Six: Break Away

It was super hard to come up with something, because my mind just kept screaming that Kelly Clarkson song at me.

Also, random. I had a dream that I was Katara yesterday. Jet, Aang, Sokka, Toph, and I were all swimming in my swimming pool. We kept battling it out, but in a playful way. I totally owned everyone cause we were in water… but then I looked at the pool ladder and on one of the steps it said, 'Lake Laogai' and I (Katara) started crying because that was when Jet should have died… but he was all alive and older and muscle-y and shirtless… It was… awesome…

ANYWAY. STORY TIME, CHILDREN.

Sokka bit his lip as he approached his father's tent. He pulled the tent flap aside, stepping into the warm room. Hakoda looked up as the wind from outside made his fire shiver. Immediately a smile broke across his lips, though it faded as he noticed Sokka's somber expression.

"Dad, we need to talk."

"About what, Sokka?" he asked slowly, setting aside the map he had been looking at.

Sokka sat down across from his dad, so that the fire was between him. "I think…" he began to say, but his lips went suddenly dry. He cleared his throat.

"Here," Hakoda said, handing him a cup full of a strong tea. Sokka drained it in one gulp, before handing it back to his father.

"Thanks."

"So what were you going to tell me?"

Sokka stood, pacing around the small tent. He raised a hand to his neck, rubbing it awkwardly. "Dad… I think… I need to leave."

Hakoda went back to his map. "For how long, son? Do you need a fleet on your journey?"

"No. I'm leaving." Sokka explained. His father's eyes softened, though the aged lines around his mouth were more visible now. He was older than he had been five years ago, when the comet had come, but he didn't look that different to Sokka.

"Leaving? For good?" Hakoda asked, folding his hands in his lap.

Sokka nodded slowly. "I don't… want… to be chief."

"You've always liked being a leader, Sokka. I think you'll do a great job. Your induction ceremony is a week away – it's normal to be nervous. I think you'll – "

"No. I'm not nervous, Dad." Sokka sighed, rubbing his head. "I've been reading over some of the older scrolls… about all the rules… and I don't want to be chief. I don't want to have to do everything the scrolls say I have to do."

"Rules can always be changed, I'm sure we could – "

A sigh escaped the younger man's lips. "Not this one."

"… which rule are we talking about?"

"The marriage one." He said quietly. He could remember the sentence very clearly. The chief may only wed a woman of Water Tribe heritage. That was problematic.

"Oh. I'm sure we could change it, Sokka… Somehow, we could get Suki to – "

Sokka laughed slightly, sitting down across from his father again. "No, Dad. Not Suki."

"I liked Suki…" The chief muttered, a grumble forming in his chest. He had admired the girl's spirit and warrior skills.

"I know. So did I. But being away for so long just wasn't working out. She doesn't like the cold, either."

"That's a strange reason…" Hakoda muttered.

"I know," Sokka agreed, drumming his fingers against his knee. "But it's what she said."

"Which girl are we talking about?" The older man asked slowly, his voice careful as it probed into his son's personal life.

"Uhh… do you remember Toph?" Sokka said, his ears burning.

Hakoda smiled. "I had no idea you two were thinking of– "

"We're not… I mean, I've just been thinking ahead… And I don't want to be chief if I can't… marry her…" he muttered, his voice strained.

"… we can change the rules, Sokka. You're chief. You can do whatever you want. And I doubt that anyone will challenge you." Hakoda smiled, standing and pulling his son up into a tight hug.

"Alright. I just wanted to make sure… but I'm not even sure if she'll like the ice, here. She doesn't like wearing shoes." Sokka laughed, thinking of their Fire Nation disguises.

His father smiled again. "You can always abdicate. Pass it on to a close friend or a warrior."

Sokka brightened, nodding. "Thanks, Dad." He turned to leave through the tent, but a chuckle from his father made him stop.

"All this for some girl…" he said, amused as he sank down to his maps again.

"Not some girl… the girl."

The 'break away' has to do with Sokka willing to break away from his culture for Toph.