xXx
When Sokka finally emerged, Noelani nearly stopped breathing. The young warrior had adorned the robe but left it open in the front and loosely tied at the hips. He had even released his hair from its wolfstail. She had never seen him with his hair released and hadn't expected it to change his appearance as much as it had. Dark hair grazing the top of his shoulders and combined with the already striking features resembled a fierce predator.
Gesturing for him to kneel beside her Noelani turned her body to face him. With shaking hands, she let her robe fall from her shoulders to the ground. Gingerly, she reached up and placed her hands under Sokka's robe on his shoulders. His skin burned under her touch, and she breathed deep to suppress a shudder. She pushed the robe from his shoulders and watched it float to the ground.
Keeping her eyes trained on his throat, she dipped her writing brush into the bowl of inky black dye and watched it dance over his chest. Several words poured from her brush and onto his skin. Promise. Partner. Unity. Trust. Respect. She wrote her prayers for this marriage and her hope for her people. When she was done, the entire left side of his chest, where his heart anatomically would be, was covered in her writings. Finally, she dragged her gaze to his and nearly dropped her bowl. His blue eyes were pools of emotions she couldn't name, but he looked at her with an intensity that burned. Tearing her gaze away, she wordlessly handed him the dye and brush.
Sitting up straight, she squared her shoulders and stared intensely at the base of his throat. The ink was cold and wet on her skin, the brush leaving gooseflesh in its wake. Peering down, she saw the words Trust. Friendship. Knowledge. Sunshine. It felt like an eternity had passed before he placed the bowl on the table and cleared his throat. Meeting his eye again, she nodded and turned her body to face the table and to face the shocked men and women at the table.
Noelani opened her mouth to speak, but Haku's voice rang out, "In the brown and red dye, we now invite those closest to Noelani and Sokka to write their stories, their hopes for their marriage, or wishes for the couple."
Haku dropped behind her and began to write across the bare expanse of her back. "You know," he stated, "I think Jiang would be proud of you."
"Haku, don't." her voice shook, "Please don't mention Jiang tonight. You better not be writing about that time I used the fish oil as play pretend perfume."
Haku chuckled, swatting at Noelani to return, facing forward, "No, I'm writing about the first time we went fishing. You spent the rest of the afternoon bawling your eyes out and putting together a funeral for the fish."
Noelani heard Sokka snort and restrained herself from swatting at her brother. Shaking with laughter, she could only roll her eyes. "Thank you, brother. I appreciate it."
And so the evening passed with soft-spoken stories and laughter as everyone wrote on their bodies. Noelani was touched at all of the words that filled Sokka's tawny skin. Katara and Aang had both written the words Foundation. Glue. Brave. And a story about finding a boy in an iceberg. Toph had painted her hand in ink and slapped it onto the bare side of Sokka's chest. Zuko had written Brother. Teacher. Friend. And a short story regarding a hot air balloon and a boiling rock. Hakoda wrote about Sokka's childhood. Iroh inscribed Strength. Warrior. Bravery. Mai wrote a short and snarky apology about throwing knives, and Suki had written just one word that pierced Noelani's heart, Beloved.
She knew Sokka had his own life before this fiasco, but she hadn't stopped to think if he had a lover, he was scorning to help save her. Sokka was well-loved by his friends; she could see it written as plain as day across their faces. She became starkly aware that Haku thus far was the only one to write for her.
Zuko's raspy voice cleared her thoughts, "Do you mind?" He held up his small bowl of dye.
Nodding, she let him maneuver her, so she sat back on her seat pillow with her legs outstretched. He began to write on her thigh. "Not so prude now, are we?"
She gleefully watched his face pink up, "Shut up," he muttered, "I chose this spot because no matter how much shit has been thrown at you, you keep walking through it." when his gaze met hers, it was soft and kind.
She was touched and gazed at the words that sprouted from his brush. Strong. Independent. Kind. Warm.
"I don't mean to interrupt," Iroh sat next to his nephew and took Noelani's hand in his own, "I would like a turn next, please."
Smiling wide, she stretched to the table as far as she could and grabbed a discarded bowl. Handing it to Iroh with a shrug, "The more, the merrier. Thank you."
"You know," Iroh began writing down her arm. Wisdom. Compassion. Empathy. "I think this custom is extraordinary. It would be nice if it were adopted into the other Nations."
Noelani laughed, "I don't know if that will happen in my lifetime."
Haku's voice cut through the cloud of chatter, "I think it's time we eat. The moon is rising, and the tides will be in soon."
There were many times in his short life that Sokka had imagined how he would be married. Standing knee-deep in the ocean under the full moon in nothing but his bindings and covered in body paint was not one of them. Yet, here he was. He had to admit that the body paint was a very touching and intimate custom. It had allowed him to talk with his friends in ways they hadn't spoken in years.
