18: [OPEN COMMENTLOG]

[withanokka]

[Sokka had been headed to Jim's room, mostly to drag him out so they could go do things, and collect Hiccup soon after-- he had started to wonder if, in Silver's absence, Jim forgot that there was life outside his apartment room, and had started to make a habit of dragging him out on a near-daily basis. Or, he'd tried to, anyway. Sometimes he

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[noturmother]

[She's certainly not on the top deck, or heading anywhere for it. But a kind passerby on the boat had heard the squeaky voice hollering her name, and, once spotted her a few decks below; passed one the message.

Now there was a very confused Katara trailing the stairs up to the upper deck. What on earth? Who had been calling her?]

[withanokka]

[Sokka is running back and forth along the deck, searching for another staircase to run down to continue his search when he sees someone from home-- they have to be from home, they look just like he does-- but he can't see them clearly enough to identify them.

He runs closer, waving his arms and then stops dead, eyes wide-- the terror comes first, the disbelief, second.]

M-mom?

[His voice cracks.]

[noturmother]

[For one, Katara is more than confused. Had there always been so many children on board? Certainly not that she could remember. What was going on? Some of them even looked.. Well. Oddly familiar. Was that normal? Was someone breeding?

But there's a voice, nearby, and it sounds so hauntingly familiar. She turns to see-- Sokka. Tiny. But it's Sokka and he's little and--]

Sokka?

[Oh god. Mom. He sees mom. Where? Katara whips her head around searching, searching. But.. There's no one there but her. So that would mean... She shakes her head.]

I-It's me; Katara.

[withanokka]

Kkh--

[He stumbles over his sister's name, unable to get out a whole syllable. He swallows hard and puts on his best Big Bad Wolf Warrior Face and takes a step away.]

Y-y--

B-but--

Y-you look like mom--

[He's not going to cry. He's not going to cry. He snuffles loudly and tenses, his fists clenching tight into fists, biting his lip.]

K-katara's my little sister! Don't lie!!

[noturmother]

[He's right. He's totally right. But now it's very, very true that she is no longer his little sister. She's much older than him. At least a good five years, perhaps.

She shakes her head again.]

No- No, Sokka, it's me. I don't know what's happened. [She crouches down to her knees; easier to be eye level.]

I'm still your little sister. [Oh god, she's trying so hard not to look hurt. For whatever the reason, Sokka is little. She needs to take care of him.]

[withanokka]

[If he bites his lip any harder, it might bleed. He takes another defensive step backwards, his nine-year-old brain arguing between fight and flight.]

Y-you're not! Stop lying! S-stop it!

[But when she kneels down, a quiver runs through his entire, tiny form and his eyes spill over with tears.]

I-I-I-- [whimper, sniffle] I th-tho-ought, you were m-my mom.

[He'd gotten his hopes up. It had only been two months since they'd taken her away. Two months since someone miss-spoke near him, telling Hakoda news he already knew, telling her she was as good as dead. The fire nation didn't take prisoners.]

Y-you can't... be Katara. She's tiny. I'm supposed to protect her.

[noturmother]

[Spirits. He's so little. So small and... He couldn't have been far from when their mom- He's crying. He was. It makes Katara's heart pang, drag down into her stomach and up to her throat all at the same time. It hurts, seeing him like this. Thinking about her mom the way they had at that time.]

I'm sorry... I guess I just- Just grew up like she did.

[Her throat is tight, but Sokka's in much worse shape. She leans forward, clapping hands onto his shoulders, squeezing lightly.]

Sokka, look at me. I am Katara. I'm just older. And you ca still protect me; you always have. J-Just yesterday, you were a big boy too! You protect a lot of people here.

[She's using that tone, the one their mother used and she'd never really realized how much she must have sounded like her. But still distinctly Katara, if he listens. How can she convince him? Was it even possible?]

[withanokka]

[Sokka refuses to lift his head, shaking it so his ponytail smack-smack-smacks either side of his skull.]

Y-you're a-- [sniff] really bad liar. I wasn't big. I've always been this size. Except when I wasn't. When I was littler.

[He finally looks up, tears trailing down his cheeks, and really looks. He stares for a good long time, searching Katara's features, his face slowly contorting into a sadder and sadder expression. Finally, he just heaves a great sob and buries his face into her shoulder.]

[noturmother]

[She slumps back onto her knees again when Sokka darts forward the few steps it takes to hide away in her shoulder. That pang is still there, stronger than ever and she can't help but squeeze the boy.

With both arms wrapped tight around him, she lets him cry it out. Her eyes sting too, but she doesn't need to cry. Not now at least. She's cried for her mother, time and time again, but right now, she doesn't need to.]

It's okay, Sokka... It'll be alright. [It won't be great; their mother will never come back. But it'll be alright.]

[withanokka]

[After a little while, after more hiccups and more sobs, his heaving chest finally calms, his breathing evens out and he just pulls away, wiping his nose on his parka, sniffling.

He really wanted you to be Kya.

He finally settles, sitting down, face blank, calm in the exhaustion after his outburst.]

Are you really my sister?

[noturmother]

[Katara is sorely wishing she could have been. Could have given Sokka the satisfaction of having his mother back again, even if it were only for a short time. But she wasn't.

She pets the side of his head, thumb wiping his cheek of tears.]

I really am. [What else can she tell him?]

[withanokka]

[He frowns, before glancing away, kicking at the ground with his foot. He finally looks back, looking like a puppy dog being chastised for gnawing on a slipper.]

I-I'm sorry, Katara.

[When you get mad at someone and they don't deserve it, you're supposed to apologize, right? He chokes on her name, like he doesn't quite believe it, and can't quite say it aloud.]

[noturmother]

[She sits back again, fingers picking at the hem of her shirt.]

It's okay. You're forgiven. [Um um um] You can ask me something, maybe? Something that only I would know?

[withanokka]

[Sokka screws up his face and thinks. He stares at Katara's neck for a second and a smile splits his features.]

Who gave you your necklace? Only Katara would know that!

[noturmother]

[Oh. Right. That question.]

I-It was our mother's necklace. And.. Gran Gran gave it to me. Or well, I guess mom did.

[Mom hadn't 'officially' given it to her, but...]

[withanokka]

[Sokka stares.]

It is you, Katara! When-- how did you get so big?! I don't get it.