AFTER THE PAINTED LADY INCIDENT, SOKKA BECOMES MORE RELAXED ABOUT THE SCHEDULE. That gives the team the opportunity to stop outside a village for a night and watch a meteor shower.

"Wow, this is amazing to watch," Katara muses.

"Kind of makes you realize how insignificant we are," Sokka adds.

"Since when did you get all philosophical?" Kida teases.

"It's my specialty." Then, Sokka nudges closer to touch his arm to hers, and lowers his voice so that only Kida, laying down next to him, can hear. "Come on, you love it."

"Whatever, Wolftail," she replies with a breathless chuckle. Kida briefly tilts her head towards him, and, in the flashes of light emitting from the meteors, she can see the ghost of a smile. She bites her lip to keep herself from smiling, too.

"Eh, you've seen nothing once, you've seen it a thousand times," Toph, clearly bored, notes.

Suddenly, a huge meteor appears, much closer than the rest. It hurdles to the ground with a trail of fire.

"Spirits," Kida exhales. She stands up, and the rest of the team, minus Toph, follows.

"I don't think you've never not seen anything like this before," Sokka informs.

Running to the top of a hill, the team watches as the meteor crashes to the ground. Kida feels the heat emanating from the crash site, sensing that the night would take a very different turn than she had hoped for.

"The fire is going to destroy that town!" Katara shouts in a panic.

"Not if we can help it," Aang declares. He runs to Appa, and the rest of the team follows suit.

The fire grows bigger by the second, so the team needs to work fast. Like clockwork, everyone settles into their roles: Katara flies on Appa to a nearby creek, while Aang and Toph work on creating a trench around the fire with earthbending. Kida thinks to channel the heat away from the village, hoping that would keep the fire from spreading too much.

Taking a deep breath, Kida prepares her stance. She extends one arm out towards the fire. She uses her other arm to draw a line from the fire, across and out the other end, similar to the way Zuko taught her to redirect lightning. She feels the warmth flow through her body, the fire within her is exhilarating. With each second, she can feel the heat start to dissipate, but Kida knows that it won't be enough, even with Toph and Aang manipulating rock to put out the fire.

Thankfully, Katara flies in just in time, dumping a huge wave of water to extinguish the fire for good. The smoke starts to disappear, and instead is replaced with ash falling from the sky like snow.

"Good work, everybody," Aang says, casually as if they had prepared camp instead of stopping an entire village from being destroyed by a raging fire. Momo jumps on his shoulder and Aang scratches him between the ears. As the group walks back to Appa, Aang falls in next to Kida. "That was some awesome firebending back there!"

A smile spreads across her face and pride blooms in her chest. "Thanks, kid."

"Do you think you can teach me sometime?"

Kida pauses as they finally reach Appa. While the rest of the team climbs onto the saddle, Kida turns to Aang. "If you're not practicing waterbending or earthbending, and if there's a break in the schedule then, yes."

"Yes!" Aang exclaims, jumping in the air. He flies so high that he lands in Appa's saddle.

Kida laughs to herself before joining him and the rest of the team.

»»---------------------►

"THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA HOW CLOSE THEY WERE TO GETTING TOASTED LAST NIGHT," Aang remarks as he sits down next to Kida with his food.

"Yeah, the worst thing about being in disguise is that we don't get the hero worship anymore. I miss the love," Toph admits.

"Boo hoo," Sokka mocks, playing with the smoked sea slug on his plate, still not taking a bite. "Poor heroes."

"What's up with you, Wolftail?" Kida asks, between mouthfuls of noodles. Ever since last night, Sokka has been more aloof than usual, not just with her, but with the rest of the team. She tried to ask him what was wrong late last night after everyone was asleep, but he claimed that he was just tired and walked away. Really, he just seems down, and Kida hates that she can't help him in some way.

Sokka, sitting across from Kida and in between Katara and Toph, looks up at her. "It's just that all of you guys can do this awesome bending stuff. And, me? I can't do anything."

