Tokka Week 2015

4. We Danced

We danced at the wedding.

I laughed and told him I never thought I'd see the day. But this was Sokka; he didn't catch my meaning.

The necklace he carved was beautiful, or so I'm told. It's hard to tell with Sokka. Normally I could trust people to give him criticism if he really deserved it, but there's something about weddings - something about a rosy bride showing off the tangible form of a promise - that makes anything but admiring rapture impossible. Even my earth sense can't see past that.

Certainly this wasn't limited to the enchanted onlookers. Sokka himself could be romantic, there's no denying that, but today it seemed every other side of him - his cynicism, his logic, even his stomach - was not invited to attend. Everything was beautiful to him.

I was beautiful.

He told me he'd never seen me so lovely, albeit not in so many words. I shouldn't've - I really shouldn't've - but I said that to me I looked the same as always. But even at this he was unflappable. He just laughed. He could always count on me for that, even when he was bewitched by love. Not even a wedding could stop us from being pals.

Around us the guests danced and feasted in traditional style. He'd insisted on hitting every Water Tribe custom, without regard to the awkwardness of many of his Earth Kingdom guests. Wedding or no, not everyone can handle whale blubber. Not that he opposed including Earth Kingdom elements, nor were they totally absent - it just so happened that he was the one who cared more about all the details.

I didn't really care about any of it. I clung a little tighter to him, wishing the moment would last. Wishing, perhaps, that I was as expressive and eloquent as he. Things would be different, then, wouldn't they. Perhaps they would be better. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, trying to imagine such an idea. Better than this?

Of course, the moment didn't last.

Interrupted whispers, unclasped hands, lost proximity - it was a parting that meant so much more today against every other day. But I had to let him go. At a Water Tribe wedding, not even the bride can monopolize the groom.

We danced.

I smiled, retracing the experience in my mind. I had prepared myself a long time for this day, right down to this moment. Everything felt frozen in time, even as the festivities went on, as those by me tried to get my attention, as Sokka continued dancing with one of the guests.

Even as I kept my smile fixed, I was overwhelmed by the sensation of all my emotions. That was another wedding thing, emotions. It was more than just a union between two people - it was a coming together of all kinds of people with their hopes and dreams for the future. It's no wonder people can get so excited, dreamy, or even cynical about weddings. But most infamous of all were the tears. It was hard to miss all the sniffs and sobs during the ceremony, nor did they stop just because the celebration began. Sensible me, I was above that.

I took a long, halting breath.

Or rather: silly me, I thought I'd be above that.