Sokka sat quietly by the shores, crossed legged and still. While he had a reputation, and well-earned one, to be constantly moving, there were just some days he wanted to be still. He enjoyed these brief breaks from his travels. It was a cool night, and the wind whipped lightly the dark waters of the expanding ocean in front of him.
He had always found it strangely overwhelming to stare out into the water. It was endless, like a deep blue abyss. His sister, Katara, never stopped to enjoy the water she had power over. She just concentrated and did some fancy movements to control the water through sheer force of will.
Sokka was different. The ocean was a symbol of power for him. The ultimate and never-ending beauty never ceased to amaze him. He leaned over the water and looked at the ripping waves, ever so gently crashing at the edge of the sand. There wasn't much movement besides the waves. He smiled down at the reflection he held his gaze on almost every night these days.
"You did well today," he said to the water, his voice startling in the eerie quiet of nature.
"You look good." He smiled down at the water.
"Wow. Really?" came a sudden voice behind him. He could hear the sarcasm from a mile away. He turned over his shoulder to see his dark-skinned counterpart, his sister he had grown up with. She crossed her arms in a defensive way, her brows furrowed.
"You know, maybe you could actually do some work around here for once! Quit talking to yourself and help out!"
He had been caught.
"Sure."
Katara huffed off, an invisible storm cloud above her head. The wave rippled in response to her anger. Always connected, the water seemed to match her mood.
Sokka stood, brushing off his pants of the sand that lingered there. He gazed one last time at the object of his attention, the pearl gray moon, a half crescent in the sky.
He had never been able to bring himself to gaze at the moon directly.
"That's me. Mr. Talking-To-Himself."
He felt a sharp pang of longing and guilt in his heart.
"Until next time." He said to the reflection, and left to join his friends.
And from far away, the moon smiled.
I'M SORRY.