Hi Suki!
I don't remember if we set some time when we should send the first letter to each other, but I figure it out today would be a good day. I want to start by telling you how I see the blue in the ocean and think about you. Now that I think about it, I have never seen you in blue clothing apart from that kimono you wore at night. I remember how in Kyoshi most of the people were in blue and it reminded me a lot of home, when I see you again, can you use your casual clothing? It's something stupid, but unless I create some device who can keep a memory in a physical way, I can only remember you in my mind.
It's day 32 from my voyage and we stopped in the side of the earth kingdom to buy more food supplies. Who would have said a bunch of males and two women would eat too much? It seems there is nothing to do in here that is not eat, train or fix. I sometimes pray we are already there so the time can fly even faster.
Hawky has instructions that this letter is only delivered to you. So if someone is screaming that an eagle is flying he is probably searching you.
I miss you, my strong courageous warrior.
From your beautiful councilman, Sokka.
"Go Hawky, only to Suki" I whisper as I see hawky soar in the sky and fly. It's already night time and the moon and stars are the only light in the night. My eyes focus on Yue, oh lovely Yue.
"Thank you again" I say out loud. I chuckle, I must have looked stupid screaming at the sky, well not to Katara, but to the other crewmates possibly. I was starting to forget her godly face until the day I almost died. Now that I'm alone I can't help but think about both of them.
Mom, Yue. Two lovely ladies who I couldn't protect, who deserved better than their fates. But the past is behind and in the present, I failed Suki too. I get close to the border and I can see clearly my face in the soothing water.
"Do you mind if I give you company?" Electra says appearing by my side. I got a bit startled as in this month I never notice when she approaches me.
"Oh Tui you scared me" I say looking at her, who is now giggling. "I don't mind at all, you have been such a great friend"
"I got to thank you first, I get less dizzy with your guidance, only downfall is that I might get chubbier" She grabs part of her non existent belly and giggles, her friendliness is welcomed as Katara has spent most of her days reading and practicing forms, leaving me with not so much to do or talk to. I laugh and elbow her in her arm.
"It suits you, gives you even more presence" I say without thinking it through, her face is in confusion, grinning a bit as I feel my cheeks burn. "I mean you already are a presence in the court and…"
"I know" She interrupts, clamping my mouth in between her fingers. I blush more and notice her hair is not in the usual braid she does, instead is let down.
"You can't sleep?" I ask removing her hand from my mouth, taking it back to her place. She doesn't look at me and instead looks at the water.
"Kind of. It gets lonely having a room all to myself and…I still don't know how to get close to your sister." She says, reclining in her hands. I see how long and silky her blonde hair looks, out of instinct I brush it, it definitely is natural. I come back and see her looking at me a bit annoyed.
"Want me to brush your hair?" I suggest with a goofy smile. She raises and eyebrow, still looking annoyed. "It used to help Tara when she couldn't sleep at first"
Now she was interested, standing up. "At first? What do you mean at first?" She repeated, grabbing my arm to walk towards her room.
"I'll tell you as I untangle it" I say following her pace, ignoring the grins some of the crewmates gave us as we walked together. Honestly I didn't see her as a potential love interest if I'm honest, she is another friend, like Toph…oh. Well no.
"Are you okay?" She asks me before entering her room "You seem a lot more pensative"
"I'm okay, it has to do with Tara" I say ignoring my own feelings. We enter and see that her room is not so lady like. The only thing organized is her papers, otherwise the room seems normal, not overly organized nor dirty. The mirror has a small table with a chair to sit in front of, I guess her brush is on one of the drawers.
I close the door as I let her get comfortable for to brush her hair. I see then, that she has set another chair behind hers, while her purple eyes look at me happily and one arm is up with her brush. I smile back at her and grab it, sitting behind and sectioning her hair to start brushing it.
"Well, what's the story behind the insomnia? Bad nightmares?" She asks relaxing, as I brush a section.
I chuckle. "More and less, it actually has to do with the day our mother…perished." Her face immediately dropped and I placed a hand on her shoulder, caressing her in comfort. "It's okay, I have coped with it" I lied so she didn't feel so bad.
"You can stop talking at anytime and I won't pressure you to tell me" She placed her hand above mine, squeezing it before sitting still again. I continue brushing her hair, as it distracts me too.
