A. N. : It's Sokka time ! It's not a good time, unfortunately, but at least Momo is here ?

Sokka is bored.

Seriously, he woke up two days ago, he doesn't see why Katara is still keeping him on forced rest duty. At least she isn't insisting on him staying immobile anymore, that was painful.

Still. He's fine, he didn't die, Katara fixed up his arm and it barely even itches anymore thanks to her. He should be allowed to spar with Zuko, kick Jet's ass, or hell, even just join them on their weird little breathing session or whatever it is they're doing over there.

He shouldn't have to make sure Lin doesn't set Momo's tail on fire as she tries to catch up with him. What is it with babies and Momo, anyway ? Is it because he's doll-sized ? Is it the soft fur ? The fun chirping noises ?

Right as Sokka realizes that yeah, actually it makes sense that Momo would be a baby-magnet, said incredibly annoying animal climbs up his back and holds on tight to Sokka's head, like the worst fur hat in existence.

Sokka looks up at Momo, whose face is upside-down above his. You do know you can fly, right – Momo, of course, doesn't answer in any way Sokka can understand, just a mrrp that Sokka decides means no Sokka, actually I had completely forgotten about me being a flying lemur, thank you for reminding me, I shan't do anything with this new information.

Or something like that. Sokka doesn't speak lemur.

He whiningly asks Katara when she'll be done cooking once Lin decides to try climbing up his crossed legs to get closer to her prey. Please don't sneeze on him, he doesn't want to lose his arm hair again.

Tui and La, he hopes Dad and Bato and everyone are alright. Hopes they got his message and headed to Shu Jing, hopes Master Piandao could take them in.

Please don't be dead.

Yes, they managed to save Suki and Zuko's uncle, but if Dad died because of – not him, not his fault, he gave Dad a choice, he –

He doesn't know if he could live with himself.

Suki already can't, that's for sure. She won't look at him if she can avoid it, takes every chance she sees to be away from him – helping Katara with laundry, looking after Lin, doing katas and stretches on her own, going on walks with Toph who knows where, or her latest excuse, going to the village with Aang to see if she can find a new weapon.

He wishes she'd just tell him she doesn't want to talk to him anymore, that he's just fucked up too much for her taste, instead of inventing some bullshit like dropping her sword in a river.

It would probably hurt less than having to hear her lie – and he knows it's a lie because she's Suki, she's strong and competent and she doesn't just make it all up as she goes, not like him. And sure, Master Piandao said Sokka's adaptability or creativity or whatever – said it was a strength, but it also means he makes mistakes someone with experience, someone like Suki, just doesn't do.

Mistakes like looking away from your opponent, or dropping your sword.

When… when Suki comes back, he should… he should talk to her. Tell her she doesn't have to lie and he… Sokka understands. He knows he messed up, and made her worry, and she probably doesn't want to stay with someone who stepped into a trap willingly and was incompetent enough to almost die for it.

He'd break up with himself, if he could.

So yeah. He gets it. He needs to tell her, and take that weight off of her shoulders and just. Accept he lost someone because he wasn't good enough. Again.

But at least Suki's alive, unlike Yue, unlike Mom, unlike Dad and Bato and the others maybe, hopefully not, please –

She's alive. It's all that matters.

Even if it hurts.