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Hardened	By : sheraven Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2711 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its affiliates, and make no profit.

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Hardened

Chapter Three - Awake

Sokka had finally done it; he was going to be with Yue. Almost lighter than air, he reached for the enormous moon. It felt as if he was even moving toward it through the warm night air. After all the longing and loneliness, he was at last going to pull her into his embrace and stay with her forever. He was sure he could see her smiling and reaching out to him from the bright lunar orb, but for some reason, his movement had slowed down. Before he could even call out to her, he was pulled sharply away from the moon, falling toward the ground at a terrifying speed.

The warrior awoke with a yelp and bolted upright. He was sweating and his heart was racing, momentary confusion stemming from the abrupt change of one world to another. Sokka took a deep breath to calm himself out of sheer habit, then realized that he was still breathing. He was still alive. Not only was he a failure at everything else, but he was unable to even remove himself as a burden from the world. Bitter disappointment and self-loathing washed through the water tribesman, and it took all his effort to lift his head and look at his surroundings. He was only half surprised when his royal blue eyes swept over a stark metal room.

He was inside a metal box with a door. There was a small window with bars over it, and the heavy smell of soot in the air. From years of practice, his warrior senses reached out, tuning to the slight vibration coming from below. There was also a very quiet hum and the distinct sound of footsteps on metal. It didn’t take Sokka long to realize he was on a Fire Navy ship. Now anger mixed in with his emotions. Instead of removing himself as an obstacle from Aang and Katara’s paths, he had delivered himself to the enemy. Sokka would do the same thing if he were in Fire Lord Ozai’s place, so he understood. The Water warrior was going to be used as bait to draw the Avatar out.

Sokka could hardly stand himself, and closed his eyes, bowing his head in despair and shame. He didn’t know it was possible to be a complete failure, since usually a person had at least one redeeming skill or characteristic. He had none. The Fire Nation was so unconcerned with him escaping, in fact, that they had not even removed his armor, just wiped off the war paint. He was not an asset or a threat, he just had no purpose at all. Searing tears fell silently from the warrior, who sat motionless on the bare floor.

Sokka sat like that until he could cry no more. He felt empty, drained, like the dried husk of a plant that had been blowing in the wind. He didn’t even have the energy to move, so stayed sitting, staring at the metal floor. He didn’t know how long he was like that before footsteps approached his door. He simply watched as a small slit at the bottom was opened and bowl was pushed inside. There was rice and a little meat, hot enough to steam. A small cup of water was shoved in next, then the slit was closed. At a loss for anything else to do, Sokka reached for the food even though he wasn’t hungry.

Eating didn’t make him feel any less empty, but it did give his warrior intellect the fuel to start planning. Even though Sokka didn’t think it true, he was one of the most inventive and forward-thinking warriors the Southern Water Tribe had ever produced. He had a propensity for solving problems, and often used methods and tools no one else ever considered. Before he had eaten all the food, he had a plan to get out. After putting the empty bowl back near the door, he followed his plan almost mindlessly, knowing he had to escape the Fire Nation for Aang’s sake, but for no other reason.

Sokka was fortunate the Fire Nation had not changed his clothes, for there were useful items hidden everywhere in his armor. Some by tradition, and some by necessity. The dark-skinned teen removed a tiny whale tooth dagger and scooched into the far corner of the cell with his back to the door. He dumped about half the water onto the floor and began scraping at the oxidation quietly, creating a red slurry. Slowly adding water, he scratched until he had gathered a satisfactory amount of the red liquid.

Next, using his blue clothing as a sponge, Sokka put the water back in the cup, being sure to smear the red strategically over his chest. Once again beside the door, he waited until he heard footsteps returning to retrieve the eating utensils. He tipped the cup so the liquid spilled under the door and laid just within view of the window. He had exchanged the tiny knife for a equally small pouch of knock-out powder, just enough for one person.

As the guard walked down the hall, he had fresh in his mind a warning from Prince Zuko. This particular prisoner was to be kept separate from all the others, and in good health. When he delivered the food, he had been surprised to find a member of the Water Tribe, but did not know his significance beyond that. Perhaps he was captured during the siege of the North Pole and had some kind of information. So, when he rounded the corner and saw blood coming from under the door, he knew that if he didn’t fix the situation quickly, Zuko would have his head, possibly literally.

It was hard to get the key into the door, his hands were shaking so much from fear. He glanced inside and saw the boy laying on his back with a nasty wound to the chest, barely breathing. The guard finally got the key to turn and whipped the door open, expecting another assailant inside the cell. The information the boy had must be valuable indeed if an assassin had been sent to silence him. What the guard found instead was the Water warrior himself, rolling to his feet and throwing something in his face. A powder exploded when the delicate sack broke, and before he could say anything, his world turned black and he was falling into the arms of the prisoner.

Sokka caught the heavily armored guard as quietly as he could and dragged the man inside the cell, closing the door. The powder only lasted about an hour, so he had to move quickly. Not bothering to strip off his own clothes first, the Water tribesman began putting on the much larger garments of the guard, moving efficiently but dispassionately. After a few minutes, Sokka stepped out of the cell and locked the door. He had left the unconscious Fire Navy soldier in the corner near the door, so it would be difficult to see him from the outside.

As Sokka walked toward the deck of the ship, he passed several other soldiers, all wearing the customary white faceplate. The dark-skinned southerner was grateful the Fire Nation was so cruel to keep it’s fighting men faceless and unrecognized, it gave him the anonymity he needed to get to the surface. Even as he was walking with sure, even steps, he felt nothing, the same as before. He had to remove himself as another delay in the Avatar’s journey, take away the bargaining chip for the Fire Nation.

Once the warrior got to the top deck, he saw that the ship was just minutes from docking. A flash of warmth moved through Sokka’s broken heart as Yue gave him such luck. He had figured he’d have to jump overboard and swim to the shore, hoping they weren’t too far from land. Instead, he would be able to walk off like everyone else. He started toward the side of the ship when a barked command halted his movement. It was the last voice on earth Sokka wanted to hear.

“You! Stop! What are you doing up here?” Sokka came to attention and faced the master of the ship, Prince Zuko. The firebender stormed over to his position, ready to give the errant soldier a piece of his mind when he stopped dead in his tracks. He was not looking into golden eyes as he’d expected, but brilliant blue instead. “Wha-?” he stuttered as he yanked the faceplate off. How had the boy escaped?

Free of the restrictive mask, Sokka looked right at Zuko for a moment before bolting for the edge. The other boy could not catch him and he leaped over the side, about a ship’s length from the dock. As soon as he hit the water, the warrior slipped out of the sinking fire armor and swam toward the pier. He heard a body hit the surface behind him and knew he only had a few seconds to gain on the Prince. His natural skill from growing up in an ocean environment served him well and he moved quickly toward the shore and climbed out.

Zuko was shocked at how fast his enemy could swim, and equally dismayed to see Sokka crawling up onto the shore before he, himself had gone halfway. The firebender held one hand above the water and summoned a fireball, throwing it at the other boy’s legs. The warrior fell as the fire caught him, giving Zuko just enough time to catch up. Sokka stood up and started to run, ignoring the pain of the burns on his calves, with Zuko right on his heels. The Fire Prince leaped and plowed into Sokka’s back, sending them both tumbling. He had him.
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Hardened