(no subject)

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph is in the barn, sneakily going over her bike and wondering when Sokka will work out she's putting the occasional rock in the engine just to make him frustrated.

Boys are fun to tease.

So; short blonde in jeans and tank top, greasy to the elbows, half buried under her bike.

Comments

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"...you are cruel."

Sokka is behind her, hands on hips, wrench in hand... and smirk on lips.

"How long have you been shoving rocks in there? They could actually cause a problem, you know."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Oops. Busted.

Steph wriggles out and gives him an innocent beam from the floor. "I'm not putting them where they'll actually damage anything. I like my bike."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"If you put them in the engine oil, they could get stuck in the piping and then I'll have to blow them out," Sokka points out, trying to scowl but not making it any harsher than a smirk no matter how he tried. "And I might forget and then you'll start it out and get a hole punched in the body and die and who will you complain to after that?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph is trying Very Hard not to giggle. "I haven't put any in the oil, loser. I used to have to service this myself, you know." She hooks an ankle around his leg and grins. "I think the swingarm is loose. Have you been messing around?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, getting the last rock out!" Sokka protests, managing to glare this time. "That one actually took a few hours to find, quit putting them in there! There was a guy that was helping me until I realized I was actually better than he was and should quit letting him touch your stuff."



"...is the swingarm really still loose? I thought I fixed it."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph can't stop giggling. "I'll make it up to you," she promises, laughing. "It totally kept you busy for ages, huh? Yeah, it was, a bit. It might be just cos everything's old in here." She hops to her feet and reaches for a rag to wipe her hands, grinning.

"Who was the guy?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"Dean," Sokka replies, slinking an arm around her waist and pulling her back down to sit beside him while he leans in to work on the bike again. He's grinning, but only a little. "He, uh, he's the one that started helping me out with this ghost stuff, for Katara. He said he might bring a few of his friends up here and help us out."

[alwaysroomforhope]

He should have a bigger grin than that. Steph fits herself neatly into his side and kisses the side of his jaw. This will help! She is sure of it!

"Oh, cool. That's awesome! The more people who actually know about this stuff the better, right?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

The kiss absolutely helps! He grins a bit more about that, leaning in to kiss her jaw right back.

"Yeah, I think so. Um. I guess one of them knows you."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Grins are good. Steph beams up at him, leaning into his side to watch him work on the bike. "Yeah? Who is it?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka pauses for a second before looking over at her, wary but insistent.

"Rachel."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Oh." Steph frowns. "... huh."

Toes wriggle against his, unconsciously.

"... okay."

If she can help. Steph'll just ... keep a really, really, really close eye on her.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

"I need to know if it's going to be a problem," Sokka says quietly, sliding a hand into hers to link their fingers, head ducked to find her eyes. "Dean doesn't think she'll come, but if she does..."

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

Ai-Ling is now accepting she won't find Miki. But she was tried from the walk and she figures she can stay here for a while until she figures out where he's gone.

Plus, finding Steph.


"I didn't know they ran on rocks."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Oh, they don't," Steph says, beaming up at the newcomer and sliding out from under the bike. "But Sokka needs something to worry about. Hi!"

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

Woo hoo excuse.

"Hi," Ai-Lin says brightly. "You must be Steph."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph laughs. "You've met my Sokka." She beams, because she has a Sokka. "That's me! And you're new to the farm?"

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

"Sorta visiting," Ai-Ling says. "I followed my husband here, but Sokka says he hasn't seen him in a while."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Who's your husband?" Steph sits up, wiping off her hands before getting to her feet. "I bet Babs could have a look for him, if he's not here any more."

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

"Miki," Ai-Ling replies, crouching down to be the same height as Steph. "He's Water Tribe as well, but taller than Sokka."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Oooh, him! I liked him." Steph beams at her. "Water Tribe boys are awesome. Especially if they're Sokka."

She offers the rag to Ai-Ling, then realises there's no need and chucks it back under the bike instead, finishing the wiping-of-hands on her jeans.

"But he seemed really sweet. You guys are from way in Sokka's future, right? It must be super weird getting to meet him here. Weird but awesome."

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

SMIRKY SMIRK Ai-Ling ships Sokka/Steph SO HARD.

"About nineteen years?" Ai-Ling guesses. "I was born just after the war, so that's about right."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph ships Sokka/Steph pretty hard too, so that's OK.

"Wow," she says, beaming. "Is he really cute old? As cute as he is young?"

[blueisboring.livejournal.com]

Only - shit, Ai-Ling realises, it's not 19 years in Sokka's future, but the future of Sokka's world. This is all confusing.

"I guess?" Ai-Ling hazards. "I mean - he's old."

Also, father-in-law. Ick.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph grins, a little dopily.

Change of topic before she bores the new girl to death.

"So -- I think Miki told us what your name was, but I've forgotten."