AtLA Modern: Year 1, Gen. 1

Chapter 21

She did her typical circle around him, eyes narrowed. "Still slouching," she muttered, bopping his upper back. "Probably from all those video games. Square your shoulders and lift your sternum."

"I just naturally slouch. I'm tall," he argued, brows furrowed, standing straighter.

Dai bit her lip as he denied it, smiling. "Yeah, yeah, you never quit talking about how tall you are. I'm aware," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. She grabbed his shoulders, taking a breath and pulling back slightly before returning in front of him. "You don't want me to beat on you, hm? I'll let you beat yourself up." She leaned forward, grinning again. "Hit me."

He blinked, then launched toward her again, swinging toward her shin. Dai pulled back, pressing her sword against the base of his at the right time. She watched as his momentum carried him, causing him to flip onto his back on the other side of the swords, his eyes wide. She grabbed his collar so he didn't hit his head, another thing she did often, and grinned down at him. "I didn't hit you," she pointed out.

"At least that's something," he said, chuckling nervously, his eyes on her. After a moment he pulled himself back to his feet with her help, scratching the back of his neck, one hand on his sword. "Progress...?" He looked up at her. "Again?"

"Uh huh." She leaned forward again, her feet apart. "You get first hits today. Go."

Sokka frowned, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. He crouched into his stance again, his blue eyes fixed on her frame. A good moment later he launched forward, using his sword to hit her arm, then her shin before jumping back.

Dai took the hits without trying to block them, sliding her sword behind his right leg. When he jumped back, she pulled it forward against his leg, making him trip, his eyes widening. She jumped forward to catch him by the arm, giggling. "Didn't hit you," she said again, pulling him back up to his feet and resuming her stance, a playful smile on her face, her eyes narrowed.

He blinked a few times, turning to look at her and balancing his weight on his feet again, looking down at his sword before getting into his stance again, his eyes on her. "You're enjoying this," he pointed out.

Dai shrugged a shoulder, pressing her lips against her smile. "More or less." She raised an eyebrow, tapping the tip of her sword against his lightly. "I'm just trying to figure out if I like the nickname Stripes or Pussy more."

Sokka watched her awkwardly, lips pressed together. "I'd prefer Stripes, thank you very much." He shook his head, running toward her and hitting her, their swords clashing as she blocked him, before jumping back, his chest heaving and eyes narrowed. He tightened his grip on the sword as he stood there. She continued advancing, forcing him backward, flicking her sword back and forth. He blinked, a more determined look crossing his face, his arms tensing as he pushed back with more pressure. "Not today," he grunted through gritted teeth, glaring at her and taking a half a step forward.

Dai raised an eyebrow as he forced her back. "Oh really?" She flipped her sword, twirling it out of her left hand before catching it in her right, the tip pressed at his throat, a grin on her face. His breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened. "You're dead," she announced. "Come on, let's go get some food." She giggled and jumped out of the ring.

He pulled his helmet off, letting out a breath and following her. "Where?"

"I don't know." She returned her weapons to her case, glancing at him. "Zuko and Athlea are out tonight."

Sokka's eyes lit up. "We should see if we can borrow Zuko's yacht! Text him!"

Dai furrowed her brows and glared at him, messing up his hair as she walked by him. "Don't tell me what to do." She glanced down at her phone and quickly text Zuko, walking out to her car.

Sokka followed Dai outside to her car. "Did he respond? Did he?" he asked impatiently as they now into the car, finally, taking the front seat.

"No," Dai said, "shut up. He's probably busy." She text him again before driving home. Once they were there, she finally got a response. "I had to take a bathroom break to answer you, I didn't want to be rude. Stay the fuck off of my yacht and quit letting Sokka convince you to text me," she read aloud. She smiled at Sokka. "Boy, isn't he charming?"

"He's an idiot." Sokka plopped down o the couch inside. "Hmm... let's steal it!" he suddenly suggested, a big grin on his face as he looked at Dai. "Not steal it. Borrow it. He won't find out." He crossed his arms. "We'll take it, have our fun, then put it back and walk away as normal."

"And you're just a genius," Dai responded. She plopped down next to Sokka, eyes on her phone. "We got a 'fine'!" she announced. She stood and put a hand on Sokka's chest and leaned toward him as he blinked. "I'm in charge of the yacht. Don't even think about doing something stupid," she warned.

His eyes flicked to her lips, then back to her eyes, and he nodded, his cheeks turning bright red. "Okay, okay."

She gave his chest a little push and walked off, his eyes following her as she called the rest of them together, his hand where hers had been. As she rounded the corner around the girls' rooms, she let out a breath, leaning against the wall and running a hand through her hair, her cheeks pink.

Sokka was a silent for a moment before standing. "Let's get this yacht of his!"

***

A/N so these two are clearly connecting a bit!!!!!! see my One Shots story to know what happens on the yacht!