markofthewise | Sokka the 79th

Over two months ago, Sokka died. His penalty was something incredibly intangible. It took from him his empathy, his ability to love, and so many other things. He didn't have a way of describing it, but he was empty. In truth, he wasn't sure he felt anything. There was nothing that truly touched him on the inside.

More than a week ago, Sokka left for a mission. A week and a half with the Depot where they instituted the kind of justice he could appreciate. He certainly felt no remorse when he shot a man for stealing water. When bandits attacked the depot, they rounded up most of them and then strung them up for their trouble. It was a simple morality and for a short while, things actually made sense. Not like the gray morality in Luceti, where people were stupid enough to think that sparing the lives of murderers and thieves meant anything.

And then he got his reward. Cashing in the bulk of mission points he'd accumulated for over a year, he was given what he really coveted the most. Power. And now he had it. As he walked into Luceti, he imagined that he could feel the difference. It was not quite so dramatic as what he had been given by the Rogue Malnosso, but he was content with the knowledge that he'd be keeping what he'd earned. There'd be no scientists taking it away from him this time.

It's mid-day when Sokka returns to town and he's still wearing the cowboy hat he took to the Depot with him. Maybe it doesn't exactly mesh with the Water Tribe clothes he's accustomed to, but he likes it. The hat makes him feel gritty and intimidating. He'll eventually get tired of hat hair, though. Just not today.

So today for his time spent back in Luceti, he heads home to greet whoever might be there. He checks in Foo Foo, the saber toothed moose lion he received from Christmas. It's getting quite big now, having reached the size of medium-sized dog. The tips of his antlers are even starting to become a bit more visible. Although the animal does seem quieter around Sokka, its at least obedient and follows him as he goes about Luceti. For today that includes the Smithy until evening, the Library for an hour, back at House 56 for dinner, and then out in the forest to try and teach Foo Foo to hunt.

The next morning, he makes sure that Okita Souji will meet him for their training session. Sokka is looking forward to seeing the results.

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"Oh good, finally someone who is half-way modern. It's a pain dealing with us slow-witted barbarians all the time."

"Oh, please. You know that's so not how I meant it."

After all, she wasn't known for hanging with the most modern of individuals.

"Sure, maybe not, but I have a right- no, an obligation to be offended anyway."

"I'm suddenly regretting acting all cool and mature about the fact that you got all interrogatory about my sex life a few moments ago..."

"You squandered a golden opportunity. It may not come again."

"That's me. A squanderer.

But while we're on the topic of opportunities, have you had one to talk to Suki lately?"

That's it. Gloves are off. She's going for the throat.

So there it was. He should have expected as much that Suki would end up sobbing her story to anyone who would listen.

"We run into each other now and then." He glanced at Buffy. "She's not taking the break up well."

"People so rarely do."

"It's harder for her than it is for me. For me, it felt like I already lost her over a year ago. Things weren't really the same when she came back. But it's all new to her and she wants to blame it all on how Luceti's made me different."

In a sense, it wasn't even a lie. He'd been desperately trying to make things work, but he'd have been lying to say it was like they were a happy, ordinary couple again.

"You know, she's not wrong. Not on one count, at least. Luceti's made us all different. I feel so far away from the me I used to be. And nedgasm aside, Jack's a whole different man. It's just a question of whether it changes us for the better."

"Maybe it's not. But I tried pretending to be what she remembered. It didn't work out."

"You tried to...Sokka, you're not this guy. Since when have you been this guy? Pretending? Lying? If I tried to pull that crap in my relationships, you'd shame me six ways to Sunday and beyond."

Sokka could be blunt and he could be a bit of a jerk, but Buffy had never known him to be a liar -- not in such a self-serving cause, at least.

"Well I know that now. She found out we were engaged and that was it."

This was the part of the story she was already familiar with.

"...That was the straw that broke the relationship-camel's back?"

Familiar or not, she knew there was more to it. Although she didn't expect Sokka to spill his guts over the rest of the story, she also didn't expect he would lie to her.

Scratch that. She hoped he wouldn't. And she felt a stab of guilt over testing him like this.

"She moved out, yeah. I apologized later, but it wasn't enough."

Still, factually, true. He apologized before his current death penalty and there did seem to be a chance of them mending things up, in time.

"...She seemed pretty upset when we spoke."

He nodded. "She's angry with me. I've been trying, but she won't listen to me anymore. She makes everything I say sound horrible. So, I'll be honest, I've stopped trying. I'm trying to move on and I suggested that it was time she did the same thing. Some people just aren't meant to be together."

What a different story this was to the one she's heard months ago! In the other, Sokka had seemed heartfelt and disappointed. Cool-headed but regretful. Does a few months really make such a difference when it came to moving on? She wasn't sure she believed that, for all she'd trumpeted the notion from the highest heights.

"I don't think she's being all that unreasonably. As angry as she is, she hesitated telling me her feelings 'cause she knows we're friends. She didn't want me to feel awkward. Or torn. Or turned against you. Which -- I hasten to add -- I am not. Just...worried."

"Well, I appreciate it, but you really don't have to. I was pretty broken up about it, but I found someone else. And that helped."

So far Sokka hadn't broadcasted his new relationship with Katniss that much, but it wasn't as thought he was being very secretive about having something going on. Certainly he wouldn't be surprised if Buffy already had found out by now.

"Wait. You have?"

She had not, in fact, heard. Buffy didn't run in those circles.

He nodded. "She's really helped, you know? Sometimes you just need someone who gets things the way you do"

"I understand that. It's perfectly natural. I'm just...surprised, 's all."

He shrugged. "Maybe I'll bring her to the bar sometime."

"I'd like that."

Not only because she'd like to meet this new lady in Sokka's life, but because it would bear to investigate the matter a little further. "Pick an afternoon. Maybe a Monday or a Tuesday. You want a quiet, date-like visit. Not one surrounded by the actual drinkers and mischief-makers of the evening."

"I'm insulted you don't think we'd make good mischief-makers."

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