Miss Turtle Duck

Last Y/N knew, they were defending the Northern Air Temple. Now, however, the ceiling was a blur of colours and shapes as their limp body was rushed along on a stretcher. Everything felt light, like they were soaring through the temple corridor. Their head echoed with the dulled explosions of artillery against the temple walls. A seeping feeling plagued their senses as images played in front of them interrupted by flashes of black, vision turned into scenes until the curtains closed and the darkness set in.

Ears ringing and eyes creeping open, the pain emerged in searing fashion. The screech from their lips was not pretty, the agonised wailing almost animalistic, so intense that Y/N fell to unconsciousness once more. In those few moments of wakefulness, the silhouette of someone at the archway of the room they were laid in, fighting off what looked to be Fire Nation soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. 

The next bout of consciousness, Y/N found themselves in a third room. There was an awful, aching pain below her torso, but otherwise there was substantial peace. The room was quiet and the stench of rotten eggs that had lingered in the air had all but dissipated. On their stomach was the weight of a head: Sokka.

Drooling on their bedsheets, he twitched lightly in his sleep, brows furrowing as he muttered inane words. Threading their hand through his hair fallen loose from his hair tie, the sleepy words subsided into contented humming. He looked peaceful in the awkward position he was laid in, sitting in a chair with his body folded in half with his top half of his body sprawled across their torso. Sokka was warm, comfortably so. It was a kind of cosy heat that spread through Y/N’s body, prickling their arms with goosebumps.

“Y/N?” Sokka’s voice was entrenched in sleep, muffled by his face against the sheet. 

Moving their hand from his hair, he grumbled before shooting up. His eyes were wide and lower jaw slackened. 

“Hey, Sokka,” They said weakly, head spinning with the effort of speech.

“Ah!” He exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? Can I get you anything before the mechanist does his thing?”

They scrunched their eyebrows. “His thing?”

Y/N had never seen such sadness in someone’s eyes. He wouldn’t meet their eyes no matter how earnestly they stared. A pang of pain interrupted their attempt to get information out of Sokka, Y/N clutching their right calf - or what should have been. 

Feeling your heart drop is a distinct, despairing sort of desolation, an all-consuming and instant black hole that festers in the pit of your stomach. Y/N felt their heart drop in that moment as they went to clutch their leg only to hit their bedroll. The leg that was supposed to be there, attached to their body, was not. It was a unique kind of anguish that they were feeling, one that tore and ripped at their chest as it rose and fell in quick succession. With shallow, rapid breaths, Y/N met Sokka’s gaze with teary eyes.

“What happened?” Y/N said, sound coming out in a ragged breath.

“The Fire Nation forces attacked the temple, and we fought back.” Sokka was quieter and more sincere than Y/N had ever heard him. “We were holding back most of them until we were hit hard and…”

“And?” They urged.

Sokka sighed. “The temple was hit badly, and there was some falling debris. You pushed me out of the way.”

The two teens sat in a shell shocked silence. Wiping their face, Y/N’s sleeves were wet with silent tears. Swallowing a sob, they inched a hand closer to Sokka’s, brushing their pinkie against his.

“I’d do it again.”

Face scrunching up with his own tears, Sokka clasped Y/N’s hand. “And if you did, I’d protect you all over again.”

A few images flashed through their mind; an individual in the archway taking down three Fire Nation soldiers with a boomerang in hand. How long had Sokka fought against these soldiers to get a bleeding out Y/N to safety? He had risked himself - his life - for them, but they did the same for him. It was unprecedented, Y/N never believing before this that they would ever risk themselves like that for anyone - and yet.

Bringing his hand up to their cheek, Y/N turned slightly, grazing the inside of his palm with the ghost of a kiss. They crumpled into one another in a desperate, clinging embrace, the shock still stunning them to the core. Y/N had been helpless in that moment, so vulnerable they could have died, but they had Sokka to protect them, to return the favour they granted to him. Feeling his head buried deep in the crook of their neck, the sensation of his scrunched eyebrows and teary eyes vivid, they could only feel at peace for a moment putting aside the guilt and pain. 

“I’ve got you, Y/N,” Sokka mumbled into their neck, “But don’t you worry me like that again.”

It had started at the beach house. Before Ozai was thrown to rot in a jail cell, she couldn’t let herself sleep. Something about staying right under the enemy’s nose made her skin crawl, let alone in one of the beds once occupied by them. The nightmares were horrendous that first night, leaving her to wake in a cold sweat, stifling a scream for everyone else’s sake. Her chest had tightened, throat constricting as if she were being crushed by a python. Y/N’s head went light, and her breathing shallow. Spirits, what was happening?

She needed to get out of there. The white sand under her bare feet grounded her, the salt-scented air opening up her airways. Even Momo, who snuffled from under the duvet to follow her out, licked the tears off of her cheeks, staring at her with those massive, inquisitive eyes. Giggling, Y/N scratched his head, focusing on his purrs.