"Sure. Since that day…Tara couldn't sleep at all. Dad had left with all the troops to avenge everyone who was taken away and their deaths and I was the one in charge of taking care. I remember seeing her sitting at the dinner table alone, with a cold plate of food where mom would be sitting"
I stop talking as the scene unfolds in my eyes, I smile, how far we both have come. I grab another section of her hair and continue brushing.
"So, when I asked why she couldn't come to bed, to make my life easier of course" I hear Electra chuckle "She answers me she is waiting for mom. As useless as I felt, I remembered my mom used to brush her hair every night before braiding it, so in the morning her curls wouldn't be as harsh to untangle"
"So you ran to her room and brushed her hair in the kitchen?" She asks me, her eyes big of curiosity.
"Nope. I literally carried her against her will and sat her on the bed to brush her hair. At first she was mad, fuming, she was doing her best to slap me. Then… she started crying. I couldn't do anything for her, I was angry too. So I finished braiding her and laid down with her. After all, it was us against everyone."
I breath more slowly, finishing her hair. I begin to split the sections again to braid her as I would do Katara.
"And…everything felt good for a moment. Just laying there, hugging each other for comfort. Forgetting for seconds that at that point we were alone."
I notice mid braid that Electra didn't ask me for this, so I stop my story and gaze at her, who is looking a bit upset. I smile to try and cheer her up.
"Do you want me to keep braiding it? I forgot to ask" She smiles at me and nods slightly, I forgot how therapeutic was to me too, braiding hair.
"As I was saying, we made that a routine, every night after Katara made all the house chores, I would wait for her to do her night hair, as we grew we got our own beds, and as she turned twelve she didn't want me to do her hair anymore" With how slick her hair is, I do a knot to secure the finished braid.
Electra looks at herself and gives me a sad smile, turning her body to me.
"I'm sorry" I feel her fingers cleaning my face and I react to it, I didn't know I was crying.
"It's okay" She smiles and stands up with her arms outstretched, I follow too and hug her. "I'm glad I could tell you this"
"That's what friends are for" She says with a radiant smile. I copy her and notice her perfume isn't as annoying as it was the first time I was close to her. It felt familiar and welcomed.
"What a marvelous job I did!" She grabs her hair and laughs loudly. It is really pretty her laugh! It's almost as if she was a doll.
"Not as close as what I can do, but it'll manage for the night" She winks and I huff playfully. We stand close to each other for some minutes without saying anything, she is apparently looking at my chest and I can't' help but focus on her eyes. "Want to know my story too?" She finally speaks, her eyes meeting mine.
I sit in the chair again and cross my arms, my playful face now serious. She turns the chair around and sits too, to tell me her story.
"Mine is not…so sad. It is to me, but that's another point. I am the daughter of the great general Aput and powerful healer Anjij. Katara probably met my mom when you where in the northern tribe. The only sad thing is…I am not a waterbender, and I'm not a man. I am a bargain for my city"
I grab both of her hands as I see she is shaking, she smiles at my touch and grips them for comfort.
"I was not enough. My mother tried many times to make me heal my dead pets, of course they wouldn't work. My father tried to make me a nun but I refused to give my freedom. So, at 8 years old I was left alone at my house, they didn't let me do anything outside, play with other girls and forbid talking to boys" She laughs, her breathing becoming a bit more hitched.
"You were imprisoned?" I ask enraged. She denies shaking her head.
"No. At night it was when I got out of the house, fishing, hunting. Until one day somebody had mistaken me and threw me and Ice dagger. The guy who hurt me wasn't a total jerk, his name was Silla."
Was? As if…
"He took me in and quickly healed me himself. It surprised me as men were forbidden to heal people. He was surprised to see me, the daughter of Aput, running around trying to hunt. I wouldn't back down until I learned how to fight. So he agreed to teach me everything I know in politics and I taught him some new tricks to hunt" She said smiling sadly.
"What happened? Is he…?"
"Dead? Yes. At times I hope I was born a bender so he would still be alive. I was eight and he was seventeen, as a young girl easily, I… I had a crush on him. When I turned fifteen and he was twenty four, he wanted to marry me. At first I was her prodigy but one thing leads to another, and spending so much time together…it was bound to happen. But of course, my father refused. So he killed him…and I took his place in the politics of the north"
My mouth dropped shocked, I was fuming. The gap was a bit creepy but… it was true. He was noble and wanted a fresh start for her. I saw her holding back her tears, with a straight face.
