Destiny Incarnate, A Story Told in Songfic.

I don't own Avatar or "ZZYXZ Road" By Stone Sour.

-These are lyrics-

Chapter 12: Tempting Sokka

Sokka never thought of his home as a cold place. During his travels the people he met always seemed a bit surprised when he admitted this. However, things were different since he returned from his last trial earlier this morning. The wind seemed to pass right through his thick parka and send chills up his spine. He drew a deep breath and entered the ice house where he was to report to his father.

He stood up straight and respectful at the table where his father looked over an important looking piece of parchment. Clearing his throat he waited for his father to address him.

"Just give me one more moment." He didn't take the time to remove his eyes from the document. Sokka shuffled in place for a minute or two before his father gave him his full attention.

"Sokka!" He smiled, happy to see his son. His excitement fell a bit as his eyes glanced over the white bandage that dressed part of his jaw. "I hope everything went well," His voice carried concern in it as he looked over the young man, noting thankfully that his son wasn't left in crutches again. Sokka brought out another parchment scroll for his father. Written on it was a note from the man put in charge of handling the captured poachers. The note was proof of Sokka's success.

-I don't know how else to put this.
It's taking me so long to do this.
I'm falling asleep and I can't see straight.-

"Very good, were there any injuries?" Hakoda couldn't help but notice that his normally talkative son had been silent since he arrived.

"A few on both sides."

"And no causalities I assume?"

Sokka bit his lip as scenes of the fight and it's aftermath played in his head.

"There was one causality." His voice shook, betraying the image of the brave warrior he was trying to portray. "I tried to get him to come with me peacefully but then he put up a fight and I didn't try to kill him." Sokka spoke a bit more franticly as he recalled the events of that day.

It was hard for Hakoda to picture his own son taking the life of another, but if it were true then his son must have been going through a lot worse. His hand reached out for his sons shoulder.

"It's alright Sokka, there are times where despite how hard we might try to make everything right, we end up being powerless to save everyone."

Sokka opened his mouth to protest but the older of the two men wouldn't allow it.

"You did a perfectly fine job son. Now just go home and relax for a while and you should let Katara take a look at that wound."

"Alright dad."

-My muscles feel like a melee.
My body's curled in a U-shape.
I put on my best but I'm still afraid.-

Sokka silently excused himself from his fathers company and left the shelter of the ice house. He thought about his father's suggestion to relax for a while. He didn't have leave so soon did he? With all the running around he'd been doing he hadn't had too much time to just enjoy being home. He no longer felt the urge to rush back to Kyoshi island so soon now anyways.

Katara was happy to see that her brother was safe and sound aside from the gash on his jaw. It was nothing she couldn't mend with water bending. After a good amount of lecturing about how she didn't need anyone else to mourn over, the healing was over and the two sat down and talked for a while. It wasn't long before she asked about his latest mission. The heaviness in his chest made itself known again.

"It went alright, I guess." Sokka looked away, giving away that something did go wrong during the trip.

"What happened?" Katara became concerned at his sudden change in attitude.

"I killed one of them." The confession came out slow and labored.

Like her father, she had a difficult time imagining Sokka as the type to take another's life. He was smart and could think his way out of just about any situation that came his way.

"I'm sorry that it came to that." She spoke the only words to come to mind, placing a hand on her brother's in comfort.

"It was weird," Sokka thought a loud, "countless amounts of people died during the war but it's a lot different when it happens right in front of you. It's different when someone dies because of your inabilities."

Katara didn't know what to say. She wondered if she would have felt this much remorse had she killed their mother's assailant.

"Try to cheer up. Would you rather be the one who died? Can you imagine what Dad and I would of went through if you died. And what would Suki do?"

"Suki's strong enough, she would of gotten over it eventually."

"Sokka, enough of that! If you learn anything from this experience it should be that life can be taken away at any moment. So you'd better live it while you can."

-Propped up by lies and promises.
Saving my place as life forgets.
Maybe it's time I saw the world.-

She was right, Sokka couldn't deny that. Her words, however, didn't fully dispel the strange feeling that vexed him.

"You're right."

"Good, I'm glad you see it my way." She stood and turned to leave the house. "You look tired why don't you get some rest before dinner?" She added before leaving.

The idea of a nap was tempting, but Sokka wanted to get something worthwhile done today. He decided to look over what he had in his room and find what possessions he was going to bring back to Kyoshi.

-I'm only here for a while.
And patience is not my style.
And I'm so tired that I got to go.-

The evening had reminded him of the days before his father left to fight in the war, when the three would share a meal and Hakoda would entertain his children with stories of when he was young. The only differences now were that Aang had a place set for him and that now they had their own stories to tell. Over the course of dinner it was decided that Aang would take Sokka back to Kyoshi Island in two days. Hakoda couldn't help but to feel a bit sad knowing that one of his children would be soon leaving him, but thats the way life was. Just as he left the safety of his parent's side, Sokka was leaving his. Sokka had promised numerous times to come back and visit, even if it meant dragging Suki kicking and screaming.

As everyone headed off to bed, Sokka headed to the door. Sleeping earlier made him a bit restless now and he decided to go out and enjoy the night sky for a while. The night air had been chillier than he anticipated. Carrying a small pile of wood to where he and his grandfather trained. He built a fire to help keep himself warm. Looking to the tiny points of light in the sky, he could feel his thoughts slowly escape him.