A solution came to mind; she would stay awake whilst her friends slept. If she was awake, she could prevent them being ambushed, ensure their survival and victory. So, every night, Y/N and Momo sat on the stairs to the beach house, weapons in hand. Under a blanket of starlight, illuminated by Yue’s gentle glow, she would stay until Zuko awoke where she would creep back to bed and catch an hour or two. The beach was lovely to sleep on too, Y/N convincing her friends she was just relaxed.

The oncoming battle was insane, but they made it.

Y/N came out mostly unscathed. Her only physical scars were the burns along her forearms, trophies from her glorious victories against Fire Nation soldiers. Everything was fine – great, even. However, when it came to staying within the walls of Zuko’s palace, other scars came to light.

“Y/N?”

She looked up from her seat on Zuko’s doorstep, eyes glazed over and not quite focused. Taking a moment, the blue in her vision and the low, concerned voice was all she needed to work out who it was.

“Hey, Sokka.” Y/N quirked a smile, resting her cheek against the heel of her hand. “What’re you doing up?”

“I could ask the same of you,” He said, raising an eyebrow.

Patting the floor next to her, Y/N welcomed him to join her. As soon as Sokka was sat by her, her head tilted until it rested on his shoulder, her body relaxing in a sigh that took with it all of her energy. Frowning, he wrapped an arm around her, chin atop her head until they were practically tangle.

Sokka was warm, warm enough to sooth her into something close to sleep. Beneath closing, fluttering lashes, Y/N watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, moving past his still broadening shoulders to look at the gardens. It was later than she had thought as she looked at the turtle ducklings snuggled up with each other on the grass, their mother close by. The way the turtle duck stayed only inches from its children, half-awake and protective.

Y/N shot up. “I can’t fall asleep.”

“What do you mean?” Sokka yawned, nuzzling his head against her neck. “I could fall asleep right here.”

“No!” She shoved off of him, unsheathing her blade. “I can’t fall asleep, because if I do, Zuko’s in danger! The Kyoshi Warriors aren’t here yet, and I’m not risking his safety again!”

Sokka’s eyes widened as he rose slowly to his feet, hands out. “Okay, Y/N. We can stay here if you want, but you don’t need your sword out.”

Breathing hard, she absorbed the emotions on her friend’s face, realising the fear in it. Clattering to the floor, the sword slipped from Y/N’s hand as she began to tremble. As tears began to pour, Y/N couldn’t reach for the Ember Island sand, nor the open sky, and not even Momo. A crushing pressure pushed on her chest, leaving her gasping for breath that seemed stolen from her. Seeing how her hands shook, she looked at Sokka.

“I’m so tired, Sokka.”

Stepping towards her, he tested the waters, placing a hand on her shoulder. With no outwardly negative reaction to it, Sokka engulfed Y/N into a hug. Gripping his shirt into her hands, she shook out shallow breaths, trying to ground herself as she focused on the feelings around her. Sokka’s gentle hand threading through her hair was rhythmic, methodical even, and the shirt on his chest was soft in her grip.

As her breathing levelled, Sokka pulled away from their embrace, taking a gentle hand to cup her cheek. Brushing away stray tears with his thumb, he studied her face with such care. Y/N stifled a giggle.

“What?” He grinned at her. “You don’t laugh at my jokes, but you’ll laugh now?” Leaning into his hand, Y/N gave him a watery smile. “I’ve never seen you so careful with something that isn’t your boomerang.”

Sokka gasped, scandalised. “I am very careful, I’ll have you know.”

“I’ve seen you walk into a canal because you were too busy impressing a girl.”

“That was different,” He huffed, crossing his arms and leaving her cheek feeling suddenly cold. “I can be careful whilst impressing a girl.”

Y/N sniffed. “Oh, yeah? Prove it.”

His grin made her wonder whether she should have challenged Sokka, but it was too late as he hoisted her up into his arms, protests or weight be damned. Since his broken leg had healed, and he had more time to grow into his shoulders, he had only gotten stronger, and Y/N had only gotten more bashful about the fact it was harder to see him as just a friend.

The guards seemed unwavering at the sight, Y/N only catching a single smirk as she was carried away from Zuko’s quarters and towards the kitchens. Only when Sokka had decided the coast was clear did he finally put her down, placing her up on one of the countertops.

“What are we doing here?” Y/N asked, going to slide down to the floor.

Sokka’s hand stopped her, firm on her knee. “You haven’t been sleeping properly, so I’m gonna make us some tea!”

“You? Tea?”

“Yeah,” He said, hand still on her as he rummaged through shelves of dried herbs. “Iroh taught Zuko, who taught Katara, who ranted to me a lot about some medical nonsense, but I picked some stuff up.”

“Please don’t poison us,” She laughed, placing a daring hand over his.

He looked up at her, deadly serious. “No promises.”

Snorting a laugh, Y/N pushed down the clingy need to whine as he moved away from her, watching Sokka begin to heat tea. In the water, he strained some brown roots and dried purple flowers into the water. It didn’t look like poison, and it certainly didn’t smell like it. Nevertheless, she found some joy watching him focus on the tea, tongue stuck out to the side as he did.

