Oof, so I think this is an odd chapter, but I felt it necessary to rhythm of story so here it.

Chapter 4: Nightfall

Sokka

We dragged Aang into one of the many rooms on the airship when he started swaying. Oddly enough, he didn't argue. He leaned heavily on Suki and let her lay him face down on a mattress. A shiver runs across my back, arms, and legs as I see the lightening scar of his back raw. Off to the side, the upper part of his back and just up to his shoulder, the skin is scorched. Tender and vibrant pink, the skin looks so fragile. His back is a mix of bruises and scrapes. Suki gazes back at me horrified.

"Toph, can you bring the box we found earlier with all the supplies?"

Toph raises a brow, but wisely makes no comment. I gaze down at Aang who now lays almost motionlessly on the bed. His eyes tiredly blinking every so often. Gently, Suki kneels on the floor. Softly, she asks, "Aang, does it hurt anywhere?"

"My back kind of burns."

Finally, his eyes close and he's fast asleep. That or he passed out. Toph finally returns with the kit. Suki thanks her and looks through it, "He's okay, but that burn looks like it should be hurting. The adrenaline and fatigue is probably why he's not feeling a lot of pain right now. It's probably going to leave a nasty scar too."

Back in the control room, I suddenly wish we had taken him somewhere closer. Is it okay for him to be alone now? I cross my arms and turn my gaze from the metal floor to Suki.

"You should get some sleep," she says from the wheel of the airship, "We have to switch in a few hours, you need sleep."

With any luck, we'll be in the Fire Nation by dawn. That is, assuming, we don't run out of fuel. As if reading my mind, Toph adds, "If this thing falls while you're asleep, I won't save either one of you"

I glare at her, "That's because you can't."

"My point exactly."

Suki blinks, "We just essentially won a war and you guys..."

We look at her...well, Toph just listens in her direction. It's Toph who laughs first. When our laughter fades, the smiles on our faces remain. It's crazy to think we almost died so many times today and now we're here. Alive. Happy.

"I won't lie," Suki starts now serious, "I trust Aang, but I wasn't sure he would actually...do it."

Toph frowns, "I wasn't sure either. A part of me was expecting him to find another way, but what other way could there be?"

The silence that follows is almost uncomfortable and I'm not entirely sure why. Or maybe, I just don't want to think about it. Toph begins to speak again, but instead spreads a hand on the floor.

"What-"

"Shhh!" She silences me.

Her face is scrunched in concentration. Suki focuses on flying, but the concern is clear as she softly asks, "What's wrong?"

I'll be first to mentally admit that I don't always think very hard about what comes out of my mouth and how, "Don't tell me! I knew it was too good to be true. The Firelord is alive and coming for us!"

Suki's eyes nearly pop out of her eye sockets. How she puts up with me, I'll never know. Toph evenly tells me, "No. It's Aang..."

"What's wrong with Aang?"

"He's still in his room," Toph sighs, "but do you think he's okay?"

My heart drops. For all her sass and unfazed attitude, she is awfully perceptive of emotions. Aang was against killing Ozai from the very beginning, so what happened? We left Ozai in the room next, on the floor, where Toph can keep an eye on him but there's no doubt he's dead. Aang did the right thing, what other option is there? It's not like he could make him not bend anymore. He saved the world. He has to know that.

"Why wouldn't he be?"

"You know why." She says firmly, "You don't honestly expect him to suddenly be okay with killing a real living man when he couldn't even kill a melon."

I frown, "Ozai's a bad guy. You know what he was trying to do today. He can hardly be considered human."

Toph groans frustrated. I turn to Suki as she speaks, "Does Aang feel the same though?"

I hope so.

The night sometimes comes soon, sometimes it creeps up on you; and sometimes it comes slow, then suddenly. Next chapter: We reunite and Aang...I have a lot of thoughts. Also, thank you so much for all your kind words! I would love to keep hearing from you guys so please feel free to keep leaving reviews!