Chapter Eleven: If You Die Before I Wake
It was warm and Sokka rolled over wishing the sunlight wasn't as bright as it was comfortable. There was a soft breeze running across his face and the sounds of morning were beginning to catch in his ears. It was gradual but the light pervaded and he was forced to open his eyes against the assault. Sokka sat up and rubbed at his face, the last bits of sleepiness clinging desperately to his eyelids.
When he was coherent enough to think, his mind dropped into his gut as he rubbed at his stomach. Breakfast. Stretching a bit, he turned and surveyed the campsite. Sunlight was pouring through the trees, casting yellow splotches across the ground, like puddles of gold. Instinctively Sokka froze, with the speed and precision of a Yuuyan arrow, his thoughts suddenly turned darker and he looked around the campsite again. There was no sign of the prince, save for the crushed grass opposite the fire pit where Zuko had slept that night.
Sokka was immediately on his feet. "Zuko?" There was no answer. "Zuko! Where the hell are you?"
The tribesman turned around and around again, the campsite spinning radically in his vision. The large oak trees were looming in closer and closer, as if they were about to either whisk him away like the prince or crush him under their immense weight. Sokka stopped as the vertigo and dizziness threatened to push him down. He waited a few seconds for it to subside.
He couldn't help feel conflicted. It would be to his advantage if the prince decided to leave, but there was a distinct feeling crawling around dejectedly in his stomach. He wasn't quite sure what it was. The entire situation was still odd, though. They had grown so close; it seemed almost uncharacteristic for Zuko to immediately leave - at least without telling him or killing him. It was too underhanded for the prince's nature.
There was a crunching sound from his right side and his head snapped toward it instantly. His newly aware mind was beginning to full with ideas, some probable and some highly impossible. Finally, after a few seconds of dark thoughts he called out: "Zuko? Is that you?" and prepared to dive behind the nearest oak trunk if the answer wasn't from the prince.
Sokka didn't have to wait long, a scratchy voice answered back, "Who else would it be?"
The prince pushed through a thicket and stumbled into camp, stopping short of the fire pit to pull leaves from his uniform. He spared a glance at Sokka and returned to his clothing. "I want to leave as soon as possible. If we hurry we should be able to reach the dock sooner than I thought. Maybe even in a day and a half."
Sokka wasn't sure how to respond so he shrugged. "Sure, why not." But after his stomach lurched in protest he added, "But I need to eat something."
Zuko finished cleaning his clothes and looked up. "Fine. You'll just have to find it on the way."
Sokka crossed his arms. It would be hard to find anything. Winter was coming and the fruits of last summer had long since dropped. It would be lucky if they found a moon peach tree or even lantern berries. Besides, he was sick of fruit.
Zuko was kicking dirt and leaves over the fire pit when Sokka's attention returned from brooding. The prince's usual ashen complexity looked lighter and, perhaps, a bit grayer than usual in the dim light. Sokka refrained from asking the prince if was all right and began to kick at the grass and leaves on which he'd slept, attempting to restore them to the position and quality he had found them in.
Finally, when the campsite was restored to something close to its former appearance, Sokka turned toward the deep woods and found himself staring into the dark, open mouth of some beast. Reluctantly he stepped past a large oak trunk. Zuko was following behind him and Sokka could feel the cold intensity of the prince's eyes on his neck. Zuko wanted the leave as soon as possible.
"So," Sokka said attempting to strike up another conversation. "What's with the rush?"
"Firebenders." Zuko's voice was clear and quick to answer. "I think I saw some smoke in the distance this morning."
"I don't see anything." Sokka turned to look at the prince.
Zuko snorted and avoided his eyes. "You were asleep."
"Then why didn't you wake me up?" Sokka felt a little betrayed. It wasn't fair to keep him in the dark. Although the prince had grown stronger in the past week Sokka found that he wanted to feel needed. It wasn't as if he could protect the prince - Zuko was perfectly capable of escaping from both earthbenders and firebenders, as he'd proven. Sokka liked to feel as if, in some way, the prince needed him, too. It was almost possessive, almost the same way he felt toward Katara and Aang. This was different, though, and he wasn't sure exactly how.
"You could have woken me up," Sokka finally said dejectedly and held a branch back so it didn't catch the prince in the face.
With a nod of thanks the prince answered snidely, "That is nearly impossible."
"Haha," Sokka said dryly and smiled. "At least I can get to sleep. You're a friggin' insomniac."
