Chapter 2: Traveling to Ba Sing Se: part 1
Suki and Sokka had just taken off on Appa and it was a few hours into their flight. They were to have 5 days in their trip, and encounter many old friends along the way. [This chapter is mainly here to set up the rest of the story. It's pretty boring, but makes the rest of the story work later.]
Sokka and Suki sat on Appa's giant saddle, as they had many times before. Sokka was sitting next to Suki, with his arm wrapped around her shoulder. Nobody needed to steer Appa, for they were only going to Chin Village. Chin Village was the shortest leg of the trip, because Appa had flown a lot the previous day and needed some rest.
Sokka had planned their trip to make the smartest route around the Si Wong Desert. The first day, they would stop in Chin Village. By the end of the second day, they would be in Omashu and King Bumi offered to let them stay in the palace. On the third day, still evading the Si Wong desert, they would stay in the mining village where Katara had met Haru. When the fourth day rolled around, Suki and Sokka will have made it to Gaipan, the logging village that Jet had attempted to flood. Finally after a very long flight from Gaipan, the happy couple would be in Ba Sing Se, ready for Sokka's big surprise.
Suki shivered from the chilled air. Sokka was always concerned with the well-being of the love of his life.
"Are you ok?" Sokka asked, sounding concerned.
"Yeah, I'm good. I'm just not used to the high altitude and cold air. It's not a big deal." Suki replied warmly.
"I'll be happy to dig out my parka for you." Sokka offered, starting to stand up.
Suki pulled him back down and replied, "I promise, I'm fine. You worry too much."
Skeptical, Sokka sat back down and played with Suki's hair. He missed her soft auburn hair that always fell back into place perfectly. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, and he smiled. Everything was going to work out perfectly.
Iroh had planned living arrangements for everybody in the flats above the Jasmine Dragon. Zuko and Mai could share Zuko's old bedroom in Iroh's flat. The 2 bedroom flat above Iroh's was vacant, and he had arranged for Suki and Sokka, as well as Aang and Katara to share that one for the month. Toph would sleep in the living room of whomever's flat she liked better.
Sokka smiled at the fact that everybody was going to be there when he surprised Suki with the surprise of her life. He was so satisfied with himself that he planned this entire life changing event out by himself. He prayed to the spirits that she would say yes.
Suki coughed, and startled Sokka out of his deep thoughts. He jumped slightly, and Suki laughed.
"Deep in sarcastic thought?" Suki teased.
"Something like that." Sokka chuckled.
"So what are you dragging me to Ba Sing Se for?" Suki asked, not being able to figure it out.
"I won't tell you what it is, but I'll give you a hint." Sokka said, looking down lovingly at Suki.
"Ok, why can't you just tell me?" Suki said, slightly upset. Suki wasn't one for surprises.
"Because! It's a surprise, and the hint is that I've gathered everybody to watch me ask you the most important question of our lives." This gave Suki a lot to ponder over the next five days; Sokka hoped he hadn't just given everything away.
"Wait, you gathered everybody at Ba Sing Se. Who do you define as everybody?" Suki's mind had been blown. She couldn't fathom what he was going to do, even if it was blatantly obvious.
"Well, I got Zuko and Mai, Aang and Katara, and Toph too. Iroh's going to be there, because- well it's Ba Sing Se and the Jasmine Dragon is pretty much his life." He laughed lightly.
"Wow this must be really important!" Suki said, sounding really dumb. Normally she was sharper than this, but the whole situation was so out of the blue that she was too stunned to really grasp what was going on.
"You have no idea." Sokka replied, still amazed at his master plan. In Sokka's eyes, this was one of the most important days in his life. Other than defeating Fire Lord Ozai, this was going to be the best day of his life.
XXX
Suki had fallen asleep in top of Sokka; her breathing slow and rhythmical. Sokka gently shook Suki to wake her up.
"Hmm?" Suki mumbled, inhaling sharply.
"We're here Suki." Sokka said softly.
"At Ba Sing Se?" Suki said sleepily.
"No. Just at Chin Village." Sokka chuckled, amused by his girlfriend's confusion.
Appa landed in the town's central plaza. The town's leader, Mayor Tong, had seen the giant flying bison a few minutes before they had landed, and he gathered the townspeople to greet the members aboard Appa.
Sokka stood up and helped a rather drowsy Suki up as well. Sokka jumped down, and held out his hand to guide Suki down the back of Appa.
