"Limit Sky"
CH3
~Danger Fix~
Jet and his friends lead the way as Katara and Sokka limp behind them. The streets are glowing in brilliant hues from lanterns and street lights, adding an air of haunt to the night. Sokka's gaze drifts to and from his sister to the strange 'hero' who saved their lives. Jet walks ahead, hands shoved into his pockets and whistling as he moves.
His friends are a colorful group, ranging in age and stature. Nonetheless, they celebrate amongst themselves for leaving that attempted thief in a broken mess in the alley. While all this is going on, Jet contributes nothing to the conversation. Sokka's frown deepens the closer they get to their home.
"Katara, I think we should lose these guys before we get close too home."
"Why?" His sister whispers back, confused.
"Because we don't know them! They might be trying to stake out our house so they can rob us in the future." Sokka is adamant with a hushed voice.
"Don't worry, we won't harm you guys." Jet speaks, startling the two. "You guys helped out one of our own. He told us about you. Consider this a returned favor."
The siblings look at each other.
Jet turns back to them, a smirk on his handsome face. "You guys helped out a kid a while back. He's part of our crew now."
Sokka frowns, "What do you mean, 'part of your crew'?"
"We're the Freedom Fighters."
"Sounds like some knock off version of the Goonies or something." Sokka remarks, sour.
"Sokka, you've never even seen the Goonies."
"Whatever."
Jet takes it all in stride, "We're just a rag tag group of kids here in Yu Dao, but I like to think we're making a difference."
That perks Katara's interest, "Making a difference, how?"
"We're working to protect Yu Dao."
"Protect it from who?"
"Big wigs, you know, corporations and politicians. We're starting small for now, but eventually, we want to really make an impact."
"Define small." Sokka presses.
"Saving the common folk." Jet gestures to him and Katara.
Katara's eyes twinkle, "That's so noble of you, Jet. All of you." Her eyes travel over the members of his crew.
Sokka sucks his teeth, nudging his sister ahead. She frowns but readjusts his arm over her shoulder and starts forward. "Yeah well that's really nice of you." Once they pass Jet, Sokka continues, "You can leave us right here. We're close to home."
"It's late. Let us walk you all the way to make sure you're safe."
The elder sibling balls his fists at his side. Katara, on the other hand, looks over her shoulder at Jet and says, "Please do, thank you!"
When they arrive at their front porch, Katara once again looks over her shoulder at the Freedom Fighters. She thanks them, even giving the best courteous bow she can with her brother's arm hoisted over her shoulder. Jet approaches and smirks down at her.
Sokka narrows his eyes as Jet brushes a strand of hair from his sister's blushing face…
Sokka spends most of his summer vacation grinding his speed run attempts on Resident Evil 2 and 3.
Between getting caught in the dreaded basement, getting Aquacucked and 5-change on the music box more times than any sane person can stand, Sokka eventually pulls the plug on his RE3 attempts and spends the latter half of the summer improving his RE2 speed runs.
Until…
At the end of July, he decides to disclose his newest passion to his sister. He finds her in the kitchen. Judging by the steaming pot on the stove, she has already finished preparing dinner. His stomachs loud grumble is his introduction to the room.
"Katara, I realize something."
"That you're a sexist, immature jerk?"
"No, no… I realize I'm wasting my time with speed runs. It's time I tap into my true talent…" Sokka pumps his fist into the air, "I'm going to start modding!"
Katara stares at her brother, "Modding what?"
"Video games! I can make costumes for mods, environments…. I can even make my own mods! It's gonna be sweet!"
Katara purses her lips, nods and looks down at her phone. A shy smile comes to her face and she begins typing away. Sokka notices and asks who she's texting. His sister almost jumps out of her skin, shouting that it's none of his business. Sokka frowns, and rolls his eyes. Katara returns to texting.
"Why don't you just ask him on a date or something?" He snarks.
She blinks at him, "Who do you think I'm texting?"
"Jet."
Katara shakes her head, frowning. "I'm talking to Niyok."
