Kyoshi Island
Appa's fur was getting stuck in Katara's mouth. Again. She was getting sick of it, but loved him enough to accept it. She smiled to herself as she sewed together a hole in Sokka's pants. He'd received the hole while in the Southern Air Temple. It seemed that Momo had gotten his revenge on Sokka for his attempting at eating the poor little creature.
"Katara! Katara! Watch this!" in the back of Katara's mind she heard Aang's voice wanting her to watch him do something or another. But quite frankly, she just didn't care. Her mind was on so many other things. The exiled prince being one of them, but also Sokka's holy pants. She hated sewing things, especially Sokka's stuff.
"Aang, do you know where we're going?" Sokka sat pants less in Appa's saddle without a care in the world.
Aang, disappointed, turned the map up and down, side to side. He was unsure of what was what or where was where. "Uh, no, no I do not know where we are or where we are going. Heheh!" he laughed nervously.
"Damn it, Aang, you said you knew where we were going!" Sokka exclaimed angrily, "now, we're not ever gonna find where we're supposed to go!"
Katara set down Sokka's pants for a minute, "Here, let me see if I can tell where we are." she outstretched her hand waiting for the map when Sokka smacked it out of Aang's hand.
Leaning forward with the look of a crazed man, he explained things to Aang, "Women, don't know how to read maps. They don't know how to do any of those things. They're good for only a few things. One: cooking, two: cleaning, three: taking care of the children, four: sewing and five: doing laundry. It's even less if you lump some of those together." he sat back, arms resting behind his back and a smug, know-it-all expression on his face. "Women do the housework, while the men do the really important stuff. Like hunting and fighting." Sokka's smug grin was getting more and more infuriating. The bumbling idiot didn't know a thing, Katara thought.
Katara could feel her face burning with anger. Felt the rage course through her body. Flowing though her life blood within her veins, of all the stupid things her brother's ever said, this had to have been the worse.
"Oh, really, Sokka? Well if that's the case then you can forget about me doing anything for you. You can sew your own fucking pants!" she flung the holy pants at her older brother's face making solid contact.
Sokka lifted his pants off his face in complete shock, "Katara, are you serious? Come on, sis, this is serious. I can't walk around without something covering my junk. I need my pants hole less!" his face turned from that dense egotistical expression to that of pleading and needing. Needing her to do what he refused to do.
Katara crossed her arms across her chest in defiance, tired of her brother belittling her, "you can sew them yourself. I'm not doing anything for you anymore until you realize that the things I do are important."
Sokka grumbled and mumbled his unintelligible answer to her, she didn't know what he was saying, but she didn't care. She was done taking crap from her 'older brother' about how she was supposed to take care of him.
Aang laughed again, "don't worry, Sokka, where we're going you won't need pants! I found where we need to be on the map. Kind of." Aang pushed against Appa's neck, causing the giant sky creature to descent full speed.
Katara and Sokka held on tightly to Appa's saddle. Katara wanted to scream, but the force of their fall was too great, it was literally throwing Katara's lips over her face. Oh, how she hated when Aang did this and unfortunately he did this a lot. Curse Aang and all his child-like antics, she thought to herself then smiled. She knew that she didn't really mean it. His mentality was one of the things she admired about him.
Finally Appa slowed down. But just enough to land on the little island below them. "Aang, where are we?" Katara finally recovered her voice enough to squeak out the question.
Aang hopped off his Bison and started to discard his clothing. Katara's face turned a slight pinkish color. She'd never seen anything under Aang's clothes. She didn't know that his arrows ran along the back of his legs just as they did on his arms. He wasn't as toned as she thought he would be but that was probably due to the fact that he'd been trapped inside an iceberg for one hundred years.
It was odd seeing Aang in nothing but his underwear. She had thought for sure that she had liked him that way. But now seeing him, in the most basic way a person could be, she felt nothing. Nothing but a motherly need to tell him that he shouldn't go into the water because the weather was so cold.
