Sokka has seen more places and talked to more people than he could even count since the crazy day that Aang showed up in their lives. But through it all, he never has felt this way before; surrounded by the men he grew up with, being treated like a man for the first time in his life…
He was home.
“I call it,” Hakoda paused for effect. “The stink and sink!”
Sokka couldn’t help it. He laughes, and the last tension and worry of the day seemed to be released along with it. “Ha! Good one, dad!”
Hakoda grins and claps him on the shoulder. “There’s one other thing I want to show you. Something I think you’ll like.” Then he winks conspiratorially.
Sokka follows his father back through the encampment, stopping every twenty yards or so to exchange greetings with people he knew, people he hadn’t seen in years. His face aches from grinning. Eventually, though, Hakoda leads him to the other side of the beach; a place where the cold waves of the bay crashes up against the rocks of a cliff. Only a small strip of sand separates water from rock, and beyond that, a shallow cave.
Bato stands watch at the edge of the cave. He smiles at their approach and came to welcome Sokka in a hug. “You’ve grown since the last time I saw you!” It wasn’t the first time it has been said today, but it meant a little more, having only seen Bato a few months back at the Abby. Sokka feels his chest swell in pride – he unconsciously straightens, trying to put on even more height.
Hakoda grins at the display, but draws his son’s attention back to the mouth of the cave. “We captured this right after a strong storm nearly ripped our mast off,” he says, leading him in.
It’s… a boy.
At least that’s what Sokka assumes, at first. There’s a half starved boy with his hands strung up over his head, standing slumped in the cave. The chains around his wrists keep him from sitting and – oh spirits, Sokka can count his ribs. Every single one.
The boy stirs, lifts his head, and glares at them. Glares with light golden eyes. And despite the fact that he’s bound, stupid ponytail long cut away, his thin chest covered with marks Sokka doesn’t even want to think about… those eyes are nearly molten with hate.
And it’s the eyes that let Sokka recognize him.
“That… That’s Prince Zuko,” he says, feeling like the floor just opened up under him. The terrible firebender who chased them halfway around the world, before dissappering sometime after that horrible storm. That storm…
“Yes,” Hakoda answers, and there’s a measure of satisfaction in his voice. The same one he has when he’s done a job well done. “We know.”
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
timeasmymeasure
Hakoda's Secret Weapon...
He was home.
“I call it,” Hakoda paused for effect. “The stink and sink!”
Sokka couldn’t help it. He laughes, and the last tension and worry of the day seemed to be released along with it. “Ha! Good one, dad!”
Hakoda grins and claps him on the shoulder. “There’s one other thing I want to show you. Something I think you’ll like.” Then he winks conspiratorially.
Sokka follows his father back through the encampment, stopping every twenty yards or so to exchange greetings with people he knew, people he hadn’t seen in years. His face aches from grinning. Eventually, though, Hakoda leads him to the other side of the beach; a place where the cold waves of the bay crashes up against the rocks of a cliff. Only a small strip of sand separates water from rock, and beyond that, a shallow cave.
Bato stands watch at the edge of the cave. He smiles at their approach and came to welcome Sokka in a hug. “You’ve grown since the last time I saw you!” It wasn’t the first time it has been said today, but it meant a little more, having only seen Bato a few months back at the Abby. Sokka feels his chest swell in pride – he unconsciously straightens, trying to put on even more height.
Hakoda grins at the display, but draws his son’s attention back to the mouth of the cave. “We captured this right after a strong storm nearly ripped our mast off,” he says, leading him in.
It’s… a boy.
At least that’s what Sokka assumes, at first. There’s a half starved boy with his hands strung up over his head, standing slumped in the cave. The chains around his wrists keep him from sitting and – oh spirits, Sokka can count his ribs. Every single one.
The boy stirs, lifts his head, and glares at them. Glares with light golden eyes. And despite the fact that he’s bound, stupid ponytail long cut away, his thin chest covered with marks Sokka doesn’t even want to think about… those eyes are nearly molten with hate.
And it’s the eyes that let Sokka recognize him.
“That… That’s Prince Zuko,” he says, feeling like the floor just opened up under him. The terrible firebender who chased them halfway around the world, before dissappering sometime after that horrible storm. That storm…
“Yes,” Hakoda answers, and there’s a measure of satisfaction in his voice. The same one he has when he’s done a job well done. “We know.”
Zuko just stares at him and Sokka feels cold.
******