"Yeah, about Jet." Sokka sneers, taking a seat at the table and looking away from her, "Why don't you just text him instead?"
"Why does it matter to you anyway?"
"Because I don't trust him."
"You don't know him!" Katara defends. "Besides, Jet doesn't have a phone. He says the government tracks people that way."
"Well, I'm surprised you haven't ditched yours by now!"
"I can think for myself, Sokka!" She shouts, rising from her seat. "But Jet's doing the right thing for Yu Dao! It's about time someone saw the Modernization Project for what it really is! An infringement on the rights of the citizens of Yu Dao!"
Sokka's abrupt exit from the kitchen, startles her. Nonetheless, she resumes texting, her cheeks growing all the more red with each of Niyok's responses.
The new school year arrives in September.
Sokka and Katara make it through the front double doors of Yu Dao High, ready to start the school year, brand new, like a fresh coat of paint…. And that's exactly how Sokka starts the year. Wearing a fresh coat of paint, because as he strode in that building, head held high, some teens raced in past him, knocked over a can of paint, and sent it hurling down on top of him.
Turns out, they had entered through the side of the building that was still closed for renovations…
Ever the genius, Sokka took it in stride. He had an extra shirt in his bag. After cleaning up in the restrooms, he was back out and ready to seize the day.
Said shirt saves his dignity for the rest of the morning. But come lunchtime, more teens their age race through the cafeteria. One thing led to another, and soon he was on the receiving end of a plate of flying chow mein…
Towards the end of lunch, Katara stands beside the boys restroom. Her brother entered moments before, grumbling and huffing under his breath with intense vigor. Katara holds his dirty shirt in her arms, folded.
Sokka emerges wearing the shirt that got paint splashed earlier, only inside out. He glares down at her. "Hmm, I wonder if this would have happened to you if you worn your uniform shirt…" she giggles. His glare intensifies. After a moment, she returns the gesture. "What? I didn't hurl food at you!"
"Is today over yet?" He grumbles.
"Not yet, we still got a couple hours." She pats his shoulder and gestures him to follow her. "Come on, you don't want to let a couple hiccups ruin the day, do you?"
More grumbling is his response. Katara snickers, "Well, I'll clean this shirt up for you and text you when it's dry."
"Where are you gonna keep it so that it dries?"
"I already got my locker assignment for the year. I'll just hang it in there."
Sokka sulks, but thanks her nonetheless.
"Well, I'm off to meet Haru for class!" Katara waves him goodbye, "See you later!"
The rest of the day goes by without issues. Sokka sighs in relief as he makes it outside the school. The sun blares down on his unprepared eyes and he flinches. Scanning the outside, he sees nothing but a sea of students, chatting, leaving, the works.
His eyes do however, land on his sister.
She stands beneath a large tree, chatting with Jet.
Seeing the close proximity between the two, Sokka frowns and stalks over to them. As if on cue, however, the same teens from earlier that day race past him, shouting and cackling with laughter. Sokka is the victim of their rush once again and he is pushed forward.
He bumps into a red haired girl and grumbles under his breath as he shoves her away, resuming his endeavor towards his sister. The girl lingers behind for a moment, scowling at him before shrugging and returning to her business as well.
"Katara!" He calls. His sister beams at him, waving him over. Sokka comes face to face with the smirking Jet. "Why are you here?"
"One of my guys goes to school here. You might know him. His name is Sneers." Jet answers as if talking about the weather.
The boys stare each other down until Katara's gentle tug on Sokka's sleeve gathers his attention. He turns to her, speaking through his teeth, he asks, "You ready to go home?"
Katara nods, "Jet's gonna walk with us."
"No, he isn't."
As his sister frowns, Jet chuckles, shoving his hands into the pockets of his distressed jeans. "Relax, Sokka. I just wanna make sure you guys get home safe."
"It's still daylight. We don't need an escort." Sokka challenges, stomping forward.
"Sokka!"
Jet puts an arm around Katara as they fall in place behind her brother. "Don't worry, Katara. I'm sure he'll come around."
