thinking about the water tribe siblings after the fire nation came to their village. how sokka probably had to hold his younger sister while she sobbed in his arms, overwhelmed with guilt over their mother’s death. he would keep repeating that it’s not her fault while simultaneously blaming himself because he couldn’t do anything to stop it.
and now with their father gone how was he supposed to protect katara? how was he supposed to protect the last waterbender of the southern water tribe and the entirety of his village? he promised his father he would be the one to do it.
thinking about how sokka never let katara see him cry over their parents absence because he’s the older one and that means she has to believe her brother isn’t afraid of anything. thinking about katara bringing him a blanket while he’s on look out and then falling asleep on his shoulder because it’s warm and familiar almost like their mother’s touch.
thinking about sokka constantly being driven by his need to protect what’s left of his people results in him building a shield, masking his fear with overconfidence because he thinks that’s what strength looks like, because if he at least can act like a leader maybe he can become one and maybe he won’t lose everything.
about katara letting her grief define her, taking on every responsibility to escape the guilt she feels for her mother’s death, understanding that she needs to help in every way she can and that she can’t be passive ever again because that cost her her everything.
thinking about how they had to raise each other both feeling an immense responsibility for the other. sokka watching his little sister grow taller and more mature slowly forgetting she’s still just a kid as she takes on more and more responsibility. katara watching her brother who was once so full of life and curiosity, growing up fast because he decides someone has to step into that protector role, even though he’s still just a kid with no real experience.
sokka thinks he has to be unshakable for katara, while katara believes she has to be endlessly strong so sokka doesn’t have to worry. them relying on each other keeps each other stable at the cost of being robbed of their childhoods.
