Chapter 8: Ba Sing Se

Appa was soaring away from Omashu mere seconds after taking off from the palace. Suki and Sokka had enough food supplies for two days plus camping materials. Bumi had had the servants pack all the things they could possibly need in case of any trouble.

Sokka was once again leaning up against the back of the saddle. Suki was lying under his arm, her body's contours fitting perfectly into his. Suki's right hand was placed over her ribs and her other hand was on Sokka's thigh. She drummed her fingers lightly, trying to amuse herself.

"Bored?" Sokka asked, holding Suki's restless hand with the hand that wasn't around her shoulder.

"Just a bit. We have a long way to go, and there's not a whole lot to do." Suki replied, yawning.

"Yeah we do. Anything I can do to make your trip more enjoyable miss?" Sokka said playfully.

"Well my back is pretty sore, would you mind giving me a massage?" Suki asked, slightly ashamed of her greediness.

Sokka sensed her slight guilt. It wasn't enough to make her not want the massage; she just generally wasn't one for asking favors.

"You got it. Just hold on a second." Sokka replied, moving across to the bedrolls. He laid one out for Suki to lie on. He sat on his knees and patted the cushiony sleeping bag, notifying Suki to lie down.

Suki complied and crawled her way over to the sleeping bag. She gently lowered herself onto the cushion, so as to not cause herself pain. Sokka waited for Suki to situate herself into a comfortable position, which she achieved a few seconds later.

"Now what hurts?" Sokka asked sympathetically.

"Everything." Suki replied, her voice muffled by the fabric that was surrounding her face.

Sokka began with her back. Suki's muscles were tense and achy; every move she made caused her at least a small amount of pain. Sokka's strong hands attempted to work out the tension down her back. He pressed his thumbs and knuckles into her back and moved them around in such a way that relieved the pain without causing more. He was very careful around her rib cage; the last thing he wanted to do was cause Suki pain.

"This feels so good Sokka. I can't thank you enough." Suki cooed.

"I have a way you can repay me." Sokka said mischievously.

"How's that?" Suki inquired.

"You'll see, just wait till we get to Ba Sing Se. All you have to do is say one little word." Sokka smiled at his clever hinting.

"Ok?" Suki replied skeptically.

Sokka continued to work out the tension in Suki's back for about 5 more minutes. He then moved to her arms and hands, followed by her legs and feet. Sokka was a good masseuse, one of his many hidden talents.

Sokka completed Suki's massage about 20 minutes after he began. Suki sighed happily when he finished and lied down next to her. She rolled over on top of Sokka and kissed him on the lips. She traced the contours of his lips with her tongue, and she could feel him smiling. Sokka kissed her passionately and she returned the favor.

A few seconds later they stopped, and Suki rolled over onto the bedroll. She was lying on her back again, ignoring the pain her ribs were in.

"I have an idea." Suki proposed.

"Let's hear it." Sokka replied.

"Ok, well sometimes the girls and I ask each other questions and we have to answer them truthfully no matter what." Suki said excitedly.

"Sounds like fun." Sokka smirked.

"What's your favorite color?" They both asked at the same time.

"I asked you first!" Suki laughed.

"No I asked you first!" Sokka countered.

"I guess you'll never know then!" Suki cackled.

"Ok you win. Lay off the cactus juice crazy!" Sokka teased Suki's playfulness. "Blue."

"Mine's green." Suki replied. "How cliché, our favorite colors are the same as our nationality."

Sokka shrugged and looked at his outfit. Everything except his brown boots was some shade of blue.

Suki started coughing and sat up suddenly. She made a throaty cough and spit blood over the side of the saddle.

"That was attractive." Suki said sarcastically.

"Yeah," Sokka chuckled. "Are you alright?" He knew if he overreacted to Suki's coughing it would make her uncomfortable and irritated.

"I'm fine, just a little bit dizzy." Suki replied, lying back down.

"My turn I guess." Sokka said, taking Suki's hand. "What is the one thing you wish you could do over?"

Suki opened her mouth but she didn't say anything. "I don't actually know." Suki pondered. "Maybe fighting Azula. Knowing what I know now, I could whoop her ass!" She smiled wickedly and looked at Sokka.

"What is the thing you are most afraid of?" Suki asked, rubbing his hand with her thumb.

"Losing you."

Suki was stunned by his response. "Really? That's so sweet!" Suki scooted closer to Sokka and kissed his cheek. "I would've expected you to say losing boomerang 2.0 or something like that."

Sokka smiled and said warmly, "After losing both Yue and my mom, I just really didn't want to go through the pain of losing you too. You are the most important person in my life and I never ever want to lose you."

Sokka propped himself up on one elbow and looked at Suki.

"What's the matter?" Sokka questioned.

"N-nothing, I just didn't expect you to say that is all. You really caught me off guard!" Suki laughed lightly at her surprise.

"Good." Sokka smiled as he lowered himself back down. "Where do you expect to be 10 years from now?"

"That's a good question. I think I want to be teaching my own children to be little Kyoshi warriors." Suki smiled at the thought of having her own little kids to teach.

"So I take it you want kids then?" Sokka asked excitedly.

"Yes I do. I want 2 kids; one boy one girl. I want one to be named Lin and I haven't decided on what the other name is." Suki replied nostalgically.

"That's interesting." Sokka said, rubbing his chin. "Who gets to name the other one?"

"You I guess." Suki said flatly.

"So you plan on marrying me?" Sokka said, trying to keep his voice calm.

