Shout-out to... Jesus!
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Suki had her sandals placed next to her while she sat by the edge of the warm stream flowing through the city. Her dainty feet dipped into the warm water with the hems of her green kimono hiked up to her knees. She idly waved her legs within the water, her blank stare observing the ripples formed.
"Can I join you?" A meek request attracted her attention as Suki found Katara sitting next to her already. Similar to Suki, Katara lowered her warm hoody and hiked up the hems of her large coat. Her boots were placed next to Suki's sandals and her feet pushed into the water as a soft, refreshed mewl escaped Katara's lips.
"Tell me, why doesn't the warm water melt the ice itself?" Suki looked at Katara who shrugged, "I just found out that the water is warmed daily by the waterbenders. So, the other side of the city is quite literally chilling."
Despite Katara's poor attempts at humor, Suki couldn't help but issue a soft, nasal chuckle.
"You really try making up jokes, don't you?" Suki commented as Katara's smile turned wry.
"What did you expect. More than half my life, I've seen Sokka do the same and when he's not around me, I see Nik doing the same... although, what he said in that meeting took me by surprise."
"Yeah..." Suki's expression turned guilty for a second and Katara was quick to take a note of that.
"Ehm... if it's not too private, you can share things with me, you know. Like we did back in the ship. I know that these few days have been awkward for—"
"It's not that," Suki smiled, "And I don't want you thinking that I blame you or anything. At the very least... I enjoyed it but I also don't think it's normal so we'll deal with it later..."
Silence descended between the duo. Even if Katara felt a little relieved that Suki felt as such, she didn't show it on her face currently. The point of approaching Suki was to comfort her and not get comforted instead.
"Do you remember that day when Nik's eyes turned violet? That fog?" Suki inquired.
"How could I not?" Katara's expression turned sad for a moment. Forced to relive her most painful memories would manage to make a way in her heart in not so positive light. As if realizing something, Katara looked at Suki, and then with a bit of determination entering her eyes, Katara whispered, "I... talked about that with Nik when you were sleeping. And it helped me a lot so... I want you to talk about it. With anyone."
"I know," Suki shrugged.
"You know?" Katara gasped.
"Yeah, I was awake when you began to share... but then you started crying and it just became harder for me to wake up," Suki revealed as Katara's expression turned pale.
Sensing the obvious accusations building up within Katara, Suki answered most of them preemptively, "Hey, now that's not the worst thing I caught you doing, Miss Cum-a-lot! And to make the matters worse, you slept with Nik beside me!"
"Because you're a mean and slutty drunk!" Katara scoffed in return, her cheeks puffing up into a pout.
The subsequent silence only made the two women smile slightly after the accusations as they felt better about their situation.
"I say it was his fault," Suki concluded.
"Definitely." Katara nodded.
More than aware of how their dynamic had shifted just by these few words, Suki restrained her urge to just simply cut off the expected confession from her side and move on since she was beginning to feel good again but the proud Kyoshi Warrior knew that if she didn't address her own morals that were threatened to crumble under the first actual confrontation between two powers, she would feel like shit again and the vicious cycle would continue.
As much as Suki wanted to feel cared for, no amount of pleasure could substitute her desire to be a warrior— courageous and true to one's belief.
"That day... I saw a childhood friend of mine. Back in our village, many girls like me adored Kyoshi Warriors. Their uniformity, their sense of justice, and their ability to help those in need. Everything attracted me to them and to be like them, I took it upon myself to bring them flowers. To help cheer them up. Truly, there was nothing more to it.
I felt if the Kyoshi Warriors see that their good deeds are netting them a flower... no matter how small the gesture may have been, it would make them happy. Satisfied. Glad that they are doing good things.
One day, I went to pick flowers with that childhood friend who was the same as me. However... I accidentally picked a flower that was marked by a Lion Wasp."
Seeing the confusion in Katara's eyes, Suki whispered, "A Lion Wasp is a dangerous species of wasps with paralyzing poison that can put down... medium size animals. Cubs. Children..."
With a look of heartache, Suki lowered her head and curled up her knees, her still wet feet instantly causing her soles to chill when she placed them on the snowy street. Only her soft words were heard.
"That day, my friend tried to save me. I accidentally hit the Lion Wasp with a rock and it grew more aggrieved and began attacking the one closest to it... Seeing the fist-sized bee attacking her, I was scared. I ran to ask help for the Kyoshi Warriors... and left her alone.
She was all alone when she died. Her body was swollen in various places as her skin took a purplish shade while her body remained curled on her side... a single flower in her embrace that she was supposed to bring to the Kyoshi Warriors that day."
Suki's words were broken by soft sobs as her tone and grim words couldn't help but make Katara's eyes watery and slightly red as the waterbender, master of fluids both external and internal, was challenged by her own tears as she did her best to not let them fall. Katara's hands snaked against Suki's shoulder and pulled the proud warrior into her embrace.
