Ah. Very quick update. I am proud of my Beta. Much longer than the last one, so I hope you are satisfied. XDD This one was very fun to write, but my beta had a lot of help with the romantic scenes (I'm not good at writing thos 0.o''') Well, enjoy, and please review!
Ty Lee stared with her mouth agape at the ship approaching them. It couldn't be Sokka! Not now! She had just been doing so well on Kyoshi. She had started to fit in, started to feel like she belonged. Sokka couldn't come and mess that up now!
"Yeah, its Sokka." Takumi said with a smile, "Pretty nice surprise for Suki, right? She's been talking about him for a while."
Ty Lee nodded, though she didn't mean it. Pretty nice surprise for Suki indeed. But what was it for her? A nightmare! She couldn't have Sokka distracting her or creating any more rifts between her and her leader. And what would Nikumu think? She would certainly take this opportunity to jeer Ty Lee even more than usual. At least she would have Hasoka and the twins on her side.
Ty Lee watched as the ship docked. She willed with all her heart for it to turn around, or sink, or…or something! Anything to get it as far away as possible. She closed her eyes, hoping when she opened them the ship would have disappeared and Takumi would be laughing at the great practical joke she had played on Ty Lee. She had no such luck, however.
When she did open her eyes instead she was met with the sight of the young man that made her heart leap. He was wearing Earth Kingdom clothing, which clashed horrendously with the blue theme of the island. Perhaps he should have gone with his usual Water Tribe garb. His hair was pulled back in its normal fashion, leaving his handsome face visible to all. His blue eyes were intent on his workcrinkled a bit from laughing at one of the sailor's jokes. He was helping the sailors secure the ship so it would not go out with the tide. Ty Lee winced a bit at hearing his raucous laugh float across the wharf.
"Come on, Ty Lee, we have to get him to the dojo without Suki seeing." Takumi motioned Ty Lee to follow her to the docks. Ty Lee found, shockingly, that her legs did not seem to want to work. She forced them to move forward, though she herself didn't really want to go either.
Sokka looked up when they came up to him. Ty Lee could've sworn his eyes were fixed on her a bit longer than they had been on Takumi.
"Oh, hey! If it isn't my favorite warriors!" He stood up and reached out his hand, which Takumi took generously, "Takumi, right?"
"Yep. And I know you already know our newest member." Takumi released her grasp. Sokka turned toward her.
"Yeah. How's it going, Pokey?" He gave them same gesture to Ty Lee, intending her to take it. It took a moment for her to get the command from her mind to her hand, but she eventually shook Sokka's hand, a bit too firmly, too eagerly almost. She quickly let go and continued the conversation, discreetly wiping the cold sweat that had appeared from his touch on her uniform. She found herself at a loss for intelligent thought.
"Uh…okay I guess." She blushed, suddenly glad for the thick, white make-up they wore. Had he called her 'Pokey'? Was that a flirt? Or was she just reading into things too much? Takumi raised an eyebrow at this nickname as well, but quickly dismissed it, "I've finally got use to the routine around here."
"Yeah, Suki's told me its tough." Sokka replied. With that all of Ty Lee's thought's of flirting and her short daydreams of Sokka leaving Suki were crushed. She bit her lip, more angry at herself than Sokka. She shouldn't even indulge herself with thoughts. That's how she would be hurt and distracted. She just had to face the facts that Sokka was Suki's. Even if she didn't like it. There were other guys, right? …right?
"Speaking of Suki, we have to get you to the dojo soon to complete the surprise." Takumi reminded.
"So, she really doesn't know? I can't wait to see the look on her face." Sokka immeadiately broke into a wide smile.
"Me either."
"Well! Then, we better get going now!" Ty Lee interjected. She didn't like the turn the conversation was taking.
The three of them walked slowly on the beach. None of them spoke for awhile, until Takumi informed them that they were taking a shortcut through the woods.
"Suki never goes there on break, so there's less chance she'll see." She explained. The others followed without any trouble. Takumi knew the island better than the two of them, and they trusted her judgment.
Ty Lee felt the awkwardness in the air. Perhaps she shouldn't have shouted her wish to change the subject and get going. Next to her on the path Sokka sure looked a bit discomfited, thought Takumi didn't seem affected. There was an uneasy silence once more, broken only when Takumi warned them of low branches or uprooted tree roots every so often. Finally, they reached the dojo, to everyone's relief. The trip had been less than pleasant.
The entered the dojo from a back entrance, quickly greeted by Hasoka and the twins.
"Sokka!" Hasoka exclaimed, only to have Takumi shush her.
"We don't know when Suki's coming, so you have to keep it down!" She chastised. Hasoka stuck out her tongue, but when she next spoke her volume had gone down a few decibels.
"So, how was your trip? I hope the Unagi was no trouble." She asked, then whispered conspiratorially, "If he was, I would have to feed him rotten fish as punishment." Sokka laughed.
