Greetings, avid readers!
I'd like to start with thanking all the reads, favs and follows in this story. Even if silent, your support means a lot. As for the ones that took their time to write a review, thank you as well!
I apologize for not posting yesterday, I did see the notification, but I had too much work to do. My best friend is coming over thing weekend to watch movies with me and that means cleaningfreak! is in the upstairs floor (brain) banging on the walls.
My weekly obsession is... Instinct! The TV Show. Seems pretty cool! Ah, also broke up with hubby because he revealed his toxic self. Ms. LiAnne Kay already published the book (and yes, I have read it), but it ended in a chef's kiss and noW I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER GODDAMN YEAR FOR THE NEXT ONE?!
Dommie,you will have some goodness, and here it is! I missed writing about these two...
This is my first try at a Avatar fanfiction. Go easy on me. Reviews and flames are always welcomed, for they keep my cat and I warm at night.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar nor any of the characters. Such credit should go to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. I do own a... certain amount of characters that will be recognized further into the story.
Thank you, and enjoy the chapter!
Chapter XIII: The Icy Trip
X—X
Sailing to the Northern Water Tribe took a week. Ahria grew accustomed to Water Tribe customs and shared her strangeness with Suki. The two had connected immediately after a dare from Toph that the Kyoshi warrior could not beat Ahria in a fight.
Needless to say, when they both landed on a three-point after a butterfly kick, they became best spar buddies.
Since he was the oldest, and the soon-to-be Chief, Sokka sat at the head of the table. Suki and Toph were on either side of him, Ahria settled between Katara and a sailor, and Aang tried his best to steal from Toph's plate.
"But then what happened?" Ahria asked.
"Well, since we were short on coin, we had to… hustle a few people." Sokka declared.
"More like a whole town," Katara grumbled.
"You were in on it too, Beauty Queen," Toph smirked.
"And you, Suki?"
"Somewhere far, far away." She giggled.
"Toph even got a man to help her after he almost ran her over!" Aang explained and the earthbender smirked.
"Yeah, that was a fun day."
"What about you, Rea? Katara told me you're traveled." Sokka smiled, "Where have you been around?"
"Mostly the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. Never had the pleasure to go to the Water Tribes, although I've heard they are beautiful." She poked her food around. "As to the Air Temples… you can guess."
"What do you like most about the Fire Nation?"
"I went there a handful of times, mostly for the markets. They sell all kinds of spices, I love it. But my favorite trip was the Fire Lily Festival."
"It is a beautiful one." Katara agreed.
"Yeah." Ahria gulped. "So, Toph. Tell me more about the new academy you're opening."
Dinner went by filled with conversation, and it was not long before Katara excused herself to enjoy the moonlight. Toph followed soon after, the rocking of the boat making her sleepy. Soon, they were down to Sokka, Suki, Aang, and Ahria, chatting happily about the Tribe Sokka carried on his shoulders. Aang went on to confide with the young leader what he had learned from Kuruk, which brought tears to his eyes.
Ahria gladly told Suki all about the Air Dome, and how everything ran and worked. The Kyoshi warrior showed special interest in the mechanisms behind the bathhouse, and when she grabbed a piece of coal from Sokka, Ahria was all too glad to draw the rough outlines of the mechanisms used on paper.
Aang watched with a smile as she talked Suki's ear off, sketching and explaining to an excited warrior. Sokka looked over the scene, his heart skipping a beat as he saw the pure and unaltered kid joy on Suki's face, something he had not seen in a while. He vowed to change that once they got to the Northern Water Tribe.
And he saw Aang watching the airbender so tenderly that he could not help but smile. That was a different look. Katara had confided in him before, about the doubts she had in her relationship with Aang. The brother knew of her feelings for a certain member of their team, and it was clear that the Avatar had started to feel something for the airbender.
"Well, I should probably get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Sokka declared and stood up.
"Yeah, we should all turn in for the night." Suki smiled. "Come on, Rea, I'll walk you to your room."
"Aang." Sokka clasped his hand and pulled him in for a hug. "Thank you."
"Thank you for accompanying me." The Avatar smiled.
"One last adventure, am I right?"
"Yeah, most definitely." The tribesman smiled. "Goodnight, Aang."
"Goodnight, Sokka."
The blue-eyed male walked to his cabin and prepared for bed, laying awake between the furs. Surely twenty minutes went by, and the door opened and Suki snuck inside. She undressed in silence and got into bed with him, trying not to wake him.