She shook her head and pushed away her thoughts of motherhood. She was tired of being the care taker. Sokka could take care of himself. And Aang too for that matter. She jumped down from the sky bison's back.
Aang was knee deep in the water now and getting further, Katara tried to keep her mouth shut. She tried and tried but it was to no avail. "Aang, what are you doing in there? It's cold out here!"
The Air Nomad looked back at Katara, "Why not? It's fine. I'll be fine. Just a little chilly out. Besides I want to ride the Unagi. It's the biggest giant Koi fish in the ocean. Well, I'm not even sure if it's a Koi fish. I just know it's huge and I need to ride it." he jumped in head first and came up shivering. "See, it's not that cold…"
Katara laughed to herself, knowing full well that he was lying, but let him have his fun anyway. She sat upon a rock and watched the child ride the other Koi fish. She waved her hand trying to get his attention "Aang, which one is the Unagi?" he didn't seem to hear her, so she just left it alone, closed her eyes, relaxed and felt the sun warm her face.
Aang looked at Katara, she didn't seem to be watching him, like he wanted her to be. "Katara, hey, Katara, watch this!" he yelled, but still she didn't seem to hear him. He was about to use the air around to make the noise travel faster when he heard a splash from behind him.
He thought it was Sokka finally growing a pair and getting into the water. When he turned around he saw that it was in fact, not Sokka, but the Unagi. A huge creature that was both beautiful and deadly. Aang didn't know what it was going to do until it snapped it's huge jaws at him. Aang screamed and jumped off the Koi fish.
Katara finally saw the Airbender and bounced up. "Aang!"
Aang was swimming, diving his head in and out of the water, that would make any sea creature proud. He jumped onto the shore so fast that he almost took out Katara in his attempt to get to safety. He slid behind a rock, grabbing his clothes as he went. "That… was… the… Unagi…" he was breathless when he popped out from behind the rock fully clothed.
Katara looked at Aang with a stern expression, "That's the thing you wanted, no needed to ride? Are you insane?"
Aang was catching his breath, "but, of course, Katara. Isn't it magnificent? But I didn't get to ride him. Next time though, he won't stand a chance." his grin was as wide as it was stupid.
Katara looked at Aang, "Ugh, whatever, Aang." she crossed her arms and turned her back to them. Sometimes she just couldn't believe that the Avatar could be so careless.
She chided herself. Of course she knew the reason he was careless. He'd been trapped inside a frozen confinement for a century. The fact that he wasn't more careless amazed her. She figured she should be nicer to him. He was after all the last hope for the world.
She smiled and turned around, "alright, guys I think it's time we get going bef-" Katara's sentences was cut short when she saw Aang and Sokka sitting on their asses, hands bound behind their backs with black bags covering their faces. What the hell? Katara couldn't voice her question. Not long after seeing the boys captured her vision went black.
§¨©ª
Suki looked at the other Kyoshi warriors and nodded slightly. A few of the warriors snatched up the trespassers non so nicely and vanished into the trees. Who the hell did these people think they were? Coming to Kyoshi Island without a word to the leader was the worst mistake these travelers could have made. Suki would see to it that these people were killed. They couldn't risk them telling the Fire Nation about them.
§¨©ª
Zuko practiced his breathing. In and out. Deeply and slowly. He felt the air moving in from his nose filling his lungs, puffing out his chest and out his mouth. His preparation was taking a big part of his life lately. If he wasn't breathing and doing his drills he was thinking about that damn Water Tribe girl.
Zuko yelled out into his living quarters. Why? Why did she make him feel a starving man deserted on an island who'd been presented with a feast fit for a king? She was there just beyond the horizon (well technically, he had no idea where they were) easy for the taking if only he grasp her. Firmly. Gently. Sexually. Wholly.
She would be hers.
A knock sounded at his door, "come in," Zuko shouted. Sometimes these people just didn't know when to leave him alone.
He opened his eyes to see Uncle sauntered in like he had news to share. "What are you doing, my nephew?"