"When you and the Avatar came I was sent away to a political issue with the earth kingdom. They tried to use me as a…man companion. Of course I rejected it and came back home, only to see the war and that princess Yue was gone." She gulped, tears now falling from her face. "And that's basically it. I am now the pretty councilman, my looks used to deceive only"
She finished talking puffing her chest, similar as how I would do to intimidate people. All these little details are showing me that…she is really similar to me.
"You knew princess Yue?" I ask a bit rough, it is still a sensible topic for me to handle. Her eyes again were curious of what I had to say.
"Not personally, once I interacted with her. You could see she was sad but was loyal to her people. Did you?" She asks me, her hand slowly caressing my own. I gulp, unsure if she knows something. I decide to come clean.
"Yes, I did. We…we were close" I say evading her.
"Close as you were her lover?" She asks with a bit more spice, a smirk growing in her features. I blush, frowning.
"Yes, as in lovers. She died in my arms and turned into the moon" I spat, looking at her reaction. I hope is not as bad as Zuko was. She was shocked and confused.
"Sorry to hear that. Good thing you have Suki now" She replies smiling sheepishly.
And again I feel attacked by a simple statement. I was not ready to admit yet that I wasn't with her anymore.
"Yeah" I reply breaking contact, scratching my neck. She looked at me with doubt but didn't press the subject.
"Well Mr. Sokka. I do feel sleepy now. How can I show my gratitude to your service?" She speaks as if she was in a meeting and I smile, liking the versatility in her tone.
"You already have done enough, listening to me." I reply smiling, she struts to her bed and sits.
"Until tomorrow then, good night" She says getting under the covers again, trusting me fully as to lay down giving me her back. I stand up and go towards her door, already looking the inside, as I close the door, an uncontrollable feel of sadness creeps in my heart.
I cough, feeling my throat dry. I check the floor and see dark liquid again. I groan, not again please. One month far away from Suki and this is happening again? Maybe she wasn't the problem at all. I walk to my room and throw myself at bed, not caring to change clothes.
I hope you reply soon, Suki.
I wake up with the worst hangover I have had in a while, my back screaming for mercy as I feel cold. I notice I'm clotheless in the bathtub, the water already cold. A bottle of some air nation liquor on the floor and Toph was in the floor, sprawled around as if it was the bed.
I get out and curse, the little air that is in the room is not helping me at all. I change into my uniform and sit dizzily to put my make up on. Forgive me Kyoshi for being so childish, thank god nothing was spilled in the armor.
"Is it already morning?" Toph mumbled with her face down on the floor. I just mumbled back and she sat up, groaning. "We have nothing to do that is not talk, eat or drink! Can't we train?"
"we do train" I whisper, my head ache getting worse. "But you manage to always beat us fast, we have lasted a bit longer thought"
"Yeah, if longer to you is a 2 minute fight then yeah" She growls. "Thank god I don't see the sun in my eyes or I would be pissed"
I chuckle "Knowing you, you would be cursing everyone and their ancestors" I say finishing my lips. My face is looking a bit more skinny, as my cheekbones are more notorious than before, well, there goes trying to gain more weight.
I have to report to Zuko, do my rounds, train, eat and then report again to Zuko. It is a formality that didn't bother me before, until I decided to take a stupid dive. Most of the time in the day I;m a robot, as nothing really register if is not reporting to Zuko, hopeful to have something to talk with Aang or Toph and the reunion not be as awkward as it is already.
"Kay Toph, see you in a while to train" I say getting out of the room and closing it, already walking towards my reunion with Zuko. I knock softly first, as my ears are still ringing from the loud noises above. As I see no answer I knock harder, biting my tongue.
No answer. I open the door and gently step inside, my hand already gripping my shield and fan. The sun is already in the window and in his scar. Somebody couldn't get properly undressed to sleep it seems. I get close and check his pulse. I sigh, he is alive. I barely got far away as he opens his eyes and tries to punch me.
We both look at each other startled. He closes his eyes and groan, shying away from me.
"Morning" I reply putting back in my belt the fan. I cross my arms and turn around, waiting for him to dress.
