Chapter 27: Suki
Sokka's face lit up when he saw Kyoshi Island in the distance, and he urged Appa to go faster. The bison, seeing a familiar place where he'd always been well fed, sped up eagerly. Katara had to admit she was very nervous - she strongly suspected her brother was hoping she would be able to heal any injuries Suki might still have. Katara didn't think that would be possible, given the amount of time it had been since they'd been inflicted. But she would still try.
They landed and were greeted by the usual crowd of cheering fan-girls, waving adults and foam spraying lunatics. Oyagi moved forward, his arms open in welcome.
"Sokka! Katara! I'm glad you're alright! Is the Avatar with you?"
"He's at an Air Temple right now." Katara said apologetically.
Instantaneously, the crowd dispersed, and the foaming young man stood, wiped his mouth and stalked off in a huff.
"I had heard he had fallen at the hands of the Fire Nation."
"Oh yeah, he fell. But Katara got him back on his feet." Sokka said amiably.
Katara managed to stop herself strangling her brother when she remembered why they were there.
"We came because we heard Suki was badly injured. Can we see her?"
Oyagi hesitated momentarily.
"She may allow you to see her, Katara. Suki has become quite withdrawn since she returned. Follow me."
Sokka couldn't help but feel severely rejected by this, but decided that what was most important was Suki's well being. He and Katara followed the village leader through the bustling town, and past the dojo, where he could see some Kyoshi Warriors training. Some stopped to wave as they passed, then returned to their drills.
Oyagi made his way to a small house and knocked on the door.
"Suki? I have some visitors here for you."
"Whoever they are, I don't want them to see me like this."
The sound of Suki's strong voice brought tears to Sokka's eyes as relief flooded him. She was safe, and alive. Now he could stop some of the doubts in his heart.
"Suki? It's Katara and Sokka." Katara called gently. "Please, we were worried about you, we came to see you."
There was a long silence.
"Katara?" Suki's voice was now on the other side of the door. "C-can you heal me?"
"I don't know." Katara said truthfully. "It may be too late. But unless you let me in, we'll never now."
A longer silence followed.
"Alright. Katara, come in."
Katara cast a reassuringly glance at her brother, then entered Suki's home, closing the door quickly behind her. Sokka sighed heavily and sat with his back against the wall beside the door, leaning his head back against the wood.
At first glance, Suki appeared fine. Katara guessed that her fan had saved her face from any burns. She then noticed the entirety of her right arm and leg where bandaged. Suki wouldn't meet her gaze, a flush of shame on her cheeks. Katara moved forward and hugged the older girl tightly, ignoring when Suki stiffened.
"I'm so glad you're all right." Katara said, pulling away. "We've been so worried. Especially Sokka."
"I can't let him see me like this." Suki said in a dull voice. "I was defeated. I failed. I'm not the warrior he thought I was."
"That's rubbish!" Katara said angrily. Suki looked extremely taken aback. "No matter what you've been through, you're still Suki! Sokka won't think less of you because of this! You fought Azula and lived! That, if anything, proves how much of a strong warrior you are."
Suki stared at the waterbender before her, vibrating with indignant anger, and felt the ghost of a smile cross her face.
"I wish I could believe that." Suki said sadly.
Katara sighed heavily.
"I'm going to need a lot of water."
Katara took Suki's right hand in her own, and carefully unwrapped the bandages. She swallowed a gasp of horror as her extent of her upper body injures where exposed. Suki's hand had been melted, Katara swallowed down the nausea, melted into a fist like shape - she must have been holding the fan at the time.
Her arm was a scarred mess of raw, red skin.
This must be what Zuko went through, Katara thought to herself, horrified.
She pretended not to notice the tears in Suki's eyes as she unwrapped her leg. This was not as bad. Everything from the knee down seemed to have escaped any serious damage, but her thighs were in the same condition as her arms.
"How does your torso look?" Katara managed in a surprisingly steady voice.
"My armour protected me there mostly - just a few light burns." Suki's tight voice whispered.
"The burns are starting to heal over. I may not be able to do much, but I'll do what I can."
"Thank you." Suki sobbed gently.
Katara bent the water from the jugs that sat on the floor over her hands and let them run over Suki's arm, examining the damage. It was as she feared - with the burns already healing over, there was next to nothing she could do for her friend. Katara pulled away, not aware of the tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry. If I had some spirit water from The Northern Water Tribe, maybe that would work, but I came too late." Katara returned the water to the jugs and looked at Suki, who nodded slowly.
"I understand. Thank you for trying." Katara hugged the Kyoshi Warrior tightly.
"Please, let Sokka see you. He misses you, Suki."
"I-I don't know..."
"It would help him too." Katara said quietly.