Zuko closed his eyes once more, concentrating on his meditation. "What does it look like I'm doing, Uncle?" Iroh seemed to unusually quiet at the moment, "what is it, Uncle, what do you need to tell me?" the prince's eyes flew open yet again. His uncle wasn't telling him something.
Iroh shifted his eyes about him, "Well, you see, Zuko. Do you remember how we thought we were on the Avatar's trail?" Zuko nodded, "it seems to me and the crew that the Airbender… disappeared…"
All of his meditation, calm rationality went right out the door the bad news came in through. His temper rose and it went right white hot. "HE DID WHAT? HOW DID HE GET AWAY? YOU TOLD ME YOU KNEW WHERE HE WAS GOING!" as his temper rose so did the heat within him. The fire that he controlled was raging and spouted from his hands on its own accord nearly missing his uncle.
Iroh jumped up and inched slowly to the door, "Prince Zuko, you need to remain calm. We will find him."
"Calm? You want me to be calm?" Zuko realized he was being an ass to the only man he knew to be a father, "…okay."
The general looked at his nephew unsure about his intentions. "Worry not, nephew, we'll find him all in due time." Iroh took his leave as quickly as he'd entered. That went better than I thought it would. He thought to himself thanking Agni.
Zuko watched the door close on the retreating back of his uncle. How that old man drove him crazy! He turned his attention back to his meditating. In and out. Cerulean eyes, chocolate hair. The elements that made up the prize he would have.
§¨©ª
The air inside his bag was getting harder to breathe in. How much longer were these warriors going to keep them gagged and bound? If he ever got out he was going to show them how a real warrior fought face to face. Non of that girly sneak-up-on-you from behind tactic. He was getting more and more angry for every second he was held against his will tied against a damn post.
Sokka heard a noise coming to his left. Katara! She was tied against the tree too. If they hurt her he wasn't sure what he would do. His Gran Gran would be so upset. The disappointment of his father alone would kill him. But if he lost her, he wouldn't be able to function right. His sister was the most important person in his life. And would forever remain that way. There's was no one in this world or the next that he cared more about.
He strained against his bonds. Trying his damnedest to get free. He began to realize that the more he struggled the harder it became to breathe. He told himself to be calm and rational. Hahah, who was kidding? He was the most irrational kid in his village. The noise to his left sounded again. Almost like a whimper. Damn it, he hoped like hell Katara was okay.
He opened his mouth to voice his question when the bag that was blocking his sight was roughly pulled from over his head. He squinted his eyes against the sudden brightness. Figures moved all around him but he couldn't make any of them out. But he still managed to look his left and see Katara with the same dazed look on her face. She was alright.
Sokka shook his head trying to clear his mind. The blurred figures began to take their full shape. There were women all around them. They were dressed in earthy green dresses and dark brown. Their heads had golden crown like things. Their faces were painted with drastic make-up, hiding their identities. Who were these women?
He couldn't take this silence anymore, "Who are you and where are the men that attacked us?" Sokka's head swiveled back and forth looking for the dirty bastards.
The girl he'd been studying earlier stepped forward, clearly, she was the leader. "Men? Hahah," she laughed maniacally, but it also seemed kind and sweet at the same time. Like it had the potential to be beautiful, but she forced it out as cruel. "Do you think bumbling idiots like men could have captured all of you and not do anything wrong?" she smirked.
In a strange way, this girl was almost cute, real cute in fact. Sokka slammed his eyes shut and swung his head in a circle. Have could he have been thinking about something like that while they were being held hostage? He knew why. He was sixteen, lived in a village where older females consisted of his sister and the elder. It wasn't exactly something he wanted to touch bases on.
What she had said sunk in, "what do you mean men didn't ambush us? Who did then?"
She looked directly at him, her green eyes so bright, stared into his soul it seemed. She spoke only two words with deliberated slowness, "We. Did." she held up her index finger swirling it around to the women around her to include the 'we'.
Sokka was completely mind blown. There was no way that these girls in dresses for Agni's sake could have overpowered them. Him. He voiced his thoughts and she bit right back.