After a few minutes, Sokka had served the tea in cups he had swiped from another cupboard. Tapping their cups together, they both took a sip.

“It’s certainly...” Y/N grasped for a word, “Memorable.”

“It’s not as good as Iroh’s, that’s for sure,” Sokka frowned, but still sipping at the tea.

“I like it,” She beamed, basking in the warmth of the herbal blend.

The smile on his face made her comment worthwhile. Tentative, he took a step towards her, placing his cup down at her side. “Do you feel better?”

“A little bit,” She said, looking down into the remains of her tea.

“I know you haven’t been sleeping properly for a while, but I didn’t know it was this bad.”

Y/N startled. “W-what do you mean?”

“Y/N, I’m not just a pretty face,” Sokka smirked, though it fell into concern near immediately. “Do you not remember ending up in your bed every time you fell asleep on the beach?”

Huh. She did remember that.

“I’d always assumed I had made my own way there and was too tired to remember.”

There was that hand again, soft against her cheek. “I’m not gonna leave my best girl to sleep on sand.”

“Oh.”

“Hey.” His voice brought her gaze to his eyes. “Can I kiss you?”

She nodded. His lips ghosted hers. The kiss tasted of bitter valerian root and was all the sweeter for it. She leaned into the warmth of his touch, feeling more content then than she had in months. Smiling against his lips, Y/N snaked her hand up the back of his head to untangle his hair from its wolf tail, running her fingers through it. Sokka only seemed more enthusiastic as he pulled her closer until she was flat against him on the very edge of the counter.

For a moment, he pulled away, and she couldn’t help the small whine that escaped her lips. “You need to sleep.”

“What?” She barked out a laugh. “You go from kissing me to saying I should go to sleep? I wasn’t that bad.”

“No! No, no, no,” Sokka said, panic overtaking his face. “I just worry about you, Y/N.”

Nuzzling into his neck, she grinned. “I could sleep right here.”

“Could we at least move to somewhere comfier?” He whined, wrapping his arms around her. “My room has a sofa I could take.”

Y/N looked at him. “And a double bed.”

With a low laugh, Sokka pecked a kiss on her nose. “Sure.”

By the age of sixteen, they had been crucial pai sho tiles in the gambit against the once Fire Lord Ozai. Returning home was odd for many reasons, but notably the reminders that they were still children really, or at least in the eyes of their families. It was Zuko who had suggested a gang trip – a joint life changing field trip – after the nations settled down from Ozai’s defeat.

The first to return home was Y/N. Her mother lived in Fire Fountain City. It was only a short journey away from the capital, and Hakoda had already travelled to see his children at the palace. Sure, she had joked about pushing off her mother’s insistent affection, but she definitely cried a little bit when she got to hug her mum, and even more when her brothers piled on too. Ever the monarchist, Zuko was welcomed into the house with open arms and plenty of celebration. Toph especially got on with her family, rough-housing with Y/N’s brothers like it was nothing.

Since Toph didn’t want to see her parents as of yet, the only family member left to visit was Sokka and Katara’s Gran Gran since Suki’s family were doing work in the Fire Nation anyway. It took some convincing for Toph to put on snow boots – “I’ll risk frostbite if it means seeing, Katara!” – but soon they were travelling all the way to the South Pole. It was on their stop at Kyoshi Island that Sokka had approached Y/N.

“I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend.”

Y/N barked out an incredulous laugh. “Tui and La, what?”

“Exactly what I said,” Sokka nodded, face solemn. “Katara wrote to Gran Gran a couple of times and mentioned Yue and Suki, but you know how that ended.”

“One turned into the moon and the other is a raging Sapphic in a relationship with Ty Lee.”

“Exactly!” He looked distressed, throwing his hands in the air. “And Gran Gran sent a letter back saying how excited she was to meet my girlfriend!”

Frowning in confusion, Y/N looked at him. “You could just tell her what happened.”

“But, Y/N, she was so excited!” He simpered the way a child would, and Y/N couldn’t help but laugh. “Obviously, we’re just friends, but would you do this?”

Ouch. Sure, they were ‘just friends’, but it hurt anyway. Maybe it was the terseness with how he said it, or the fact that since the war had ended all Y/N could think about is how pretty Sokka looked when he could finally relax. Whatever it was, it stung in her chest, panging with the intensity of heartburn. Heartburn seemed a fitting enough description regardless of its denotation.

So that was how she ended up fake dating Sokka, all for the sake of his ego and his gran gran’s happiness. As they travelled over the ocean on Appa’s back, he was as physically far from her as he could possibly be. Ouch, again. For a fake boyfriend, he was doing a crappy job at it. Staring daggers at the back of his head, Y/N sulked quite contently next to Zuko, who seemed to be comfortable with her mood – something about being friends with far grumpier girls. That had made her laugh.

