Tenth spell → Text

[bookish_lioness]

[Hermione's been hiding out around the house for the past couple of weeks, but considering the atmosphere over the past event, one thing has remained clear: she really can't stay here anymore. It's taken her a long time to actually build up the courage to simply ask, especially since she knows how certain people will react, but she'll never leave

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[text]

[angle_on_it]

[Technically, Ron said he didn't want to see Sokka around Hermione, but texts should be acceptable, right?]

Are you okay?

[offline]

[bookish_lioness]

[She just keeps shaking her head, trying her best not to sob against him.] I don't think so, Sokka. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put this on you.

[offline]

[angle_on_it]

[As he pulls away, he gently leads her toward a seat.] It's not a burden; I meant what I said when I told you I'd be here for you. [Spirits, it was so much easier to talk to her than just about anyone else. Harry and Usagi rate too, but even then he feels some amount of shame. With Hermione, there's nothing either can feel that the other isn't familiar with feeling.]

Do you remember what you told me? You said they might not handle it well, but if we-- [No, wait, what had she said? It's all such a blur now.] The point is, we did the right thing and we just have to stay the course. If they can't forgive us after all that, fine, but... one day we'll have to forgive ourselves.

[offline]

[bookish_lioness]

[She allows herself to be maneuvered into a seat, though she takes his hand, unwilling to completely break her contact with him. It's been so long since she'd last had any decent physical contact - any human contact at all - and she was reluctant yo let it go so quickly.]

It's so hard. Living with him, when we're like this. And every time I try to get away, he gets angry with me. He doesn't want me around, but he doesn't want me to leave, either. I don't know what to do anymore, Sokka. I think this is what they mean by saying that I'm between a rock and a hard place.

[offline]

[angle_on_it]

[With nowhere else to go, Sokka kneels on the ground in front of her seat, the familiarity of looking up to her from below blazing his cheeks red. It's hard to accept they were the same people then that they are now.]

That's not right or fair. He can't keep you under his thumb and expect you to feel like you'll ever regain his trust. And he shouldn't keep you around just to be mad at you... that's not fair either. It's good you're thinking of getting away a while.

[offline]

[bookish_lioness]

[Hermione looks down at him for a moment before looking away with closed eyes.]

Apparently, I'm not judge on what's right nor fair. He's the wronged party here, so he can do as he pleases. I don't agree with that, but... it's hard to remind myself of that when I can't get past my own guilt.

[offline]

[angle_on_it]

At least you've made the first step. [He squeezes her hand as the other drags a finger through the dirt on the floor. Sokka will concentrate his eyes there, seeing that Hermione has to look away from him.]

We might not be totally innocent, but we're not criminals and we don't deserve to be punished ceaselessly for something like this. Others have done much, much worse and been forgiven much, much quicker.

[offline]

[bookish_lioness]

[It's not you, Sokka. Hermione's problems are her own, and she hates taking them out on other people. As it is, her hand tenses around his for a moment as she chokes back a sob.]

This is different, Sokka. I don't know how it is between you and Suki, but... but I've known Ron for years. For a while... I don't pretend to believe in fate, but I always got the impression that we were never just friends, even when we were. When he found out I'd kissed someone during fourth year, we didn't talk for months. Now....

I don't want to think about losing him.

[offline]

[angle_on_it]

[Yeeeeah, he's no so sure how it is between he and Suki right now, either. But he listens to Hermione's concerns all the way through, and when she's done, he glances back up at her.]

Hermione... [He presses his lips together. Does he feel bad? Yes. But he has some perspective on this now and he'd be remiss to give advice without considering it.] You don't have to worry about losing him. Ron's desperately trying to keep you close because he doesn't want to lose you. I'm sure he just needs some time to get over it and things will start to normalize again. Just... don't lose yourself waiting for him to come around. [It's a valid concern, okay? :| ]

[offline]

[bookish_lioness]

[She sniffles a little, wiping at her tears. Preoccupying herself with that for a while, it takes some time before she meets his eyes.]

We-... we've begun talking again. Sort of. There's no warmth to it or anything, but... [She tries to laugh, really, but it just comes out as more of a bitter sob.] But he said we're still friends.

[offline]

[angle_on_it]

Being friends is a good start. [Certainly better than nothing.]

It takes time. You know it does. None of us have hardly had a chance to breathe normally since it all came out. The Animus drove us all crazy and now that we don't have anything to distract ourselves, it's going to seem like things are even harder now than they were before.

[He reaches his other hand up and rests it on her knee.] It just takes some time, Hermione... time and patience and a little bit of compassion all around. But it will get better for you. It will.

[offline]

[bookish_lioness]

[Sokka doesn't understand. Being demoted to 'friend' status is such a harsh blow for her, she isn't sure she can properly cope with it. Still, she nods, unable to do much else but nod, even as she looks down at that hand on her knee and wonders over the fact that she doesn't tense up at the contact like she used to.]

Of course. I'm sure you're right.

[Taking a deep breath, she looks up at him and manages a small smile.]

That goes both ways, of course. We'll both make it through.

[offline]

[angle_on_it]

[Being demoted to 'nothing' would be harder to cope with, right? :| Still, Sokka smiles for her and nods.] Right. We're tough like that. [So tough, he feels a bit like crying. At least he hasn't lost Hermione at the end of all this, even if he's still worried about everyone else.]

How about that hot chocolate?

[offline]

[bookish_lioness]

[Hermione manages to keep that smile from faltering too much, even feeling decent enough to lean down and actually hug him, even if his natural scent still stirs too many memories for her liking.]

Thank you, Sokka. You're a marvelous host... and an even better friend.

[offline]

[angle_on_it]

You must be used to some pretty poor accommodations. [Of course, as he hugs her, he knows this to be true just from what she's mentioned before.]

[Sokka pulls away and stands, moving over to the fire. Living at the forge has been much easier than he expected. He's only needed one cooking pot, one plate, a spoon, and a few other small things. Overall, it's suited him well if not for the constant bother of being alone.]

I texted a little with Suki. [It's kind of an off-handed mention, since he doesn't want to make a big deal over it.] Didn't seem to gain me a lot of favor, though. She called me "sick" about a half-dozen times.

[offline]

[bookish_lioness]

[Once he's up, she gingerly tucks her legs under her, her fingers absently drifting along the edges of her sleeves as she listens to him.]

Sick? That's a bit harsh, don't you think?

[Deflating a little, she looks down.]

I can only imagine the sorts of things she must say about me.