AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 80

Sokka had followed Toph's instructions and entered a room where, sure enough, Dai was seated on a chair of ice, a stand beside her. His boomerang and case were on it, recoated with black, glowing bits of ice resonating from them in diamond strings. Sokka came to a stop. "U-um, how...? Why are you acting like a final boss?" He rubbed his temples.

Dai leaned her elbows onto her knees, head facing the floor, turning her face up to look at him. "Marry me."

It felt like minutes passed before Sokka finally yelled, "What?!" Dai half-smiled. His lips parted, eyes widening. Suddenly he answered, "...Yes."

She blinked, sitting up as he responded. "Sokka, don't just say yes," she said quietly. "You don't have to marry me. But I-I love you, and I know that you're the one I'm meant to be with. I tried my hardest not to like you, and h-here I am." She slid out of her chair, falling onto her knees and looking up at him. "I don't have an heir, and I want you to be the one that my kingdom's responsibility falls on. I-if that's what you want." She swallowed. "I almost died today." Her eyes were shining with unspilled tears. "So I'm asking you if you'll kneel before me and let me crown you Chief of the Northern Water Tribe... as I kneel before you now."

Sokka looked down at her, brows furrowed. He took a few steps forward, cupping her face in his hands. "Okay, okay... Just don't cry, alright?"

Dai moved her hands to his wrist as tears spilled onto her cheeks. "I'm not crying," she said, wiping her face.

Sokka blinked. "I said don't cry!"

Dai wiped her face again, her voice cracking as she protested, "I'm not crying!"

He leaned down, kissing her cheek gently. "I love you too." He smiled, a chuckled escaping him. "Shouldn't we be married in a formal celebration?"

She nodded. "We're going to go back to the Palace tonight," she decided. "The celebration will feel rushed, and you'll have to go through training and pick Helpers before, but we'll pick everything together, and it'll be fun, and..." She trailed off.

"C-can we calm down? Let's relax and have the celebration in two days, yeah? I can choose my Helpers tomorrow, after we arrive and settle in...?" he asked with a nervous smile. Her eyes flitted between his and she nodded. However, his train of thought was cut off, as she suddenly stood and leaned onto her toes, pressing her lips against his. His eyes widened, but soon closed, his hands moving to the sides of her neck as he kissed her back.

After a long moment she leaned back, her body still pressed against his. "I-I figured our first kiss shouldn't be in front of a room full of people at our wedding, plus..." She giggled softly, leaning on her toes again and brushing her nose on his. "I've been wanting to for a while now."

Sokka looked down at her, chuckling and blinking. "Right." His smile brightened and he moved his hands to her waist, keeping her close. "That's good, because you kept teasing me about it. It's about time it happened."

Dai snickered, her arms moving around his shoulders. "There's still plenty to tease you about until then," she pointed out. "After all, I have to be pure when we get married." She leaned back again, tracing a circle on his chest, grinning mischievously.

Sokka blinked. "It's not like anyone would know, Dai, but oh, well. If that's how you want it, sure. Fine by me."

She kissed his cheek, and then announced, "Okay, we should get going. Oh, and... that's for you." She pointed to the boomerang and its case. Sokka blinked, turning and walking toward it.

Dai left Sokka to check out his new boomerang and entered the main room in time to hear Aang's question. "Sokka isn't lost," she said quickly, her chin high. "And neither am I. Are you all ready to go back to the palace?"

Zuko nodded, his eyes bright. "Yes please."

Katara nodded herself. The walls of the caves suddenly cracked, and she jumped, glancing at them, then Dai. "Are you okay?"

Dai bit her lip, her eyes shining. "I'm fine," she said.

"MY BOOMERANG!"

"Looks like someone found their boomerang," Toph said.

Dai blinked, glancing at the other room and giggling. "Yeah, he did." She tilted one foot forward, rotating her toes on the ice floor before looking up and clapping her hands. "Okay, come on. We're leaving. We're going back to the Palace."

Zuko blinked. "Oh. Alright. Come, Athlea." She stood, ready to follow him.

"No." Dai shook her head, crossing her arms. "I need to speak with her."

Zuko blinked, narrowing his eyes. "Fine." He moved outside to the horses, Katara following. Athlea glanced at Dai, an eyebrow raised.

"Let's go. We'll wait outside," Irene agreed, joining the others as they went outside.

Athlea tilted her head slightly, eyes soft with concern. "Is there something wrong?"

Dai took a slow breath, her eyes a bit in the distance before she looked at Athlea. "You can't fight for me any more." She put a hand out in front of her. "I know you're strong and can defend yourself. Normally. But you're past your first trimester, and now you have to care most about them. Plus you haven't been in your best shape. You've slipped twice, in both past battles, and we need you to be safe." Her chin was high, her voice was firm, but her eyes were gentle. "I will no longer allow you to fight for the Northern Water Tribe. The death or further injury of the Fire Lady will not be on my shoulders."

Athlea's brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms, a rather displeased look on her face. "Last time I checked, I'm now used to fighting on snow," she said rather calmly. She let out a sigh, looking away for a second before returning her gaze to Dai. "Right..." She shook her head. "If that is all, I guess we should start heading back to the Palace."

"Another good reason why you shouldn't fight," Dai said softly. "I have a job for you, though." Athlea, who had started walking away, stopped and turned back.

Sokka emerged, smiling, with his boomerang in his hands. "W-what happened?"

Dai bit her lip as Athlea turned and continued to walk away, turning to Sokka. "I told her she can't fight for me," she admitted, shrugging. "I can't have her dying because of me." She shrugged again. "Come on, let's get home."

***

A/N this might be my favorite shipping ever i stg, Roxanne plays Sokka SO well. anyways, the sword above is how Dai (somehow) redesigned Sokka's boomerang (she brought some things with, just in case it came to this, being prepared for it)