As they walk home, a couple of Jet's friends join them. Sokka takes note, but tries to busy himself with his phone. While scrolling his social media, he listens to the conversation unfolding between his sister and Jet. At first, Katara rambles on and on about her day at school and then she asks Jet about his day. At this point, Sokka returns to his phone, but something later grabs his attention.
"…Gaipan. I lost my family in a raid 7 years ago, when the Great Uprisings happened. The military raided my home and killed my parents."
"Oh Jet, I'm so sorry…"
"It's OK, I knew you would understand, given what you told me about your mom."
Sokka frowns, but continues to listen.
"Yeah, our mother was killed during the Great Uprisings too. That's why we moved here. Dad wanted us to have a fresh start… but…"
"It's OK, Katara, you don't have to talk about it if it's too painful."
The conversation dwindles in the somber moment.
Sokka winces, realizing he had balled his fists tight at his sides, squeezing his phone. A sigh escapes him. He opens his mouth to speak, but fails.
They draw close to home. He can see the port in the distance as they descend a staircase leading into the Main Street. The streets are abuzz with activity. Kids ride by on bicycles. Merchants sell products to passerby's. A food truck honks its horn as pedestrians walk in front of them. Behind it, a bus and a few cars linger.
"You know, because of the Modernization Project, Yu Dao might be headed towards anarchy too." Jet states, gathering their attention again. Sokka's brows crease together once more. "And that's why me and the boys are stepping up our game. To protect the people in case that happens."
Katara gathers her hands together in front of her. "That's so noble of you, Jet."
Sokka continues forward without uttering a word. His eyes are dead ahead, lips tight together….
Later that week…
Dusk has already cast shadows over the town when Sokka begins his stride home. In a hurry, he grabs some snacks from the local corner store and calls Katara. His sister's worried voice pours through the phone into his ear, followed by an intense scolding.
"Katara, relax, I'm just up the street!" He appeals into the phone.
"I don't want to hear your excuses, Sokka! You'd better get here within the next ten minutes or I'm coming out to get you myself! How could you hang out downtown so long? You know how bad things get at night! You won't even let me —"
"Please! You've been out with Jet all times of night lately! I do it once and you're —"
"I go out with Jet! I'm safe with him and the Freedom Fighters!"
"Ugh! Enough about your boyfriend, Katara! I'm coming right now!" He explains again. He walks up the incline and sees the port come into view. Once he descends down the street ahead, he will be one quick turn away from their home. From this height in the vast terrain of their no longer small town, Yu Dao appears ablaze in night lights from lanterns and inside homes. The street lights are so few that some areas, however, are still completely black with the night.
"Sokka…"
"Katara, look, I even got you some snacks! Will you please…"
He trails off, peering down an alley nearby. An empty soda can tumbles out from behind a shop, clattering on the concrete and stones until coming to rest under the warm glow of a mandarin colored lantern.
Moments later, he hears a familiar whistling and sees a group of what appears to be teenagers racing through the alley, howling and letting out battle cries.
Sokka rolls his eyes, "Stupid Jet, stupid Freedom Fighters." He grumbles.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, Katara. I'm almost home. Don't worry, your hoodlum boyfriend is in the area so if I need help, I'll just holler for him."
"Jet is not a —"
Sokka hangs up the phone and stuffs it into his pocket. His phone continues to ring in his pocket but he ignores it. As he turns down their street, he stops dead where he stands.
"What was that —"
Screams echo across the vicinity, creating an all over effect. Sokka looks around. He swallows rough, eyes scanning everywhere.
A flash hits the corner of his eye.
He ducks.
A blade pierces into the wall of his neighbors house right beside him.
Sokka shrieks and takes off for home.
As he runs, he hears Jet call out from somewhere. "Let's get out of here!"
This makes Sokka speed up his attempt for home. He pulls out his phone and calls his sister, "Katara, don't sass me right now, just - just open the door right now, OK?!"
"Why? What's wrong —"
"Open it!"