"Good morning Suki" He says with an adorable sleepy voice. I smile a bit, remembering how Ty used to sneak around and see him changing and peak. We have been already on the water for 3 months and I don't know if it's alright to write something to Sokka. Is he already at the Northern tribe? How is he coping with his loss?
"You can turn around, I'm ready" He says in a good voice, which means he is probably whispering like I do. I turn around and see his armor is backwards. I roll my eyes and grin, getting close to fix it, he kept still as I fixed it.
"You have a mirror firelord, use it" I say stepping back. He smiled and welcomed me, a hand pointing towards the empty chair. I look at the table where several teacups are in place.
"Can we chat a bit Suki? As…friends. Yesterday with the drink we both…"
My eyes widen. What exactly did I do while drunk? It's the first time in my short life I don't remember what I did. His eyes got as big as they could and he blushed, rapidly denying what we both thought with all his body.
"No no no no! Nothing like that happened but…well…we both chatted like we used to" He said looking down. My insides turned around at the thought of messing around with him, he didn't deserve that.
"Sure, we don't have a lot to do" I said walking towards the table and sitting. He smiled and quickly cleaned the extra cups and put some water and flowers to make tea. We were in silence as the water was boiling, him having perfected the art of making tea, thanks to his uncle.
I couldn't help to think what we talked about yesterday, everything is blurry as I try to think harder. The cup in front of me makes me fix my eyes on Zuko, who is a bit nervous to talk as I am. I thank him and sip the cup, the warm water helps me relax.
"How did you sleep yesterday? Toph and you barely could stand on your own" He asks me while sipping his tea. I laugh.
"Honestly? No idea, I was in the bathtub this morning and Toph on the floor. I see you didn't change your clothes" I said sipping as he smiles.
"Yeah… I was a bit…in my mind. Thinking…"
I rise my eyebrow. "I hope this doesn't have to do with what we talked about" I try to ask but it comes out as a warming.
"That was the topic actually. Suki" He now is serious, his golden eyes piercing my own. "Why are you trying to push yourself away from me?"
I was lucky I wasn't drinking because I would have probably spat it out. The summer was in it's full power, the boat feeling really hot.
"Huh?" I stupidly said, feeling really warm in my face. His face was now sad.
"You…we both talked a bit outside. You said you could die happily in that very moment, as I asked you…you pushed me away and I held you as I was afraid you would go over the board"
Oh no. The pit in my stomach probably is me sensing I did something stupid.
"And then you said you have been feeling blue. That how could Sokka be so okay without writing and that you wanted to contact him but your honor wouldn't let you. Then your big gorgeous blue eyes implored me to…" He swallowed, blushing. He probably sees I'm blushing too.
"What did I say Zuko?" I swallow, feeling anxious.
"Kiss you. That way you could drown and imagine it was Sokka. Suki, I'm worried about you…just as you were when I couldn't sleep" He said kneeling by my side. His face was full of concern and his hand was close to touching mine.
And I let him do it. If that makes him feel okay, it's fine for me too.
"Don't push me away, please. I want to help you. My feelings…don't matter right now. Your health does" He said putting his face in my hand, breathing a bit heavily. He wanted to cry.
This was the first time in a long time he is close to crying. I brushed his hair absentminded, wondering why I'm making him sad.
He is my friend, I should be supporting him, I can't cause him more trouble than he already has.
"Hey, it's okay. I won't push you away. Promise" I shake him trying to make him look at me, his face is a bit puffy of crying. I clean his tears and help him stand up. "Are you sure you want to be with somebody like me?" I joked, he kisses my palm and I blush a bit.
"Of course, want to make a lonely hearts club?" He jokes back as I gently slap his arm.
"Deal. Now, I will make the rounds. See you at lunch!" I said getting out of the room, seeing his dopey smile as I exit. I quickly go up and see what is the reason everybody is running around wildly.
The sun hitting my eyes makes me remember my imprudence at drinking heavily that air nomad drink. I cover a bit before one of my girls screams at me to dodge. I do and run to where she is, hiding of this bird. Is it a bird?
"What is going on?" I whisper while she looks at me oddly.
"It's a hawk, but nobody is able to grab it and it keeps flying around and around" she said and it clicked.
"Hawky!" I said standing up and raising my arm. Of course! It came down and snuggled with his information in my arm. He looks pretty exhausted from the trip. I scratch his head and he chirps happily. I check the names of the letters and one is written to me. Interesting, I save it in my belt so I can read it after, reorganizing the other letters to Toph, Aang and Zuko.
