shatterverse | (no subject)

Team "Get-Away-From-Sylar-No-Really-This-Time" has made good progress, but even they need to sleep occasionally. Toph makes rock tents for all of them, because it's easier than looting, and even though she makes four, she knows perfectly well that right now, only two are being slept in.

It must be awfully stuffy in that one, but at least they're not doing anything other than sleeping with their hands together.

Toph - doesn't have any one to hold her hand. Not, she'll tell anyone who bothers to ask, that she needs to, it's just...

...just that she has to be there for Sokka, who's just buried his sister, and for Claire, who's terrified of this murderer, and - no one's really there for her, the little girl who just buried the closest thng she had to a sister, who had begun to take the place of a mother.

So as the others sleep, she creeps out and crouches a way away from the tents, feeling the movements of the forest around her, and silently crying. So she can be strong in the morning.

Claire is warm and safe and makes everything -- not better, but bearable. But she's sleeping, and Sokka's -- well, not. Surprisingly enough.

He slides his hand free gently, after staring at the ceiling of the tent for forever and a day, and checks to make sure she's ~~breathing~~ sleeping before heading out. He just -- needs air.

He's trying so hard to be strong for Claire, who needs someone to protect her from the murderer, and for Toph, who's just buried her closest friend, and for Penance even though they're not really sure how much she understands -- she understands pain. It's just -- hard.

It's mostly just coincidence that he walks in Toph's direction.

There is a rustle high up in the tree beside her, random and soft. Probably just an animal.

Until, at least, what's up there decides it would be rude not to let the other girl know she's there.

Quiet tapping of something hard and metal against the tree branch.