In the engineering room...

[beliefovermisery]

[After this.]

There was tossing. There was turning. And there was a gasping, panting boy wrapped in canvas suddenly shooting up in a sitting position in the darkness, crying out softly, eyes painfully wide, trembling and gasping for breath.

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[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

No, he won't.

But his eyes harden and his fingers curl at her waist. "I'll deal."

It doesn't mean he pulls away from her kiss, though. It means he returns it with equal aggression, his hand at her back and tugging her in close, making that kiss hard. And when they break, his brow rests against hers and he sighs.

Cynical boy, he knows for a fact that love doesn't conquer all.

But all he does is murmur, "It doesn't always work that way," and pet her back above her clothes.

[notahick.livejournal.com]

"Just because it doesn't always doesn't mean that it can't sometimes," Paige notes, her eyes dark. It hurts her, to know he doesn't trust her to try her damndest.. to make this work.

But she's not leaving. She won't get up and stalk away... she'll stay.

She'll prove him wrong.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

He trusts her to try. He doesn't trust circumstances to let her succeed.

He wants to apologize for it, this lack of faith, but-- what more is there to say? He'd already admitted to being a coward. It doesn't bear repeating.

He will, however, kiss her once before scooting in, his arm sliding around her.

"...I want to believe you," he admits quietly, trying to catch her gaze.

[notahick.livejournal.com]

"So try," she says. "Have a little courage, Sokka. I know you can be brave, if you let yourself."

It's a risk.

But without risk, what's life, anyway?

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

People keep saying that. But if you risk so many times, and each time you lose...

He's silent for a few moments before he smiles a little at her. "...I think I can get back to sleep now."

He's at least ready for new nightmares.

[notahick.livejournal.com]

She sighs, and tugs him down into her arms. No nightmares. Paige'll keep them at bay.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

One of these days, they're going to realize that sleeping in the engineering room is a really bad idea.

Until then, Sokka's tugged down, wrapping his arms around her, laughing a little as they settle down.