A/N: Remind me not to take for granted a church mass, full shelves, open shops, and a hug ever again. It's crazy how far things have escalated. Hope you all are doing alright? Please keep yourselves safe, busy and upbeat, things will get better eventually. And at least we got one interesting story to tell to our future kids, right? So, I should've posted this a few days ago, but I wanted to finish all my uni notes first – which I haven't yet – but I got bored, so here you go?
3 months later...
Sokka's POV:
"Are you sure you're up for sparring?" I ask dubiously with a raised eyebrow at the Airbender which elicits an eye-roll from him.
"Sokka, I told you I'm fine. It has been 3 months!" The young Avatar reprimands as we walk side by side.
"I know, I know. It's just, I've never known Zuko to be gentle when it comes to sparring." I say with raised hands in an attempt to explain.
"Isn't that the point? I'm going to have to fight a bad guy sooner or later Sokka. I need to be in tip-top shape. You can't keep protecting me." Aang states softly, his eyes far-away for a moment before re-focusing back on me. I sigh and stare at the ground briefly before lifting my eyes back up and force a smile to my face.
"You're right. Sorry." I mumble in a half-convinced manner. I watch as Aang twirls the air playfully on his palm, as a thoughtful expression crosses his face.
"This isn't just about that incident is it? You're still worried about my vision. Hmm come to think of it, so is everyone else. Although they have been much better at hiding it." Aang recalls with a pointed look at my direction. I shrug.
"I suppose." I mutter with averted eyes.
"There's nothing wrong with admitting how you're feeling." I snort at his words of advice.
"Yeah, just like how you're always doing?" I bite back, annoyed at his pushiness. The Airbender sighs and motions for us to sit on a nearby boulder.
"I'm trying Sokka. I've gotten so used to being alone, so it's not going to all change in a few months. Now, tell me what's bothering you so much that you feel the need to snap at me?" I bite the inside of my cheek hard and turn my head the other way, refusing to let Aang try and guilt-trip me. I stare at my hands resting on either knee and I clench them. "Why do you always find the need to get yourself hurt?" I grit out between clenched teeth, hoping my tone sounds more angry than vulnerable. Aang blows a puff of air out at my biting question.
"It's not like I choose to get hurt. It just happens. Why does that bother you so much? Everyone else seems to have gotten over my constant run into pain." I push myself off the boulder.
"Why does it bother me so much?! What kind of question is that? Why do I always have to see you in someone's arms looking so lifeless? Like I'm...you're going to die." I watch as Aang flinches at the reminder and I almost feel like apologising, but I'm too mad to stop now.
"Sokka, I still don't get it." The Airbender admits with confusion and a plea in his eyes. I take a shaky breath.
"You know what it's like to lose people you care about. As do I. I've lost my mum and Yue." I breathe in deeply. "Each loss hurt me so profoundly. Then you nearly died in Ba Sing Se. And again at the Fire Nation and again on Kyoshi Island and again after the battle and again 3 months ago. I can't take it anymore because..." I break off as I swallow harshly.
"Because?" Aang prompts, his eyes completely attentive.
"Because I don't know if I'm strong enough to lose again." I confess in a whisper. Aang hops off the boulder to stand by my side, his expression full of understanding.
"I'm not going anywhere yet." I shiver at his comment.
"That's the problem, the whole 'yet' thing. The not knowing just eats away at me. Before, I always knew we'd face the Firelord and end the war, but after that...I'm so unsure on what's going to happen and it...scares me." I admit quietly. I hesitate before finally deciding to say the final thing on my mind. "It scares me how easy it was for us to drift away. I mean, I drifted away from my own sister! What if something like this happens again, but this time its permanent? What if I just end up alone?" I look up to see both Aang's eyebrows raise up to reach the tip of his arrow in a picture of surprise.
"I never realised being alone bothered you so much. You always seem to deal with things as they come." The young Avatar finally settles on saying.
"I know right? It always seemed that I didn't want to tag along in your adventures, but I guess inside I was scared of being left alone, perhaps because dad left when I was so young."
"Well, I can't promise you that I'll be here forever because that would be a lie, but I can promise that I'll do everything in my power to stick around for as long as possible."
"But we don't know how long that is." I argue.
"I know, but we can't do anything about that. It's set in stone whether we like it or not." Aang replies rigidly, I cross my arms with a huff. I hear him sigh beside me.