Her laugh had made Sokka stare.

The sharpness to her gaze melted almost immediately when she saw the concern etched on his face. Instead, she beamed at him. Sokka grinned back, turning away to continue his conversation with Suki.

Y/N could feel Zuko’s gaze on her. “I swear to the spirits, Zuko, if you say that’s rough, buddy, I’ll chi block you.”

The crown prince was kind enough to stifle his laughter, though it seemed contagious. Her frown shifted into a small smile and she took to staring over the edge of Appa’s saddle at the canvas of blue beneath them. There was something tranquil about the polar water, the great water beasts breaching the waves only to dive back down into the impossible depths. Being from the Fire Nation, Y/N had never experienced such wonder in a single image – nor such freezing weather. Pulling furs over herself, she readied herself for what would happen on the ice.

Gran Gran looked to be the loveliest but scariest woman she would ever meet. The woman stood as the leader of the tribe; a gaggle of children stood behind her in uncertainty. However, as soon as Sokka hopped off Appa’s back, they were screaming and charging past her to tackle him to the ground. Her heart warmed as they hugged him and cried, shouting at him for leaving them without a warrior in the village.

“What are you seal pups on about?” He snorted, trying to avoid being winded by tiny elbows. “I trained you better than this.”

“That’s enough of that.”

At the woman’s words, the children picked themselves up, leaving Sokka in the snow. He didn’t last long though as he and Katara took their turn in charging. Embracing their grandmother with the tightest hug Y/N had ever seen, she left them to their moment, opting to instead help Toph down from their trusty steed.

“I hate this,” Toph muttered, holding both Zuko and Y/N’s arms in her own death grip.

“I know,” Y/N said softly, “But you’ll be able to take those boots off once we get inside one of the igloos.”

“And this must be Y/N.”

With wide eyes, she pried herself from Toph, trusting Zuko to make sure she didn’t cause any avalanches. Stepping to Sokka’s side, Y/N tried not to startle as he wrapped his arm around her hip. “Sokka, let me meet your grandmother before you steal me away!”

She felt smug satisfaction at how he flushed.

“Let me look at you, dear,” The matriarch ordered, though not unkindly. Presenting herself in the woman, she brushed off the scrutinous stare with a smile. “You’re very beautiful.”

“Thank you, erm- “

“Please,” She beamed, and all Y/N could see was the saccharine threat that Katara often fronted, “Call me Gran Gran.”

As the woman turned away, she swatted Sokka’s arm, meeting his gaze with a scowl. Stalking past him through the snow – which was harder than she had assumed – Y/N was followed by a curious flock of children tugging on her sleeves. Patient as a saint, she laughed with them, answering all of their burning questions.

Why is your hair like that? Why are your clothes red? Is that the same scary man who attacked our village? But he doesn’t look scary. Why is Sokka smiling at you?

Whipping her head around, Y/N met Sokka’s eyes. He was grinning like a dope, chin rested on his palm as Katara talked Gran Gran’s ear off. Somehow, he hadn’t realised that she had caught him staring, but the children soon fixed that; a snowball to the face promptly brought him out of his stupor. Had he hit his head on the way down from Appa? Whatever it was, it made her heart hurt and she had promised Toph a warm igloo anyway.

The sun was beginning to set behind the glaciated mountains on the horizon, illuminating the village in the evening light, dappling the ice with sunspots. She had never seen something so beautiful before, but as the sun disappeared, so did the warmth; the igloo more than made up for it.

As she sat with Zuko, Suki, and Toph – Sokka and Katara obviously busy whilst Aang promised the children some airbending games – Y/N grumbled to herself. Not only was she playing fake girlfriend, but fake girlfriend who was hated by the family. Well, it probably wasn’t hate. She wouldn’t blame Gran Gran for being protective over one of her two grandchildren. In fact, thinking of how her brothers reacted to Sokka, maybe she had it good.

Laid flat on her back, she listened to the gossip of the Fire Nation, of how Ty Lee was doing, and how Toph was seeing some weird stuff under the ice. Whatever it was, it couldn’t spike her interest enough to join in the conversation.

“Y/N?”She barely turned her head to see an anxious looking Sokka in the doorway. 

“Yes?”

He looked around the room at all the faces and fidgeted. “About earlier- “

“Listen, I don’t care, okay, Sokka?” She said, trying her hardest to not seem entirely mean, nor upset; Toph scoffed, muttering something that sounded like liar.

“Just,” He sighed, “Can we talk outside?”

Pulling furs back over herself, she looked pleadingly at her friends to rescue her, but to no avail. Trudging after Sokka, she was growing more and more vexed as they moved further from the village and into the cold. The moon began to rise in the sky, glossing the ice with an ethereal glow, which was perhaps the only nice part about being out in the bitter cold.

“What, Sokka?” Y/N finally huffed, putting her foot down. “Am I not being a convincing enough girlfriend for you?”

“It’s not that Y/N,” Sokka started, waving his hands in a panicked motion as if warning off a polar dog.

