(Untitled)

[i_spoiled_it]

It's the third night of what Steph had hoped would be a two-day trip, and it's been a long, long three days. Steph is grumpy.

Comments

[runaway_bandit]

The campsite in question was mostly made by Toph. She gets a rocktent to herself for that. And now: she's quiet.

She's been quiet most of the trip, as it happens. Katara doesn't know her and Suki's not really family and she doesn't know Steph and...

...and she's going back to the place where she buried her best friend. She's quiet.

[i_spoiled_it]

Eventually there is stew. It's a little burned at the bottom, but it's hot and food and that's good, right? Steph has a bowl of it which she's bringing over to Toph, careful on the uneven ground; Hana is Helping by hanging on to Steph's knee as they walk.

"Hey, Toph. Food?"

[runaway_bandit]

"Thanks."

Toph puts out a hand for the bowl, head not turning towards Steph.

"How's it going?"

[i_spoiled_it]

"We should make it there tomorrow," Steph says brightly, putting it in Toph's hand. "If we keep making this good time."

[notanoptimist]

Sokka has very little commentary to add to his day.

But when he flops down beside Steph and lets his head drop onto her shoulder... that's probably commentary all on its own.

[i_spoiled_it]

It pretty much says all that needed to be said, really. Steph leans into him and rests her head on his.

"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."

[notanoptimist]

"Mmph," is all Sokka has to offer to this.

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?"

[i_spoiled_it]

"Better now," Steph informs him, eyes shut and smiling. "Got you. How's your car-load? We totally need to pick up a bus somewhere."

[twiceahero]

Babs hasn't forgotten their last conversation, and that means that she's waited until she's sort of caught up on sleep and stands a chance of not saying something to set Steph off again.

Apparently that time is now.

"How are you holding up out there?" her computer-synthesized voice sounds in Steph's ear. The current roads have almost no traffic. That means that working vehicles, especially ones making long-distance progress, really stand out on the satellites.

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph jumps, startled, and waves Suki and Toph away absently.

"Babs! Hi. We're ... uh, we ran into some trouble."

[twiceahero]

"I assume you took care of it. You need me to follow up on anything?"

[i_spoiled_it]

"Not sure yet." Steph glances at the edge of the clearing in the rubble, where Mel, Sokka and the cannibal had disappeared. "Mel and Sokka are taking care of some details. I'm waiting with the girls."

The Girls are Hana and Loo - and also Toph and Suki, because they might be amazing warriors and have brilliant powers but Steph's older and therefore still feels responsible.

"Mel's injured, but she heals fast."