"Well...it's not like I'll be really gone. I'll still live on in the next Avatar. If it cheers you up I could always manifest myself in them like Roku did with me." Aang jokes and I can't help but chuckle at that.
"Just don't try to burn the place down like he did." I tease.
"Can't make any promises." The Airbender states with a grin, before adopting a more serious expression. "But Sokka, I'll never really be gone. I'll be with you in your memories, your heart and occasionally through my successor as I give them advice on spiritual stuff." I sigh at Aang's words of comfort and nod.
"I guess you're right. During our separation. I was so angry at you, but...I also missed you...a lot. And the thing that kept me going was remembering all the time we spent with each other. I guess memories have a way in helping us hold onto the ones we care about." I say with a half-smile and watch Aang's faraway gaze return to mine.
"Exactly. My memories are the thing that makes me smile when I think about Gyatso." I watch as a slightly pained smile appears on his lips before he shakes his head and perks up. "Now, why don't we go and make some more memories?" I roll my eyes at his enthusiasm.
"You're just saying that so we don't keep Zuko waiting any longer." I joke as we continue walking towards the grounds behind the Fire Nation Palace.
"You caught me. You know how impatient Zuko gets." Aang answers with a playful grin.
"A true hothead." I admit as we reach the sparring ground where Zuko is tapping his foot impatiently.
"You guys don't have a good track record of punctuality." The Firelord states with a touch of annoyance. I put my hands up, face semi- apologetic.
"Quit whining. We're here now." I respond hastily which causes Zuko to grumble incoherent for a moment before stepping into the fighting ring.
"Ok, who's first?" I step forward at Zuko's question.
"I am. I've got some steam to burn." I reply whilst unsheathing the sword at my waist. I hold it with two hands, adjust my grip slightly and charge. Zuko dodges and shoots a jet of fire. I duck and bring my sword up to swipe at the Firebender but Zuko catches it with the palm of his hands and with his foot into my gut he pushes me back a few paces. He fires a few fire balls at my feet, I jump and while in mid-air I twist my body round to the left as a stream of fire whips past me. I land deftly on my feet, sword at the ready and swipe again but the Firelord dodges. I scowl, getting annoyed at constantly missing him. I raise my foot and kick it out, catching him by surprise as I hit his shoulder and causing him to take a couple of steps back. I raise my leg again, but this time Zuko is ready as he roughly grabs my scarred ankle and pushes me back. I tumble to the ground, and wince when my foot flares up.
"You should know not to repeat the same move twice in succession. It becomes too predictable." Zuko reprimands as he offers his hand.
"I know, but since when have you got so nimble? That's Aang's thing. Not to mention it was getting annoying." I say as I take his hand and he pulls me up to my feet, I wince at the added weight on my ankle.
"We haven't sparred in years. Aang and I on the other hand have, perhaps he's rubbing off on me." The Firebender replies with a shrug. I shift my weight to my other ankle and turn my head to the other direction only to find Aang by my side with a concerned expression. His eyes trails down to my ankle before returning back to mine. I shrug slightly, silently telling him not to worry about it.
"Are you ok? You look like you're favouring one ankle there, I didn't think I grabbed you that hard." I share a look with Aang who gives me an encouraging nod. I sigh and turn to face Zuko again.
"Hey Zuko, you remember when I told you I'd tell you this little thing that I was keeping secret?" The Firelord glances between Aang and I and nods his head slowly. "Well, maybe it's about time that I told you." I say, my shoulders relaxing as I finally feel ready to tell someone else.
A/N: So you can probably tell that I'm starting to tie off loose ends, I thought it would be nice to have each character to have a whole chapter spent with Aang – we had one with Katara a couple of chapters ago, this one is with Sokka and the next one will be with Toph. Can't really think of anything for Zuko so he isn't going to have a whole chapter to himself but he'll definitely have some part in the final chapter.
So only 2 chapters left! Seriously guys if there's anything you want to see let me know before chapter 50 because after that it's a done deal. Please review because I really want to hear your thoughts, especially with how close we are to the end. I just want to know what you guys think and since I don't really have any other stories lined up after this one, it may be the only reviews I get for a while and you know how much they make me smile, so pretty please?
Well that's enough of me whining. Hope this virus thing hasn't put any of you in too much of a mess or disadvantage, especially final year students, elderly or those who are expecting. Anyway, I'll make sure to post at the end of the week, maybe earlier if boredom strikes.
23/3/20