Everybody resumes their duties as the show was over.
"Stay a bit with me and I'll give you some food before you leave" I say as I reunite my girls, ready for the general check up in the ship.
"Morning sisters! How are the news today?" I ask a bit more loudly of how I would like but they didn't drink anything so there is no case whispering.
"Everything is secure miss, ready for rotation" Karina says as it is her turn to rest. Lin looks a bit restless too and I don't think it is fair keeping her waiting.
"LAND!" The guy atop the mast screamed, making most of the tripulants run to see the lands of the Earth Kingdom, specifically Ba Sing Se. My girls looked for my permission and I let them, as they ran too.
"What's the commotion?" Aang asked by my side. "Is that Hawky?"
Right. I forgot he was still here. He chirped back at Aang, who happily patted him.
"Yes it is! Sokka sent several letters, here is yours" I handed his before he asked me about the one in my waist.
"Do you want me to send the other's too?" He offered
"Sure!" I replied and dismounted his little bag, giving it to Aang. He bowed and walked towards the rooms again. "I'll tell Zuko we are at the place"
"Thanks!" I said walking behind him to hide my letter. As he entered his room, I entered mine, glad that Toph wasn't here still. I opened my headdress box and placed my letter, safe for reading latter in the day.
"Let's go Hawky, I need to protect Zuko" I said to him, as I went out and waited for Zuko and Aang too.
"Let's make a Lonely hearts club!" No, Suki, not the time. Focus on keeping all of you safe the ride to the palace and upper ring. We still don't know if the Dai Lee are around and we all want to make it to Katara's wedding.
The door opens and I see Toph, Zuko and Aang get out, all of them more refreshed then in the morning.
"Let's go bombshell" Toph said as we both take the lead in escorting Aang and Zuko out, I chuckle as the crewmates start pulling in our bags to the coach.
I get in front of the Komodo rhino crew and wait for further instructions, Lin and Karina on the other ones. Hawky looks rather uncomfortable with me and the Komodo rhino.
"Go with Aang inside, I promise I'll hang out with you later" I said and patted him, he chirped and flew to the coach, where I only heard Toph scream at the unexpected hawk inside. I giggled, and saw finally Zuko boarding. I gave the signal and we finally moved forward to the train station.
"This can't be it"
I threw the scroll on the floor, trying to find a loophole, really, anything that helps me reform that outdated way of learning waterbending. If I open up the north, the south will follow soon with this truce and finally we would flourish.
I take a deep breath and exhale, focusing on what points I will bring forward in the meeting. We will shortly meet again and I haven't eaten or seen outside more then an hour. I pick up the scroll and place it again on the table and step outside my room, to talk to Sokka who I have really let alone in this trip.
The cold breeze brushing my face tells me we are now closer to our sister tribe. I search for Sokka until my eyes focus on him…spending time with Electra. Both are sitting on the stairs just chatting, laughing and groaning. Well, he didn't mind at all that I was absent because he has company, good.
I get closer to them so I can join them.
"Hey guys! How have you been doing on this trip?" I ask with a smile, Electra smiles at me before laughing at something that Sokka whispered.
"I've been doing great, the first week a bit rough because I was seasick. Your brother is a hero to me because he showed me how to get over it" she answers me with a spark in her eye.
A similar spark I noticed Suki had that day at the Serpent's Pass. I look at Sokka who is smirking at me.
"Oh, I'm glad you got over it. I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier in the trip"
"Don't worry! Your brother told me everything about you. Talk about proud" She tells me with a big smile. I look at Sokka slightly blushing and grin.
"Of course I had to! You never came out of that damn room" He says annoyed, standing up to give me his back. He huffs.
"Well, I'm here to fix this" I say sitting where he used to, Electra eyes both of us, waiting for the interaction to finish. Sokka instead decides to get to the other side of the ship, leaning at the border.
Electra then eyes me, her smile never fading. I look back at her and try to find a common ground with her.
"I'm not sure how to start talking if Sokka already told you everything" I said as she giggles, a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"No problem. Your brother is really a political mind in the making. Where did he got that skill? From your father?" she asks me, her curiosity showing. I laugh with a bittersweet feeling. Dad has been the representant but I remember seeing him practice with mom.