With a clumsy cry, Sokka breaks through the front door, falling on top of his sister and then break necking to his feet to slam the door closed and lock it. Gran emerges from the kitchen, worry all over her face. Katara collects herself from the floor and goes over to Gran as Sokka bolts every lock on their front door.
He falls to his knees, panting heavy and then falls backward, splaying his body out on the wood floor.
"What on earth is going on?!" Gran asks, going over to his side. Katara joins her.
"I-I… I dunno!" Sokka heaves, sitting up and turning to them. "I think Jet tried to kill me!"
"What?!"
"You heard me, Katara! Your psycho boyfriend tried to kill me!"
"Sokka," Gran places a comforting hand on his shoulder, "What exactly happened? Why are you home so late?"
"I-I went to the electronics store to look at some parts for the computer I'm going to build." He takes a deep breath. "I stopped by Yagoda's nephew's store and got some snacks — wait, I left my snacks!"
"Sokka!"
"OK, OK, I got some snacks and I heard Jet and those goons of his running around in the alleys. Then, I heard someone screaming! It was terrible! It sounded like someone was being murdered! Next thing I know, some kind of war knife or something almost cuts my face off and I hear that thug, Jet, tell his groupies to run! So I ran and now I'm here."
The two women of his life look at him with narrowed eyes and pursed lips.
"What?! I'm telling the truth! Jet tried to kill me!"
"I don't know who this Jet fellow is, but what I do know is that you never should have stayed out this late and now you're dealing with the consequences of that." Gran says, rising to her feet and walking off to the kitchen.
"Right," Katara co-signs. "Shame on you for blaming Jet for this. He's a hero! He would never try to hurt an innocent person."
Katara takes her leave as well, leaving Sokka to sulk alone on the living room floor.
A few days later, Katara sits on the couch in the living room. Her eyes are buried in the book Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Night has already fallen, the glow of lanterns from the outside set the room in a maelstrom of colors. She reads under the warm lamp on the end table near the front door. Said door opens with a strained groan and her brother Sokka spills inside.
The wavy haired young lady watches with curiosity as her brother carries a stack of books inside with him. He sets the books on the floor and stretches out his back.
"Coming home late again, eh? Don't blame Jet if anything happens to you!"
"Knock it off, would you?"
"Isn't it a little too early in the year for all that homework?" She asks.
"It's not homework." Sokka explains, "Uh, well, it is, but it's personal homework."
"Personal homework? You hardly do your actual homework." Katara teases.
"No one asked you." Sokka retorts. He looks around, "Where's Gran?"
"She went to go play Pai Sho with Yagoda."
"Awww… she was supposed to tell me next time she had game night." He whines, "I was supposed to stomp them all at charades!"
Katara shrugs, returning to her book. Sokka sulks all the way upstairs, heavy books in hand.
While in class a week later, Sokka plays a game on his phone while waiting for the teacher to arrive. It's just after lunchtime and his classmates are also still pouring into the room. When the teacher steps into the classroom, he removes his headphones just in time to hear a conversation unfolding behind him. He slides off his faux fur lined blue hood and turns to see someone familiar…
A young, heavy set young man sits a few seats behind him. His hair frames his face but he wears a top-knot as well.
Sokka rolls his eyes as he listens to some more teens around this guy go on and on about how they hate the Dai Li but it is once one of them mentions Mayor Iroh that Sokka freezes in his seat.
"Iroh's such a softie, it's a wonder how he's made it this far as mayor. Jet thinks he could be an easy target too. Be a total shame if someone took him out."
Shock overcomes Sokka, but is overshadowed by the call of the teacher.
"Hide! Don't you have your own class to get to?" She calls, eyes narrow and threatening.
Hide, another student with a top-knot and handsome good looks, scoffs and kicks out of his chair, leaving the classroom but not without sending the teacher a stare that matches her own. After he leaves, she closes the door and turns to the company Hide once shared. "Sneers, you should make better friends."
The whispers from the other classmates accompany Sneers seeming to shrink into his seat under the teacher's piercing gaze.