"Oh, it was fine, I guess. Actually, I didn't see the Unagi at all." The look on his face told Ty Lee that he was glad he didn't.
"That's a relief. Never know what he'll do with foreign ships he's not used to." Hasoka mimed wiping sweat off her forehead and smiled.
The twins then started up a conversation on the feast they were going to hold tonight on account of his arrival. Ling Ling looked particularly excited, though Ty Lee knew she was the worst cook out of the two of them. Before she knew it, everyone else in the dojo had formed a circle around Sokka, all wanting to talk to him. Ty Lee, on the other hand, was outside of this crowd of people. It was as if she didn't exist.
She frowned. What was so important about Sokka, anyways? The only reason they liked him was because he was hooked up with their leader. If it had just been Ty Lee's friend they wouldn't have gotten this treatment. As she was thinking, Sokka looked over one of the twin's heads at her. He looked concerned. She turned away quickly, blushing yet again, and began to act interested with the various decorative fans on the wall which she had already looked at so many times during her time on the island. When she chanced a glance back, he had redirected his attention back to the fawning girls. It was then Ty Lee realized they were missing another member other than Suki.
"Hey, where's Nikumu?" She asked.
"She's going off to get Suki," Hasoka informed plainly. Then she raised her hands to her face in horror, "And I was supposed to tell you all to get into position!! They could be here any moment now!"
"Hasoka! Why are you so absent-minded? Now…" Ying Ying began with an irritated look on her face. Her twin looked rather different.
"…the surprise could be ruined!" Unlike her sister, Ling Ling's face was a bit crumpled, and she looked like she was going to cry. Ty Lee knew she must have put a lot of work into making this surprise.
"Well, if we get into position now we can still make it work!" Hasoka said. Everyone agreed to this, and went to their positions. Except for Ty Lee and Sokka, that was. Sokka obviously hadn't had the time to be told the plans, and Ty Lee had been purposefully left in the dark to make sure the surprise was kept secret longer. They stood in the middle of the dojo as the other girls scrambled behind beds. Finally Hasoka noticed them and ran back over, "Ty Lee come with me, Sokka, go next to Takumi!"
The two of them obeyed and took their newly-appointed posts. Ty Lee crouched down behind her own bed next to Hasoka. Hasoka was holding in fits of giggles, obviously excited about Suki's arrival. Ty Lee frowned. She couldn't have cared less. Once more too much attention was brought to Sokka. And Suki. Sokka and Suki being together. Ty Lee made a face, but quickly hid it behind a fake mask of what she hoped looked like excitement.
Ty Lee heard footsteps and an anxious voice from the doorway.
"Nikumu. Stop it. I can tell when you're lying. Something's happened. What is it?" Suki interrogated. Nikumu didn't reply, but simply walked into the dojo, "Nikumu, seriously! You're scaring me…why is no one here?"
Ty Lee found it hard to suppress giggles at that comment. Suki didn't even see what was right in front of her. Hasoka counted down on her fingers, showing them to everyone. When she got to 'one', everyone stood up and shouted 'Surprise!'. Everyone except Ty Lee, that is. She slowly came up and raised her hands like the others, but obviously lacking their enthusiasm. Suki didn't notice. Her attention was completely on the only male in the area.
"Hey Suki." Sokka smiled.
"Sokka!" She ran up to her boyfriend and the two of them embraced, "What are you doing here?"
"Decided to surprise you." He smirked.
"But you said that you weren't coming for months!"
"I also said that my foot wasn't better." He pointed to his uninjured foot. Suki laughed.
"I can't believe you're really here…" Her voice was low now. Ty Lee could just see Suki's eyes roaming over his face, his neck, the small bit of muscle that peeked out of his shirt as she smoothed his tunic down. The other girls crowded around the couple. Suki didn't seem to notice and neither did oh-so-special Sokka.
"Want me to prove it?" He drew her closer, and Suki's lips met his as if they had planned it for years. The adoring groupies sighed and squealed at the sight. Ty Lee wanted to vomit as Suki's arms went and wrapped around his neck, Sokka's hands at her waist, but kept a painfully happy face nonetheless. Ty Lee turned her eyes away, trying to look at anything besides the happy couple.
"Okay girls, before these two eat each other lets get the food ready." Takumi called, obviously regretting spoiling the moment. She motioned for the twins to bring the food, which they did eagerly.
Ty Lee watched, eyes wide, as they brought in several trays. On the trays were bowls full of all kinds of food, some Ty Lee even couldn't recognize. It all smelled so good. And yet…Ty Lee realized with a start that she wasn't hungry. She had completely lost her appetite. She felt a ping of annoyance go through her. If it was just Ty Lee's friend they wouldn't have thrown a whole feast…
Everyone else had grabbed at the food instantly, Sokka ravenously taking his share of meat. Ty Lee simply sat on her bed, waiting for it all to be over. She knew too well that it wouldn't just end. No, Sokka was going to be here for awhile. She was going to have to learn to deal with it. Maybe she could ignore him?
