admit it, but he was as much of a dreamer like his little sister. He supposes it came from their rather poor background, this habit of wishful thinking and hoping; along with life blessing him with family and friends that supported (sometimes) and shot down (mostly) his "creative" ideas, and his good old friend The Universe, who made it its mission to perpetually rain on his parade.

At just 24 years old, he is currently living the life he had been dreaming of ever since. A good house, a great job, and even greater friends. And then he met Suki.

He didn't expect to fall in love, to find the other half of his being ; to be in that perpetual dream-like state of bliss.

Of course, his manly pride demands that he keep his romantic side a secret. But as he looks at Suki, auburn hair falling to her face and her tongue sticking out as concentrates on her work, he can't help but fall in love all over again (Seriously, if Katara ever knew how his current fantasies were like, she'd probably squeeze him to death. Then proceed to kill them all with an otherworldly screech of sappiness. Then demand all sorts of crazy apologies for being grossed out at every oogie-inducing moment she had with his best friend ).

He could never expect for it to dissolve into a nightmare, the kind that grips the heart and leaves you aching, pantingcrying in the middle of night, with no promise of comfort as you fall back to oblivion.

x

Jolting awake, Sokka shot up from the couch with his chest aching and his cheeks wet. The chill of the room made him shiver worse as he buried his face to his hands, desperately trying not to sob. It's just a dream, she's still here, she's not going anywhere.

He did not know how long he sat there, his ragged breathing and the steady beeping of machines the only sounds in the room. Still shaking slightly, he made his way to the center of the room, to the bed where the only thing keeping him hoping wishingprayingbegging lay. Gently, he took her frail hand in his, cradling it to his face as he gazed at her tired face, obscured by tubes. Tears stung his eyes once more as he pressed a soft kiss on the blue beanie she was currently wearing, whispering his mantra every night for the past few weeks.

"You can't leave me now, okay baby? Please. Come back to me soon. I love you so, so much."

All he wanted now was for the nightmare to stop and the dreams to come alive again.

Thanks for reading! Lemme know how I did. :)