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At least, now Katara knew why Suki felt so conflicted in the possibility of harming innocent civilians the most. But even if Suki didn't feel better now, Katara was sure that after Suki cries her eyes out, she would. Although Katara would have wanted this to occur in a more private location, Suki didn't seem to care about the odd stares sent in her direction and hugged Katara tightly, burying her tear-stained face into her comely bosom that allowed them to share each other's warmth while Suki's body shivered.
"Go on," Katara whispered gently, stroking Suki's auburn locks, "Everything will be alright."
Not far away from them, Nik had a grim look on his face as he leaned against the alley. He didn't mean to eavesdrop but by the time Suki exposed everything, it was a bit too late.
'Maybe... I shouldn't have been so cold about it,' Nik considered his options. Usually, he would coddle Suki at any given chance and he didn't mean for his 'true' self to be presented in a manner that was indifferent to her morals but this is one of the rare areas where he lacked training in, i.e, being genuine about himself.
Still, a short smile touched his lips.
If Suki can be true to herself then surely he can manage to find a way about it, too. And knowing full well how lucky he is to find a group as accommodating as this, Nik wanted to make the best of it.
---
The evening sun was almost drowned by the ocean horizon as the sky took a gloomy dusky tone. Although Suki had cried her worries and guilt out, she still remained in Katara's comforting embrace, feeling warm and cozy. It lasted until one of the more curious members of the water tribe couldn't help but walk towards the two women.
"Um, Elder Sister Kyoshi... why were you crying?" The cute, naive tone caused Suki to tense within Katara's hold, causing the latter to giggle wryly as she looked at the newcomer.
Clearing her throat and letting go of Katara, Suki sat up with her back straight while she rubbed the region around her eyes with her gloved hands. Naturally, neither the tear stains nor the paint on her face budged but she didn't seem to take note of that and responded to Uti.
"I was feeling sad," Suki replied as a matter of fact while the young girl sat next to the warrior.
"I thought Kyoshi Warriors are strong. My father said that strong warriors don't cry." The innocence behind her words seemed to be devoid of the cruel occurrence of life as Suki chuckled, "Well, I guess, I have a long way to go before becoming strong, hmm. Uti, tell me, do you want to go back to your home where walls of ice don't stop you from exploring the entire city?"
Uti's eyes naturally grew wide and bright as she nodded, "Hmm! Yes, please!"
"Fine, I will help you then. A Kyoshi Warrior helps those in need, after all," Suki responded, her hand naturally finding itself patting Uti's head as she pouted cutely and shoved Suki's hand away.
"Bleh, Cripple Brother knows how to pat heads better!" Sticking her tongue out, Uti walked away with a huff. Her words made Suki equal parts frustrated and amused.
"Is he that good?" She mumbled in annoyance.
"I don't know... you were moaning pretty loudly," with many things clear without the need to be said with words, Katara could finally point to many things in their most recent 'adventure' as Suki scoffed, "Not funny!"
"Come on, let's get your face cleaned," Katara shrugged, "And I think that was pretty funny."
"As funny as a phallus-shaped water waving around?" Suki retorted sharply, causing Katara's smile to freeze in its place.
---
"You look better," Nik complimented the first moment he saw Suki and Katara enter the room with Pakku and Mai already present.
"I feel better," Suki smiled refreshingly as Katara pouted. No credits were given to her. Well, she didn't help Suki to fish for compliments but something—
Before her annoyance could start pinning blames, Nik smiled and looked past Suki, "You, too."
It was just a simple acknowledgment but it felt enough to be included as Katara's pout turned into a short smile.
"Right, I assume the four of you are willing to deal with the Fire Nation's power within the tribe while we help you buy some time on the outside. The Waterbenders will blame me... but I've beaten worse odds than just some disgruntled subordinates. The only way we will have an excuse for our actions is if we manage to conquer the city in one sweep. The warriors are still under the assumption that they are participating with us outside of the wall and it needs to be kept this way only until the last moments."
"Wouldn't that create problems? What if the warriors think that we are trying to conquer the city for our selfish goals?" Suki frowned.
"They won't. I will make sure of that." Pakku responded, "And if they still do question your judgment, beat them until they follow your orders."
"Yeah, I don't think we would have time for that," Nik chuckled wryly. To beat one's own subordinates while facing external threats? Even a humble fool would see a problem in this solution.
"It's going to be hard... but we have to make it work," Pakku nodded and sighed.
'That's what she said,' Nik commented internally, but kept the relatively suggestive joke to himself.
Mai kept her reserved expression but something about her felt changed and more dangerous. If Nik wasn't used to sparring with others and if he hadn't almost kissed his life goodbye, he would not have been able to access such a sensation. This only meant that Mai was no ordinary woman and had enough capabilities.
After finalizing a few details and a few discreet pathways that could be used if left untouched during Pakku's absence, the group left for the already appointed location where they were supposed to meet the other waterbenders and warriors who must have returned from the secret hunt to feed their tribe.