The prince failed to answer and Sokka felt his companions thoughts turn darker. Silently he slapped himself. He must have struck a nerve or something deeper. But before he could apologize, the prince simply said, "I don't like to sleep."
"I don't like…" Sokka paused and thought. "…Earthbenders… well, accept for maybe Haru's people. They were pretty kick ass in the end."
"What about firebenders?" Zuko asked and came into step with Sokka as the forest thinned slightly. "I thought you hated them."
"So far I don't hate one of them," Sokka said. "I don't like Zhao and the Fire Lord to much. Heika and his men were decent… What don't you like?"
"Sister, Zhao, earthbenders also…" Zuko tilted his head slightly and Sokka caught the action out of the corner of his eye. "In general, I dislike much of my father's court."
Sokka knew it would push the issue, but he tended not to always listen to his instincts. It needed to be said again. "What about your father?"
Topaz eyes caught Sokka's fiercely. "I never said I liked him, did I?"
"No… but you're always going on and on about restoring your honor." It was something Sokka was yet to understand. His life had been based on his family and his village. With the Avatar he'd begun to see the world and experience new cultures. The warrior women of Kyoshi, Haru's village and the prisoners kept by the warden… they were all different and all honorable in their own ways. They all were heroes and all on the "right side". He had begun to see Zuko in the same light, yet the prince's constant seeking of honor - which, in Sokka's opinion, had never been lost - and loyalty to the "wrong side" caused Sokka to waver between seeing him as a hero and a villain. Zuko was, Sokka assumed, an antihero - a character lost in between the lines but perceived as the villain by many and most of the people who knew his name.
"Your society does not hold the same values as mine," Zuko said with a monotonous voice. "I've told you before. The Fire Nation is the only place I belong."
"I don't think so," Sokka said firmly. "Are you saying just because I'm from the Water Tribe I should stay at the South Pole?"
"No", Zuko admitted with a resounding sigh. "I'm a firebender. We play by different rules."
"But you are saying that," Sokka scoffed and kicked at a loose root. "Just because you're a firebender you have to follow certain rules and traditions."
"We discussed this before. " Zuko's voice was colder than usual and Sokka decided it was time to drop the subject. The prince was, for lack of a better phrase, messed up. It was hard for him to accept the truth and cling onto the childish hope he'd created shortly after his banishment. He was never meant to find the Avatar, but it could be easily rationalized that his father had provided him with a second chance. Sokka was glad the Fire Lord had; for all the trouble Zuko had caused Aang, Katara and himself, Sokka was beginning to feel there was an upside.
"So…" Sokka said after they had walked in silence for a few more minutes. "Anybody in particular waiting for you to get back? Maybe a girl?"
Zuko glanced at him questioningly and then rolled his eyes. "Why are you so fixated with my personal life?"
"I'm just curious," Sokka said and shrugged. It was hard to hide the grin on his lips.
"I have my uncle, my crew, and the Avatar, but no 'girl'," Zuko said simply. "I don't have time to frolic around like some lovesick animal." The prince paused and looked over at Sokka. "What about you? When you save the world is there some poor woman in your village waiting for you to return?"
"No!" Sokka said with some offense. All the women in his village were at least twice his age. "My sister and I are the only teens in our whole village."
"Who'd you kiss then?" Zuko asked with a sneer. "Your sister?"
"No!" Sokka answered again, indignantly. "Her name is Suki and she's a warrior from Kyoshi Island."
"Oh." The prince pause to recall the event and seemed to refrain from saying: "That decrepit little town I burnt down…" Zuko glanced curiously over at Sokka with an amused expression. Sokka, not having seen a mischievous glint in the prince's eyes before, nearly stopped and stepped back.
"What?" Sokka ask uncomfortably. "What is it?"
"I've been meaning to ask you why you were in that ridiculous dress."
Sokka felt himself blush self-consciously. "You knew that was me?"
"No amount of makeup could hide your unsightly features," Zuko said snidely, but there were traces of amusement on his lips and they twisted into a half smile half smirk. Despite the insult, Sokka was glad the prince's mood seemed to lighten.
"Whatever," Sokka said. "It's not as if you're to-die-for, either." His eyes drifted to the scar and he quickly added, "And that dress wasn't ridiculous, by the way, it symbolized strength and honor - something which you seem to be all about."
"Your point?"