"He got it from my mom" I say touching my necklace, and just as fast removing mi hand from it. This is my necklace, not my mothers. Electra's gaze is still fixed on me and I continue talking "He actually looks a lot like mom"
She looks back at Sokka, who is now sparring with his sword and the crew. "Does he? I'm sorry for your loss"
"How did you…?" I ask and laugh immediately. Sokka, he did tell her about mom of course.
"Yes, Sokka" She answers me "Let's change the subject shall we?"
"I agree. Are you happy to be home?" I ask, knowing she has been some time in the fire nation.
"Yes I am. I miss my own bed and clothes. My perfume was also running low so the faster we are the more I can pour on me" She answers me playing with her hair. Her hair almost white and purple eyes remind me of someone, but I can't put my finger on it.
"You like perfume a lot? I should have gift you one I used when I was 10 years old. It was one of the few things exported from the earth kingdom" I said remembering the fruity perfume my dad found on a ghost ship.
"Interesting! We should have shopped when we stopped in the earth kingdom border, your brother showed me most of the bags and clothes but that's not my interested. The food thought, was delicious" She said describing with her hands the number of plates they both ate.
A whole course? Sokka sharing food? Interesting
"I'm glad my brother has been polite enough to distract you" I said as I see Sokka getting close to us.
"Tara I'm sorry, but I'll have to take Electra away from you" He says and I see a confused Electra stand up.
"Is there something wrong?" I ask, standing up with her too.
"Secret political matters, sister" He says walking down the cabin, Electra stretched her hand to shake mine and I obligued.
"It was nice having a chat with you Katara. I'm sure we will have more time to talk, I excuse myself" She tells me and struts after Sokka.
Did nobody told Sokka I am involved too as a council member? I roll my eyes and follow after them, ready to keep bodying that damn scroll where I haven't found a loophole.
I close the door and see the mess in the papers on the table, opting to tidy my room first and then continue to look for something. It's not something that will take me a long time to do, but it annoys me seeing more and more piles of paper hoard.
As I sit on my clean table, I acknowledge again my necklace, remembering I had a letter to write to Aang. I pull a clean scroll and opt to just write my frustrations out:
Hi Sweetie!
Thank goodness we have to hawks ready for our use, courtesy of Zuko. Sokka already used the first one without telling me if I needed to send something. I would lie if I tell you I have thought endlessly about us, but finding a new law where girls and boys can learn all the waterbending techniques is… frustrating! Darn it, I have spent the whole 2 months in my cabin trying to come up with an idea.
Now that I'm sitting down and focusing in other important matters: When will we set our wedding date? Which traditions will we follow to heart? I mean, you have already crafted your token, but as the reception…food…I know my brother will be a pain asking about the dishes we will serve.
Speaking of…Have you seen Suki acting weird? Sokka and Electra are now like brothers, talking, laughing and doing everything together. The need of Sokka to use Hawky and not tell me seems as a warming…Do you know if Suki and Sokka are keeping contact?
Send an answer as soon as possible, I miss your playful eyes and strong embrace.
With love, Katara.
I grab one of the hawks and order him to deliver this to the avatar exclusively, the bird nods and I scratch his head a bit before he flies. The afternoon and the twilight appearing before my own eyes give me a sense of nostalgia. Back at home it was something I loved doing, just staring a the sunset and the magic the twilight bringed.
I sigh and walk back at my cabin, my head clear to keep searching for a loophole that I realize I might not find. I shift my priorities..Do I want to create a new law or do I want the children to have equal opportunities?
I open the scroll again and read.
Read.
I gasp. Here is it! Here is my key to a better future
"Waterbending is an personal art which women or men form our tribe might develop as they grow older. As instructed by the elder, as soon as this art is revealed they will trial the child to see their potential as a healer or fighter and then be sent to practice until they master it…THIS IS IT!"
I jump from the table and spin around in my bed, happy tears in my eyes to finally find a loophole…This is it Katara, for a better future.
Hello Councilman Sokka
Your letter has arrived to me, as you requested. Poor Hawky was being chased by everybody on board, it didn't help that your letter arrived when I was a bit hangover from the night before. At Katara and Aang's wedding you'll see what I'm talking about.
Ba Sing Se has been pretty chill, no attacks yet on us by the Dai Lee or oppositors.
