[ShatterTimed back a bit.]

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

Sometime before Dean, Jo and Jack left the farm, he spent a lot of time working on the Impala. Baby didn't like the rough country roads, could use some tuning.

Anyone can catch him there, sprawled under the car in the front yard with his feet sticking out and a handful of tools scattered within reach.

Comments

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"Nah, but I'm not usually on the road much either." He waves a hand. "M'brother and I go where we gotta. Bein' charmed is a'ight, but kinda annoying."

He didn't know Sirius was going to make it fly and he's not sure he liked it. Sure, it's useful. He's still just, y'know, not sure he likes it.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka would make fun of him, but he's too enchanted with the car to figure out why flying is so annoying for Dean.

So Sokka keeps grinning.

"Your brother's here, too? Man, it's always nice when the universe stops sucking long enough t'keep families together. You're new, right? --holy shit, this is the original engine, isn't it?! And '67 was like ages ago for you, right? Oh man, wow."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

Some of the amusement is gone from his face, at that, but he gives Sokka an easy smile anyway. It's helped by the praise for the Imp.

"Yeah, 'bout forty years. She's m'baby." Comforting pat to the bonnet. "And yeah. Just a few weeks. Y'say that like you're a veteran."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

A small snort is Sokka's reaction to that, shrugging. "Not to this place, but to world hopping, yeah. It was nice this time, brought me, my sister, her kids, and my best friend. Sometimes it really fucks you over, though."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"Yeah? How so?"

This is the intent look. Sokka can ogle the engine; Dean is frowning thoughtfully at him. Potential source of information! The kind of information he hasn't been able to get from anyone so far.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka shrugs again, circling the car to look at the body work. "It splits families up, friends. This is my fourth world, including my birth one."

When he reaches the front of the car again, he looks up at Dean - and his smile is a little pitying. He knows that look.

"I don't know anything about this world. I've only been here a month or so. I've just gotten tossed around for a while."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

He can take his pity and shove it where the sun don't shine.

"Hm," Dean says, leaning down to adjust a plug.

"Ever wound up with ... alternate versions of y'self?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka isn't sneering - that would be rude. Or at least, he isn't admitting to sneering.

"Yeah. I have two."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

Heh. Funny.

"That's fucked up.

"Either of them a chick?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Blink-blink.

"...no, mine are just younger and more successful. Yours is a woman?"

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"Surprisingly hot, actually," Dean says thoughtfully. "Great rack. Looks like she'd know which side to butter her bread on, if y'know what I mean."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

He doesn't, not even slightly, but since Sokka's next question was going to be 'is she hot?', he's not going to argue.

He's going to grin and pretend like he wasn't going to ask that.

"Cool that you get on with each other all right."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"Well, uh." Dean rubs the back of his neck. "Depends. We talked th'once or twice."

Then he got the hell outta Dodge.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka smirks.

"Yeah, well, mine hates me and I'm dating his girlfriend's best friend.

"Welcome to universe-hopping."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

That actually gets an honest laugh out of Dean.

"Dude. That's fucked up too.

"You said y'sister came over with you. She the same as she used t'be?"

Because -- universehopping drove Sam -- something. Slightly nuts. A lot nuts. Tree-blowing-up and rock-melting nuts. It worries Dean.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"Same like her gender, her personality, or that she remembers everything I do?"

There are distinctions to be made here.

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"Similar," Dean says, leaning back against the car and glaring at the house, "like he's the dude I grew up with, only completely bugfuck nuts."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka's smile drops.


"...like she's acting like herself if you were describing it to somebody else, but when you actually look at her and listen to what she's saying, it's always wrong."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

Dean stills, and his gaze returns to Sokka, sharp and upset.

And understanding.




"Exactly like that."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka is perfectly still, eyes on Dean.

Sharp and upset.

"Not Mel. My younger sister. First world we got pulled to."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"... fuck," Dean mutters, turning away and shoving his hands in his pockets, shoulders tense and hunched.

"Not just me, then."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka's jaw sets.



He doesn't have advice. He barely even has warnings.



"Younger or older?"

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"Younger."

Dean's voice is terse and rough.

"Five years."

Look after your brother.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Take care of your sister.


"Look after him." Sokka's voice is gruff, ages older than it should be, and he's looking at the car instead of the man he's talking to. "But don't-- if I'd let her go, she would've been killed or worse. I held her back, and she got other people killed.

"Just-- be careful. I don't know what happened, but if it's the same thing, just... just be careful."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

Dean nods once, sharp.






"I gotta get back there."