“Then what?” She interrupted, not having any of it. “Did you want me to hold your hand? Maybe give you a cuddle?”

He flinched at the venom in her tone. “No, Y/N, if you’d just- “

“Just what?” Y/N snapped. “What you asked of me what really inconsiderate, 

Sokka, but I did it anyway because I'm your friend – just your friend.”

“Spirits, Y/N,” He sighed, realisation passing behind his eyes.

“But it’s fine! I’m a great actress, Sokka, because I wouldn’t be acting. See? I can hold your hand, hug you, even kiss you if you needed it, but it hurts me.”

Looking down at the ice, Sokka kicked some snow under his boot, looking very ashamed of himself for a second. It pierced through her anger in a way that was unfair. Instead of dealing a final blow, all she could think to do was grab his hand and comfort him. Yes, she still felt she was in the right, but Y/N didn’t want one of her closest friends to suffer at her hand, retribution or no.

“Gran Gran shouted at me, y’know,” Sokka said, a small smile quirking at his lips as his eyes fell on his hand in hers.

Y/N frowned. “Why?”

“For thinking she was a ‘dumb old lady’ apparently,” He chuckled, meeting her eyes. “It seemed Aang had let slip that we weren’t actually dating, so she told me off for that.”

“You deserved that,” She grin, bumping his shoulder.

“And then she called me dumb, which I didn’t appreciate.”

His smile said otherwise, so Y/N pushed. “What did you do now?”

“Try to fake something I actually wanted.”

Shocked, Y/N dropped his hand, and for a moment his heart fell heavy in his chest. This was the perfect chance to be with her, he thought, now that the war was over and she knew her family was safe. Now they had autonomy, surely they could focus on each other.

“Y/N, I’m so- “

His apology was cut off by an insistent pair of lips, begging him to be quiet and just enjoy their moment. Deepening the kiss, she looped her arms around the back of his neck, the scruff of his unshaven hair brushing against her arms. His heart was soaring, hers no longer burning but glowing. She pulled back and reaching up to his face, Y/N felt the warmth of his cheek in the bitter cold, radiating warmer than the sun. Whatever light had been taken by the night was captured in them.

“Gran Gran likes you by the way,” Sokka said quietly, leaning his forehead against hers. “Says you wrangle those kids better than I do.”

“Praise Agni,” Y/N gasped, letting out a bated breath she hadn’t realised was stuck. “She does the same scary face Katara does.”

Sokka chucked, rubbing his nose against hers. “Don’t you worry, Y/N. Me and Dad are just as scared by it.”

Something was blocking her memories of entering the Kingdom, and she was less than pleased. In fact, sneaking past the Dai Li and out of the upper ring was far easier than she could have ever hoped for. It seemed the Avatar and friends had caused quite the stir by barging their way into a prestigious social event, and they were likely playing a glorified clean-up crew. A bitter scoff escaped her lips as Y/N sprinted in the shadows cast along the street until she was at the first ring.

Panting, she braced herself for a moment. Things had really changed. Yes, the upper ring was always the nicest, richest part of the city, but the military trims of the hedges and the shine of the metal fencing reeked of facade. Even with most occupied with Bosco’s party, hardly a lantern was lit beyond those necessary.

She centred herself. Inhaling a deep breath, Y/N moved her energy into a flow of power. There was only one way for a firebender to get through that wall unseen, and it would be risky. With a final look on the bourgeoisie, Y/N pushed. Flames flickering a hot yellow at her hands and feet propelled her straight up like a firework ready to explode. The wind was merciless as it bit at her face in her haste, the cold nipping at her. Stumbling out of her flying, she toppled onto the walls top and took another quick moment.

The distance to the lower rings was far.

It had hit her whilst fleeing the palace that she had not seen a glimpse of her mother. There was no evidence of her existence, and piecing together the clues of a too-quaint suburb, secret police, and missing royal, Y/N figured she was only following in her mother’s footsteps.

Thousands of displaced refugees were living rough in the slums of the lower rings, and it was the perfect place to disappear. As the moon peeked through the thick smog of clouds choking the night sky, she felt some solace under its glow. It was no sun, the source of her power, but it reflected the same energy. It was not power, but comfort. That comfort brought calm, and the calm brought careful planning.

To propel herself all the way over the middle ring would be exhausting. Yes, she had the cover of night and the menacing clouds brewing a storm above, but could she make it all the way? She weighed her other options; going on foot was risky since she would be isolated and thus exposed. The rail line was constantly manned, not by the Dai Li, but someone who wouldn’t take too kindly to a teenage girl running along them like a race track. Giving the moon one final look as it slipped behind the darkness, Y/N made her decision.

She jumped.

Her fire carried her into the clouds and forwards. Agni, it was cold up there. Fighting through it, knowing a single shiver, a disruption to her chi, could send her hurtling down to the ground. What could she do but concentrate on what awaited her?