"If you think us to be just a bunch of girls, then it would seem that the sea beast will be eating quite well tonight. Or would you like to tell us who you are and what you think you're doing here?" her voice had a lilt to it that had Sokka all out of focus. She spoke with determination like that of a soldier, but also with a sweetness like that of what women should have.
Katara seemed to have finally come out of whatever daze she was in, "Hey, there's no need to feed my brother to that creature, right? He's just kinda stupid at times." Katara pleaded with the face painted warriors.
The leader looked at the trio as if she couldn't care less about what they had to say unless it was relevant to her questions. Again she laughed, again Sokka's thoughts went haywire. Something about the way she laughed told him it would haunt him in his dreams.
Aang spoke up, "Um, guys, can I just say that first of all, Sokka, I know where we are now. Kyoshi Island! Second: warrior lady, I'm the Avatar and I can explain this all if you just let us go."
"The Avatar! Hahah, what do you take us for? Fools? We know that Kyoshi died over four hundred years ago. And that the new Avatar hasn't been seen for over a hundred years." the leader looked down at them like the were scum. "Do you want to try answering again? And this time be honest."
Aang looked up the female warrior, "Please just let us go, and we won't have to escape." the Airbender tried his hardest not to give away his tactic.
The warrior looked at Aang with one eyebrow raised, "You think your minor threats are something for us to worry about? You're nothing but a child." the leader turned her back to them to converse with what Aang thought to be the chief of the village.
Now was his chance. He opened his mouth as wide as he could get it and took in as much air that he could fit inside his lungs. He bent his head and blew it all out. Aang flew into the air to the top of the post. His bonds were left, neglected, below with the Water Tribe kids. "Excuse me? Can you please let us go, now?"
The female warrior turned around, looking to the spot where Aang was supposed to be. Her eyes grew to the size of the sun. He whistled at her and her head immediately snapped up. Her eyes narrowed then realization set in. "You really are the Avatar, aren't you?"
He nodded briefly and all of the warriors rapidly fell to their knees and bowed. All except the leader, instead she slowly stepped forward all the while looking at the Avatar and untied the dark skinned ones. "I apologize for any convenience, Avatar, I meant no harm." after her apology she calmly descended to her hands and knees, putting her head down.
Aang floated down from the post and landed lightly on his feet, "No, you don't need to bow, please get up. There's no need for that." he touched the leader on her shoulder, "my name's Aang. And these are my friends and companions, Sokka and Katara."
Katara extended her hand to the woman who rose to her feet, "Hi, my brother and I are from the Southern Water Tribe. We apologize for any harm we might have brought to your island."
The warrior accepted her hand, "Hello, my name's Suki. As the Avatar has said, this is Kyoshi Island and we are the Kyoshi Warriors. I am the eldest, the leader. So if you have any complaints, please do not hesitate to come to me first with any problems." although her face covered in paint her facial expressions visibly relax. Sokka had a very bad feeling that this girl was going to be around more than she should have.
§¨©ª
Aang and Katara sat at a dining table placed in their rooms that was piled with food, or desserts rather, all of it from the Kyoshi Island villagers. Aang was stuffing his face with every assortment he could grab. Katara, able to control the hunger eating at her stomach, took one at a time and slowly put them into her mouth. Five minutes of doing this and she couldn't control herself any longer. She didn't take her time just barreled food into her opened mouth.
Strangely, the only one was not eating was the one who could out eat them all. Sokka laid on the floor, doing what he does second best, complaining. "I can not believe that we our asses beat by a group of girls in dresses!" he rolled into a sitting position.
Katara wiped her mouth getting all the crumbs hidden on her face. "Sokka, why don't you just come eat. Come on, I know how much you love food. And this is good food. It's sweeeeeet!" she said in a sing-song voice, trying to get her big brother to forget about their capture.
