Toph & Zuko's Life Changing Field Trip

pt. 3 | Sokka

Back in the present, Sokka shook his head to send last night's nightmare out of his mind. Sometimes in the interwoven memories, he'd see Suki. He gave another look around the cottage, still surprised that he found it so easy to be here. Suki had spent her last days in the little house, with Aang, Katara, Toph, Zuko, and Hakoda all crammed into make-shift beds in the living room. There was not a lot he liked to remember from those days, but every time his family was together this way it was something to be cherished. Sometimes it seemed like the world didn't want them all to be together again.

Last night, he dreamed about Suki's last day. She had been fighting the sickness for as long as she could, and up until the last moments she was still managing to laugh. But the poison made by that malicious herbalist airbender was too strong even for Suki's iron will. Katara travelled all the way to the spirit oasis for healing water, and brought back with her the best healers she could find, but the poison also had spiritual properties as the herbalist had travelled to the spirit world to find his ingredients. 

After weeks of healing sessions, antidotes, medicines, and trips to the spirit world by Aang, the group had decided to focus on making Suki comfortable and forming a few last happy memories while they could. On the last day, Suki had finally folded in on herself, losing consciousness and all color in her complexion. She was cold to touch but sweat stained her pillow. Sokka had never seen her look so small before, and he tried to remember every detail of her face as he held her close. He cursed whoever had wanted revenge so badly that they created such a terrible poison to give her.

For a long, long time after Suki had taken her last breath, no one left Sokka's side. They grieved together and hid away from the world until Sokka had been ready to go back to their other home. Always, from the moment of her passing, Sokka knew how furious she would be if he let himself waste away. 

He had done alright at first, once he had gone back to their other house, but these days it seemed like he'd forgotten how to take care of himself. But asking for help, asking them all to come back, felt out of the question. His family had already done so much for him, and he didn't want to admit that somehow, he was slipping again. 

Katara was finally learning to put herself first, which Sokka watched with pride and relief, and he didn't want to drag her down again. Aang had a never-ending list of tasks and could never seem to manage to stay in one place for long before someone else needed him. His dad visited whenever he could, but it was a difficult journey for him to make as he aged. Zuko's comforting silence was always welcome, but Sokka could not see himself as important enough to justify pulling the firelord away from his nation just for a cup of tea. And Toph....

Toph visited the most often at first, always bringing food and liquor. But hearty drinks seemed to be the only way she knew how to deal with grief, or perhaps the only way she knew how to loosen up enough to offer comfort. When that got old, their visits got quieter, and the silence was full of awkwardness. Sokka had always known she struggled with emotions, but now, when he could barely understand what he was going through himself, he needed someone who could help him sort this out. Plus, if she knew he wasn't eating well or keeping himself warm, she was bound to default to her other setting which was tough love and the idea of that right now was unbearable.

So, when a distant rumble pulled him out of his thoughts, he felt a little pang of dread in the pit of his stomach. He knew that sound was Toph earthbending up the path to the cottage. And if it wasn't then it a stranger, which he definitely did not want. Heaving a deep sigh, he grabbed his sword and left the cottage to meet her.