Suki bit her lip, thinking it over, then nodded hesitantly.
"Sokka!" Katara called.
There was a bang as the door slammed open, startling the two girls, and the sound of thumping feet moving towards them. Sokka skidded into the room, breathing hard. The moment Sokka and Suki's eyes met, the air between them seemed to crackle. Katara decided to step back out of the way.
"Suki..." Sokka whispered, moving forward slowly, as though afraid she would disappear.
Then, to both girls surprise, Sokka started to cry.
"You're alright." He whispered, reaching up and gently stroking Suki's cheek.
Suki let her own tears fall as he tenderly touched her maimed arm.
"Sokka...I failed, I lost..." She whispered.
"No, you did everything you could." He said, kissing her gently.
Suki gasped in shock at his affection, pulling back slightly.
"Sokka...how can you kiss me?" She sobbed, shaking.
"Nothing will change how I feel about you." Sokka said, pulling her forward into a tight hug.
Suki, after a moment of stillness, broke down completely and hugged him back, sobbing hard into his shoulder. Katara left silently, not wanting to intrude.
Sokka wished so badly they could've stayed longer, but they couldn't afford the time - so he spent a few precious hours with Suki, consoling her and assuring her that she was the most important thing in his world. After a spate of making out, Suki seemed to be a bit brighter, and even left her home to say farewell.
The other Kyoshi Warriors gathered around their former leader, all pleased to see her outside once more.
"My dad will be dropping by to pick you guys up if you want to fight." Sokka said as Katara readied Appa. "But even if you decide not to, we are grateful for everything you've done."
"We will fight." Suki said, speaking for all. "I wish I could but...I guess it's just not meant to be. Be careful, Sokka."
They shared one last kiss before Sokka joined his sister on the bison. They waved at their friends, then commanded Appa to fly. Sokka watched the island until it disappeared, then sighed heavily.
"I'm sorry Sokka." Katara said in a quiet voice. "I couldn't do anything for her."
"It's alright." he said quietly. "I understand. But when this is over, I'm dragging you back to the Northern Water Tribe so you can use that magic water on her. I don't like seeing her so...depressed."
"You'll be her hero." Katara said, grinning cheekily.
"Well, it's about time someone recognised my genius and efforts!" Sokka said proudly, puffing out his chest.
Katara quickly poked him in the ribs, deflating him quickly with a laugh.
"I'm just glad that she's alive, at any rate." The waterbender said, folding her arms around her knees.
"Yeah. That's the most important thing." Sokka said seriously. Wrapping an arm around his sister and hugged her gently, he changed the subject. "We're going to the Fire Nation soon. You have to promise me you'll be careful. No more talking to strangers or we'll get in another mess like the one you just put us through."
"Yes, Dad."
After a brief bought of laughter, they sat in silence and watched the landscape roll by underneath them. It would take several days to reach their destination, even at top speed. Katara was looking forward to seeing everyone again - she couldn't wait to see if Aang had progressed in his firebending.
Waking up to Katara's face after 100 years in an iceberg was the height of Aang's memories, as far as he was concerned. Waking up to Momo's face bare centimeters from his own was not, however, as comforting.
"AAHH!" Aang screamed, completely surprised by the enormous green eyes gazing
at him.
"EEE!" Momo screeched, flapping back wildly and tumbling to a halt against Toph, who was standing ready for battle.
"What's going on? Twinkles Toes?" She demanded.
"Sorry Toph. Momo scared me." He said, rubbing his eyes.
Toph lowered her arms slowly, glaring.
"You woke me up because you were scared of Momo." She hissed.
"Er, I didn't mean, you see-" Aang stammered, shrinking under Toph's glare.
"Well, there's a familiar and welcome sight." Iroh's voice interrupted.
Aang turned as Toph said, "What is?"
"It's Appa! They're back!"
Aang raced forward as his bison landed and the waterbender he loved slid off. He hugged her tightly, almost tackling her to the ground. Katara laughed happily and hugged him back, opening an arm to welcome Toph into the embrace. Sokka stood to the side, holding Appa's reins and looking miffed.
"What am I, invisible?" He demanded, a vein in his forehead twitching.
"Pretty much." Toph said, hiding her blush quickly.
"Don't sulk, Sokka." Katara said, smiling and waving at the adults.
Aang stepped back and sighed happily, staring at Katara in wonder. She was back. Everything was back to normal.
Author's note: ok, so this got finish a LOT faster than i expected. Now for some less welcome news - im moving house in a few weeks, so i don't know when ill be able to post the next chapter. i should be able to get one more done before then, we'll see...but it shouldn't be too long a wait. I'd like to thank Steamboat Ghost again for being my awesome beta, without whom my story would long ago have turned to crap lol. And thank you all for the R&Rs.
