The Name of the Game

By Ammie Hawk

Summary: Sokka receives some disturbing news just as he sets out with the Avatar. Slash meaning m/m.

AN: I know, I know, I shouldn't have done it. But here's my unrepentant apology. I just go where the muses take me. Anyway, I hope ya'll enjoy my first attempt at an Avatar fic.

Prologue

After the Fire Nation ship left with the Avatar, the villagers of the Southern Water Tribe began setting their small village to rights. The women and children, all that remained of the once proud village, were rather subdued while they worked, but what more could they do, the Avatar had sacrificed himself to protect them.

Meanwhile, down by the shore, the two children of the chief were doing nothing to help with the restoration. The girl, Katara, stood looking out at the ocean, while her elder brother, Sokka, moved behind her.

"We have to go after that ship, Sokka," Katara said angrily. "Aang saved our tribe, now we have to save him."

"Katara, I…" Sokka began.

"Why can't you realize he's on our side," she cut him off. "If we don't help him, no one will. I know you don't like Aang, but we owe him. And…"

"Katara!" he yelled slightly to stop her ranting. "Are you gonna talk all day or are you coming with me?"

He motioned to the canoe he'd been packing. She gasped happily and ran over to him.

"Sokka!" she threw her arms around him in a hug that almost sent both of them into the freezing water.

"Get in," he motioned to the boat again. "We're going to save your boyfriend."

"He's not my…" she protested.

"Whatever," he shrugged.

"What do you two think you're doing?"

An old woman walked up behind them. They both turned and looked guiltily into the weathered face of their grandmother.

"You'll need these," she smiled at them as she held out their sleeping bags. "You have a long journey ahead of you."

The siblings weren't quite sure what to make of her actions. They shared a look as the old woman moved closer.

"It's been so long since I've had hope," she continued, "but you brought it back to life, my little Waterbender." She hugged Katara. "And you, my brave warrior," she turned to Sokka, who looked a bit sheepish under the praise, "be nice to your sister." She hugged him too.

"Yeah, okay, Gran," he hugged her back awkwardly.

"Aang is the Avatar," GranGran sighed. "He's the world's only chance. You both found him for a reason. Now, your destinies are entwined with his."

They shared another look, that sounded a bit foreboding.

"There's no way we're gonna catch a war ship with a canoe," Katara pointed out, as they all turned to look at it.

Just then, the large white and brown form of the Avatar's bison crested a nearby hill. He opened his mouth in a friendly roar, as if he'd been listening to their conversation.

"Appa," Katara cried happily.

"You just love taking me out of my comfort zone, don't ya?" Sokka grumbled.

"Sokka," his grandmother put her hand on his arm.

He turned to look at her curiously. He paused though, when he actually took the time to truly see her. She looked old. I mean she was old, but she looked older than she ever had before. And there was a deep seated sadness in her eyes that he'd never recalled seeing before.

"GranGran?" he asked concerned.

"Sokka," her hand rose to cup his cheek, as tears pooled in her blue-grey eyes. "My brave, brave boy. This came while you were gone," she pulled a scroll from within her sleeve. "Don't open it now," she shook her head as he made to unroll it. "Wait until you are safely away. Just know that your father and I have and will always love you, and we only did what we thought was best, for everyone. And be extremely careful around the Fire Nation, my son. Go. Save the Avatar, and save the world."

"Okay, GranGran," he nodded.

With that cryptic goodbye, he tucked the scroll inside his parka and ran after his sister. He scrambled up the hind leg of the bison and settled into the large saddle. It took a bit of finagling, but they finally managed to take to the air and chased after the Fire Nation ship.

When they reached the ship, it was obvious that Aang didn't really need rescuing but they helped out anyway. After some amazing waterbending on the Avatar's part, and some questionable techniques on Katara's, they were back in the air and on their way, headed for the North Pole.

Later that night, after they had stopped and made camp, Sokka pulled off his parka, causing the scroll to tumble to the ground. He frowned as he picked it up, having completely forgotten about it in the excitement of the day. Remembering his grandmother's words, he warily unrolled it. He inched closer to the fire to better read the fine script.

To Hakoda, Chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe,

After careful consideration, we of the Fire Nation have decided to accept your offer of peace.

What?! His mind ground to a screeching halt. His father had offered a peace treaty to the Fire Nation? When had he done this? Wasn't this the same man who left his family and village three years ago to fight the Fire Nation? He shook his head, trying to stop the swirling questions. He went back to the letter, maybe it held some answers.

In accordance with your compliance, we expect you to send your son to the Fire Nation, where he will join his betrothed, the crown prince, in service of the Fire Nation Navy.

Firelord Ozai

"What the hell?!" he yelled as he tossed the letter away from him, as if that would make the words untrue.

"Sokka?" his sister looked at him curiously from the other side of the fire, where she'd been talking with Aang. "What's wrong?"

"He sold me!" Sokka said in shock. "He fucking sold me to the Fire Nation like… like a piece of meat!"

"What are you talking about, Sokka?" Katara went over to him, concern etched on her young face.

"Dad…" he motioned vaguely to the discarded letter.

She frowned as she leaned down to pick up the scroll. Her eyes darted over it quickly as she held it up to the light. As she reached the end, she almost dropped it as well.

"But—but—but why would Dad do that?" she shook her head. "There—there has to be some mistake. I mean, it says here you're betrothed to a prince. You're both guys, that's not even possible. Maybe it's Bato playing a horrible joke."

"Maybe," he shook his head.

He didn't tell her about their grandmother's final words to him, but he didn't think she would've said that if it was just a joke. But he didn't have the heart to tell his sister that.

"Well," Aang said, having taken the scroll from Katara and read through it, "it's not uncommon in political marriages. Monk Giatso told me lots of stories of arrangements to strengthen cities or countries. It didn't matter age, or sex, or whether they were both benders or not. It's all politics, really boring. I usually zoned out after that."

"Great," blue eyes rolled in annoyance. "Just what I need. Look, guys, I'm gonna go to sleep. Maybe when I wake up this will all just be a bad dream."

He went over to Appa and grabbed his sleeping bag. The other two watched him sympathetically as he lay down next to the fire. Once they were sure he was asleep, Katara took the scroll back, rolled it up, and tucked it at the bottom of her bag.

"We won't mention this ever again," her clear blue eyes held fire as they bore into the Avatar. "As long as we stay away from the Fire Nation, you'll both be safe. I won't let them take my brother from me, too."

Ammie: Okay, so Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I'm doing pretty good on my stockpiling for Christmas, so I figured I'd give ya'll a treat. Anyway, please let me know what you think.