Sokka got his feed and gave Katara the 'look'. "I'm not hungry right now. I'm too upset about being beaten by GIRLS! It wasn't even a fair fight. They did a girly move by sneaking up on us." Sokka was fuming now. He could feel it coming on and knew he had to let it out. "I'll be back later." he turned around and was almost to the door when his stomach growled. Damn he was so close too. He turned back to the table. He opened his bag and put one of each of the desserts in his bag. "Turns out I actually was hungry. Now I'll be back later."
Once he was outside he opened his bag and stuffed his mouth with all the treats he got. After he was full he walked down to the river and splashed water over his face. How could those girls gotten the jump on me? He'd always prided himself on being the best warrior in the village. The fact that the village was made up of children and people it was no wonder that he was the best.
Knowing what he had to do, he walked up the hill to the small village and found the place where Suki and the other Kyoshi warriors trained. He would show them just how good of a warrior he was. No matter what he had to do.
§¨©ª
Inside their training room, Suki and the other warriors were laughing. Laughing about their capture of the three travelers. More precisely, one traveler and even more precise, Sokka. Hostility was something they encountered all the time because they were females who fought for what they believed in. But Sokka's was something in and of itself.
"You know what I think, Suki?" Terriana, her second in command, asked Suki. "I think that Sokka might have a minor crush on our fearless leader." she giggled uncontrollably and the rest of her team jumped in with her. Holding their sides, unable to hold in it under the weight of it.
Suki, on the other hand, did not find it amusing in the least. She'll admit, the Water Tribe boy was slightly attractive and strong. Strong headed also, pride oriented, chauvinistic, stubborn…but cute. She laughed nervously, "Girls, that's ridiculous."
The warriors all looked at one another, sharing glances, with smirks on their faces, "Oh my, you like him too!"
Suki opened her mouth to rebuttal when someone cleared their throat behind her. She whipped around, pulling her fans out and placing them in front of her body as a shield. She straightened her posture when she saw it was just the fool they were previously speaking about. "Sokka, what are you doing here?"
He entered the building and stretched, like he belonged here. "What are you ladies up to this fine evening? I do hope you won't be intimidated by me and my training. I know I can be overbearing when it comes to fighting. So don't let me distract you or anything." the arrogant fool stood there like he actually could do something to do them.
This angered Suki, who was he, but a Southern Water Tribe peasant, to tell them that he could beat them? A plan devised in her mind, "Oh, Sokka you're so right. I don't even know how we got the slip on you and captured you. Will you please show me some of your moves that are clearly better than ours?" she feigned sweetness. This otter penguin would be taught a lesson soon enough.
Sokka looked down, uncertain of what he should do. He wanted to show Suki how real warriors fought, but he knew he had no real training. His way of training was with a sword and a snowman. He looked back up and saw the smug red-head smiling, like she knew what he was thinking, "Of course."
He slowly took a step closer to the girl. She took one too. They stood face to face. Noses inches away. "I don't want to hurt you, but you've forced me to." he lashed out his arm to strike her, but she blocked it as though she was swatting at a fly. Effortlessly.
Sokka's fury began to build up. He would not be bested by a girl. Not again. He went all out on her. Striking left, right up and down. He went low and high. Hitting at her with his best, but every time he struck out his hand, she was always right there with a block that seemed to be other worldly. Almost as if she were reading his thoughts again. The 'fight' continued for several minutes, but Sokka couldn't take the humiliation anymore. He threw one last hit, she deflected it and sent him to the ground.
Suki looked down at him and smiled. "Your moves were…impressive…" she tried to hold back her laughter, but it was difficult, by now all the other warriors were doubled over in laughter.
Sokka bowed his head and rose to his knees, "You were right. Though you did not say it, I'm beneath you. Will you teach me?"
She considered this for several seconds, then nodded. "Of course."
§¨©ª
Aang was hanging out down in the village, where the statue of Kyoshi was being polished in honor of Aang's return to them. Katara looked out the window and saw that Aang was interacting with the girls who lived on Kyoshi Island.
