[RL] Warriors don't cry, unless they're really sad.

[funandperky]

[Steeling himself, Sokka walks down the hall to Aang's adjacent room, straightening his tunic a bit before knocking on the door.]

Aang. [and another knock] Aang. [and another, just to be sure.]

Aang?

Comments

[energybends]

[ He's opening the door and tilting his head curiously. Nothing interrupted here. Nope. Not that meditation he was trying to do. ] What's up, Sokka?

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

Are you busy? [He tilts his head, trying to be all discreet about peeking past the door.]

[energybends]

No. Just trying to work in some quiet. Did you want to talk or something?

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[He looks a little sheepish.] I can come back?

[energybends]

You're here now. [ Offers smile? He's pushing the door open ] What is it?

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

It's not really... anything specific. Do you want to go for a ride on Appa or something?

[energybends]

[ The most curious look ever but he's not going to question anything ] Sure.

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[He's just going to spin around and lead the way to Appa, and if he looks a little nervous it's totally your imagination.] Cool.

[energybends]

[ Aang's following, trying to figure out what's on Sokka's mind as they go ] ...So how about that virus? That was fun.

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[He manages not to freeze, though he does stop breathing a second. Their part of the virus hadn't been bad at all. It was other people he was concerned about.] Yeah. Fun.

[energybends]

Our part, anyway. Peter and Adam had fun too by the looks of it. [ He pauses ] Do you want to talk about it or-?

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[That brings half a smile to his face, though he wonders if that was all a part of the virus too. He hoped not.] Did you see Sylar's post? [He drops his head, any attempt at a smile forgotten.]

[energybends]

No. Who's that? [ Aang's got a worried frown on ]

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

A really bad guy. [He's petting Appa's nose, though he's more than distracted.] Once we get up in the air I'll explain. [He just needs to be away, away from everything. Sokka crawls up onto Appa's saddle and leans back against the lip, waiting for Aang.]

[energybends]

[ He's frowning. This sounds bad. Real bad. He climbs up on Appa and yip-yip's him in the air. ]

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[Sokka crosses his arms across his chest, looking up at the sky. This wasn't going to be an easy discussion, but Aang was his best friend. He knew he could trust him, unlike some people.] A while before you came to the community, and even a little before me... Sylar hurt Claire. He kind of has a thing for her, or hurting her--I don't know. But during the virus, she.

She kissed him.

[energybends]

[ Aang's frowning thoughtfully up at the sky after listening ]

The virus probably made her do it, right? Viruses do that. And you don't kiss people that hurt you normally...

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

I think they did more than kiss.

[energybends]

More than kiss? [ Wait a second... ] Like make babies?

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[Sokka sighs, but he's not explaining this right now.] Yes, Aang. Like make babies.

[energybends]

Minus the babies. [ This got really awkward now ] So...that... could have been the virus too. Even though that's kind of... big.

Was she okay with it at the time?

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

It was hard to tell. She was really upset, but she kept saying she didn't want anyone to know.

[energybends]

You can't really ask her about that sort of thing... [ He's bringing his knees up to lean on them. How to you make Sokka feel better about a situation like this? ] Everyone saw them kiss?

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[He nods, not sure why he doesn't just tell Aang the whole story. But it's never that easy to just talk, and he's frustrated with himself even more than the rest.] Everyone, [he echoes quietly.] Even Zuko.

[energybends]

[ He's trying to figure out how to help but Aang's starting to doubt if he can. It's awful seeing Sokka bothered like this ]

Was Zuko upset?

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

I think so. More than usual. Claire said... [He's glancing away, hiding his face.] She said we shouldn't be friends anymore.

[a beat where he's just trying not to let Aang see how much it really upsets him.] I was just worried about her.

[energybends]

She said that? [ Never mind the incredible awkwardness of Claire not-making-babies with Sylar and the implications that would go with it-- She said they shouldn't be friends. Now he knows why this would bother Sokka so deeply like that. He'd be crushed if he was in that spot. ]

That had to have been the virus making her say that. I don't think she wouldn't want to be friends, Sokka.

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

But what if it wasn't. And what kind of virus makes you be mean anyway. I've never heard of anything like that.

[energybends]

Me either. I'm not an expert on them. It could... be a possibility right? Maybe we can ask if anyone's talked to her lately?

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

Peter's not answering his phone. [He sighs, looking out over Appa's side.]

[energybends]

We can ... call Adam to call Peter to call Claire.

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[Huh. He hadn't thought of that. He guessed that was why he had Aang in the first place, but something still didn't feel right.] Maybe I should just call Claire and get it over with.

[energybends]

That would be the best way to do it but I just thought you'd think it'd be too uncomfortable or something.

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[He looks over at Aang, a little pleading.] Unless you wanted to do it....

[energybends]

You want me to talk to Claire for you? [ Aang's shaking his head ] I can't play messenger between people that wouldn't accomplish anything. I can talk to her and see if she's okay but if you wanted to work out your friendship...

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

Right. [He hangs his head again, knowing it was too much to ask.] I know. Just if you happen to talk to her, I guess. Check on her for me?

[energybends]

I can check on her if you'd like. I can't ask her anything personal though. It's not my place.

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

I just need to know if she's okay. [Sokka turns his gaze to the sky, squinting against the Sun.]

[energybends]

You should talk to her.

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

I know. It's just... How could she say that? She said she didn't trust me, that none of it mattered. And how--Even with a virus. She was my first real friend on the community. [Anger and sadness flicker across his face, warring for dominance.]

[energybends]

[ Aang's trying to be comforting with this, keeping a hopeful and sympathetic look ] Sokka, I'm sure she didn't mean it. People say mean things when they're upset.

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

I guess so. [His mood definitely isn't improving about it any time soon.]

[energybends]

[ It's horrible. He can't do anything to fix this. ] She'll be okay, Sokka.

[lovedthemoon.livejournal.com]

[He knows he's bringing Aang down with this and it's killing him. He's supposed to be the funny guy, the comic relief.] I know she will. It's just hard not to worry, you know? [Sokka tries for a smile, though it's halfhearted at best.]