In all honesty, I don't think our treatment is working…or maybe it's just me. My sympthons fluctuate a lot, one day I was doing some not so sober things and I realized I succumbed a lot to this type of addictions to forget about us for some hours. Not that it worked, but it was a cycle I broke thankfully.
Toph stayed with me most of the trip on board, now on the upper ring state we all have our own rooms. It is weird sleeping in these luxury sheets and beds, in contrast to how I used to sleep in my house at Kyoshi. When we reunite I can show you around the island, even share you some clothes so we match our blues, as you requested. (so yes, I accept dressing without armor for one night, and one night only!) I'm sure by the time we are together you'll invent something so you can hold that sight for the rest of your life, because I don't think it will happen that often and I refuse to do a portait.
Signed by Suki of Kyoshi Island
"Remember good boy, only to Sokka" I said kissing Hawky's head, he only chirped in response. I opened the window and saw him fly away to where he must be arriving now. My eyes keep looking at how bright the day is here in this part of the city.
Back a the lower ring I doubt they even think about a sight as beautiful as this part. I sigh, I guarded people so they could enter this city, where there was peace and protection. How stupid of me to let them down when Azula used our armor, but even more stupid of me to think they would be safe finally.
"Suki are you ready or your lipstick is still drying? We have meetings!" Toph yelled opening my door, I breathed hard. It doesn't look good fights inside the firelord's protection team.
"Let's go" I said getting close to her and grabbing her hand. She still blushes and frowns when people do that and I love it. Aang is already waiting for us at the door with Appa, smirking at seeing how Toph was annoyed.
He got in first so I could send Toph to him and I followed, sitting close so she could grab onto me.
"Yip Yip!"
The ride was less than 5 minutes, guards and people of service already waiting for us to arrive, food for Appa nearby and another division with Zuko. As we descend, Zuko's face lights up as we reunite for the longest meeting we would have in a while.
We are still taking about fire nation colonies, reformation of the laws of discrimination and what to do with the orphan children of the earth nation. Orphan like me.
All councilman sat on the table and I stood next to Zuko and Toph. Both of us ready to attack at any and all of the people who might even think about it.
"Let's start with the anti discrimination law shall we?" Zuko said sitting down at the same time the Earth King did. They talked and talked and my mind just decided to drift somewhere…or to someone.
I've never been into one of the water tribes, only reading and listening to what older folk said. It was cold and the nights had spectacle's of lights in the sky. I remember once Sokka told me about them, he said he could see my eyes in them.
"Now Suki of Kyoshi Island will talk about the fire nation colony project we had in store" I heard Aang said and give me the word, all eyes on me.
"Thank you, Avatar Aang. As you know, mixing large group of people results in disasters, as the cultures clash and the fear of the fire nation propaganda is still strong in some of the most remote places" I said scanning the room, my face as still as a brick.
"We do know that, what do you plan to change that won't affect our traditions and culture in Ba sing Se?" A grey man asked me, his eyes narrowing at the disbelief.
"You see, with this new project, we won't relocate the already established fire nation people but we will regulate the capacity the whole city has"
"What do you mean? How will that help us?" King Kuei asks me, his face confused.
"We can use our knowledge to our advantage. All this years at war have made the great Ba Sing Se fall into a pit of overpopulation, a mix of refugees from the fire nation and the earth kingdom. As we learn how many people are actually in the city, we can focus on reeducating and making more opportunities to grow as a city and as cultures, museums dedicated to all nations to showcase the beauty of the city of Ba Sing Se: Where there is no war, where all nations can talk and drink as a whole" I finish my speech, scanning the reaction of the councilman.
Aang was beyond proud, as his smile showed. Toph was smirking like crazy, probably reading how nervous the people in power where about this project. King Kuei stood up and reached for the scroll
"I think it's a perfect idea, we only need to do it gradually so people don't feel it's too soon or too much" Zuko said backing me up as the King kept reading the scroll. He finally placed it down and nodded in denial.
"I'm sorry Suki, I know you meant good for our kingdom, but I don't think it's a realistic approach to the problems in race here in Ba Sing Se. But…It has given me another idea. Tomorrow I will have if shown here as a draft and wait till the councilman of the South and North come back to talk about it"
I nodded feeling unsatisfied. I knew this wasn't something that couldn't be done in a few weeks or even months, but Ba Sing Se is really a shithole. Something needs to be done so most of the citizens can leave, at least for a while, in peace.