Sokka continued to smile, his ears catching the soft lap of water not far away. "I think it would suit you, too." He didn't miss the prince's indignant snort as the stream came into view.
---
The stream proved to be abundant with both fish and a wide leafed plant Sokka called "taro". Sokka insisted on spearing the fish, which swam unthinkingly in the pool. Zuko was assigned to gather a few taro leaves and root and wash them. The task itself wasn't hard; it was slightly more degrading than catching the fish, though. With a frown set on his face, Zuko walked along the bank, not far from where Sokka was standing in knee-deep water holding a thin branch he'd carved into a spear.
Zuko pulled the dagger from his belt and knelt by the brook side. Cutting the stems was easy and he quickly had a small pile of four leaves next to him. Sokka let out a triumphant yell and held up the spear with a writhing fish on the end. Zuko turned away and looked into the water. His reflection was paler than it should have been. It worried him. Things were not right and if they didn't reach the docks soon… He shook his head and glared back at his image.
Detesting the already cold feel throughout his body, he reluctantly reached into the water and grasped at the stalk of one of the plants, pulling it from the silt and sand in the bank. A cloud of dirt rose in the water and floated downstream, toward Sokka. Ignoring the hope that Sokka might spear himself in the murky water, he turned to the taro roots and washed off the sienna colored dirt to reveal a darker brown root. Dismayed he broke the roots from the steam and tossed the rest of the plant aside.
Sokka was waiting downstream with two speared fish and a pile of wood. Zuko started a small fire without being told to and set the supplies he'd gathered out on a wide clean rock.
"What the hell are you going to do with this stuff?" Zuko knew it would be cooked, but how was what he wanted to know.
"Cook it," Sokka said causing Zuko to roll his eyes. "I'm not quite sure how though… I've never tried this without a pot or pan."
Zuko sighed as another stroke of weariness seemed to wash over him. "I'm sure you can devise something," he said dryly and sat down against a tree and closed his eyes.
"Are you okay?" Sokka asked from the fire pit. The conniving voice in Zuko's head wanted to shout; "No. And it's all thanks to you." Of course it wasn't Sokka's fault at all, it was merely that he existed at that point in time. That pivotal point at which Zuko had foolishly handed over the antidote to the poison they both were infected with. Zuko had always thought he had more time - perhaps another week or so.
He was sure the slight stabs of pain in his stomach were from the drug. He was also beginning to show other physical signs. His gain in pallor and the time in the morning spent in the bushes behind the campsite upturning his stomach were sure signs the poison was definantly beginning its takeover of his body systems. Worst of all, he wasn't sure what exactly the poison was. He was beginning to think that it was heat activated or that, perhaps, when he used his bending to circulate warmth throughout his body it wasn't only heat his blood was spreading.
"You okay, Zuko?" This time Sokka was much closer and much more concerned.
"I'm fine." Of course it was a complete lie. "Just make what ever you were going to."
Sokka seemed to back off and went back to the fire, musing over how to prepare the ingredients. Zuko listened to his mumbling before the darkness his closed eyes provided overtook him completely. He didn't remember what manifested in the darkness. He knew his father was there, he always seemed to remember that man the had been in his dream, yet hardly ever could he recall what the other man had done or said. He had a vague idea though.
"Hey, Zuko." Sokka was shaking his shoulder when he awoke. Groggily the prince looked up at the tribesman and noticed the sun had not moved much since the last time he'd seen it.
"Is the food ready?" Zuko asked and rubbed at his eyes.
"Yeah," Sokka said proudly. His demeanor seemed to change quickly and he took another long look at the prince. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been looking kinda pale."
"I'm fine," Zuko hissed and pushed himself up using the tree as a brace. His broken arm was still uncomfortable, but it wasn't as bad as the stabs in his stomach or the chill he felt sweep over his body.
Sokka seemed doubtful but left the matter be. He walked over to the dwindling fire. "Here." He handed a taro leaf to Zuko when the prince sat down next to him. On the leaf was a fish - cooked, headless, and gutted - a few white chunks of what seemed to be sliced taro roots and some steamed leaves. Although it wasn't as appetizing at it looked uncooked, Zuko took the makeshift plate with a nod of thanks.
"Usually this stuff would be boiled," Sokka said as he took his own leaf. "I ended up steaming everything in taro leaves. Sorry if it's kinda bland." It was but Zuko shrugged it off and bit into another piece of the root. "Oh yeah," Sokka reached over to his left and extracted the jade dagger. "I had to borrow this when you were asleep." The tribesmen swallowed his fish and added, "You sure mumble a lot."