"Of course I do!" Suki said, slightly louder than she intended and induced another coughing fit. Fortunately enough for Suki, there was no blood this time.

Sokka smiled when she said 'I do'. He knew his plan was going to be smooth sailing from here on out.

They sat there in silence for a while, staring at the clouds. A few birds flew over their heads and Sokka exclaimed "ENEMY BIRDS!"

Suki started laughing hysterically, ending up causing herself a world of pain. She peeled her shirt up to look at her bruise. It was smaller and less puffy than yesterday, but it hurt about the same.

"Sorry." Sokka grinned sheepishly.

"It's fine Sokka. It's not that big of a deal. I'm not a preachy cry-baby, I'm a warrior. It hurts but so what. A lot of things are going to hurt in my life, but I'm not afraid of them. My main concern right now is that I've developed this really uncomfortable dizzy feeling."

Sokka sat up and looked over at Suki who was still lying on her back. Her knees were bent and her left arm was across her stomach. Her right hand which had been holding Sokka's hand was now underneath her head.

"Do you want me to land Appa? We can take a break and eat a little bit if you want." Sokka offered.

"No thank you. It's only been an hour since we left and you're already thinking about food!" Suki laughed. "I think I just need some water is all."

"Coming right up madam." Sokka replied, crawling over to the bag of supplies. He searched the bag, tossing out fruit, bread, and meat to get to the canteens at the bottom.

Sokka emerged from the bottom of the bag a few seconds later, canteen in hand. The saddle looked like a battlefield of food. Fruit and bread was strewn everywhere, but the meat was stacked nicely in the corner, still wrapped in its protective cloth.

"I see you take care of the meat first, but everything else has no value." Suki teased as Sokka gave her the water.

Suki propped herself up on one elbow and Sokka moved behind her to support her. Suki unplugged her canteen and let the cool water sooth her aching throat. It did nothing to help her dizziness.

"Feel any better?" Sokka asked, putting the canteen back in the bag.

"Not especially. My throat is no longer burning, but I still feel like my world is spinning." Suki said, rubbing her forehead. "I wish I could just be better already! I'm tired of being pathetic!"

"You're not being pathetic. You are still walking around and doing everything for yourself." Sokka said, trying to comfort his girlfriend.

Suki sighed heavily. "But it feels like- I don't know. I just don't feel like myself."

"Long Feng brainwashed you didn't he!" Sokka exclaimed.

Suki laughed. "Yes Sokka. Long Feng brain washed me. I appreciate you trying to cheer me up, it's sweet."

Sokka chuckled, "Hopefully you'll be better in a few days. I mean you aren't coughing nearly as much!"

"You're right. I hope I'm better by the time you give me your surprise!" Suki said excitedly.

"Me too. It would be really awful if I were to…" Sokka cut himself off. "Wow I almost just gave it away!"

"Way to go snoozles." Suki teased.

"Hey! Only Toph can call me that!" Sokka yelled.

"Calm down, I'm only playing." Suki laughed.

"Yeah I know. I just want to mention Lord of the guys who don't win." Sokka pointed to Suki and yelled, "HA!"

"Oh yeah?" Suki said mock-offended.

"Bring it!" Sokka exclaimed.

Suki launched herself on top of Sokka. He was on his back and she was straddling him, sitting on her knees about his pelvis. She leaned down to kiss him and he kissed her very passionately. Within a few minutes all of their clothes were casualties on the food battlefield. This was about to be the most affectionate display of their love Appa had ever listened to.

XXX

"Does this mean we're a part of the mile high club?" Sokka asked, breathing heavily.

"I don't know but that was awesome!" Suki replied, also breathing heavily.

"Do you think we should stop for lunch? It's almost noon." Sokka asked, putting on his clothes.

"That lasted for 3 hours?" Suki squeaked, putting on her shirt.

"What can I say, I'm just a pro." Sokka said arrogantly.

Suki scoffed and put on her skirt. "Yeah, actually I am hungry and I need to pee."

Sokka laughed quietly as he walked to the front of the saddle. He sat down on Appa's head and steered him downward. He flew towards and opening in the woods and landed softly.

Suki gathered a few of the food items that had been strewn across Appa's saddle. Appa walked toward a bush and started munching, with Suki and Sokka still on him.

Suki put a piece of cloth out in the middle of the saddle. She ever so carefully arranged fruit, bread, and meat for the two of them.

Sokka had left for a potty break and returned a few minutes later to discover his lunch arranged in a lovely manner.

Suki started eating as soon as Sokka sat down. Bumi had packed fresh rolls and apples for them. He also packed various animal jerky in neat cloth packages.

They ate a quick lunch, barely speaking in between mouthfuls. After lunch, they both drank out of the river nearby and filled up their canteens. Suki took a potty break and they got back on Appa.

Appa took off a few moments later and they were on their way to Ba Sing Se again. They were about a third of the way there, and if Appa flew as fast as he could they would make it there before midnight that night.

Suki cuddled up next to Sokka and fell asleep. Sokka was tired as well and soon fell asleep on top of Suki.

XXX

It was night when Sokka woke up. He sat up and peered over the side of the saddle.

"Suki, we're here! We're in Ba Sing Se!"

All done! Sorry if the last part was rushed but Big Bang Theory is on! So they have finally made it to Ba Sing Se, completely skipping over the serpent's pass. I'm sure you are tired of their traveling and just want them to be in Ba Sing Se. I know I do! So I shall write the next chapter as soon as possible. This one was kind of filler again. Exciting things to come in Ba Sing Se! Thanks again, please comment!