05. A Date With Despair

[angle_on_it]

[The concept of time is eluding Sokka. How long has it been since Fran forced him in fall to pieces? Five minutes? Fifty minutes? Five hours? He's got no idea, but it's nearly night now, and Sokka can't get the picture of Fran or those inky black figures out of his head long enough to crawl out of his safe place to go home.]

[Hunched down and

Comments

Before.

[prodigalmight]

[It was probably his fifth walk that day but he still had the feeling that something wasn't quite right. But this time, he found his friend hunched over on his little mindless meander.]

Sokka? [He moves closer and stares a little harder. Yup. Definitely him. He moves quickly and is on his knees in front of him in seconds flat.]

Sokka, what happened?

[Offline] BRO

[angle_on_it]

[He's still rattled, still holding onto his legs and still looking spooked. Those blue eyes turn up and he looks at Bon, but doesn't really see him. At least, not right away.]

[Sokka reaches up, rubs his raw eyes and shakes his head.] It's not right -- no more. Don't, j-just don't go out there, don't.

[Offline] IT'LL BE OKAY MAN

[prodigalmight]

[Bon grabs Sokka by the shoulders and shakes him lightly. Whatever he was seeing, he needed to snap out of it.]

Sokka? Jesus christ...Sokka, can you hear me? It's Ryuji. It's Bon. C'mon man, whatever you're seeing, it isn't real.

[His first instinct was to try chanting, but he wasn't sure if Sokka was possessed or just lost in his own mind.]

[Offline] I HOPE

[angle_on_it]

No! [The shaking only leaves him looking more dazed and he stiffens, as if under attack, raising his arms and trying to push away from Bon -- to fend off his grasp.] Get away, go! It's- it's too dark, too black, and...

[He looks away, distressed, obsessed, downright confused.] ...the eyes. I-I can't--

[Offline]By the way, Bon's a cry baby.

[prodigalmight]

[Bon stops shaking him but he doesn't let him go. He ignores the sting of tears as he slides his hands down Sokka's arms and rests them on his knees. He speaks more quietly this time, trying to keep his desperation under control.]

Sokka, there's nothing here that can hurt you. Not anymore. It's okay now, you're safe. I wont let anything get you. We still have to have that barbeque, remember? Can't let anything bad happen to you until at least after that.

[Offline] Hahaha!

[angle_on_it]

It's-it's not about me. [Focused on Bon ever so briefly, it's about the only cognitive thing he's managed so far, and it's fleeting. He looks through the other man and away, off into the distance with narrowing eyes.] Sick grins and eyes-- familiar eyes -- and blackness and-and pools of dark...

[Offline]

[prodigalmight]

[Bon moves over to the side of Sokka and wraps and arm loosely around his shoulders.]
Shh. It's okay. There's nothing here to hurt you. Whatever it was is gone now.
[He did his best not to let his voice shake while he was talking, but it was difficult. He was fighting the tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks tooth and nail.]

[Offline] ;___; Bon, you're gonna make me cry!

[angle_on_it]

[Even without real cognitive thoughts, Sokka's eased by Bon's presence, though he folds back on himself at the earliest opportunity. Hugging his legs tight, he just shakes his head and mutters.] No, no... couldn't save them, can't save them. Gonegonegone, coming back, but gone and they're hurt. Hurt and mad and I should have been there. Should have, but I wasn't, and they paid-- paid the price, felt the break, spilled the guts, paid the price...

[Offline]Well Sokka's gonna make me cry so it's only fair. ><

[prodigalmight]

There ain't nothin you can do about should haves Sokka. It sucks, but it's true. So instead you just gotta keep going from here and right the wrong you made in the past.
[He thought he was starting to understand what all of this was about. Instead of trying to bring it up he just moved a little closer and gave Sokka's shoulders a light squeeze.]

You know what always calmed me down when I was scared? My Dad chanting. It sounds really pretty. Here, I'll show you.

[Bon started with a low hum before moving into the chant of his holy scriptures. It was normally used to exorcise demons, but he felt like this might be an appropriate use. He spoke quietly and ignored the couple of tears that trickled down his cheek, just holding on to Sokka. He was afraid that if he let him go he would fall apart.]

[Offline] ;_______________________;

[angle_on_it]

[Oh, Bon, you don't know how much that helps. Sokka's only vaguely aware of the song at the start, but as those chant continues, he can't help but ease a little. Shoulders sagging, he leans heavily against his friend for support, still murmuring to himself, but not loud enough for words to be heard.]

[Offline]I didn't tear up and hug my computer screen, noooo.

[prodigalmight]

[Bon keeps on chanting, using it as something to focus on so he doesn't cry any harder than he already is. He isn't entirely sure what else he can do, but the chanting seems to have helped him relax at least a little bit.]

[Offline] Awwww!

[angle_on_it]

[Small miracle, that. Sokka's got little fortitude left for much of anything. He listens to the chanting, feeling the despair receding enough that he can accept reality again. In the twilight of the drama, he's feeling weak emotionally, physically, in ever manner a man can feel weak. But he does manage to put some conviction behind a few words.] Th-thank you... I just-- I couldn't--

[That's about all he has for now, and leans his head against Bon's stable form, supporting his head, closing his eyes.] I just couldn't... stop it...

[Offline]

[prodigalmight]

[He rubs Sokka's back a bit and nods, pausing his chant.] No problem. This is what friends are for, right?

[He blinks away the remaining tears in his eyes and takes a deep breath, patting Sokka's shoulder when he leans on him again.] It's alright. It's over now. It'll be okay. [Bon decided he would stay there until someone came to bring Sokka home, seeing as he wasn't sure where Sokka lived and was pretty sure the guy wasn't in the right state of mind to tell him.]

[Offline] Thank you so much -- that was beautiful. I love these two like whoa!

[angle_on_it]

[That's just what Sokka needs at the moment. A strong, sturdy friend intent on sticking around was worth more than words, and while he isn't lacking in people willing to do the same, there's something to be said about that burgeoning kinship with Bon. It soothes Sokka, and allows for a disturbed, but helpful half-sleep while they wait for relief.]

Thank you! I'm glad the two of them are friends. ^^

[prodigalmight]