"What did I say?" Zuko asked with some worry. Sleep was his most vulnerable state and he hated it.
"I don't know," Sokka said and continued eating. "I think you mentioned me and Zhao a few times. Should I have woken you up?"
"No. I never remember anything anyway."
Their meal continued in silence. It wasn't awkward or impolite; the two occupants seemed to find it necessary and natural. When they finished eating they tossed the used taro leaving into the stream and Zuko extinguished the fire, fearing the warmth in his fingertips would spread throughout his body and spread the poison further.
Time passed quickly as they moved through the woods. Sokka was avidly recalling some event from his childhood that Zuko would have listen to if his mind wasn't occupied by the sense of impending doom. It would be ironic, he thought, if Sokka wasn't actually poisoned - if he was the only one under the drug. He had gravely underestimated the poison and, perhaps, Zhao.
"Are you listening to me?" Sokka asked and received a questioning glance from Zuko that obviously meant "no". Sokka shrugged, "Fine then, suit yourself, I might just have revealed something about the avatar, though…" Zuko caught the smirk in his voice.
"You already told me he's going to the North Pole," Zuko said irritably and rubbed his head. "I don't really care about his dietary choices or anything."
Sokka seemed to be taken back by the snarl in Zuko's voice and didn't say anything, but shrugged and continued along. Zuko caught him glance back a few times, sensing a problem but too hesitant to ask what it was. Zuko was sure he could hold out for the next two or three days. It wouldn't take them that long to reach the ports and a healer. He was sure he could find some herbalist's shop there. What worried him was if they continued to stop unnecessarily.
He suddenly collided with Sokka's back and the tribesman turned to face him with a finger pressed against his lips. Sokka glanced over his shoulder and Zuko followed his gaze. The familiar red tents caught his eyes. Fainter, in the background noise of the forest he could have sworn he heard a komodo rhino bellow.
"Let's go around," Sokka suggested and turned back. Zuko nodded and followed reluctantly. He should have guessed Zhao would block his path into the ports. The newly appointed Admiral would have most likely assumed Zuko was under the influence of the poison by now - weak, helpless, and headed for a possible cure.
"This sucks," Sokka hissed and fell into step with the prince. Zuko felt his body shudder and the atmosphere seemed to chill him further. Zuko found himself agreeing.
---
Avoiding the firebender encampment took more time than either of them had expected. The afternoon grew into night and they rested in the darkness, shoulder to shoulder. Sokka had sensed a change in Zuko's demeanor. The prince was becoming more introversive; his snide comments were replaced with curt nods or a short "yes" or "no". Physically the prince seemed adequate. It was true his pallor had grown, but his strength and dexterity were as they had been. He didn't question the other teen, though. Sokka needed desperately to believe the prince would tell him if there was something wrong.
So as night turned into dawn and dawn to day the duo spent their time in silence, skirting around the edges of the firebender camp. There were no close calls and there were no mishaps. Sokka was sure it was going beyond well. Although they were skipping meals, Zuko reassured him that they were near the ports - near enough not to stop to eat. It wasn't as if they found anything anyway.
Darkness was falling on the second night of their detour. Sokka sighed and leaned his left shoulder against the back of a tree. He looked over his other shoulder at he firebender and found the other teen panting, uninjured arm holding desperately on to a low hanging branch. The prince had been slower than usual that day. With an uncharacteristic groan Zuko slipped onto his knees, his arms wrapping around his chest.
Sokka knew there was something desperately wrong and as stupid as the question was he had to ask; "Are you all right, Zuko?"
The prince let out a shuddering breath and dropped his arms; his head remained down, though. "It's to cold," he said through gritted teeth.
Sokka was at his side and knelt down next to him. The tribesman had never liked dealing with sick people, there was always the fear he would somehow fail them. Zuko did look ill now that Sokka was close enough to see the exact shade of gray on his skin and slight shiver he seemed to experience every few seconds.
Sokka swallowed as he placed his palm across the prince's forehead. Zuko immediately winced away but Sokka wasn't able to miss the burning feel to his skin. "You're not cold," the tribesman said. "You're burning up."
"F-fucking Zhao." Zuko managed to laugh dryly. "Fucking irony."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Sokka asked and offered the prince his hand. The prince grasped it and pulled himself to his feet unsteadily. "You'd better begin to explain just what the hell happened to you."
