~promises~ (zukka AU)

chapter 1

●*12 years ago*●

sokka's POV

"look, sokka, this is a fire extinguisher" my dad gestures at a red cylinder. "we only use it to put out small fires, but for the wilder ones we have to use this hose"

i try to lift the long tube he pointed at, but it doesn't move even a little, so i fall on my butt. i pout, but my dad caresses my hair and laughs, so i can't help but smile as well.

"it's really heavy, so don't beat yourself up too much, buddy" he says.

dad picks up his helmet and puts it on my head, but it's so big that i can't see anything!

"pay attention to these things so you can become the greatest firefighter in the world!" he starts tickling me and i giggle, kicking my feet in the air.

"stop, stop- i can't-" i laugh, but soon we both turn our attention to the buzzing walkie of the fire truck we are in right now.

dad stands up and goes to the driver's seat, then presses some buttons and a voice bursts from the speaker.

"hakoda, we need backup on street Omashu, ASAP. leave everything and hurry!"

i think that's uncle bato's voice. well, he's not actually my uncle, but he's my dad's best friend, so that's why i call him that.

"sorry, buddy, the lesson's over for today" dad tells me and quickly gets into his suit, then starts the car. "i don't have time to drop you off at home, so you must promise me you'll stay in the car, without looking out the window, alright?"

i nod and sit down quietly. i don't want to bother my father, but to be honest, i'm glad i'll get to see some action so up close.

in a few minutes, the car stops and my dad jumps out of the car, taking his equipment with him.

"do not move" he tells me one last time before shutting the door and leaving.

i know he told me not to look out the window, but... i'm really curious, so i glance outside and see a bunch of firefighters running around, as well as a crowd of people that has gathered around.

i don't think i'll ever be able to forget the way the flames are swallowing every single inch of the huge house. doesn't the fire know it's harming everything around it? that so much warmth and brightness can be fatal? doesn't it care even a tiny bit?

i guess not.

despite my father's orders, i jump out of the car so i can take a closer look.

--

●*present*●

sokka's POV

since my girlfriend died, i've felt empty inside, detached from day to day life, but somehow everything reminded me of her. i thought i could gradually heal over time, but being in my home town kept digging up all of our memories together to the point where i was sure i was gonna break down.

yue was undoubtedly the kindest person i knew, with the purest heart to ever beat inside one's body. she used to see colour even in the darkest situations, so when she was diagnosed with cancer, she hoped that she'd get better thanks to the treatments and the chemotherapy.

obviously, i wanted her to overcome the disease more than anything, but having terminal stage cancer... i wasn't as positive about it as she was, and i'm not proud to say that i was right. she lost the fight against it, and i was there all the way to see it happen.