Glancing down, he saw Aang's Hope. Scrawled across his shoulder. Aang had told him, for the first time, that it was Sokka who had given the young Avatar hope after their first failed invasion of the Fire Nation. Sokka had never thought that he, a non bender, would give the Avatar hope.
"You look like a fish out of water," Noelani's voice brought him out of his thoughts, and he glanced down at the young waterbender.
"In the Southern Water Tribe, we don't get married in the water. The South Pole is kind of frozen." He grumbled back, trying to ignore the lack of clothing between them. His friends sat at the edge of the surf, watching curiously.
"That's weird," she smiled up at him, turning her attention back to Haku, who stood before them looking awkward and tense enough for everyone in attendance.
Clearing his throat, Haku began with a speech that Sokka had expected to hear from a wedding officiator, and he relaxed slightly. At least that part was normal. Haku's speech went quickly, and Sokka and Noelani affirmed their vows. Sokka felt grounded but hollow, the words leaving his mouth were detached and alien to his ears. The rest of the ceremony passed by in a flurry of words, and in an instant, it was over. He felt numb.
Before he could back out of the water, Haku grabbed Sokka's left wrist and flipped it over, facing the sky. Doing the same to Noelani, they now faced each other, and he saw Noelani nod to Haku. Before Sokka could ask what was going on, Haku produced a small dagger, the blade gliding smoothly over his and Noelani's upturned wrists. Haku deftly flipped Sokka's wrist over Noelani's and tied it tight with a strip of cloth. She gripped his forearm tight.
Her mismatched eyes bored into his, "Repeat after me," she whispered, gripping his forearm tight.
"I give you my spirit that two may become one," her voice was soft, her gaze never leaving him, "Our blood flows together until our life here is done."
In what felt like a trance, Sokka heard the words echoed from his lips. It felt as if fire and ice were simultaneously running through his veins. The air around them became electric, pulsating with an ancient lifeforce. He saw Noelani steady herself, and he felt the rush of the tide rise about his waist. A sharp tug brought him tumbling forward, and the water crashed over them, washing away the ink on his skin. In a tumble of seawater and limbs, Noelani's cool lips found his own, and before he could process what was happening, he was back on his feet. He stood, his wrist still tied to her's, gripping her forearm as she gripped his.
Her hair hung in heavy wet curtains on her face, breathless she looked up at him, "I guess we're married, now."
He stared at their still bound wrists, watching the rivulets of blood winding down their arms and into the water.
Haku waded past them, tugging away the cloth that bound them in one smooth motion.
Finding the words that had lodged themselves in his throat, Sokka brought his eyes to Noelani's. "We will be leaving for the South Pole in two hours…" he trailed off, and gave her forearm one final squeeze, "I meant it when I said you had a partner in me, Noelani. We will get your people to safety. I promise."
A hollow smile ghosted over her lips, "Thank you, Sokka. I will see you soon."
Sokka watched her wade out of the water, her bindings and her hair clinging to her body. Iroh bowed deeply, and Sokka could only guess that the curious old man was asking about that last surprise custom.
Making his way out of the water, he found his sister and father waiting for him at the shoreline.
"Sokka, what was that?!" Katara grabbed his wrist, examining the shallow cut that has since stopped bleeding, "What kind of-"
"Katara, relax." Sokka pulled his wrist from his sister's grasp, "It was one of their weird witch doctor customs, don't read too much into it."
Hakoda looked grim, "It looked pretty intense, Sokka. Are you alright?"
Sokka heaved a sigh. He knew his family could be overbearing, but he hadn't expected them to get their bindings in a twist over a ceremony.
"Hakoda is right, Sokka." Aang approached the group, Toph in tow, "I felt the Spirits when Noelani called in the tide. No waterbender is that powerful on their own. They were here. What did she have you say?"
Sokka felt a blush rise on his chest, "Just some weird oogie wedding vow stuff. Something about Spirits flowing together and two becoming one."
Aang nodded, his face unreadable. Sokka felt his stomach clench. He and Aang had never been particularly close, but he still trusted the Avatar with his life. If Aang felt something was off, then Sokka believed that something was off.
Pushing the dark thoughts aside, he slung an arm around Katara's shoulders and guided the group back towards the palace. "Let's head back. I leave for the North in two hours, and I request a proper sendoff."
"Absolutely no cactus juice!" Hakoda reprimanded, his voice was stern, but his eyes sparkled with amusement.
For a brief moment, it was as if they were back to the time when they were vagabonds traveling freely, and the war was a distant responsibility. Sokka couldn't help but smile. Even though they had the weight of the world on their shoulders, those were the happiest times. Before the war ended and their lives became crashing down; before they all became hollow shells of who they once were.
xXx
A/N - Apologies, I feel as if I owe an explanation for my absence. I experienced a very traumatic and personal tragedy, and I needed to take time away to be with my loved ones. That being said, I know the fanfiction community is diverse and large, but if anyone for whatever reason needs a listening ear, I am here. You are not alone. I am here and I will listen. Thank you all for your understanding and support.