She supposed she should be jealous. Or at least she knew Aang wanted her to be, but she just didn't feel anything. She did want to leave though. Aang was starting to get on her nerves with all his "I'm the Avatar. I'm so great." Me. Me. Me. That's it was with him ever since landing on the island.
She left their room and went down to the marketplace to buy food for their, hopefully, continuing journey. She wanted to leave today, to make their way to the Northern Water Tribe. Though she doubted that would happen. Aang was too busy playing the girl-crazed Avatar and Sokka was too busy playing bad-ass warrior.
"Katara! Katara! Watch this!" she knew exactly who was calling her name, and she knew she didn't want to look at him.
Aang, ecstatic at the new trick he had wanted to show her earlier, threw his hands in the air, parallel to one another. In between them were three marbles that he made turn in a circle rapidly.
Katara hardly looked him, her irritation for being here too long rising, "that's cool, Aang."
Aang's face fell, he turned and sulked away. She didn't see him leave, just felt his absent, but she didn't care. She finished her shopping and went back to their room. Waiting for the time they could leave.
§¨©ª
"Inform Prince Zuko that we know the location of the Avatar. Kyoshi Island."
§¨©ª
It had been a couple of days later when Sokka had finally been able to best Suki. Dressed in the traditional Kyoshi Warrior gown and make up, he fought her and won. She'd fallen to the ground with a satisfying thud.
Sokka hollered and hooted with victory, "I finally beat you!"
Suki stood and smiled, "or did I let you win because I'm sick of seeing your face everyday?" she taunted him while rubbing her backside.
Sokka's disappointment could be seen miles away, "You wouldn't do that?"
"Wouldn't I?" she asked him smugly.
He remained confused for several minutes. Then a look of complacent came over his features. "Whether you let me win or not, I'm still getting better." he smiled arrogantly.
Her mouth lifted slightly at the corners, "Yeah, I guess you are." she looked down at her boots. "So, Sokka, tell me about your family.?"
Sokka was taken back for a second. A minute they were fighting, the next she wants to talk about family? "Uh, well, when I was nine my mother was taken from me by the Fire Nation. My father left when I was thirteen to fight in the war. Since then it's just been my Gran Gran, my sister, and me. I grew up in the Southern Water Tribe, I was their last defense, but right now, there's no one there to protect my tribe. I was training some warriors, but they're from about seven to about nine. So they don't take it seriously." he chuckled slightly at the memories of the children urging him to 'show no fear' against the Fire Prince. He looked back up at Suki, "How about you?" he was staring into her blue green eyes and felt a part of him spark to life.
The red-haired warrior looked at him. At the only boy who made her feel like a girl. At the only boy she cared about, but she knew he would leave. Everyone always left her, "I've been training as a Kyoshi Warrior since I was eight years old. I don't have family. Well, actually I don't remember them. All I remember is first coming here when I was six and after that they just disappeared. All I have are the Kyoshi Warriors. They are my family now."
Sokka couldn't believe what he was hearing, yes he didn't have the biggest family, but at least he had his sister and grandmother. "Suki, I don't know what to say, but I am sorry. If it's any help, you're one of the strongest people I know. And absolutely beautiful and amazing."
Suki blushed and opened her mouth to say something back, but she was cut off when a scream erupted from outside, "What was that?"
The two warriors ran outside and saw the Fire Prince on the shores of the island. A trail of smoke and flames followed behind him. Houses were burning. Children were screaming and the land behind him was on fire. "Peasants! If you don't want your precious village to burn I suggest you tell me where the Avatar is!"
"Damn him. He's just not going to give it up." Sokka ran forth attempting to stop the Prince of Destruction. The prince did nothing but kick his foot out and send the boy, it was a boy right?, in a dress flying. He hit against a nearby building.
Suki grabbed Sokka's arms and dragged the foolish warrior out of harm's way. He was going to get himself killed one day. Suki's heart tore a little at that thought, but pushed it away.
§¨©ª
Aang and Katara got to the middle of the burning village at the same time. "How did he find us? I thought Suki said this place wasn't findable?" Katara yelled over the screams in Aang's direction, he just shrugged.
