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[notanoptimist]

You know how if you repeat a word often enough in your head, it loses all meaning and starts sounding like nonsense? You know the word has a definition and it should mean something to you but at that moment, there's nothing to it. It's blank and empty and just there

Comments

[hector_aframian]

Sam's in Metropolis. Dean's bored ... and has a good idea of how he'd like to spend the next night or two while Sam's researching his giganto ass off. Images of pink-and-green hair and superstrength-aided crazy positions have been dancing in his head the whole way.

But he wasn't expecting to see a pyre - unmistakeably a pyre - burning by the side of the road as he draws closer to the farm. He pulls off and jumps out, checks he's got his knives, and heads over to the figure standing by it, completely and instantly in Hunter Mode.

"Hey."

[notanoptimist]

Sokka blinks and frowns at the pyre. It's stupid, but he realizes just a moment too late that the sound didn't come from the flames.

Then he's turning and blinking at the figure approaching him, and again when he recognizes him.

"Hey."

[hector_aframian]

"Problem?"

Dean's too busy looking around warily to register Sokka's expression, or lack of same, at first.

"Need a hand?"

[notanoptimist]

Another blink and Sokka glances at the flames in front of him. He still hates the smell but he doesn't turn green anymore.

It's a new development.

"...there's not much else to do," he points out with a shrug, looking over at Dean again.

[grabber_fray]

Mel did, eventually, leave him. Then she returned, with his girlfriend and two very sleepy little girls, who pick up on the gravity of the situation even if they don't understand properly.

When they're close, Hana runs towards him, and pulls on his hand, hoping for an unca-hug.

Loo is clinging to Mel again. 

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph's forehead has deep creases in it, and she practically sprints to his side to slide one small hand into his Hana-free one and grip it tight.

She's here now. She'd have been here before if she could have. She's not going anywhere.

A hand-hold might not convey all of that, but it's probably less clumsy than any attempt she'd make to put it into words.

[notanoptimist]

If he registers Mel's leaving, it's not much. Hana's hot little hands on his and insistant tugging are a lot harder to ignore. Sokka blinks down at his tiny niece and smiles a little for her, ducking to get an arm under her butt and hoist her up onto his hip.

Steph and her handhold get blinked at. He hadn't realized how many people were there.

[i_spoiled_it]

"Hey," Steph says quietly, leaning against his side.

Behind her, Suki comes running up from the farm too, but stops to wait at a distance from Mel, Sokka, Steph and the girls.

[highrisktrader]

The world is quiet, waiting to breathe in. The flames are dead and Sokka is turned away while behind him an older man tosses salt on the ashes and lights them again.

With that renewed puff of smoke, of flame, there's a presence at Sokka's shoulder.

[notanoptimist]

Sokka frowns and, for no reason at all, glances over his shoulder. Not toward Dean but-- somewhere.

[highrisktrader]

Katara is visible, only just. A trace against the skyline, the distant farm clearly visible through her, and her smile is peaceful and relieved and quiet, serene like it hasn't been since she was last a ghost.

[notanoptimist]

"I'm sorry."