"Power" by eulalie27

Disclaimer: Avatar: the Last Airbender and its characters are the property of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who are obviously not me.

I watch. Yep, that's pretty much what I do. I can't bend, like my friends and sister. I can't shoot fire from my brain like Combustion Man. I can't even try to take over the world like the Fire Lord. So what am I good for?

I was Plan Guy. Or Navigation Man. Or "Here, watch Appa and Momo while we go kick some bad guy butt" Guy. Other than these and, of course, my brilliant sarcasm and love for meat, what was I bringing to the table? I was useless.

The Kyoshi Warriors weren't great for my ego, either. They had so much power and grace, using their fans with such skill they needed no other weapons. And they were women. In the end, I knew I would be honored to learn from them. I didn't get a bad deal either- that was when I met Suki.

So she taught me some of what she knew. I wore the costume, felt the gentle weight of the paint on my face, and I felt strong. Powerful, for once. When we left, it was like it never happened. Only now, I knew what I was missing. I was back to being Sokka, the loser.

Until I met Master Piandao, that is. He taught me so much, and not just about swordsmanship. He taught me about myself, the real me, not just the screw-up loser. He taught me that I had power, too. He taught me that I was not

"Hey, Sokka." Suki stuck her head into the dimly lit tent. "Whatcha doin'?"

He tried to subtly cover the paper. "Uh… Nothing."

She gave him a knowing look, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. "Mm-hmm. I suppose that piece of paper is nothing, too." She was suddenly serious again. "You don't have to hide anything from me. I can keep a secret."

"It's nothing. It's just…" He raked his fingers through his short ponytail and sighed. "It's just, when I get… weird, I like to write stuff down. Like how I'm feeling. Short histories on certain topics. Nothing interesting."

"Oh. What's this one about?"

"Power."

"Hmm. Like our lack thereof?" she asked, trying to be good-humored.

"Pretty much just me." He looked down at the paper before him. "I just feel so useless sometimes."

"Sokka." Suki frowned and moved to stand behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a comforting hug. "There's absolutely no reason to think that you're useless." She knelt by his side and looked up at him. "You're a wonderful hunter, you can read a map better than anyone else, you come up with the best plans, and, you're a great boyfriend," she added, wiggling her eyebrows.

The corners of his mouth lifted in a small smile. "Really?"

"Yeah. You always make me happy, and even when I'm being horrible, you never complain. You do so many cute things, too. Remember your sand sculpture?" He nodded, making a small face. "It. Was. Beautiful," she continued, emphasizing each word as she brought her hand up to cup his cheek. "I love how you think of things nobody else does. And I love how you're sarcastic, and pessimistic, and paranoid. I love everything about you." Tears welled up in her eyes. "The thought of you kept me alive when I was in prison. So don't ever think that you are useless."

"Thanks." He smiled. "I needed that." He helped her get to her feet, and she hugged him.

"You're welcome." She kissed him on the cheek. "C'mon, it's time to go to sleep."

She walked out of the tent, and Sokka picked up his brush again.

He taught me that was not helpless, or useless. And now Suki has just reinforced that. So I think I'm okay now.

He crumbled up the paper and threw it in the fire when he went outside.