"I'm gonna go see if I can stop him." Aang set up his glider and took off toward the Exiled.
Zuko saw the Avatar. He was coming his. Finally he would capture him and go back home. The Avatar was flying, but his descent would come rather quickly. Zuko shot fireballs at the Airbender. The Avatar dodged them all but still landed, "Why are you doing this? Leave us alone!"
Zuko filled with rage, "How dare you try to command me! Do you know who I am? I will never stop tracking you until you are in shackles and in my possession." more fireballs shot from his hands. Aang sent them reeling back to their creator.
The banished prince knew this was a lose-lose fight. There was no way either one was going to give in. at least that's what he thought until he saw the dream that had haunted his thoughts deep within. The ocean eyed, sienna hair, sun tanned beauty. She was here. He if they knew about his fascination with her? Or did they just get lucky with timing? He'd never spoken friendly words with either of them, so they couldn't have known what effects she would have on him.
Well, they didn't until he lost focus and the Avatar blew a guest of wind that knocked him over. Zuko flipped back to his feet and started attacking again. This time the Avatar pulled back, but only by the hand of the Water Tribe girl. Zuko's temper flared. How dare he touch his Waterbender.
Katara grabbed hold of Aang's arm. She didn't want Aang to get hurt, but she also didn't want the Exiled hurt either. She didn't know why she felt that way. But if he was harmed she wasn't sure how she'd be able to handle it.
"Aang, let's just get out of here. They're destroying the village, but if we leave he will too. He doesn't the village, he wants you! Let's leave." Katara pleaded with her big blue eyes.
Aang couldn't resist it. He nodded his head, "Let's go."
§¨©ª
Sokka's head was starting to clear up. He opened his eyes and saw Suki's painted face. "What happened?"
She smiled at him, "Sokka, you need to get back to your friends and leave this place. The Kyoshi Warriors and I will hold him off while you guys escape."
He sat up and nodded realizing she didn't want him here anymore, "Alright." he pretended to think nothing of it. It was her choice.
Suki's eyes filled with disappointment at his callous behavior toward his departure. "that's all?" she asked incredulously.
Sokka's demeanor fell away to confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Don't you like me?" she asked with uncertainty.
"Well, yeah, but you're stronger than the girly feelings that liking someone comes with." he stated unhappily.
"Sokka, I may be a strong, independent fighter, but I do have those girly feelings." she slowly leaned forward and let her lips rest against his cheek.
She pulled back unsure of what she'd done, "you gotta leave now, Sokka." she stood, helping him up, she turned him around and pushed him forward.
He stumbled, but looked back at her, "Suki, I-" she cut him off with another push. This time it was hard and to his chest.
"LEAVE!" she didn't want him here. She didn't want him hurt. By either the Firebender or her.
Sokka knew something was wrong, but he also knew that trying to figure it out would be impossible. She wouldn't ever tell him. He took off running. He found Aang and Katara on Appa all ready for departure. He jumped on.
"Appa, yip, yip.". Aang looked down at the village. He saw it burning. All of it. He saw the Kyoshi Warriors fighting, some of the losing. He saw the Kyoshi statue turning to ash. Aang knew he had to do something. He lurched off Appa, free falling through the sky. He curled up and submerged into the water. Aang swam until he saw what he needed.
"AANG!" Katara leaned over the side of Appa, shouting. What was he thinking?
Minutes later, she saw what he was thinking. He emerged from the frigid water on the of the creature that had tried to eat him earlier.
Aang pulled on the Unagi making it spit water. He managed to put out all of the fires and drench the Exiled and his crew. Katara flew Appa low, catching Aang when he dived off the creature.
"I caused all of this, Katara." he huddled like a child against her side.
She comforted him, "no you didn't. It's okay, Aang, you saved the village."
Aang smiled, "you're right, thank you, Katara." he snuggled closer.
Sokka couldn't comprehend what had happened. All he knew was that he was never going to see Suki again and he missed her.