"The poison," Zuko said and threw his arm around Sokka's neck to keep from falling. Instinctively, Sokka slipped his arm around the prince's waist, steadying him.
"What about the poison?" Sokka's mind was racing through the possibilities. Zuko hadn't told him about the poison in exact detail, all he knew was that he had been under its influence. The prince had procured the antidote from the firebenders. Everything should have been squared away after that. But then, Sokka felt his gut drop, that was if the prince had taken the antidote. Sokka had assumed he did. Sokka assumed Zuko would put himself before any other person, especially a tribesman. He swallowed the sense of impending doom welling in the back of his throat.
"You didn't take the antidote, did you?" Sokka dreaded hearing the answer because he knew the prince confirming it would embed it in his mind. He was already beginning to feel the guilt surge in his stomach.
"No." Sokka dropped his head and concentrated on keeping both their balances. They moved toward a dense patch of pine trees and sat down under the largest. Zuko pulled out of Sokka's grasp and lied against the trunk. "I didn't think I would need it. I thought we could reach the ports before it became a problem."
Sokka swallowed again and tried to catch the prince's eye. "How bad is it?" After a second he added, "And don't you dare lie. This is fucking serious."
Zuko seemed hesitant to answer. "I don't think I'll make it to the port."
Sokka was panicking. It was his nature to think up something comical, something to serve as a distraction from pain or suffering. But under the pine, in the dwindling light, his mind seemed to freeze. He could not lose Zuko.
"You'll make it to the port," Sokka said reassuringly. "Even if I have to carry you there."
Zuko snorted in mild amusement. "Disgraceful. I think I'd rather die."
Sokka smiled bitterly and tried not to think about it. "Do you want to try to cover some more ground or should we rest for the night?"
"I don't know which is worse," Zuko admitted and tipped his head back staring into the higher branches. "The poison spreads faster through physical exertion, but resting also consumes time."
Sokka wasn't sure which to choose either but settled for resting. "We can't really see where exactly we're walking in the dark," he reasoned and Zuko nodded in agreement.
They didn't start a fire, nor did they move far from the pine. Zuko lie on his back and stared into the night sky through the branches. Sokka lie next to him on his side; he watched the prince out of the corner of his eye. It was unnerving, just the thought of the prince slipping away - especially after both had been through so much together. They had been so close - maybe just a few miles - and now it seemed to be all over.
Sokka wasn't sure of what the prince meant to him. He was a brother, a friend and, even, more. The prince was on a level different than Katara, Aang, or his tribe. He wasn't higher than them, yet he wasn't family or a friend. It was beginning to scare the tribesman. He had always grouped firebenders together - because they had always been the same. It was only now, when he was isolated with the one, that he began to doubt his past assumptions.
"You know," Zuko said in a quiet voice. "I never thought I'd die like this."
Sokka faced the prince and propped his head on his hand. "That's because you're not going to."
It was a small hope, like a candle flickering along in the darkness. Hope that maybe just maybe luck would favor them again. It had for the past week and Sokka was beginning to fear it had run out.
"I always thought I'd die a warrior's death." Zuko muttered, seeming to ignore Sokka's statement. "Not like this. Not in the middle of the forest, freezing to death." Sokka felt his frustration grow. The prince could not die.
Instinctively Sokka rolled over and steadied himself against Zuko's torso. He felt the prince's breath hitched and his eyes met Sokka's before the tribesman rested his head against Zuko's chest. His left arm wrapped around the prince's shoulder - fingers grasping at the thick clothing and pin needles.
"You're not going to die cold or in this forest," Sokka said, breathing over the firebender's chest. "You're not going to die."
Zuko sighed and Sokka took comfort in the sound of the prince's heart beating. "I'm not going to let you die. You saved my life at the expense of your own health, now I'm going to make sure you didn't throw you chances of survival away."
There was another pause and Sokka felt he prince relax slightly. The beats of his heart grew slower and Sokka was afraid they might just come to a stop. "I don't think I threw my chances away."
Sokka felt the prince's left hand curve under his arm and around his waist, pulling him closer. Close, intimately close. Sokka's eyes widened slightly and his face flushed; he was glad Zuko couldn't see him now. It was a silly thought, trivial and inconsequential in the flow of things, but his mind digressed back to the holding cell in Zhao's ship and the feel of Zuko's tongue and the taste of blood in his mouth. He wanted to shake his head and expel the thought immediately, but he couldn't.