"That's not true!" Katara insists. "No one can read a map like you."

"I can't even read!" Toph adds.

"Plus, who keeps us laughing with sarcastic comments all the time?" Aang points out.

"See? We need you on the team," Kida finally replies. Couldn't he see how much he meant to the team, how much he meant to her?

"Oh, really? Okay, fine." Sokka's gaze towards her intensifies. "Aang and I are drowning. Who do you save?"

"Why are you just asking me?" Maybe if Sokka remembers their bet to see who would reveal their relationship first, he'd drop the question. "What about Toph and Katara?"

He doesn't.

"They're unconscious, but safe on land," he answers almost instantly. "Aang and I are unconscious, but drowning in water."

"Is this a scenario you think about a lot?"

"Just answer the question, Kida." Sokka narrows his eyes. "Let's say, hypothetically, you're the leader of our team. Which one of us is more valuable? Which one of us do you save?"

Kida would do anything to avoid answering his questions, knowing that they serve no real purpose or prove anything about anyone's worth. Where's a meteor when you need one?

"I'm not going to answer your dumb question." Kida pushes away her bowl of noodles. Suddenly, she lost her appetite.

"It's a simple question," Sokka insists. "If you had to save me or save Aang, who would you save?"

Kida knows that it's actually the opposite, a complicated question that she hopes she will never be faced with. "I'm not answering." She pushes away from the table, and storms off.

Unfortunately, Sokka is only a few steps behind. "Just answer, I dare you!" When Kida doesn't answer, he adds: "You can't just run away from your problems like you always do!"

What does that have to do with anything? Kida turns around sharply, forcing Sokka to stop in his tracks. "Can't you just drop this and stop feeling sorry for yourself?"

"Guys, is this really a good idea?" Aang asks timidly. He, Katara, and Toph had followed them as well, though kept their distance.

"Just answer the question, Kida, and then I'll drop this!"

"No!"

"Why not?"

Kida sighs angrily. "Because it doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," Sokka argues. "Would you save me or save Aang?"

"Aang!" Kida exclaims, allowing her frustration to consume her. She tilts her gaze away, eyes looking down at the cobblestone path, because as soon as Kida says it, she knows that she messed up. Even if Sokka is really annoying her right now.

"Well, that's the logical choice," Toph agrees, walking up to stand beside Kida. "Aang's the freaking Avatar. No offense, Captain Boomerang."

"Sokka," Kida starts. She falters when she meets his gaze, and her heart breaks. He looks more tired than he usually does, like he's been up all night, thinking about this. "That doesn't mean -- You're not —"

"You're right," Sokka interrupts, his expression blank. "I'm not special. I'm not a hero like the rest of you."

Kida sighs. "That's not what I —" Kida loses her train of thought. She doesn't want to hurt him any more, but at the same time, what he asked wasn't okay.

Thankfully, Katara steps in, knowing just how to comfort her brother. She suggests a shopping trip, which does make Sokka's face brighten, even just a little.

Kida decides to stay behind, which doesn't phase Sokka in the slightest. In fact, he looks a little relieved. Maybe she is, too.

So, Kida walks back to camp, regretting all the things she didn't say.

»»---------------------►

WHEN THE TEAM GETS BACK TO CAMP, SOKKA ISN'T WITH THEM.

"He's gone to find a master," Aang explains. "Which means we've got some free time. Let's start my firebending training!"

Kida hesitates. She looks to Katara and Toph, both of whom are already taking a seat on the soft grass. "I don't know. What about your other training?"

"Eh, I'm tired," Toph replies. She leans back against the grass and places her arms behind her head, ready to relax.

"Aang's been working hard, I think he deserves a chance to cool off. Or, I guess heat up!" Katara jokes. When no one laughs, she explains: "Because you guys are going to be firebending?" Once again, no response. Katara sighs. "I guess I'll leave the jokes to Sokka, then."