Mother would be so proud of her, how far she had come alone. If she could only find her in the ocean of people below, it would be a miracle. Freedom from Long Feng would be a reward in itself if finding her family wasn’t in the cards for her. How long had she played the puppet to his mind tricks? It left her stomach churning as she pushed that thought away. And Sokka.

Oh, Sokka.

Her fire faltered for a second, Y/N’s face falling into a panicked grimace as she forced for energy into her flight.

Somehow that boy had rescued her from the palace. It was strange to be true, but Y/N had felt almost submerged in the darkness of her own mind when he pulled her out. Seeing him in that ballroom was exhilarating, terrifying, and one of the best moments of her life. Spirits, she had missed him. Suki’s words swam through her head as she thought of him - go get our idiot; he’ll need you – and somehow, she had been right and wrong at the same time.

There was no doubt that Sokka would need her. Heck, the entire group probably suffered a little without her presence. However, thinking of his stubbornness and ability to walk head first into danger when sparse of a gentle guiding voice made her laugh. Moreover, there was something entirely else that Suki hadn’t gone over.

Y/N needed Sokka too.

Who would have known what would have become of her if it wasn’t for Sokka’s stubbornness saving her from Long Feng?

It seemed as though he’d rescued her again as Y/N saw the dividing wall between citizens and refugees coming up. Her body screamed, aching and grinding against her will, but they were so close now. Just thinking of him, anchoring her thoughts onto him, had pushed her through the pain of flight.

Lowering into the slums, her fire dwindling by the second, she fell into an empty street. The first thing she noticed was the smell. Now Y/N wasn’t one to judge, especially considering her privilege, but it was pungent in the cramped streets of the lower ring. Seeing how people lived here compared to what she had just witnessed was a startling and upsetting reality. It was made even more apparent by the silks she was still wearing melting into the environment with mud seeping into the hems.

“Your Highness?”

Y/N tensed. Following the voice, she saw a door open only slightly, a girl about her age peering through the crack.

“Please,” She whispered, beckoning her inside. “Come inside before you catch your death.”

Seeing no other option, mostly because she hadn’t thought that far ahead, Y/N bundled up her decadent robes and darted through the door. She embraced the warmth immediately, falling to the ground as her legs finally gave way.

“Princess!”

Y/N looked at the girl once more, smiling at the concern behind her hazel eyes. “Please, call me Y/N.”

“I am Yin,” She said graciously, bowing low and making her flush. “My family is upstairs in the sleeping room, but I thought I heard something outside, and it was our own princess! The Kingdom has been nought without you, despite how popular our King, your cousin, is.”

“You’re too kind, Yin,” Y/N said, a weak grin playing at her lips.

“Anything for one of our monarchs!” Yin exclaimed, albeit quietly.

“I owe you a debt of gratitude for this,” She said, moving to stand. “For your help tonight, I am in your debt, but may I ask one more favour?”

Yin nodded. “Anything.”

“Could I use some clothes? You may keep the silks, sell them if you want, but I cannot be spotted whilst I’m here.”

As if becoming some force of nature, the girl whirled upstairs in a matter of moments, flurrying downstairs once more with an abundance of blankets as well as a change of clothes. Setting up her bed in the dining space by the kitchen – the house seemingly was made of only three rooms, the entire downstairs being open – Y/N did not recall ever falling to sleep, nor changing into her disguise.

Waking up in the morning to a freshly slice moon peach and the attention of an entire family was overwhelming to say the least. They seemed to dote on her despite her insistence that they owed her nothing. Jin was especially enjoying her presence, not only because she was royalty but because of the praise her family was pushing onto her for rescuing the poor princess from the streets of the slums. How did she ever end up there?

Further insistence was taken in the form of sending Yin and Y/N to the finest tea shop in the lower ring. In her new clothes, a pair of green cotton pants and a tunic, she felt comfortable in the fact that it would be incredibly difficult to differentiate her from anyone else in a crowd.

Tea was a luxury too few and far between for the princess. On her travels, they had never really stopped to get the necessary ingredients, nor would it be practical to carry the kind of teapot that Y/N really enjoyed making tea with. If Momo ever got his paws on fine china, Y/N was sure every antique enthusiast in a mile radius would weep. She still infused herbs into the cooking she had done on their travels, well aware of their medicinal properties – though not the cactus kind.

The tea shop was quaint enough, as small as the house shared by Yin and her many family members. Steam tendrils tinted with jasmine, lavender, and vanilla filled the air, drowning all senses on first entrance inside. It was pleasant, though. Somehow, Y/N felt enlightened, calmed and joyous all in one breath.

Taking a seat by the window, she pondered her plans in detail. Firstly, she had to reunite with her friends, but she couldn’t give herself over to the Dai Li. For now, she would lay low, perhaps relying on Yin’s kindness until she could move on. If she couldn’t be with her friends, her mother was the next name on her list. She had to be in the city somewhere, but she was definitely not in the upper ring otherwise Long Feng would have advertised them as a matching domestic pair. If all those plans went wrong, perhaps Y/N should invest in a Pai Sho board.