Sokka sighed.
Too many nights had been spent like this. When he would fall asleep without as much as a kiss, and she would wake up to an empty bed. Their lives were busy, but when he became Chief, he promised her he would never be too busy for her.
And there he was, breaking that promise.
He turned to his side and pulled her close to his chest, burying his nose in her hair. She relaxed into his embrace; it was common of him to hug her in his sleep, and even whisper her name. What was not common was for him to brush his fingers up and down her side with a softness he reserved only for her.
Sokka marveled at the silky touch of her skin. She often wore thin camisoles to bed since, according to her, he was 'a furnace for a man that lived most of his life in the freezing cold'. Her body had matured over the years, her gentle curves deepening and her muscles strengthening. She had always been beautiful, but she had become more so.
"You're awake." He heard her whisper. "Sokka, it's late. And I'm not going to deal with your cranky self in the morning."
"I love you." He let out and she froze.
Slowly but surely, she turned to look into his eyes, heavy with emotion. She smiled gently and cupped his cheek. He swallowed hard and pressed his lips to her palm. She blushed but raised her eyes to meet his, moving closer to him.
"You know that, right? I might not show it all the time or say it because I'm an idiot, but I do love you. So much, Suki."
She nodded in fear that her voice would fail her. Their relationship had a rocky start, and even after she admitted to herself that she was falling for him, Sokka still loved Yue. A part of him always would, and it had taken Suki some time to come to terms with that.
The reason why they had not jumped into a relationship after the war was because Sokka still needed to mourn Yue. It had taken them some time. But they had gotten together after a massive fight where Suki was determined to leave him alone, and Sokka had no problem shouting and declaring his love and lust for the Kyoshi warrior.
"I know." She nodded. "And I love you."
She had not frozen out of fear or lack of reciprocity of his feelings. It was quite the opposite. Sokka had always been someone highly attached to his emotions, but knew to put them aside when needed. Emotions that left him vulnerable to another person, however, were a completely different story. Although she had no doubt he loved her, he showed her that time and time again, when it came to saying those three precious little words, the male saved them for rare and special occasions.
Which made her wonder what this one was about.
"I'm sorry I haven't been the greatest partner." He gulped, grabbing her wrist. "I promise I'm trying."
"Sokka, it's fine. I understand we're both busy-!"
"No. I promised you that, when I took this position, I would never be too busy for you. For us. And I'm failing, and I'm sorry."
"I forgive you." She smiled gently. "What brought this on?"
"…I haven't seen you smile like today in a long time, Suki. I'm failing you. And I-!"
"Sokka. No, honey…"
"But it's the truth."
"Okay, yes, but listen. It's not that I'm not happy with you. I am, and you know that. But yes, I do miss traveling and fighting and conquering the world." She explained.
"I'm sorry."
"But if I had to choose between all that and you, I'd choose you in a heartbeat."
"I don't want you to feel like you have to choose." He frowned.
"I'm not. You give me everything. The adventures just come in… smaller doses."
"Then I need to make some changes."
"Sokka-!"
"From now on, you're leading the hunters, and when I can join you, we'll co-lead. Once a month, there will be a boat ready to take you to Kyoshi Island-!"
"Two months."
"Two months, for you to be with them. You're my right arm, Suki, you've always been. And you're the owner of my heart. I am not going to lose you." He declared, and she kissed him.
Sokka sighed against her mouth and raised up to his elbows, pressing her against the bed. Her fingers entwined in his wolftail and undid it, pressing their mouths harder together. The young man gulped and moved between her legs, hitching one up around his waist. His lips moved to her ear, down her neck, and to her collarbone.
"Sokka…" Suke whispered, arching her back against him. "Anything else?"
"Yeah." He pulled away to look into her sunflower eyes. "Wear it over your clothes from now on."
"Sokka-!" She gasped, covering her mouth, tears pooling in her eyes. "But the-!"
"I don't care. I love you. You're the one I want, Suki. I'm the leader, I'm to be crowned soon, and I don't give a fuck about what the elders say. You're the one I proposed to. You're the one I want as my wife."
"I love you." She whispered and pulled him down for another kiss.
A/N: Keep calm. I will not go back to short ones. But have this one? I think I'm getting to the point of no return where I can't drop the story... but still. Keep in mind, I'll keep this story up or drop it depending on your feedback.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to review if you want, or if you don't, I hope you liked it!
First to review gets a cookie!
Lots of love from this weirdo,
LoneeWolf :)