The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowin' In the Wind [Future-Dated]

[angle_on_it]

Characters: alwaysreturned and angle_on_it
When: Sunday, November 6, 2011 [Future-Dated]
Where: South Sector Patrol Area
Rating: PG-13 / R
Summary: Happenstance forces Ron and Sokka to patrol the Southern Sector of the city together. Awkwardness and danger ensues.

Comments

tl;dr?

[angle_on_it]

Had circumstances been different, Sokka would have marveled at the magic before his eyes and wonder just how it was done. Then again, had circumstances been different, it was entirely likely that these two boys wouldn't be sharing this moment filtered through a rather strained and unyielding relationship built on a grudge, sitting atop a foundation of awkwardness.

At first, that very same image he'd only glimpsed before. Not Ron... definitely not Ron, but obviously family, probably an older brother by the look of him. Dead. For only the briefest moment, Sokka, knowing Ron to have several brothers, wondered why only one brother, and why that particular expression? It cast the first light on the depths of this Weasley's fear, even if he wasn't to understand that was what he was seeing at that moment.

But one Snap! later and Sokka's eyes were wide, unsure how or why he was seeing what he was seeing, but shocked nonetheless. Any outside perspective on the time he'd spent in bed with Hermione felt like an unwelcome invasion that sprouted anger in him. In that same moment, he saw the reflection of that anger in Ron's face, twisted and dark, but forced back by his need for concentration. How were they seeing this? Why were they seeing this? It made Sokka redden and his fist clenched around his club with enough torque to make his knuckles crack. Then torture... It twisted Sokka's stomach to see Granger in such a way, and the flurry of emotion was enough to send the young man's head spinning. When he finally checked back in, Ron's spider was rolling onto its back, harmlessly at rest thanks to the ginger wizard.

Sokka was shaking. What was all that? He wanted to explode, to scream a little, to demand why he, of all people, had showed up in front of their eyes in such a compromising and private position, but before he could ask, Ron was explaining it all with no pause.

A boggart. A shapeshifter. What they fear the most... As the realization slowly descended upon the younger man, he could feel the cold in his stomach fighting the fire entering his veins. If he hadn't felt like a monster before, he did now. Ron, despite being faced by his greatest fears, one mounted atop another, had taken the risk and stood up for not only himself, but also the perpetrator responsible for realizing one of Weasley's worst fears.

Sokka wasn't sure what to say. There was little to say, considering. He couldn't be mad, even if he still felt the sting of embarrassment reddening his cheeks, still felt the racing of his heart, still felt the urge to fight for his right to at least some privacy. But, really, what real rights did he have after what he'd done? And it wasn't as if either of them had wanted to see any of it.

"Let's get out of here," he urged the other boy, offering down a hand he isn't sure will ever be taken. Rather sincerely, in the moment of silence that followed, he added, "And... And thank you for saving us. Again..."

pfft this is a tl;dr log so <3 /keeps it

[alwaysreturned]

Ron's stomach couldn't stop its recoiling. He'd only had to face a boggart once before. That was ages ago, when things had been so much simpler. Just a thirteen year old boy who had faced a fight to get a stone for immortality and seen one of his best friends petrified, but the complete darkness in the world hadn't ruined the innocence in that one fear. Just a spider. Only a spider, but now it was so much worse. That damned locket had known, too, but this boggart knew more now. It amplified it and Ron's throat was a giant cotton ball once more.

The blood in his veins felt cold at the idea Sokka had seen that. So far into his mind that Ron had never really told anyone. He was a jealous, insecure prick, sure, but Harry hadn't known until that damned locket either. And now, well, now it was on some bloke he hardly knew over some event that had been terrible... He sucked in a breath, hearing Sokka's words to leave. He shook his head, not quite able to speak yet as he tried not letting his emotions get the best of him. Really, what was he supposed to do? Every fear it decided to show him were real and the worst imaginable. Things that had been haunting him since his first day in Adstringendum to become mixed with other horrors he'd met along the way.

"Don't mention it," he said hollowly, a conviction to his words that meant really, don't mention it. He never wanted to face this thing again. Picking up his wand that he'd somehow dropped in the process, Ron glanced at up. It was with a recoil of lashing anger and emotion, that Ron did take his hand and pulled himself up. Quiet a moment, Ron shook his head. "We'll... we'll need to lock the other one back up," he managed, throat like tar, "so no one runs into accidentally."

[angle_on_it]

There's a quiet understanding that Sokka expresses with just a nod. Even if they were both a bit angry, even if Ron's grip had been a little too tight to be friendly, Sokka could marvel at the fact that they'd managed to make it through more than one dangerous scrape together in so few minutes. He wouldn't have thought it possible if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, though he was sparing little of the praise for himself since he'd proved mostly useless up to this point.

"I'll make sure the door's closed and then you can lock it," he assured, presuming Weasley could lock what he'd unlocked. Turning on his heel and creeping back the way they came, Sokka listened for any sign of R.O.U.S.s breaking the barrier provided the wizard. There was a distinctive gnawing sound and lots of chattering, but nothing that would convince the younger man the rodents were right on their heels again.

