Who Are You?

Sokka didn't really have an answer. He sat up further and ran his fingers through his hair as he thought about it.

Sokka was the nephew of the Chief of Hotaru. He was a very skilled and disciplined Samurai warrior. He had trained in swordsmanship and combat at an extremely young age, he was methodical, cunning and imaginative. He was also honorable, courageous, confident and handsome or so all the local girls would say, of course they thought he was hilarious too if not just a tad too sarcastic, but he thought it added to his charm. So even though he was a non-bender, he felt he could still hold his own against almost anyone.

A knock at his door interrupts his thoughts.

"Sokka, are you up? Your uncle is here to talk to you." His mother asked through the door.

"Yeah, I'll be right there." Sokka replies as he rolls out of bed and gets ready quickly. He comes into his living room to see his father and his uncle, who also happens to be the Chief, sipping their morning tea quietly. Both are wearing unreadable facial expressions, he looks to his mother who looks pleased.

He sits and looks to the men expectantly.

"Sokka, the council has decided to send you as our Ambassador to Republic City. You will leave in a week." His Chief informed him.

Sokka nodded at the news, not really surprised. He had been itching to get off Hotaru for years, now he had his chance. Republic City was supposed to be the embodiment of all nations living together peacefully and he was honored that he was chosen to be the Ambassador for his peoples.

"Thank you Chief." Sokka replies with another nod and a smile.

After the necessary details are discussed, his uncle leaves and Sokka can't stop grinning, he was finally going to be leaving, finally on his own and free, well, kind of.

That night he has the same dream, he's in a swamp, searching for her. She asks him the same question and no matter how many times he tries to answer, she is never satisfied until he says 'I'm yours'. When he reaches out to hold her this time, she lets him, he feels her weight within his arms. It's as real as the wildflower and metal smell that's in his nose, as real as her fingertips tracing his face, as real as the feeling that at any moment his heart will explode out of his chest because it's beating so fast because her petal soft lips are brushing against his own, he swears to Agni that he can taste her, she's sweet yet slightly salty, like she's been crying. While he holds her he can tell she's small, petite but immensely powerful and he can't help but love that about her, his mystery woman. He asks her for her name but all she does is smirk at him, the same infuriating smirk she wore last time. She begins to mist away again before offering the same taunt.

"Come and find me then my warrior."

Sokka wakes with a start again, it's the middle of the night and for the life of him he can't fall back asleep. Every time he closes his eyes, her face is there, her unseeing eyes capturing his curiosity while the rest of her captures his soul. He wonders if it's a message from the spirit world.

The rest of the week goes on like this, each dream becoming brighter, more intense. Each one leaving his heart more aching and hollow, each one pulling at his emotions, he feels an overwhelming sense to be protective over her to the point he almost questions his own sanity.

When he finally arrives in Republic City he releases a breath he didn't know he was holding. It was an odd sense of relief, he couldn't really name it. After getting settled he walked around the city, staking out the best take out restaurants. He did after all, like to eat, really anything where meat was the focal point.

The next morning he comes into the council room and takes his designated seat only to smell wildflowers and metal. His head whips around to try and find the source of the smell. He sees three armored cops, a shorter petite woman with two men following her. Her hair is in an odd, bun? Is that what you would call that? But her bangs are so thick and hang in her eyes, how does she see past them? She maneuvers around the room with ease and takes a seat designated for the Chief of Police.

Sokka's eyebrows raise slightly at the realization. Well, Republic City is all about peace and equality right? So it would make sense to have a woman in such a high position within the city. But she's too far away to make out her face.

"Do you have a death wish son?" Asks an older woman beside him.

"Beg your pardon?" Sokka asks as he turns to her. She chuckles and turns slightly in her chair to face him better.

"The name is Layla, I'm the Ambassador for the Kudo Islands. I see you trying to get a better look at the Chief of Police. Her name is Toph Beifong and forgive me for being forward or rude but, it is best to simply stay out of her way and stay out of trouble." Layla offered as she turned back to her paperwork.

The meeting was more interesting then Sokka would have thought. But when it was Toph's turn to talk, Sokka was struck speechless. Her voice was the same, if not a bit rougher and harsher than in his dreams. This was beyond coincidence, it was uncanny, this had to be a message from the spirit world, there was no other possible explanation.

After the meeting he watches with interest as she gets up to walk past him again. Again the same wildflower and metal smell arrests his attention. She stops along with her companions as her head turns in his direction.

"Who are you?" Toph asks.

"Chief Beifong, this is Sokka, the new Ambassador from Hotaru." Layla answers for Sokka who bows as a sign of respect. Toph simply nods and gives a half grin.

"Uh huh. So do you actually know how to use that katana or is it just for show?" Toph asks as she gestures toward the sword at his waist.

"I do. I am a Samurai after all." Sokka replies proudly.

"Just keep it sheathed when you're in the city. The last thing I need is a tourist trying to 'defend his honor' by challenging some knuckle head to a sword fight and end up in jail. Because it doesn't matter who you are, you break the law, you go to jail. Are we clear on that?" Toph asks, putting her hands on her hips for emphasis, clearly unimpressed with him.

"Yes Chief Beifong." Sokka replies.

"Good." She replies with a smirk as she leaves.

"And that, was her being really nice." Layla says as she packs up her things and leaves him standing there, staring at the retreating form of his mystery girl.

Author's notes-

Ok I would like to give a special thanks to feliipsun, Alaburn, , ArtIsExplosion27, Tokka who invent Beastly Ravens and Da'Ink for all your faves, reviews, follows and encouragement. It means more to me then you will ever know.

Next, please keep in mind this is AU so certain details about the characters and their backgrounds have and will be changed but I will do my best to keep them within 'character' more or less.

Again, this is my first time writing for ATLA so please go easy on me. I do however accept reviews, faves, constructive criticism and suggestions with open arms.

Also tissine, the artist who drew the cover art for this fic, (that inspired this fic to begin with) has given me permission to use her art which I am ever so grateful for because I can't draw, I try to attempt to write but I can by no means draw.

So thank you so much for reading and I hope to hear from you.