Once class starts, Sokka looks over his shoulder at Sneers. The heavy set boy is shaking, putting books under his desk and his phone slips out of his hand three times before he wipes his sweaty palms on his pants. Sokka strokes his own chin for a moment, eyes skirting over the surface of his desk. When he turns back to Sneers, the boy gives a start at the sudden attention.
"Hey Sneers."
"Y-Yeah?"
"What was that all about?"
Sneers blanches, "What was … what all about?"
"What Hide just said about Mayor Iroh." Sokka turns completely in his seat and stares Sneers down, "You guys are friends with Jet, right? What's he up to?"
"If you know what's good for you Sokka, you'll mind your own business."
Sneers then proceeds to bury his face into his history textbook and says no more. Sokka observes him a little longer but eventually returns to face the teacher and white board. His youthful, handsome face scrunched in thought, Sokka's eyes travel to the clock on the wall above the white board over and over again until the bell for dismissal arrives.
After class, Sokka follows Sneers. The school halls are filled with students transitioning classes. He remains a safe distance behind him.
He sees Sneers meet up with Hide. Sokka slides behind one of the dingy green lockers and pulls out his phone to surf apps.
"Hey Sneers, follow me." Hide commands, signaling for him. Sokka peeks from the locker to see the two heading towards the nearest exit.
He trails behind, ducking behind objects each time they linger in one position and chat. At last, they reach the outside. Sunlight pours into building as the door opens and shuts. Sokka counts on his fingers and then slowly creeps out the door as well.
Sokka rounds the corner but then jerks his body backwards into the brick wall of the school.
"….on our turf. Meet me at the bridge tonight."
At this, Sokka begins to tiptoe his way back inside he school. He makes it inside, takes a deep breath and rounds the corner. Smacking dead into the same young lady from before. This time, he falls backward.
"Ow! Jeez, watch where you're going you —" he stops when he sees her towering over him. Arms crossed and lips pouting, she stares down on him with a frown. Sokka chuckles and stands up, brushing himself off, "Oh, you're a girl. Never mind."
She raises a brow, "Excuse me?"
"Nothing. You're not hurt are you?"
"No, why would I be?"
"I mean, you crashed into me . That definitely hurt you."
"I should be asking you that," The girl scrunches up her face, "Since, you know, you're the one who fell down."
"Oh, I just slipped on something." Sokka shrugs. "It's not like a girl like you could possibly knock down a guy like me."
" Excuse me ?"
"Run along now, I've got important stuff to do."
The girl's cheeks boil red. With a huff, she shoulder bumps him, causing him to shriek and fall down once again. Scrambling to his feet, Sokka stares at the back of her, watching her short red hair sway as she stomps off, flipping him off before turning into a classroom.
"Yeesh, the temper on that one! She's worse than Katara!" Sokka murmurs, turning down the hall. He checks his phone and blanches, "I was in the bathroom! Right, that's what I'll tell the teacher!"
He slips into class somehow without alerting the teacher. An announcement comes over the PDA just as he takes his seat.
The principal announces dire consequences to be attached to whomever is caught spray painting graffiti on school grounds….
Sokka arrives at the Yu Dao Bridge just before sunset. He sits beneath the underpass in the shadows, double checking his surroundings multiple times before finally settling down. To his right is the port. He can see the electric fence and beyond that, the containers and cargo all leading out to the ships and boats that line the port.
To his left is a large parking lot overcome by weeds and the newly developed parking structure next to it.
From his position, there is only one street light illuminating the area. The others are farther away in the distance.
Sokka takes a shuddering breath and waits.
Night falls.
It isn't long before he hears conflict nearby — scuffing shoes, grunts of pain, laughing and clashing metal. In the dark of the overpass, Sokka has the perfect camouflage. He creeps toward the scuffle. His eyes adjust to the dark environment as best as possible. He sees movement ahead and ducks behind a rusted old red car. Peeking around the front of it, his eyes go wide at what he sees beneath the dim street light ahead.
"What the…?" He whispers.
Sokka pulls out his phone and zooms in, taking a picture. Rising to his feet, Sokka turns on his heels and creeps away into the night. He makes it all the way home without a hitch. Stepping onto the front porch, he pulls out his key to open the door, but stops.
