- Third POV -
Sokka walks towards a small house surrounded by trees.
"I can't believe I got beat up by a bunch of girls" Grunts Sokka angrily to himself. Inside the house, six Kyoshi Warriors are training. They are performing a routing with a fan in perfect unison. Sokka peeks his head around the door to look at them. He smiles smugly and enters.
"Sorry ladies, didn't mean to interrupt your dance lesson. I was just looking for somewhere to get a little workout?" Suki and the Kyoshi warriors stop their exercise and close their fans. They stare at Sokka with a serious look on their face. Sokka starts stretching.
"Well, you're in the right place. Sorry about yesterday. I didn't know that you were friends with the Avatar" Says Suki while she looks at Sokka who continues to warm up.
"It's all right. I mean, normally I'd hold a grudge, but seeing as you guys are a bunch of girls, I'll make an exception" Says Sokka mockingly while he stretches his arms.
"I should hope so. A big strong man like you? We wouldn't stand a chance" Answers Suki sarcastically.
"True. But don't feel bad. After all, I'm the best warrior in my village" Replies Sokka smugly.
"Wow! Best warrior, huh? In your whole village? Maybe you'd be kind enough to give us a little demonstration" Says Suki as she continues using sarcasm withouth Sokka catching on to it. She glances back to the other warriors and then looks back at Sokka
"Oh, well...I mean, I-" Sokka his eyes widen upon hearing the unexpected request.
"Come on, girls! Wouldn't you like him to show us some moves?" Says Suki as she turns around to face the other warriors. The other female warriors giggle and smile in agreement.
"Well, if that's what you want, I'd be happy to. All right, you stand over there. Now, this may be a little tough, but try to block me" Answers Sokka as he places his hand on Suki's shoulder in order to push her back a little, but she does not move a bit. While he is talking, Sokka takes on a fighting stance while Suki has not moved a muscle from the position Sokka has put her in. Sokka bends through his knees and attacks the female warrior by trying to punch her. Suki does not move, but easily defends herself by bringing up her left arm and thrusting her closed fan against Sokka's shoulder. Sokka staggers backward.
"Aw! Heh, Good. Of course, I was going easy on you" Says Sokka while he rubs his hurt shoulder, impressed.
"Of course" Answers Suki confidently. Sokka is clearly annoyed and angered by Suki's arrogant facial expression.
"Let's see if you can, handle this!" Sokka starts with a mumble, raising his tone of voice with each word. He shouts as he attempts to hit Suki with a roundhouse kick. Suki quickly dodges under Sokka's outstretched leg and pushes him off balance. When the Water Tribe warrior lands flat on his back with a loud thud, Suki lazily opens her fans to wave herself some air. Sokka, a little shocked by his second failure, loses his temper at the sight of Suki's defiant posture.
"That does it!" Sokka's voice cracks out of anger. He gets up and madly charges her again. Suki quickly closes her fan and moves out of Sokka's way. She grabs him by the arm with her right hand, while she pushes against his shoulder with her left hand, quickly spinning him around. After two turns, she switches position and spins Sokka in the other direction. Sokka has a distressed look on his face as he is powerlessly being tossed around. Suki suddenly halts so Sokka topples forward. Before falling down, Suki loosens Sokka's belt and ties his left hand to his right food behind his back in a swift momevent. Sokka tries to mantain his balance for a while by jumping on one leg, but he loses his balance and smacks down flat on his face.
"Anything else you want to teach us?" Says Suki mockingly. Sokka blushes in humiliation as the Kyoshi Warriors laugh at him.
❀❀❀
Aang and his fangirls are standing before Kyoshi's statue.
"There she is, girls. Me in a past life" Says Aang as he looks up at Kyoshi's statue.
"Ooohhh!" Beam the fangirls.
"You were pretty!" Says one of the girls admiringly. Aang turns around to look at her with a wondering look upon his face. He looks at the rest of his fangirls trying to find someone.
"Excuse me for a second, ladies" Says Aang as he holds up a finger to draw their attention. The girls don't say anything, but their cheerful expression changes to one of disappointment. Not to far away Katara and Mizuki are filling a pot with groceries. Aang comes up from behind them, smiling, and gives Mizuki a gentle poke to get her attention. Mizuki turns around in surprise, but is happy to see that the poke came from Aang. Katara notices Aang's presence and smiles.