They continued talking about the orphans of the war, something a bit close to home to listen if I'm being honest. I wondered back to where Sokka would be… in the Northern tribe.
I wonder if in the North the skies had their own fireworks show, he never talked about his time over there. Is it colder than in the South? I don't think I would move as freely as I do in the fire nation, so living there with him will cost me a lot of time to get used to.
Live? With Sokka? Calm Suki, you are supposed to be healing from all this mess. But it is not working, drinking doesn't help me at all.
"Dunderhead, we are done, move along" I heard Toph whisper as I fell back on our triangle. I blink a few times before I notice we are walking by Zuko's sides down the main hall. Zuko and Toph are talking but my ears are on mute.
"I'm sorry, I need some air" I said excusing myself from them, Aang followed behind me, escorting me.
"Are you alright? Want me to take you to our home?" He asked me. I nodded and he grabbed my by the waist, opening his glider.
"Are you sure it will hold both of us?" I asked curious as to not fall to our deaths.
"Yep, it's a short flight. Teo's dad has made it to resist more weight as I'm still developing" He said and I nodded, hugging him.
In a blink we were back at the upper ring.
"I will send some healers to check you alright?" He asked me, and I denied.
"I just need some sleep, I have had some restless nights"
He nodded and flew back to the palace. I sighted and immediately changed into civilian clothes. Ragged, old civilian clothes from Kyoshi Island. Not blue, but a musty old green. I packed a bag full of coins and slipped out of the house from the backdoor.
The way back to the lower ring is easier than I have thought.
People saw me and didn't think much of it. My disguise worked. The crowds moved fast and rudely, bumping, crushing and at times, yanking me from my path. I tried to be move as far away from them and it was like swimming on a strong current. I saw a homeless guy and by his aspect, I probably knew the reason.
"Sir, can you help me search for something?" I asked, flipping a coin. He stood immediately and bowed. "The silk road, where is it?"
He indicated me the path and I gave him other coin so I could walk alone. The road was very in your face after the codes were given to you to wander freely. No wonder, overpopulation tends to make this situations easier to flourish.
"What does a upper ring snob want at our place?" The bulky man stopped me, eyeing me up and down.
"Jennamite, the strongest one" I said, pouring more coins into his hands. He shrugged and went inside, giving me a small bag.
"Get lost, snob" He replied crossing his arms.
It feels wrong. I have never tried this before and I never thought of doing it. But my mind has not been able to erase him at all. Maybe this is one of the traps to addiction…Erasing those beautiful memories that keep hurting us.
The ride back at the upper ring felt again, as if the world was in silence. I could hear my breathing loud and clear, until a tap on my leg pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Miss, I don't know what you are going through, or why are you here. We all have our bad days, take this so you can take all that dark mist from you" The boy said giving me a small pouch of coins, quickly running to sit on the bench across me.
I blinked, what mist? That mist?! My eyes grew and the boy smiled, I bowed to him and averted my gaze from him till this ride got me home.
Lucky for me, coming home was always coming to an empty house and today it wasn't the exception. Everybody was on duty of what they were supposed to do and I feel ashamed my own well being is interfering with this mission. This is not who I am.
But I can't help it, and for once, I'll let myself spiral down until I need to get up and fight again. Being on guard all of my short life hasn't been a good thing to do…it was noble at first, but war does make you go a bit bananas.
I go towards my room and pull out the bag, the crystal is shinning in the darkness of the room. I wonder when did they decide it was a good thing to put yourself high with it? I take a deep breath, just once.
I'll do this once and then I'll just live again. I pick up the crystal and munch it, nothing out of the ordinary, at all. It is sweet, even. I opt to finish the bag. I lay down on the floor and close my eyes a bit, if anything this is making me sleepy.
"Suki wake up! Suki, Suks" I open my eyes and see Sokka moving my shoulders. I sit and pull away from him.
"What are you doing here?" I ask amazed, was I dreaming all along?
"What do you mean? We have been living here, look around, it's cold and you are only in your pants and shirt, let me get you a parka.
I look around and see the walls of my room in ba sing se. Am…My brain is shortcutting, I in awe.
"Suki?" I turn around again and see my father standing at the door, disappointed.
"Dadda?" I said running to him. It's been a long time since I saw him