And shudders.
Sokka's eyes travel to his left, and then his right. At last, he turns around…
Standing at the bottom of the stairs is a figure.
Dressed in a dark green tracksuit with their hood pulled up.
Sokka's breath catches in his throat as he gazes upon their countenance.
Their face is ash white, with red lipstick and red and black eye shadow.
War paint.
They stare at one another.
"The picture you took." They speak at last. Sokka takes a step back. "Delete it."
"W-What?"
"Take out your phone." Sokka's shaking hand reaches into his pocket. "The picture you took at the bridge. Delete it. Don't try to fake it either. I want to see you delete it."
"Y-You're just a girl. I'm not scared of you. And I don't have to listen to you, either." Sokka hisses through his teeth.
She smirks. Sokka swallows and trembles all the more. The glow of lanterns across on the pale makeup of her face make her eyes flash. "Don't act tough. You'll regret it." She says, low. She pulls a golden object from her pocket. Sokka whines aloud but then deflates in relief as it slides open into a fan and she fans herself with it. "Delete it. Now."
Sokka's eyes go to and from her to the front door.
"I'll count to 3."
He swallows again.
"1."
He tucks away his phone.
"2."
She climbs the stair toward him.
"3."
Sokka moves to start banging on the front door, but with a speed unprecedented, he is seized and yanked from the porch entirely. His cry is muffed by an object being forced into his mouth. His phone is taken from his pocket and held up in front of his face. Sokka is horrified as the screen unlocks and the girl goes to his photos and trash cans the photo.
"There, all done." She whispers into his ear, twirling him around so he can stand and shoves his phone back into his pocket. "Have a good night."
She races off into the night, leaving a bewildered Sokka standing alone at the bottom of the stairs.
The front door opens. Sokka looks up to see his sister. She frowns down at him but then worry overcomes her face. She races down the stairs and pulls the cloth from his mouth and helps him into the house.
"What on earth happened to you?!" She asks.
A dazed Sokka responds, "I don't even know…"
The following day, Sokka walks Katara home under the sweltering afternoon sun. Katara fans herself with a notebook as they walk and sends looks to her brother every once in a while. Sokka's hands are shoved in his pockets, his gaze fallen to his shoes.
They walk beside the Yu Dao canal. Water ferries and taxis pass beside them, carrying citizens through the town towards Downtown Yu Dao. Bells ring out. The only sound between them is that of their shoes on the concrete.
"Ah, this heat is ridiculous. I was hoping summer would be done already." His sister groans out. When he doesn't reply, she continues. "Are you alright? You've been quiet all day."
"I'm fine."
"Is this about the girl who beat you up yesterday?"
"She didn't beat me up!"
Katara smirks, "Suuure she didn't."
"She was like some kind of ninja or something. It was crazy!"
"Yeah, a ninja girl who beat you up."
"She did not beat me up! And stop talking as if I made it all up! It happened, Katara! Some nutjob attacked me right outside the house and you're joking about it!"
She holds up her hands, "OK, OK, relax… I'm just playing. I'm glad you're safe. Maybe this will stop you from going out late?"
He doesn't respond.
Once home, Katara climbs the stairs but stops upon seeing her brother linger behind. Sokka readjusts his backpack on his back and starts to travel up the incline leading to upper Yu Dao. Katara calls for him.
"I'll be back later. I'm going downtown for a while."
Katara falls behind, "Oh… OK."
Her watery blues shimmer as she watches him go.
Sokka is greeted with a warm, courteous smile as he enters the Yu Dao Library. He approaches the counter and removes his backpack with a sigh of relief. He pulls six books of varying width and sets them on the counter front of the personnel behind the check-in. As he surrenders them one by one, his hand lingers on the fifth in his possession. The title reads The World Wide Rebellion, Chronicles of the Great Uprising.
The clerk's smile wavers as she notices this. "Such a profound read, isn't it?"
"Huh?"
