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[markofthebrave]

[Katara is not doing well.

I know - I know I go back. I know I have something I need to finish. But how long is it going to be, Sokka? Other people, it seems like they go and come back all the time. And I can't help but wonder when it's going to be you and - and if it will ever be me."

"Sometimes I think it will never be me. But I can't do this without you."

But it had been him. It had been him, just like she'd been afraid it would be. And now the one person she had always known had her back was gone. She knew it wasn't fair, but she felt alone.

And angry. And helpless. And hurt. And angry.

"Sometimes I think it will never be me. But I can't do this without you."

She should have told him. She wasn't sure she could do this without him either.

Katara let Aang make the announcement. She didn't want to have to deal with his friends grief on top of her own. Maybe it was selfish, but maybe there was a time for that. There wasn't enough to do. She didn't really want to see anybody, but this wasn't like when she'd lost her mom. There were no emergencies. There was nothing to distract her.

But she couldn't stand being in the house Sokka had expanded, not after cleaning it from the second floor on down. If you're in the house, it's probably best not to get in her way.

Once that's done, there's still not enough to do. She goes out to practice bending by the river and takes her bo with her, just in case she wants to practice that too. But she mostly ends up sitting on a rock by the river, her feet dangling down and almost touching the water.]

Comments

[endgames]

[Barrier incompatibilities kind of suck. According to every medically inclined person he's seen lately, he's not sick, he just feels it. And has been feeling it for the better part of the month at that.

Barrier incompatibilities suck a lot, but for once he's not complaining. In light of Aang's announcement, it seems trivial. He stews on what to do for a while. Masaomi had a look earlier that gave Shikamaru no doubt where he was headed when he walked out the door. For certain, others will do the same. Too many people at the wrong time sounds suffocating to him; they'd all be better off waiting.

Only Katara and him have always thought differently on things like that.

Which is why with no one else around, and as much as barrier incompatibilities suck, Shikamaru finds himself sneaking out of his apartment to make the trek towards the Avatar House. On a whim, he skips the front door altogether to check the river behind the house, but as its later in the day verdict's out whether or not she's there.]

[markofthebrave]

[Shikamaru is in luck, such as it is. Katara has absolutely no desire to go back to the house. Even though it's getting cold out, she doesn't seem to notice. She's just sitting there.]

[endgames]

[He'd call out to her, but his voice is still pretty hoarse. Instead he makes no attempt to disguise the sound of his footsteps dragging through the frost-covered leaves as he comes closer, two thermoses in hand.]

[markofthebrave]

[Sorry, Shikamaru. You could be coming there to strangle her, and Katara still probably wouldn't look up.]

[endgames]

[That bothers him on some level. Not as much as it would have when they first met; things happen in Luceti, but he's been here long enough to know most of her residents are too kind for that to be a problem. All there is to be bothered about is...

Well. Nothing he doesn't already know. He would have to be a real idiot if it took seeing Katara like this to know how badly this would rock her.

When he's close enough, he shifts the second thermos to sit in the crook of his arm so he can tap her with a gloved finger. Since it hurts to talk, he won't speak until he's sure he has her attention.]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara doesn't even have the grace to startle, she just glances up at him slowly.]

Shikamaru.

[endgames]

[He's hoarse, but enunciates enough to be comprehensible.]

I brought you soup.

[He offers the spare thermos.]

[markofthebrave]

[She blinks slowly and then reaches out to take it.]

Thanks.

[That's it, not even a jibe about if he made it himself.]

But you sound like you could use it more than me.

[endgames]

[There is a second thermos; he raises it from the crook of his arm, as if to wave it.]

That's what this one's for. Thought we could eat together.

[markofthebrave]

[She makes a little face. She's not hungry.]

Thanks. For the thought.

[endgames]

[He grunts and clears snow to the side with his foot, making a space for him to sit.]

If you won't eat it, you can hold it. Keep your hands warm.