Kida looks back and forth between the two, then to Aang, whose hands are clasped together.

"Please, Kida?"

That's how Kida finds herself in a secluded clearing, examining Aang's stance and correcting it slightly before standing across from him.

"A lot of firebending is about controlling your breath," Kida explains. She takes a deep breath and gestures at Aang to follow.

"Okay," Aang comments. He takes a few breaths before asking: "So, when can we make fire?"

"Soon," Kida answers. "Fire is dangerous, so control is essential. It's what makes sure that no one gets hurt. Well, if you don't want them to be."

A shadow passes in front of Aang's face, as if hit by a memory. He sighs deeply and falls to the ground. "Wait. What am I doing? I can't do this!" He buries his head in his hands, knees hugging his chest.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down, kid." Kida sits down next to him. "We'll get to the fire part."

"It's not that," Aang admits, his voice muffled. "The last time I firebended, I hurt Katara! That can't happen again. I won't do that again."

Kida furrows her eyebrows in concern and puts her hand gently on Aang's back in an attempt to comfort him. "I know how you feel."

Aang raises his head slightly. "You do?"

She nods, though she knows that Aang, still hugging his knees to his chest, won't see. "I was scared of firebending. For a really, really long time, because I hurt someone, too."

"What made you move on?"

"I didn't," Kida confesses. This makes Aang untangle himself and turn to look at Kida. "I don't know if I ever will, but I can't change the past, so I try to accept it as a part of me. And, people helped me realize that firebending is also a part of me." To emphasize her point, Kida lights a small fire in her palm. "It takes time and patience, but it's so much more than destruction and death and pain, if that's what you want it to be." She lets the flames dance between her fingers, before letting the wind blow them away. "If that's who you are. And, Toph said it best: you're the freaking Avatar."

Aang smiles softly, but quickly drops it. "If it's okay though, can we hold off on firebending? Like, with real fire?"

"It's alright," Kida assures. She doesn't want to push Aang, and it's not like he can even firebend during the solstice. There will be plenty of time afterwards for him to pick up this skill. And Kida will be right there beside him, every step of the way. She looks down at her left wrist, and the two bracelets tied there: one from Hiro, the other from Aang.

Kida pleads to all the Spirits that whatever scenarios Sokka has come up with never come true.

»»---------------------►

WHILE KIDA AND AANG WERE GONE, SOKKA HAD COME BACK TO CAMP. They explain that they helped him move the fallen meteorite up to Piandao's mansion.

"It was exhausting bending that thing all the way up the mountain," Toph sighs.

"He seemed really excited about making his sword, though," Katara points out.

By the time night has fallen and the rest of the team is asleep, and Sokka still isn't back after hours, Kida has already decided to make the trek up the mountain.

Once she gets to Piandao's place, she spots the forgery and sneaks over. There, all sorts of metal weapons are strewn across work tables, and a fire burns in the forge. The huge meteor is off to the side with parts of it chipped away already.

Sokka sits against the wall, breathing heavily and clearly exhausted. Kida doesn't say anything at first; it's only when Sokka gets up to throw more coal on the fire that he catches Kida standing there.

"You shouldn't be here," he says plainly. "How'd you even get in?"

Kida walks over and props herself against the wall. "I have a special talent for breaking into rich peoples' homes." She smirks, hoping at least for a smile on Sokka's face. Nothing but a blank expression. He steps further away so that he can lean against one of the work tables while still facing Kida.

"What are you even doing here?" Sokka scoffs. "If you're here to apologize, I don't want to hear it right now. I'm fine here, all alone, feeling sorry for myself."

Kida crosses her arms over her chest. "Well, that's too bad, because I'm not running away. Besides, I'm not here to apologize."

"What?"

"It's not fair for you to get upset at my answer," Kida starts.

"That's not true," Sokka counters. "I think I can be at least a little upset that my girlfriend thinks I'm so useless that she would let me drown."

Kida groans. "That's not what it's about."