"The Great Uprising," she clarifies, pointing to it. "You must have been quite young when it happened. That was a very difficult time for the world. Your school making you write a report on it?"
Sokka shakes his head, "No, I just… I don't remember much about it." He passes it to her and smiles.
"Probably for the best if you don't." She remarks.
Thanking her, Sokka slings his bag over his shoulder and scans the library. It's three stories, with two sets of staircases beside escalators ascending in the center of the complex. Sokka's eyes find the sign that reads, Computers and rides the escalator to the third floor.
Most of the computers are taken, but he finds one closer to the outer wall with a window view. He sits down and begins searching through the web. His eyes flicker for a moment from the screen to the view outside. The sun is still out. Many of the buildings stand tall, some reflect the glow of the sun, others are sturdy and solid colored.
He returns to searching the web.
He types in the engine, Gaipan, East Kingdom .
An hour later, Sokka sulks back in his chair, shoving his hands into his pockets. The blank computer screen has all of his attention, until his gaze drops to the keyboard.
"You alright?"
Giving a start, he turns to see a familiar redhead. She smiles down at him.
"Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you." She apologizes.
Sokka frowns, "You didn't scare me! I just wasn't expecting you to be there."
She rolls her eyes but smiles nonetheless, "OK, sure. Are you alright?" She repeats her previous question.
"Why do you care?" he asks with a brow raised.
She takes a seat next to him, "I want to apologize. I feel bad for knocking you down the other day."
His cheeks grow hot, "You did not knock me down! I slipped!"
"The second time too?"
Sokka crosses his arms, "The floor was really slippery right there."
She laughs, "Well, you seem fine, so that's good." She holds out her fist. "I'm Suki."
He regards her for a moment before finally bumping fists with her. "Sokka."
"Nice to formally meet you, Sokka."
"Uh, you too…"
A brief silence comes. Suki pulls out her phone and begins texting someone. Sokka clears his throat, scanning her from the corner of his eye. The afternoon sun shines on her hair, giving it a glow like fire and brings out the faint freckles on her cheeks. He looks away as she returns her attention to him.
"So, what's on your mind?" She asks.
Sokka raises a brow again, "What? Why do you care?"
"Well, I figure we're friends now, right? It's only right that I be a good friend and make sure you're ok."
"Friends? My friends are guys ."
"Well, you've got a girl friend now. Me." She laughs as his entire face heats up. "Not like that. I mean I'm your friend. Your friend who's also a girl."
"I don't think guys and girls can be friends." He points out, holding up a finger as he explains, "At some point, they are going to date."
"Not always. You never know, your best friend could actually turn out to be a girl."
Sokka shifts in his seat.
"So you really don't want to tell me what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, I just got a lot on my mind."
"Like what?"
He sighs, "You're not gonna let this go, are you?" Suki shakes her head with a sweet smile, "Fine. It's just… I don't know what the heck is going on in this town. I can't help it… my instincts tell me something very bad is coming."
"What do you mean?"
"I dunno…. OK, maybe something is bothering me…." He narrows his eyes at her. "You will tell no one about this, got it?" Suki nods. "It's my sister's boyfriend. I think he's in a… gang or something. But it's just weird because as long as we've lived here in Yu Dao, there's never been any gangs or anything…. So where did they come from?"
"Actually, Yu Dao's had a gang problem for a while now." Suki replies.
"Really?"
She nods, "There's lots of gangs in the city… or so I've heard." She clarifies, with a nervous laugh. "But if you don't look for it, you won't notice and usually they don't bother common people. They just have like, wars amongst each other."
Sokka opens his mouth to speak but pauses.
"Hmm?" Suki presses, eyes flickering everywhere.
"Do you think it's because of… the Modernization Project?"
"Actually, I think it has more to do with the Great Uprising years ago. The rebellion fueled a lot of rogue leaders and ideals that people got behind. Those ideals started the greatest revolt in the history of the modern world. Even though a lot of those ideals were snuffed out, many revolutionaries are still around and just became gangs and cults and all that."