-Where am I supposed to hide now?
What am I supposed to do?
Did you really think I wouldn't see this through? -

"Hi, Sokka." Keiko's voice manage to bring his back to Earth.

He turned to see the young woman's face illuminated by the fire. "Hey, how'd you find me out here?"

She pointed to the fire, "Flames kind of stand out in the dark."

Feeling a bit stupid for not even thinking of the fire, he offered her a seat next to him.

"Nice night, isn't it?" he questioned staring forward into the fire.

"Yeah, it's beautiful. How did your trip go?"

"Eh.." Sokka replied quietly. He didn't want to give up what little solace he found by digging up the past right now. An awkward silence took the air. Hoping to clear the atmosphere of tension, she shared a story of when she lived in the Northern Water tribe. Within minutes the two were laughing again.

-Tell me I should stick around for you.
Tell me I could have it all
I'm still too tired to care and I got to go.-

"So anyways, I waited until Roka turned his back and then then I bent a wave that was at least twice as tall as he was and sent it crashing down on him." She concluded with a light giggle. She deduced from Sokka's laugh that she was fruitful in trying to lighten the mood. As the laughs subsided, the two figures gazed to one another, neither of them willing to look away.

"Thanks for cheering me up." Sokka's appreciation showed in his smile.

"No problem. You know, your eyes kind of remind me of his." She leaned in to get a better look at him.

"Really? How so?"

"The shape is similar but the color is way off. Your eyes are much darker and deeper. Sometimes I swore his was made out of ice." Her face inched even closer to his, close enough that his breath warmed her lips before fading away in the night air. The gaze that seemed so hard to break earlier gave way as both pairs of eyes slid shut.

-I get to go home in one week.
But I'm leaving home in three weeks.
They throw me a bone just to pick me dry.-

Any thoughts or protests in Sokka's head became nothing more then muffled noises. If she needed her betrothed tonight, perhaps he could play the part. Their lips met in a quick kiss. They paused as they broke apart as if they were deciding whether or not the kiss was enjoyable. Before long a second deeper kiss was shared. The lust between the two seemed to know no end. Sokka felt her lips open and a sharp pain as she bit his lip.

"Hey, I thought I told you to take it easy with the teeth." Sokka swiftly pulled away.
"You never said anything." Keiko raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Sure I did, the last time..." Sokka's eyes widen as he realized something. It was the on the night he and Suki spent together before he left that she bit his lip the same way. He sat in shock over what had almost happened moments ago. He stood to leave.

-I'm fallowing suit and directions.
I crawl up inside for protection.
I'm told what to do and I don't know why.-

"Sokka, where are you going?" She stood up as well.

"I can't do this Keiko, I have someone waiting for me." Sokka refused to let his hormones control him.

"Sokka I-" she made no effort in hiding the pain in her voice.

"I'm leaving in two days. I'm not sure if it would be right but it would be nice to see you again before I left." Keiko ran past him without another word. Falling asleep that night was a difficult task for both of them.

It didn't take long for Aang to get Appa ready when the fateful morning arrived. Sokka had loaded his bags already and was in the middle of saying goodbye to his family, again promising to visit and write as often as he could. He turned to leave when his name was called the very same way she had two nights ago.

-I'm ready to live with my family.
I'm ready to die in obscurity.
Cause I'm so tired that I got to go.-

"Hey, Sokka!" Keiko ran his way, her voice no longer held the pain from before.

"I'm glad you came." He smiled naturally upon seeing her.

"Listen Sokka, I'm sorry about what happened." She couldn't help but blush and look away.

"It's alright, Keiko." He held his arms open, offering a hug. She took him up on the offer and brought her mouth closer to his ear.

-Where am I supposed to hide now?
What am I supposed to do?
You still don't think I'm gonna see this through.-

"Are you sure you won't stay?"She whispered softly.

"I'm sorry." He slowly broke the hug.

Stepping back she flashed him a smile. "You can't blame a girl for trying."

Climbing aboard Appa, he returned her smile with his own. "Is it alright if I write you?"

"I'd love it."

Waving goodbye to everyone it wasn't too long before he and Aang were surrounded by light clouds. For a while the two sat in silence, enjoying the flight.

-Tell me I'm a part of history.
Tell me I can have it all.
I'm to tired to care and I got to go.-

"Are you excited to be going back to Kyoshi, Sokka?" The younger boy asked.

"Yeah, I guess."

Truthfully, Sokka was more then excited to be seeing Suki again, but guilt was running rampant in his chest. And it felt like it was tearing up through anything it came across.

Let me apologize for the late chapter. Life is slowing down a bit and hopefully the next chapter won't take so long. Coincidently the next chapter is going to be a bit shorter. But to make up for it I have some goodies for you all. First off I've started my collection of one-shots. The first story is full of Sukka fluff so read it if your in the mood for something lighter then this. Secondly my Girlfriend drew a piece of fanart for this fic.

Copy and paste this url to see it:
.com/art/Keiko-102683661

Anyway thanks to everyone for your support! Please review and tell me how you like this chapter. I think it maybe my favorite so far.

For the next chapter: There are two sides to every story. While he was out proving himself, what was she going through?