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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"Was that before you decided killing was okay?'

She regretted it as soon as it left her mouth, but she couldn't help it. At least it didn't sound as accusatory as it could have.

If he'd been his normal self, that would have stung. But as it was, it didn't even faze him. He just gave her a look that suggested he wasn't too happy at the implication.

"Luceti didn't make me a killer, Korra. Aang may have won the war without taking a single life, but that doesn't mean lives weren't taken. Or that some of this friends didn't take the lives he couldn't."

She glared at him. She hadn't meant for their conversation to turn into this, but she wasn't going to drop it now. Not when it had bugged her so much on the draft, and every time she thought about him fighting since.

"That's not an excuse. Look - I get it, war is tough, it's not as easy as it sounds. But there were alternatives to killing up there, and you know it."

"And do what, Korra? Tie their hands up? Use the scanners the Malnosso give out? There is no solution here. If we don't kill them, the Malnosso either do it themselves or they lock them up. And we've got some pretty good suspicions about where that leads."

He stayed vague on that point because it was a pretty weak one.

"I know you're upset about what happened. But don't make me the bad guy because of it. I wasn't just taking lives on TERRACE. I was saving them too."

"You're not the bad guy, but take some responsibility for yourself. Don't blame the fact that you choose to kill on Aang or saving lives." Maybe sparing lives was ultimately pointless, if the Malnosso got them anyway. But that didn't excuse it. That didn't make it okay. That didn't give him the right to decide who lived and died, especially in a war that wasn't theirs.

She pushed herself off the counter, posture tense as she moved closer to him.

"You could at least sound sorry about it."

He kept his eyes locked on hers and though he didn't bother sitting up again, he was sure to track her movements. For all he knew, she was going to throw an Avatar State tantrum over this. Which meant it would be well to choose his words wisely.

"Is that what you want? For me to break down and cry about what I've done? Because I've done it before. But I can't live every day like that. I won't live like that. If I sound hard, it's because it's the only way to get by."

And that was true. At least, it was three months ago, when he would often struggle with the thought of the blood on his hands, how much he had strayed from who he once was, and about the kind of monster he had been turning into. It wasn't true now. The lack of guilt and strife that came with his change was nothing short of a blessing. If he could smile and mean it, then he was doing a lot better than he had before.

She felt her anger turn bitter at his words. Not because he was winning her over, but because his argument was so calculated and calm that it proved how far he'd gone to accept it like this. It didn't even bother him anymore? Was he seriously that numb? How couldn't he feel the weight of every single life he had taken?

"No, it isn't. I didn't kill anyone, and guess what? I saved people, too. A lot of people. Don't act like I should feel sorry for you because of the person you chose to become."

The urge to get out her frustration physically was growing, so she headed for the back door. Punching a tree sure sounded nice. She threw a cursory glance at him over her shoulder. "You're a hero to our tribe, Sokka. This isn't why."

Sokka watched her go with increasing irritation, but at least she wasn't exploding at him. But her words didn't sting. Oh, they made him mad, but they didn't hurt anything more than his pride. After she had left and was out of earshot, he began mumbling to himself.

"Welcome back, Sokka. Nice to see you again. Let me just unload all my problems on you, Sokka. Sure is nice having you back." He rolled his eyes, stood up, and headed to his room. "I've got to find a way to spend less time around this place."

Sokka the 79th - [Action]

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