Sokka nibbles his lip. "My sister blames the Modernization Project for everything…"
"Well, the Modernization Project hasn't exactly helped the situation. A lot of families were displaced because of both."
As if a light bulb goes off, Sokka looks pointedly at her. "…How do you know so much?"
Suki gives a nervous laugh, "No reason! But my family is from Kyoshi Island…. The uprisings got my home burned to the ground… and then we came here."
Sokka softens at the forlorn air that comes over her. "I'm sorry to hear that. I lost someone important during that too…"
Another pause falls over them.
"You seem to know a lot about Yu Dao…" Sokka says, "What else do you know?"
Suki giggles, "Not much else… but there's also rumors that Yu Dao is haunted." Sokka rolls his eyes. "Seriously! The strange gusts of wind all over the town and weird things with the weather. Some people have even said they have been attacked by an unknown force that takes their feet from under them…"
" I wanted the important information you have, not supernatural mumbo jumbo."
Burying his face in his hands, Sokka lets out a groan. Suki puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Suki…"
"Yes?"
"Do you think all the crime in the city is because of the gangs?"
"…Yes."
A pause.
"Sokka…. You're worried about your sister, aren't you?"
He nods into his hands. "What if her gang banger boyfriend tries to initiate her into his gang? I'm trying to keep her safe and all she does is fight and argue against me."
"You're afraid you'll lose her…"
"I'm not afraid of anything." He states, glaring at her.
She rolls her eyes again, "Well, some people only learn by experience. If this Jet person is really bad news, your sister will figure it out."
Sokka shrugs.
And sits up straight, looking at her with narrow eyes.
"How… how did you know his name's Jet?"
His cell rings out loud in the library. He answers, sending sheepish grins at everyone before whispering into his phone. "Hello?"
"Sokka!"
"Gran-Gran? What's wrong?"
"You and Katara need to get home right now." She explains, her voice shaking. "There's a stand off right now between protesters and the police in front of City Hall and it's getting ugly. You both need to come home before things get any worse."
"OK… wait - I left Katara at home like two hours ago. What do you mean she's not at home?"
"She told me she was going out with some friends to downtown."
Sokka's breath catches in his throat. "Jet…. OK. OK. Take it easy, Gran. I'll find her and we'll be home as soon as possible, OK?"
"OK, hurry!"
Sokka hangs up the phone and pushes out of his chair. Suki is right behind him, asking about the situation.
They race down the staircase. The staff are discussing with visitors on the first floor, encouraging them to have a seat but panic is heavy in the questions from everyone. People look around, worried and some frantic as noise from outside floods in. As Sokka and Suki arrive on the bottom floor, a brick crashes into the front glass double doors.
Security forces their way through the crowds of screaming visitors to the front doors.
"Not this way!" Suki cries out over the noise, "Follow me! We'll go out back!"
She yanks Sokka by his hand towards the back of the building.
They make it outside. Chaos floods the streets. People are running and screaming. Cars crash into each other as traffic guards are pulled away from their positions to assist elsewhere. Sokka's eyes are lit up in shock. His jaw drops as he surveys the scene around him.
He pulls out his phone, calling his sister. "Katara!" He shouts when she answers. "Where are you?!"
"Sokka! I have to call you back!"
"No! No!" He hears the dreaded beeps on the other end. He calls her back, again and again, but no answer.
"Sokka!" Suki calls out over the blaring of car alarms and sirens approaching. "We have to get away from downtown!"
"No!" He shouts, frowning. "I have to find my sister!"
A deafening sound pounds against their ears, setting off more car alarms and muffling whatever response Suki has for him.
More terrified screams echo throughout the town.
Suki and Sokka look on in horror as smoke billows throughout the streets.
And the sun begins to set over Yu Dao.
A/N:
OK, I lied! Aang is next chapter! Don't hate me!
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I particularly enjoy the interactions between Suki and Sokka myself so look forward to more of that too.
Next chapter, Aang and Katara finally meet again! I already have a reminder in my phone to post the next chapter on Monday so no more delays! Sorry I took so long this time!
Stay safe and blessed friends! See you again soon!