“Hello, welcome to our little shop. What tea are you interested in today?”

Opening her mouth to speak, Y/N looked up. Her jaw slackened, and the waiter shifted under her gaze. If it weren’t the deadpan tone and the slight lisp that gave it away, it would be shaggy black hair that gave him away.

Zuko was here. Zuko was stood in front of her.

A little gasp escaped her as his scar finally registered in her mind. “Zuko, what did they do to you?”

He flinched, fingers ghosting over his face. “Do I know you?”

“Duckie,” She whispered, his childhood nickname flowing easily from her mouth. “Don’t you recognise your dearest cousin?”

“Agni, I have to get Uncle.”

In a flurry of movement, he was gone. Yin stared between her and the empty space he was occupied with morbid curiosity. “Princess, who was that?”

“That was my cousin, Yin,” She gasped, tears welling in her eyes, “And he just said my father is here. He’s here and alive. Oh, Yin, I didn’t know they would be here and- “

“Is that truly you?”

Her rambling was cut off by a soft, unmistakable voice. The entire shop had fallen into a quiet hush as her father stood, not in a general’s uniform but a tea maker’s, a wide smile across his warm face. It had been so many years since his last letter. She had fought against the logical thought that he had perished in battle, and she had been right. Y/N had prayed to the moon every night for his safe return to her, and he had.

Stifling a sob, she launched herself into her father’s arms, embracing him with a hug strong enough to make up for years without them. He was laughing, she realised, and crying too as his body rumbled with the force of his emotions. The clothes he wore didn’t smell of ash and soot, but jasmine tea and freshly lit incense.

“Father,” Y/N said, tears streaming down her face. “You’ve come home to me.”

He gripped her shoulders, looking over her once and counting the years he had been away. “Nothing could ever stop me, my little lotus.”

The tea shop watched on in shock and the purest joy as they reunited, tears brimming in some eyes across the room. Even Zuko, stood at the counter looking sheepish, seemed happier than he had when he hadn’t been recognised.

“Friends!” Iroh exclaimed, grinning with an expression so similar to hers. “Today family has been reunited! My daughter, Jia, has been returned to us! This is a time to celebrate, so, please, your tea is on the house.”

A fake name, of course, but nevertheless she was ecstatic. Even Yin was crying at the sight, dabbing her eyes with her cotton sleeves. All analyses and plans fell empty from her head as all Y/N could do was weep.

It took a moment for the gang to catch his line of sight and realise their friend was only a few metres away. Before they could run to her, before Sokka could even think of what he was going to say, Joo Dee was stood in front of them. Her toothy smile seemed strained.

“What are you doing here?” She asked, and yet it sounded more like a plea. 

“You have to leave immediately, or we will be in terrible trouble!”

Making a futile attempt to manoeuvre them to the exit, Sokka pushed against her, his expression twisted with something fierce. “I am not leaving now.”

“You don’t understand!” She hissed, grabbing Sokka’s forearm. “You must go.”

“No!” Sokka yanked his arm back, eyes flickering madly from Joo Dee to the girl across the room he was desperate to see.

In a moment, their scuffle caused a bigger scene; as Sokka reached for Y/N, he was sent flying back into Aang. The pitcher of water he was holding went flying over the head of an unpleasant looking socialite. Somehow Aang’s natural disposition for helping only got them into more trouble as he revealed his identity to the thralls of people. Exasperation rushed over him as easily as a tidal surge swallowed a shoreline whole.

“Aang!” Sokka whisper-shouted, the crowds too awe-struck to listen to the words of a busboy. “You keep their attention. I know how we’re getting to the king.”

Before he could be stopped by stupid questions – his sister loved questioning the idea man – Sokka was heading through that room faster than he thought possible. Pushing past different rich people he didn’t care to ever meet again, he only realised that he had no idea what he wanted to say once he was in front of Y/N and the honoured bear.

“Y/N!” He blurted out, putting his busboy tray on the table in front of a perturbed young man.

From beneath a pair of great, fuzzy arms a familiar face popped up. “Hello?” Yes, Yue was stunning, but she was ethereal even before she became an omniscient moon spirit. Suki in all of her brute force and earthly beauty, she was intimidating in a different sort of way. The thing he had realised soon after sending Y/N away was that he fell hard and fast. Seeing Y/N, neatly styled hair dishevelled by her sweet need to befriend every animal she comes across, eyes shining with kindness, a smile so wide on her face, made Sokka’s heart ache.

He was speechless as she wriggled out of the bear’s hold, still leaving a single hand on his massive paw – an odd sort of compromise. Spirits, she had a lovely smile. However, there was something wrong.

There was no gleam in her smile; it was empty.

“Are you enjoying the festivities?” She said, scratching the bear’s muzzle as if it were a dog.

“Yeah, but Y/N,” Sokka frowned, desperate, “Don’t you recognise me?”

Her smile faltered for a flicker of a moment. “Should I?”

