Toko Week – Affection
"That's how I show affection."
Her words hit me at the most random times. Sometimes it's not random at all. Like when my hands brushes my bruise, and I clench my teeth. It hurts.
But I almost like the pain.
Does that make me a masochist? I don't know. I don't like the actual pain… I just like the words that went with it. Punching me is how she shows affection.
Well, I suppose it's better than when she hurled a rock at my chest. After I burned her feet.
But then I think about it some more. I've seen her punch everyone else in the group, too. And I haven't been around that long. Maybe she's punched Aang or Sokka a million more times than she's punched me. Why does that make me feel so jealous?
…
My fingers press into the purple flesh, and I wince. She punches very hard—I suppose most earthbenders are like that, even if she is better than most. Well, better than all, according to her. And she can bend metal, I'm told. That's impressive.
She's just so naturally gifted.
I'm jealous again.
I'm jealous all the time now.
Like when Aang makes her smile. Or when Sokka makes her smile. Or when she talks to them, and not me. I shouldn't expect much more than that. After all she's probably been told about me, it's a wonder she talks to me at all.
"That's how I show affection."
She knows Uncle. She's friendly with him, a little. What did he tell her about me? She said it was annoying, and also sweet.
I trust Uncle to have said good things about me.
And after she comforted me was when she… 'affectionately' punched me. So maybe that's part of it.
Maybe she does really like me.
But maybe not as much as I like her.
I don't know.
I touch the bruise again and smile.
I suppose I'll just have to wait until she hits me again.