Hi guys! This is my first story, so please leave polite constructive criticism in the reviews.

Takes place after "The Southern Raiders"

Sokka has always been in Katara's shadow. Although he was the last warrior in the Southern Water Tribe, Katara was the last waterbender. She was considered more important, more valuable. Even in the Gaang she had a purpose. For the longest time, Sokka was considered as 'Katara's brother' or 'Chief Hakoda's son'. He was never known as the Avatar's strategist, no, he was just considered as a tag-a-long nonbender who had relations with some of the world's most powerful people. Being enveloped in other people's shadows became part of Sokka's daily routine, his self-esteem going down every time he saw Katara, Aang, and Toph train. He thought of himself as a worthless dead-weight.

Until he met Zuko.

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It wasn't until after escaping The Boiling Rock did Sokka realize how much they were alike. Both of their fathers were absent during their childhood. They both lost their mothers to the Fire Nation, and unlike Katara, neither talked much about it. And most importantly, they both had powerful younger sisters. They were both deemed as insignificant and an anchor. Zuko convinced himself that Azula is the perfect prodigy daughter; born lucky while he was lucky to be born. Sokka was overshadowed by Katara, unimportant compared to the her.

'We may be alike' Sokka thought 'but there is one dissimilarity'.

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Zuko managed to survive Azula's tormenting while Sokka surrenders to Katara's insults.

"After mother died, I was the one who took care of everyone while you ran around playing warrior!"

"Stand back Sokka, we'll take care of this."

"Now IS NOT the time for goofing around Sokka! By Tui and La we're in the middle of a war!"

And the one that stung the most: "Then you didn't love her like I did!"

Zuko faced the same verbal assaults and what did he do? He stood back up, despite feeling inferior. Sokka, on the other hand, loved Katara so much that he forgave her. Again and again and again and again. 'She just has a temper problem' He would reason 'She probably doesn't mean it'. Every time the last waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe insulted her brother, the teenage warrior would feel an invisible blade digging deeper into his chest. Did she really accuse him, her own brother, of not loving their mom? Turns out she did.

'Sure, I joke a lot" Sokka reasoned, 'But at least I'm making an active effort coping with Mom's death.'. After Kya died, the jokes and sarcasm only increased; not because he didn't care about his mom, no quite the opposite. He was Katara's older brother and the last warrior of the South Pole. Shoving his remorse and grief would distract him from his duties, it would make him weak and Sokka was NOT weak. At least, he didn't think he was. He joked, fooled around, added sarcasm to every word that left his mouth for what? For Katara. For protecting her from his rage from- from that fire that was burning inside waiting to engulf him in flames.

At least goofing around helped. Over time he became emotionally stable. He didn't need to bring up his mother's death whenever he was angry. He didn't become obsessed with a piece of jewelry. When he thought of his mother he didn't think about the Day of Black Snow, no, he thought of those times where she would chase him and Katara around the igloo, finally cornering them and submerging them in a hug full of love. 'Katara is my complete opposite' Sokka realized. She often brings up her mother's death in an argument to make her opponent, commonly Zuko, feel guilty. She became obsessed with touching Kya's choker whenever she was upset. When Katara thinks of her mother, she remembers the last time she saw her; in that room with her murderer.

As he came back from the Boiling Rock in the warship, Sokka came to a revelation. 'I don't know her anymore.' he realized. The past few weeks, he stiffened whenever he heard her voice. His posture shows a lack of self-confidence when he sees her bending. Before when she insulted him, she would come back hours later begging for his forgiveness. But now she doesn't even apologize, just assumes that he'll forgive her. After all, what are big brothers for?

Sokka comes to a conclusion as the warship lands at the Western Air Temple, "I'm trapped in ice made by someone I once considered my sister. I'm stuck and no one will be able to free me."

So that's Chapter 1 of my first story!

My goal is to upload one chapter per week. I have school and studies so this short is not my top priority. Forgive me if I don't update on time.