"Oh man, yeah," Sokka groans, turning his face into her shoulder. "And new books. I am so damn sick of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and I think I told a story about Loo being a ninja frog today."
"F'og," Loo confirms sleepily, stretching her arms out to Sokka to be held. "Ninjfog."
Steph laughs quietly. "That might be the most adorable thing I've heard all day."
Over by the very edge of the campsite, there's a shadow moving. It's where Katara left, but it isn't Katara. They know this because Katara is drifting over towards them, face bright and hopeful.
Something about that expression makes Sokka stiffen a little. But he smirks and kisses Steph's cheek before reaching to pluck Loo from Steph's lap. "That's just because you didn't hear the actual story. I don't remember most of it."
With Loo settled in his arms, he looks up at Katara with a slight smile and lifted brows. "Hey."
When they were younger, Katara pulled him away to look at and save cute little baby animals. A few years ago, Katara had only pulled him away from things in order to save other things, bigger things.
He glances down at the toddler in his arms, Loo half-asleep. "Is it important?"
Katara nods earnestly. "Really important. There's people living near here!" she confides, very quietly. "Come and see, they said they'd let us share dinner if we were polite and introduced ourselves and stuff, which sounds fair, doesn't it? But I want you to come talk to their leader."
Because - well, leaders should talk to leaders.
Steph is quite awake now, trying to keep a frown off her face as she listens.
Sokka is frowning a little, too, confused more than anything. "We have dinner already," he points out, nodding to their campfire. "Did those people come talk to you or did you go to them?"
He has Steph against his side and a toddler in his arms. Mel and Hana are closer to the fire, with Suki and Toph, all tired and wanting a rest in the fresh air.
"Katara, we have to take care of ourselves right now," he says, slow and patient and already trying not to wince. "We have a job to do, remember?"
"But they need our help," Katara insists, lower lips tarting to wobble. "What kind of people would we be if we just let them starve? They don't have anything hardly, I saw their cooking pot and it was nearly empty. We can't just leave them!"
"They were willing to share with the eight of us," Sokka points out logically, looking down at Loo instead of Katara's wobbling lip. His voice wavers a little all the same. "If they've got that much food, they'll be just fine."
But when he flops down beside Steph and lets his head drop onto her shoulder... that's probably commentary all on its own.
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"We're nearly there," she says quietly, with more optimism than truth.
Loo, who is half asleep too, smiles happily and murmurs "Unc'S'ka."
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He smiles for his niece, though, and ruffles her silky hair. The other arm goes around Steph's waist to squeeze possessively. "How's it going?"
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Steph laughs quietly. "That might be the most adorable thing I've heard all day."
Over by the very edge of the campsite, there's a shadow moving. It's where Katara left, but it isn't Katara. They know this because Katara is drifting over towards them, face bright and hopeful.
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With Loo settled in his arms, he looks up at Katara with a slight smile and lifted brows. "Hey."
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When they were younger, Katara pulled him away to look at and save cute little baby animals. A few years ago, Katara had only pulled him away from things in order to save other things, bigger things.
He glances down at the toddler in his arms, Loo half-asleep. "Is it important?"
This is a stupid question to ask Katara.
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Because - well, leaders should talk to leaders.
Steph is quite awake now, trying to keep a frown off her face as she listens.
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Yeah, he knew that was coming.
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He has Steph against his side and a toddler in his arms. Mel and Hana are closer to the fire, with Suki and Toph, all tired and wanting a rest in the fresh air.
"Katara, we have to take care of ourselves right now," he says, slow and patient and already trying not to wince. "We have a job to do, remember?"
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Steph is still frowning, but she's waiting for Sokka's decision, of course.
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