Sokka exhaled heavily and said, "You've changed a lot."
"So have you." The prince's voice was beginning to tire and waver. Sokka was sure he was nearly asleep and decided to let the prince have the last word. They had both changed, perhaps more than they were willing to admit.
Sokka's thought drifted back to the beating heart. There had to be a plan, there had to be a way. He hated feeling helpless, but he hated feeling as if he were doing nothing even more. Sleep was beginning to cling to his eyelids again and he forced himself to stay awake, afraid to lose the sound of Zuko's heart. It did over take him in the end, though.
Sokka closed his eyes to the dark and opened them to a red dawn. Immediately, his attention went to the teen underneath him. Zuko was asleep, breathing as if he were well again. Sokka closed his eyes and rested against the prince. There was no plan so he decided it was best to move as early as possible. Sokka pushed himself off the prince and felt the arm around his waist slip off limply. He stood and stretched his arms before facing his companion.
"Zuko." Sokka shook his shoulder lightly. There was no immediate respond and Sokka felt himself panic again. "Zuko. Zuko, wake up!"
The prince groaned and Sokka wasn't sure if it was out of pain or annoyance. Thankful it signaled he was soon to be conscious. The prince yawned and winced back pain as he sat up. Sokka felt his own stomach. It growled unhappily, but stayed quiet for the most part, as if sensing the more significant matter that faced the two.
"How do you feel?" Sokka asked.
"Like that damn bison of yours smashed in my rib cage and stomach." Zuko winced and placed a hand gingerly on his torso. He shifted himself so his back was facing the pine's truck and lie against it. "I'm not going to be able to make it Sokka. Even I have my limits."
His voice was cold and distant, as if he knew what had to be said but didn't want to say it. It was what Sokka had feared. Zuko was beginning to lose hope and confidence. The prince wasn't letting on to how bad it was and it would have to be nearly excruciating to keep him from reaching his goal.
"I have a plan." It was just what Sokka wanted to hear. Zuko deliberated it for a second and drew his knees up slightly. "I want you to leave, Sokka."
Sokka let the words settle in as he stared into the prince's eyes. There was no hate, no malice, there was only beseeching. Nevertheless, Sokka shook his head. "If that's your plan then it's pretty fucked up. We're in this together."
"No," Zuko said gravely. "No we weren't. We've always been at odds, even from the beginning. How may times have we tried to kill each other. This is your chance Sokka, take it and leave - go save the world."
Sokka frowned and felt his emotion stirring rapidly. "And what are you going to do when I'm gone? Just wait and die?"
Zuko smirked slightly and glanced at Sokka through the corner of his scathed eye. "No. The firebenders will find me, they'll find you too if you don't leave."
"No." Sokka sat himself down next to the prince. "Despite what you said we have been in this from the beginning and we'll end it together." Sokka turned so he faced the prince. "I care about you, too, Zuko. I'm staying here because I do."
Zuko looked at a small mound of pine needles. "What about your friends? Your sister?"
"They're not coming. They never were." Sokka felt a small part of him ache with the thought. It was his choice, he reminded himself. It was his choice to make Katara promise and it was his choice to let go of his boomerang at that certain moment. "If I ever fell into the Fire Nation's hands… I made them swear not to come looking for me." Sokka smiled sarcastically. "It's not as if I have anyone, they probably think I'm dead."
It was sudden. Zuko's hand clasped his and the small pile of needles burst into flame. Sokka watched the small trail of smoke curing up into the sky. Somewhere in the distance there was most likely another stream of smoke, drifting off into the heavens. It was just a matter of time before someone noticed there was one more stream than there should be. "So this is your plan?"
"If you have any other suggestions, I'm more than willing to listen."
Sokka stayed silent and watched the smoke grow more profound and noticeable. Eventually, Zuko's hand drew away and the prince rubbed at his shoulders. What lie ahead wasn't clear. It wasn't known. Sokka figured he'd handle it as he always did - as it came. It was time to roll with the punches again and see what luck had and hadn't provided. Sokka closed his eyes, fisted his hand, and waited for the inevitable.
To Be Continued In…
Chapter Twelve: Hostage Of This Nameless Feeling
Aboard the Zhao's ship, Zuko wakes to some new developments that are definitely in his favor. Sokka, meanwhile, is posed with a choice: stay with Zuko or leave to find his friends.
[edited 03.15.2009]