[ sokka isn't the only one trying to navigate carefully around the subject of their mom, but then she'll admit to him -- just because he's the only person she'd ever admit this to- ]
I was actually jealous of him for a second. [ it's clear that she isn't proud of herself, here. ] I mean, mostly I was just happy for him, but I was a little... and then when he explained, I - I don't know, Sokka. I can't imagine what it must be like, not having either of them there for you.
[He wants to say "I miss her too", but he bites it back. Their parents aren't his favourite subject, he knows talking about it rarely ends well for them. He decides to continue talking about Zuko instead. He's a safe subject. ]
I mean...when he realised who the woman we'd met was... he was so happy. He was ready to throw in the crown and everything. Just...live away from everything. Just to have that part of his life back.
[ the worst part about all of this? it doesn't even occur to katara that talking about their mother might be an unsafe subject. maybe a heartbreakingly sad one, yeah, but she forgot all about the horrible things she said to him what feels like years ago.
so while he's avoiding it, she doesn't. ]
Yeah. I mean- who wouldn't, right?
[ she sighs. it's not quite a sad sound, but a distance cousin of sadness, maybe. ]
[ he can try, but katara can get stuck on topics sometimes. especially when she doesn't realize she's making the other party uncomfortable, whoops.
maybe because she's suddenly a little uncomfortable herself. ]
He'd probably hate that - you should definitely do it. [ and then back to the previous topic. ] But, hey- can I say something kind of dumb really fast?
[ poor sokka. this probably isn't fair of her - he doesn't remember their tension in adstring, doesn't remember the mistakes that the both of them made there, but in light of azula's arrival and everything that's happened since... ]
Thanks for being a good brother.
[ because he could have blamed her for kya's death. because their relationship could have turned out more like azula and zuko's. but it hadn't, and she's grateful. ]
I guess I just realized I don't really say it enough.
[He's quite for a moment. He wasn't expecting that, and the fact she has to say it at all sets a small pit of worry in his stomach. He's never asked her what happened in those other places, not really. Not asked her about him. As long as she was okay, it hadn't really mattered to him. ]
...Of course. Why would I be anything else? You're my sister, and that means you don't have to worry about saying it.
But if we are saying it...you've been a pretty awesome sister, too. So thanks.
[ not always is what she almost says and doesn't, because none of that really matters anymore. not really. instead, she'll just smile a little bit. ]
Ha. I caught you. [ addressing the nonexistent crowd in her room: ] Hear that, everyone? Sokka loves his sister. What a baby. [ teasing is easier than being serious sometimes. :') ]
voice
[ she doesn't really get it, not yet, but she's not going to argue. it's hard to begrudge zuko much, considering how upset he'd clearly been. ]
I wish I'd known before I went barging in there, but - thanks for keeping your promise to him, Sokka.
voice
[Because Katara has EMOTIONS a lot. ]
I couldn't not. Not after telling him all that.
voice
voice
You think he will? I know it's a lot for him to take. I mean... to learn his own mother chose to forget him. It's not what mothers should do.
[He'll just talk about Kaya without...actually talking about Kaya okay? Okay cool. ]
voice
[ sokka isn't the only one trying to navigate carefully around the subject of their mom, but then she'll admit to him -- just because he's the only person she'd ever admit this to- ]
I was actually jealous of him for a second. [ it's clear that she isn't proud of herself, here. ] I mean, mostly I was just happy for him, but I was a little... and then when he explained, I - I don't know, Sokka. I can't imagine what it must be like, not having either of them there for you.
voice
[He wants to say "I miss her too", but he bites it back. Their parents aren't his favourite subject, he knows talking about it rarely ends well for them. He decides to continue talking about Zuko instead. He's a safe subject. ]
I mean...when he realised who the woman we'd met was... he was so happy. He was ready to throw in the crown and everything. Just...live away from everything. Just to have that part of his life back.
It hurt to watch.
voice
so while he's avoiding it, she doesn't. ]
Yeah. I mean- who wouldn't, right?
[ she sighs. it's not quite a sad sound, but a distance cousin of sadness, maybe. ]
We were pretty lucky to have Mom.
voice
Yeah. We really were.
[Moving the subject on again, if he does it enough it'll work right? Right? ]
But he's got us now. You know, next time we find some fast running water, I was thinking of taking him ice dodging.
voice
maybe because she's suddenly a little uncomfortable herself. ]
He'd probably hate that - you should definitely do it. [ and then back to the previous topic. ] But, hey- can I say something kind of dumb really fast?
voice
Yeah, well, he'll be glad for it afterwards. He might have a crappy blood family, but we'll look out for him like they never would.
[There's that feeling of DREAD again. Uh oh. ]
Suuuureee?
voice
Thanks for being a good brother.
[ because he could have blamed her for kya's death. because their relationship could have turned out more like azula and zuko's. but it hadn't, and she's grateful. ]
I guess I just realized I don't really say it enough.
voice
...Of course. Why would I be anything else? You're my sister, and that means you don't have to worry about saying it.
But if we are saying it...you've been a pretty awesome sister, too. So thanks.
voice
Ha. I caught you. [ addressing the nonexistent crowd in her room: ] Hear that, everyone? Sokka loves his sister. What a baby. [ teasing is easier than being serious sometimes. :') ]
voice
You are literally the worst.
voice
[ she's so pleased by this argument. ]
voice
[He'll put his hand to his chest dramatically. HE DYIN' ]