"Then tell me what it is about."

"What if our roles were reversed -- what if it was me and Katara drowning -- who would you save?" When Sokka fails to respond, Kida continues. She pushes herself off the wall and walks to sit next to Sokka. "You can't answer because it's an impossible question. To have to choose between two people you lo--" Kida catches herself before completing that word. She clears her throat. "My answer meant nothing about how I feel about you or how I see you."

Sokka sighs. "Yeah, I guess --"

"Wait, I'm not done," Kida interrupts. Sokka nods his head at her to continue. "You have to understand that Aang, he's the brother...." Kida looks down and starts to play with the bracelets on her wrist. "Aang's the brother I couldn't save. And I can't, I won't lose him again. I mean, I don't want to lose any of you. I would literally risk my life if it meant --"

"You won't have to," Sokka interjects, his voice low and soft. He slides closer to Kida so that their legs are practically touching. "I shouldn't have put you in that position. I'm sorry."

Kida turns to meet his gaze. She always loved the way Sokka looked at night near a fire. His eyes, a dark, mysterious blue, the color she would expect to find deep in the ocean. Shadows highlighting his cheekbones and strong jawline. Skin cold in contrast to the fire, which was both exhilarating and soothing, two words Kida would use to describe their relationship, if she had to. Now, even while clearly exhausted, Kida still loves the way he looks. He isn't wearing a shirt, which is something Kida just notices. She blushes and hopes that the space is dark enough to hide it.

"I'm sorry that you feel you're not enough for the team," Kida finally says.

Sokka tilts his head. "I thought you weren't here to apologize," he quips.

Kida rolls her eyes, but lets out a small laugh. "I'm serious, Sokka. You're smart, and brave, and an awesome warrior. You're the one who keeps us focused on our goal. Spirits, you're the one who came up with the invasion plan in the first place. The world needs you; the team needs you!" She nudges him with her elbow playfully. "I need you."

"Thanks, Kida," he whispers. His eyes search hers, and Kida isn't quite sure if he has something more to say.

"Yeah?"

"I just was wondering if now would be a good time to kiss you," he answers smoothly. Kida bites her lip, which seems to catch Sokka's attention even more. "You know, it's really cute when you do that."

Kida pulls Sokka's arm gently, guiding him so that he is now standing in front of her. "Really?"

"Really," he answers. After a moment of silence, Sokka asks, with a smirk: "So, are you gonna kiss me first, or should I?"

With that, Kida tugs Sokka's collar towards her, their lips colliding in an exhilarating kiss. He places his hands on her hips, lifting her slightly so that she's sitting on the work table.

Kida turns behind to clear space, when she notices a sword, most likely made from the material Sokka had brought here.

"Wait, if you're done with your sword, why didn't you come back to camp?"

Sokka looks behind her to the sword in question, then smiles shyly. "Oh. Yeah, um, that's actually not mine. It's for you."

Kida is quiet for a moment. Slowly, like she's in a dream, she puts the sword on her lap, examining the blade and golden grip with an engraving she can't quite make out. Still, it was like nothing she had ever seen before. "You made me a sword?"

"Well, yeah." Sokka shrugs. "There's more than enough of the meteor to make both of us swords and, I mean, we really should get back to some real training because we have been, um, distracted lately. Plus, I know you didn't talk about it much, but you miss your mom's sword. It's not the same, obviously...." Kida, expressionless, places the sword back on the table, so Sokka starts rambling. "I don't expect you to love it. I mean, I kind of did, but if you don't --"

Suddenly, Kida stands up, throws her arms around Sokka's neck and brings him into a hug.

"I love it," she whispers. She pulls away, a smile on her face. "So," she starts, her tone playful. "Are you gonna kiss me first, or should I?"

»»---------------------►

author's note!

i had so much fun writing this chapter. hope you enjoyed !please vote and comment if you did, i love seeing your reactions and seeing that people are enjoying my work. <3

thanks for reading!