Someone else sat on her bed and she turned, hoping to see Hasoka. Surely she would be there to keep her company in the midst of this chaos. But no. Ty Lee tried not to let her disappointment show. It was Ling Ling. And there was a bowl full of rice and meat in her hands.
"I happened to notice you hadn't got anything to eat…and I wondered if you wanted to try some of my curry." She held out the bowl precariously, so that the chopsticks on top looked like they would fall off. Ty Lee found it odd listening to the girl talk without her twin next to her finishing her sentences.
Ty Lee considered for a moment. She wasn't all that hungry, but after coming to the realization that she had to deal with Sokka, her hunger had started to come back, just a bit. And the curry did look good…but Ling Ling's dishes were unpredictable. She frowned unconsciously, but almost immeadiately replaced it with a smile.
"Sure, I'd love to try some." She lied, taking hold of the bowl. Ty Lee took a piece of meat in her chopsticks and slowly, almost hesitantly, brought it to her mouth. She was met with a pleasant and sweet surprise, "Mm! It's really good Ling Ling!"
When Ty Lee looked up from her bowl, however, she saw tears instead of a beaming face.
"O-Of course it is!" She muttered, the tears falling freely, smudging her make-up.
"What? Why are you crying?" Ty Lee asked frantically. She was a bit perturbed that she could barely hear her friend over the talk of the others, and the fact that the others didn't even seem to notice the sobbing girl.
"I didn't make this…Ying Ying did…" She confessed, "And I saw your reaction. Y-You were afraid of eating what I made…"
"No I wasn't!" Ty Lee found herself lying for the second time in the same minute. Ling Ling scowled, obviously seeing through her, "Okay…I kinda was…more wary than scared…" She added.
"I work so hard to be like my sister…but she's better at me in everything. Cooking, fighting, being brave…" Ling Ling finally gained control of her sobs and wiped her eyes,some of the make-up coming off completely, "Did you know we were the youngest Kyoshi Warriors ever to enter the program?"
"Really?" Ty Lee was genuinely interested. "How old were you?"
"Ten, but we weren't allowed to go on real missions until we were eleven." She held out all her fingers.
"So when did Suki enter?" Ty Lee asked.
"When she was thirteen. We joined the same year as her." This statement caught Ty Lee off guard. She had known that the twins were younger than her, but could they really only be fourteen now? And if they were fourteen now, they were thirteen when they fought in the forest for the first time…Dang…
"Wow. That must count for something." She replied, hoping the compliment would soothe Ling Ling. It didn't.
"Ying Ying was the one they wanted. I was only allowed because I was her twin..." She admitted. "I'm still not good enough to be a real Kyoshi Warrior…"
"Don't say that." Ty Lee insisted, "You're much better than all of the fighters I've been up against before. You were able to hold your own when we…Uh…me and Mai fought you in the forest. That takes a lot of skill. They wouldn't have let you stay a warrior if you were that bad."
"I guess your right…" Ling Ling smiled, then turned toward the group of people huddled around Suki and Sokka, "He's rather cute, is he not?"
"Who?" Ty Lee asked, her mood instantly darkening. She knew fully well who the girl was referring to.
"Sokka, of course!" She sighed, "But I shouldn't be thinking like that…Suki wouldn't let him go even if he wanted to…"
Ty Lee didn't answer at first. It didn't occur to her that there may have been others on the island other than herself that were attracted to Sokka. If Suki did give him up, she would have competition…wait what was she thinking!? She was going to ignore her urges to be with was going to ignore Sokka, himself. She was going to let her leader have it her way. But it was going to be hard…
No. It was going to be impossible. She had been lying to herself the whole day about Sokka. She…She loved him. And obviously he felt something about her too. Why else would he have flirted with him when he apparently still had feeling for Suki? She doubted that he actually 'loved' Suki. He was using her or something like that.
She had to know for sure. Had to know his feelings about her, about Suki, about everything. If Sokka didn't like her…then she would move on finally, like she had been telling herself. But if her hunches were correct then she couldn't ignore it. She couldn't ignore Sokka if she was right.
"Who knows?" Ty Lee mused, "Sokka can be very persuasive…"
Yay! I got to write a lot of Ling Ling. She's my favorite of the twins. I have an odd like...attraction (not romantic) to twins. All of the twins in all the Transformers series have been my favorites, Fred and George in Harry Potter are also my favorite, the only twins I didn't like are Lo and Li from Avatar (old twins are creepy!). So its fun to write twins!!
Wow...once more I barely write anything in the a/n. Something must be wrong XD Please review!