"Hey Aang!" Beams Mizuki.
"Oh, good! Can you help me carry this back to the room? It's a little heavy" Asks Katara as she moves the pot towards Aang.
"Actually, I can't right now" Says Aang as he holds up his hands to fob off with the offered pot. Mizuki raises a brow at him.
"What do you mean, you can't?" Asks Katara slightly irritated.
"I promised the girls I'd give them a ride on Appa. Why don't you two come with us? It'll be fun!" Answers Aang. Mizuki rolls her eyes at him and continues filling the pot with more vegetables.
"Watching you show off for a bunch of girls does not sound like fun" Responds Katara annoyed.
"Well, neither does carrying your basket" Says Aang slightly disappointed, Mizuki sighs.
"It's not Katara's basket. These supplies are for our trip. We have to leave Kyoshi soon" Replies Mizuki annoyed.
"I don't want to leave Kyoshi yet. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something I really like about this place" Says Aang he slightly glances at the fangirls.
"What's taking you so long, Aangy?!" Shouts a little girl who stomps her foot in annoyance and puts her hands on her hips. While another girl happily waves at Aang who waves back.
"Aangy?" Asks Katara slightly mocking.
"Just a second, Koko!" Shouts Aang enthusiastically, Mizuki stuck her tongue out in dismay.
"Simple monk, huh?" Says Katara sarcastically.
"Aang! I thought you promised us that this Avatar stuff wouldn't go to your head" Protests Mizuki while making gestures with her hands.
"It didn't. You know what I think Mizuki? You just don't want to come because you're jealous" Says Aang, Katara glares at Aang.
"Jealous?! Are you being serious right now? What could I even possibly be jealous of?" Snaps Mizuki.
"Jealous that we're having so much fun without you" Answers Aang, Mizuki clenches her fist angrily.
"That's ridiculous Aang!" Says Katara who's defending Mizuki.
"It is a little ridiculous, but I understand" Says Aang. Mizuki turns around, leaving Katara and Aang behind. Katara gives Aang a glare, grabs the heavy basket and staggers away. Aang's fangirls run towards him and pull him away.
❀❀❀
Sokka's standing outside of the Kyoshi Warriors training hut. He kicks away a rock before turning towards the dojo. Suki shows a movement that is copied by the eight other warriors behind her. Sokka walks in and the Kyoshi Warriors interrupt their training to face him.
"Uh...hey, Suki" Says Sokka timidly.
"Hoping for another dance lesson?" Asks Suki hostilely.
"No...I, well, let me explain" Stutters Sokka who doesn't know what to say.
"Spit it out! What do you want?" Interrogates Suki. Sokka humbly drops to his knees in front of her.
"I would be honored if you would teach me" He says while looking down at the ground.
"Even if I'm a girl?" Says Suki while crossing her arms.
"I'm sorry if I insulted you earlier. I was wrong" Replies Sokka as he averts his eyes.
"We normally don't teach outsiders, let alone boys" Suki looks down upon Sokka.
"Please make an exception. I won't let you down" Begs Sokka while raising his head to face Suki.
"All right. But you have to follow all of our traditions" Says Suki in a friendlier tone.
"Of course!" Responds Sokka eagerly.
"And I mean all of them" Says Suki smilingly.
<time skip, Sokka has changed clothing>
Sokka's standing in the dojo donned in the typical green dress of the Kyoshi Warriors and sporting the white face paint.
"Do I really have to wear this? It feels a little, girly" Says Sokka while looking down embarrassed at his wardrobe. He lowers his arms in defeat.
"It's a warrior's uniform, you should be proud. The silk threads symbolize the brave blood that flows through our veins. The gold insignia represents the honor of the warrior's heart" Informs Suki. Sokka looks more comfortable wearing 'a dress' until Aang passes by the front door looking in with interest while Sokka proudly looks at his clothes.
"Bravery and honor" He says proudly to himself.
"Hey Sokka! Nice dress!" Chuckles Aang as he smiles broadly at Sokka who winces upon hearing his name and slants his eyes and shoulders in embarrassment.
To be continued
Word count: 1514