What was happening here?

Sokka thought fast. “I’m, erm, travelling with the Avatar.”

“Oh, of course!” Y/N exclaimed, parting with the large animal at her side to step closer to him, hand outstretched. “I’m surprised you’ve heard of me, really. I’m hardly a princess here.”

“But how long have you been here?” He asked, the beginnings of an interrogation.

“Well, my mother sent me out travelling for a few years, so I could understand the people of the kingdom better,” She grinned, obviously remembering something fondly – what, he didn’t know. “I came home only a few days ago, actually!”

“We must have met when you were travelling then,” Sokka said, his voice calm and amicable, but his mind reeling with questions, possibilities, and heartache. 

“Remember? We met in Gaoling. Your mother sent you to live with the Beifongs.”

And then something passed behind her eyes that gave him hope.

“I don’t think I recall- “

“Yeah, and you were going to go home, but we kidnapped you! Well, not kidnapped you kidnapped you. It was a mutual kidnapping! And you saved me from a massive saber-tooth lion-moose!”

“I’m sorry, but I really- “

“And you saved me in the desert. I’d be dead if it weren’t for you. I seem to remember calling you princess before I knew you were a princess? Sorry about that, by the way. Or maybe I’m not? You didn’t react negatively.”

“Sokka- “

“I felt horrible after you left, and I knew it was all my fault, and I’m so sorry and- “

“Sokka.”

He looked at her for the first time since he started talking. Y/N looked terrified. Watching her eyes dart around the room frenzied like a cornered mink snake, ready to bite, Sokka reached for her. She accepted him readily. Wrapping her hand around his wrist, she shrank, her eyes no longer empty but instead full of fear.

“Sokka, where are we?” Y/N hissed, tugging him away from the table and bear, which seemed much sadder without her.

“You really don’t know?” He whispered, bringing a hand to her cheek. “Y/N, what happened? Where’s Suki and the others?”

Before she could say anything else, something yanked him away from her, and he watched her slip from his vision once more. Fighting against whatever had him by the scruff – it wasn’t a person, not exactly – was futile, but he fought nevertheless. As he tried to cry out to her, a hand wrapped around his mouth, muffling any speech. This went beyond weird; this place was dangerous.

Sokka had left the room of bright revelry to a more ominously lit one. Inside were all of his friends and a shady looking official, Long Feng. Stood in front of a hearth, the harsh planes of the man’s face were illuminated by green flame. He was tall, though seemingly non-threatening on first glance. However, as Sokka studied the man further, looked at the sneering curl to his smiles, the empty sentiments to his polite words. This man was a snake in the tall grass that was the socialites just outside the door.

“Why can’t we see the king?” Katara demanded, staring the man down. “We have information about the war.”

Long Feng smiled, the thin, neutral expression of a politician. “The Earth King has no time to get involved with political squabbles and the day-to-day minutia of military activities.”

“You don’t understand,” Aang said, more boyish than Sokka has seen him in the longest time. “This could be the most important thing he’s ever heard!”

“What’s most important to his royal majesty is maintaining the cultural heritage of Ba Sing Se,” He said, that irritatingly subtle smile still plastered across his face. “All his duties relate to issuing decrees on such matters. It’s my job to oversee the rest of the city’s resources, including the military.”

Toph scowled. “He’s your puppet!”

“Wait,” Sokka said, voice low, furious. “Are you the reason Y/N couldn’t remember me?”

The mask cracked. It was the slightest twitch in his emotionless façade, but through that shone through something far more sinister. He turned to stare at Sokka, silent and domineering.

“His Majesty is a god to his people, as is the princess,” He responded easily, his eyes hardened. “Perhaps Y/N wanted to forget you. I have no power over her mind.”

That, Sokka decided, was a fight he wouldn’t win today. “We’ve found out about a solar eclipse that will leave the Fire Nation defenseless. If Ba Sing Se could lead an invasion- “

Before he could continue, a Dai Li agent burst in the room. Without batting an eye, he walked past the group, ignoring their very presence as he went to Long Feng’s side. Low, conspiratorial whispering occurred between the pair before the agent swept away. Drama, apparently, was important in being a member of the secret fascist police in Ba Sing Se. The cracks in their masks, however, were growing still.

Something had happened.

“Until now, you’ve been treated as our honored guests,” Long Feng smiled, though the way his lip curled made it more of a snarl. “From now on, however, you will be watched every moment by Dai Li agents. It would be a shame if you weren’t able to complete your quest, or find your bison.”

Threat. That was what was lined behind every smile – every look. Even Joo Dee – or the multiple Joo Dees, considering they had just been given an obvious replacement – seemed threatening with her too wide smile and eyes. Toph was right about them coming to hate the city, but somehow this was even worse than her predictions.

Escorted out of the room, back through the great room, Sokka searched desperately for her. It was to no avail, however. The room was empty of Y/N. Whilst Aang focused on searching for Appa, Sokka knew who he was looking out for.

He was going to find her again.