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Sokka doesn't know it, but they're at the Chicago end of Lake Michigan. They've steered clear of people and cities, made their way through the countryside, found a quiet field sloping down to the edge of the water. On the way they stopped to pick up what they needed.

There's even a boat. Just a rowboat, but it's in good shape and it's big enough for four and a weighted coffin.

Sokka is expressionless as he rows them out, watching the shore disappear behind the boat.

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Toph felt that, and kicks Claire sharply in the ankle to stop her saying anything.

As the coffin sinks slowly, it jerks once when the bender chokes back on a quiet sob, but otherwise it descends carefully and slowly.

Only when it's completely covered in water does Toph bring her arms in, and the coffin disappears.

Sokka makes his way back to his seat, pausing only to put a hand on Toph's shoulder for a moment.

He doesn't say anything as he starts rowing them back to shore, though. What would he say?

Claire heeds Toph's warning and says nothing, but she does put an arm back around the blind girl, squeezing her tightly.

Now it's out, sort of, Toph turns her head into Claire's arm, and after a second, returns the hug.

Now tears are flowing freely, if quiet.

Katara.

Katara.

Sokka is blank-faced and silent, but when sand scrapes against the bottom of the boat he jumps, startled out of the rhythm of rowing.

"...we'll go back to Kansas," he says quietly, as if it's not a total non sequiteur. "Where it's safer. All of us."

Because he still has to protect them.

The trouble is; Claire was leaving Kansas just to get away from the man who did that.

"Not the farm," she says,letting Toph go in order to pick Mr. Muggles back up and stand out of the boat.

"Somewhere else. In Kansas."

"Not the farm," he agrees. He isn't sure he wants to go back there either.

He should. He has to, because he has to tell the other Sokka. He just ... doesn't want to.

He'd rather pretend like nothing ever happened and never say his sister's name again. That's what Sokkas do.

"We'll set up somewhere else. Not near ... not near where we were, though."

"OK."

It seems safe enough here, so Claire sets the dog down into the surf.

When the boat's been pulled ashore and dry she turns back to him, and says nothing else. She just pulls him into a hug.

There's reassuring kisses as well, if he wants.

He's never wanted anything more.

But kisses soon fade into just hugging, and then into just holding, like he'll fall over if she lets go.

Katara.

When it has bben established kisses have stopped and won't be coming back, a pair of strong arms wrap around them both at waist level, and the clinging becomes a group hug.

Toph can't feel too jealous now. Not when she needs them both.

Further up the shore, crouching within the line of trees, Penance watches all three of them. She knows better than to board a boat, especially a wooden one, if anyone wants it to stay afloat - and besides, being exposed in the middle of a body of water is as uncomfortable for her as it is for Toph.

But these people, who might be friends and definitely aren't going to hurt her, are hurting all on their own.

The least she can do is venture out into the open and sit beside them, offering presence if not touch.

LALA *RETCONS ALL GODDING I DID*

Still love me? <3

ALWAYS <33333

I think I totally missed all godding anyway 'cause OMG CLAIRE AND TOPH AND SOKKA AND T_T

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