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Chapter 2: Encounters in the dark
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All that could be heard in the light of the glowing embers was the sound of air, pushed through a nozzle.
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He liked being here, hot though it was.
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It was the newest room made in Kyoshi village. There actually hadn't been a house added or modified in hundreds of years, so it caused quite the uproar. Elders screaming at him for thinking it, children kicking him for building it, Suki hitting him because he spend so much time there.
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There were several reasons he did this though. The hard labour, the long hours pushing air and coal into the fire, continually checking the liquid. He still had to name the material, but it didn't seem that important.
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The first time he had mentioned it, the only reason had been losing his sword. It was strange not having his sword, almost as if he was feeling naked.
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But, as time passed, it started to become his refuge. Every time he looked into Suki's face, guilt seared up inside of him.
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Gently he removed the bits of material out of the bag. It was shiny, yet dull, and far stronger than anything he had ever had before.
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Lowering the material into the stone pot, making sure not to burn his hands. The last time he did, he got a lecture on safety and his cheek hurt for a month. His chuckle sounded empty in the darkening room.
"I'd better go buy some more coal before these run out."
The sunshine blinded him when he stepped outside. It was another beautiful day in the small village, as it usually was in spring. The old but sturdy houses gave a quiet glimmer in the morning sun.
However idyllic the scenery was, he felt uneasy. He kept seeing movement in the corner of his eye, at least he thought he was. Deciding that perhaps he was growing paranoid(or whatever the mental disease was) from eating too much squirrel-beaver, he stepped on towards the market.
"Ah Sokka, glad to see my favorite customer. I see you've finished up your supply already."
"Yeah, I found more than I thought I would. Almost enough I'd say."
"That's bad news for me, you've given me solid business."
"Good news for my money bag nonetheless."
"Hahaha, you're right. Now, what will it be today?"
"I'll have a medium sized bag."
"Already put it out when I saw you coming, right over there."
"Then why ask!?"
- shrugs - "For kicks and giggles?"
"One of these day, I'll give you that kick."
"I'll be here."
The old merchant said with an amused face. He was a good guy, always in for a laugh, even at that one joke of him about the penguin and the seal-jerky, even though he hadn't a clue what both were.
Content and stocked for another few days, Sokka headed back to his.. No, headed back home. It was his home now, although he found it hard to think it so after traveling for so long.
"…"
There it was again, shadows and sounds, but nothing that he could see. Deciding he had enough of this, he grabbed a lump of coal and the next time he saw it, threw it as hard as he could.
"Autch!"
"Hah, I knew it."
Stepping into the shadow, his eye adjusting, he could see the person lying on the ground, rubbing a bruise on the head. White faced, but with a pink shade if looked close enough.
"What are you doing, following me!?"
sniff "I just wanted to say thank you for the flower, I didn't expect you'd chuck rocks at me!"
That was an answer he didn't expect. In the early days she had tried to tackle him once or twice, but that stopped after some hard glances from Suki.
"I'm.. I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
The newest Kyoshi warrior stood up, legs first as usual, and landed with a slight jump on her feet. A small blush appeared on her face as she made eye contact with the young Watertribe warrior.
"Thank you for the flower."
The way she looked now, the blush, the smile, the eyes, his hands moved by themselves. One finger raising her chin, her eyes shimmering and giving him a curious look. His mind shuts off as the hand slides over her cheek.
She closed her eyes, the spell was broken and his senses caught up with him. Retracting his hands as if touching fire, he backed away.
"We can't.. I can't."
He picked up the bag of coal, looked once more at the grey-eyed girl, and left.
Ty lee's eyes remained closed.
From happiness to sadness in an instant.
The only thing that showed it, showed the emotion that bottled up further and further inside her every time it happened, were the unshed tears in the corner of her eye.