a/n: please don't hate me.
-x-
Ever since Yue left (not died, she couldn't die, she was the moon) Sokka had the ridiculous notion that he alone had to protect everyone. Well, everyone minus the Fire Nation, that is.
Katara, Toph, Aang, and even Zuko to a certain extent (he had saved that whiny little prince's life more than once, and never even got a thank you!)
But mostly Suki.
Especially Suki.
It was hard to protect someone with a skull as thick as his own, and a will that rivaled his little sister's. It was hard, but someone had to do it, right?
Right.
And he did protect her. Admittedly, sometimes she did the saving, but that's beside the point. Sokka was the leader (you, the leader?), the warrior (it represents the honor of a warrior's heart) who always pulled through in the end.
Which was why he found it ironic as he lay there, shivering even though he was surrounded by fire, with Suki and Yue crying over him. Yes, it was ironic all right, that this time around he had been the one in need of protecting.
(and in that moment, Sokka laughed.
"Good one, Life. Really clever.")