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Description
Hakoda had dark bags settling in under his eyes- he had seen them forming in his reflection earlier in the week and knew they were getting worse by the day. It took hours to get to sleep without Kya sharing his bed, her warm body snuggled against his. Not to mention Katara’s recurring nightmares - and who could blame her; no child should have to see their mother’s charred corpse. It was always when he could feel sweet sleep calling him that she would rush to him, bawling; it took hours to calm her back down, it seemed. He was lucky to get more than a couple hours of sleep before morning reared its head.

“You don’t look so well.” Bato commented from over the stewpot. In those weeks following Kya’s death, Bato had taken over as the caretaker of the family, for which Hakoda was deeply grateful. “You need rest.”

“If only there were more hours in the day. I can’t surrender my duties as chief… and my children need me now more than ever.”

Bato shook his head in disapproval as he stirred the frothing stew, “That’s no reason to not take care of yourself.”

Hakoda, deciding to avoid the topic of his personal well-being, asked if the food was almost ready. Receiving a nod, he started to stand. “I’ll call the children.”

Bato motioned him to sit, “That won’t be necessary.”

“And why not? The kids need to eat as well.”

“I talked to Mama Kanna and she agreed you needed the night off. She’s going to watch the kids tonight so you can rest.” He explained as he poured some of the stew into a bowl and passed it to his friend.

“…Thank you.”

***

The men sat in silence as they ate. Once he was finished, Bato stood and put out the cooking fire. “You make sure you go straight to bed. I’ll bring the children back by in the morning.”

“Thank you again.” Hakoda stood, stretching. “For everything you’ve done for my family since…”

“It’s been my pleasure.” He smiled, “After all, your family is like my family.”

***

Hakoda rolled over again. A frown stenciled across his lips. Without the children there, the hut seemed too quiet, too cold, too… dead. With a sigh, he got up and exited his home. Darkness had long settled in, only a few lanterns dotted the village in the direction he was headed. A blazing fire danced in the distance behind him and he could make out idle chatter of the night watchmen. Fortunately, he didn’t need much light to know where he was going; it was a very familiar path. Reaching his destination, he slipped inside the darkened hut as quiet as possible and sneaked his way to the back room.

“Bato… Bato!” He prodded his friend gently with his toes.

The harsh whisper and slight movement drew his friend from slumber. Blinking and trying to comprehend the scene, Bato gave him a confused look. “Hakoda?”

“I can’t sleep.”

Bato sat up, rubbing his eyes wearily and yawning. “Have you tried to?”

“Of course I have. But the hut is too empty without the kids there.” Hakoda plopped down to sit beside his friend. “Would you mind if I stayed the night?”

“Of course not. There’s an extra blanket out in the main room.”

***

After making himself a cozy as possible, Hakoda broke the silence again. “You remember when we were little and you used to sleep over when your dad was away? And you remember how you had trouble sleeping because you were afraid of the evil spirits?”

“Well, yes… but what does that have to do with you not being able to sleep now?”

“Well, back then I told you that I’d protect you through the night and I held you next to me all night long so you wouldn’t be scared.”

“…You aren’t scared of the evil spirits, are you?” Bato teased, exhaustion dripping in his tone.

“No… but I am lonely.” Hakoda admitted; he didn’t like announcing one of his weaknesses to any one, not even his closest comrade. Bato remained silent and Hakoda sighed, rolling over onto his side, his back now to his friend. He felt surprised when he felt the other warm body press against him, an arm snaking around him.

Bato sighed, nuzzling Hakoda’s neck. “You don’t need to feel lonely; you’ll always have me.”

Description
Hakoda had dark bags settling in under his eyes- he had seen them forming in his reflection earlier in the week and knew they were getting worse by the day. It took hours to get to sleep without Kya sharing his bed, her warm body snuggled against his. Not to mention Katara’s recurring nightmares - and who could blame her; no child should have to see their mother’s charred corpse. It was always when he could feel sweet sleep calling him that she would rush to him, bawling; it took hours to calm her back down, it seemed. He was lucky to get more than a couple hours of sleep before morning reared its head.

“You don’t look so well.” Bato commented from over the stewpot. In those weeks following Kya’s death, Bato had taken over as the caretaker of the family, for which Hakoda was deeply grateful. “You need rest.”

“If only there were more hours in the day. I can’t surrender my duties as chief… and my children need me now more than ever.”

Bato shook his head in disapproval as he stirred the frothing stew, “That’s no reason to not take care of yourself.”

Hakoda, deciding to avoid the topic of his personal well-being, asked if the food was almost ready. Receiving a nod, he started to stand. “I’ll call the children.”

Bato motioned him to sit, “That won’t be necessary.”

“And why not? The kids need to eat as well.”

“I talked to Mama Kanna and she agreed you needed the night off. She’s going to watch the kids tonight so you can rest.” He explained as he poured some of the stew into a bowl and passed it to his friend.

“…Thank you.”

***

The men sat in silence as they ate. Once he was finished, Bato stood and put out the cooking fire. “You make sure you go straight to bed. I’ll bring the children back by in the morning.”

“Thank you again.” Hakoda stood, stretching. “For everything you’ve done for my family since…”

“It’s been my pleasure.” He smiled, “After all, your family is like my family.”

***

Hakoda rolled over again. A frown stenciled across his lips. Without the children there, the hut seemed too quiet, too cold, too… dead. With a sigh, he got up and exited his home. Darkness had long settled in, only a few lanterns dotted the village in the direction he was headed. A blazing fire danced in the distance behind him and he could make out idle chatter of the night watchmen. Fortunately, he didn’t need much light to know where he was going; it was a very familiar path. Reaching his destination, he slipped inside the darkened hut as quiet as possible and sneaked his way to the back room.

“Bato… Bato!” He prodded his friend gently with his toes.

The harsh whisper and slight movement drew his friend from slumber. Blinking and trying to comprehend the scene, Bato gave him a confused look. “Hakoda?”

“I can’t sleep.”

Bato sat up, rubbing his eyes wearily and yawning. “Have you tried to?”

“Of course I have. But the hut is too empty without the kids there.” Hakoda plopped down to sit beside his friend. “Would you mind if I stayed the night?”

“Of course not. There’s an extra blanket out in the main room.”

***

After making himself a cozy as possible, Hakoda broke the silence again. “You remember when we were little and you used to sleep over when your dad was away? And you remember how you had trouble sleeping because you were afraid of the evil spirits?”

“Well, yes… but what does that have to do with you not being able to sleep now?”

“Well, back then I told you that I’d protect you through the night and I held you next to me all night long so you wouldn’t be scared.”

“…You aren’t scared of the evil spirits, are you?” Bato teased, exhaustion dripping in his tone.

“No… but I am lonely.” Hakoda admitted; he didn’t like announcing one of his weaknesses to any one, not even his closest comrade. Bato remained silent and Hakoda sighed, rolling over onto his side, his back now to his friend. He felt surprised when he felt the other warm body press against him, an arm snaking around him.

Bato sighed, nuzzling Hakoda’s neck. “You don’t need to feel lonely; you’ll always have me.”