With no hesitation (what more could this boggart show him that the other hadn't, after all) he seized up the door handle and held it closed against the frame just in case the terrible shapeshifter on the other side decided to make an exit before they could secure the lock. Not so idly, he wondered what exactly might have happened if Ron hadn't intervened, but since the other boy had requested silence on the subject, he wasn't about to ask. "I'm ready when you are."

[alwaysreturned]

Ron's movements were sluggish at best for the moment. The recoiling emotions and feelings vibrated through his body in a way that made simple movements difficult. But the ginger knew he could not sit idle, not with R.O.U.S.s and boggarts so close by. He was still ashen as he closed the door behind them, locking it for precaution.

He nodded, however, when Sokka spoke up. A shaky breath and he raised the wand once more. He hadn't had to use this much magic actively in a while. Muttering the incantation, he frowned before lowering his wand. It was done, as far as he knew. Stepping away, he swallowed.

"Come on," he managed, "I don't fancy opening anymore doors. Best take our chances."

[angle_on_it]

Sokka wasn't about to argue. He nodded, standing by until he was sure Ron wasn't going to just drop to the floor now that everything was starting to calm a little. He took a long breath and tried to take stock in their situation. They needed a plan, so Sokka thought for a second and then spoke up again. "I think we should try going out the other side of the house. At least there'll be fewer there and we'll have a better chance of getting some distance on him." Not that distance would do Sokka a lot of good; not for the first time, he wondered why he didn't bother bringing his boomerang along with him.

"If you can clear a path ahead of us and keep it clear, I think I can take up the rear and hold off the fastest of them. They don't seem like they're as quick as we are, so we'll outrun them eventually." It wasn't a great plan, no, but at least it was a plan.

i'm sorry for the wait dear gdsgd prose has been failing me

[alwaysreturned]

No, Ron wasn't going to faint or pass out... Or anything of the sort, really. He was shaky, at best, but he wasn't completely off kilter. Really, he wanted this over more than ever now and it wasn't even Sokka's fault this time. His wand hand was keeping such a tight grip that his knuckles were once more turning white, as if he would never loosen up on its hold. Casting the other male a look, his lips dipped down into a scowl before he shook his head.

"S'not like we can just stick about here anyway," he managed, clearing his throat, "dunno if I like our odds." The way he saw it they were just two males who weren't on the best of terms against a pack of giant rodents. Hand running through his hair, he shrugged. "Let's just give it a go."

I don't mind waiting! ^_^

[angle_on_it]

Sokka agreed, nodding his head firmly. It was better for the both of them they didn't linger, especially since every door seemed to hold the makings for a little more nightmare fuel. "Good luck," the tribesman said, ruefully, and had circumstances been a little different, he might have accompanied the well wishing with a sporting grin. As it was, though, the younger man wasn't sure if either of them were making it out of the situation alive, and therefore the sentiment was as sincere as it would ever be.

Once down the stairs, Sokka could finally see what a good job Ron's charm had done to keep the rodents out. Just as when they'd gone upstairs, the interior of the house remained R.O.U.S.-free. Breathing a sigh of relief, Sokka made for the front door, which opened out to the street. Peeking through the cracks between the boards on the windows, he breathed shallowly so as not to kick up any dust. "Looks like it's pretty quiet out this way."

i have just been utter fail sob sorry

[alwaysreturned]

Ron moved slightly slower than Sokka, hanging back to glance around at the surroundings. When he spoke up, Ron rose a brow before looking away with a nod. Right, luck. They'd need that if they were going to get out of this hell hole in one piece. He was thinking of as many spells as he could that would get giant rodents off their backs. Unfortunately, there wasn't a spell specifically for that.

Letting his wand light up where he was walking, Ron took inventory of downstairs. Of course he knew the spells would work, he hadn't been helping put them up for nearly nine months for them not to know. Taking a spin to where he'd set it up, Ron glanced back to wear Sokka was looking out. "Going to have to undo the enchantments to get us out unless you want to be impeded by it," he returned, "just cause it looks quiet doesn't mean you'd best not be ready to run your arse off."

He shrugged, tightening hand on the wand. "Reckon I can give you a few seconds head start."

No worries! This was a pretty intense log. ;_;

[angle_on_it]

"If it's all the same to you," Sokka replied, "I'd like to stay together." It wasn't as if he didn't appreciate the sentiment, really, but he didn't feel right fleeing without Ron. Even if the wizard insisted he'd catch up (surely, he would insist that much if pressed), Sokka didn't like the idea that something could happen to Weasley in the meantime, and maybe it would be too late for the tribesman to get back in enough time to help. No, better to stick nearby.

Sokka tried not to breathe heavily, already expecting it to be a little bit crazy. "You can remove the enchantments and we'll head back toward the more populated part of town. Together, right? Neither of us want to explain how we ended up coming home without a partner." Of course, has it occurred to either of these boys to call for backup? Nope. But then, who's really surprised?