"Where's the Avatar?" Mayor Tong asked loudly, in his ear-piercing voice.
"He's at Ba Sing Se, with the rest of the group. You see, I borrowed Appa from him to get my girlfriend Suki and take her to Ba Sing Se. Would you mind if we stayed here for a night?" Sokka replied, motioning to a stumbling Suki.
"Not at all. You can stay here as long as you need, free of charge!" Mayor Tong exclaimed, happy to see three members of "team avatar".
"Hey Sokka, I'm hungry, and I think Appa is too." Suki grumbled as she rubbed her eyes, still trying to wake herself up.
"I am too! What do you want to eat? Dumplings, more berries?" The ever hungry Sokka said.
"I don't care, just get whatever you want and I'll share with you. Don't forget about Appa's food. Aang wouldn't be too appreciative if you let Appa go hungry." Suki said, rubbing the furry beast's forehead. Appa grunted, agreeing.
"Ok, I'll be right back. Just sit tight." Sokka said, walking to the nearest eating establishment. He thought to himself, you know, I probably shouldn't have woken her up in the middle of the night. I hope Suki's ok, she seems a little out of it. Probably because I woke her up! Stupid! I know better than anyone how important sleep is. Sokka felt guilty waking up his girlfriend in the middle of the night. He didn't intend to; he was going to wait until the morning but he got caught up in the bushes behind Suki's house and accidentally woke her up. Nice going Sokka. Sokka thought to himself.He was needlessly beating himself up. This was probably because of his own sleep deprivation.
Sokka arrived in the dumpling place and walked up to the counter. "Can I have 14 dumplings for me and my girlfriend to split? Half veggie and half meat please. Also, do you know of anywhere to get some hay? My bison needs some." Sokka said, rubbing the back of his neck.
The woman behind the counter replied, "That'll be 3 copper pieces, and we've got some hay in the back alley funny enough. You can have it if you want. We aren't going to use it."
"Thanks!" Sokka replied cheerfully. Suki had given Sokka the money from home to pay for dinner. He pulled 3 copper pieces out of the small fabric bag, and put the bag back in his pocket, patiently waiting for their dinner to be ready.
While Sokka was getting their food, Suki sat next to Appa. She had missed his fluffy fur and warmth. She still wasn't awake, and she had a slight headache. Oh it's probably nothing. More than likely the sudden altitude change is what did it, Suki thought to herself. She rubbed her eyes again, and yawned. I think I'm just tired. That's all. Man, when is Sokka getting back with our food? I'm so hungry!
A few seconds after the thought, Sokka appeared with a plate of dumplings and two pairs of chopsticks. Appa grunted, smelling the food.
"It's ok Appa; we're going to get you some hay." Sokka said with his mouth full.
"Thanks Sokka. These smell great," She said, popping one in her mouth. "They taste good too!" Suki smiled with her cheeks full of food.
"Mhm!" Sokka agreed, his mouth still filled with dumplings.
After their dinner, Sokka and Suki led Appa to the alley where the woman at the dumpling store said there would be hay. Appa smelled the fresh hay and started stuffing his face. The flying bison ate almost all the hay before he rolled over on his side from being so full. Sokka and Suki knew that he would be safe here, so they went back to the room Mayor Tong had arranged for them.
Sokka took Suki's hand as they walked across the town's main plaza under the moonlit sky. They entered the hotel, and walked upstairs. Sokka opened the door for Suki, he still believed in being a gentleman, even if his girlfriend was a fierce warrior.
Both Suki and Sokka got ready for bed. He tucked her in her side of the bed, and crawled into his side. Sokka got close to Suki, and put his arm protectively around her. The sheets and blankets were much softer than either of them was used to. They were the traditional Earth Kingdom green and beige, as were the pillowcases. Within a few minutes they were both gone from the conscious world.
Thus concludes chapter two of my Sukka story. I do believe I said Suki's hair was chocolate colored in the previous chapter. I know its auburn I was just being dumb and I put chocolate instead. Forgive me, for I'm not going to take it down and correct it, and then repost it. Too much effort. This is my first fanfiction ever, so I hope ya'll are enjoying it. Please leave a review, anything is accepted. I want to know if you are so repulsed by my story that you now want to puke, and what to change if such a thing is true. If there are a few grammar errors, I'm sorry. [Ignore the ones in my commentary haha] I'm going to stop rambling now and work on the next chapter. Adios!