The Thief |Sokka

TWENTY-FIVE

Nothing could compare to the days in Ember Island. Jaya truly felt like she was on a vacation. There was hardly a person around Akira's house, allowing her and the rest of the company some peace and quiet, but also an opportunity to bond even more if they wanted it. Although that didn't really happen.

Zuko and Mai were wrapped up in each other most of the time – thankfully, only metaphorically. There was no instance the one was without the other and usually, Jaya would catch them talking among themselves in hushed tones, in their own little bubble. She didn't blame them. She imagined that with Zuko being the Fire Lord, there were little opportunities for them to truly be around each other, unabashed and unapologetic in their affection. They weren't like that all the time – she could tell they took great care in including them during any shared activities with the group, but when they were on their own, everyone had come to know it was better to not disturb them. 

That left Aang, Jaya and Sokka on their own. She couldn't really complain. She got to be around her best friend and the person that made her heart race at the same time, and they were all friendly with each other. She couldn't quite remember when was the last time she had had this much fun.

On their first proper day in the island, the three of them had raced each other to see who could climb a palm tree faster, that had been Aang's idea, and then a couple of hours later while they were on the beach, they had competed over who could make the best sandcastle, which had been Sokka's idea. Not all that surprisingly, Aang had won the first competition and Sokka the second. She didn't mind she had lost all that much.

On their second day, Mai and Zuko had joined them on their way to the beach so they had been a bit more civilised. They had chosen a quiet spot for themselves although people had still approached them to greet Zuko, Mai and Aang. Jaya had had no issue leaving them to fend for themselves, opting instead for laying against her personal beach towel to tan under the scorching sun. She had been laying on her own, unaware of her surroundings until she realised someone was hiding her from the sun. She had had no choice but to open her eyes, the sight in front of her enough to make her heart race. Sokka was standing right above her, regarding her with a small smirk as he caught her taking him in. She thought he had asked her what she had been doing when she squeaked she wanted to swim for a while and instantly scattered off. She tried to ignore Sokka's chuckles following her retreat.

On their third day, they had decided they would be visiting a theatre to watch a performance. Aang had been adamant, claiming the performances tended to be funny and that Jaya had never watched a performance in Ember Island before, to which she had gotten quiet and allowed Aang to do what he pleased. And that's how Jaya found herself getting ready in her room early in the evening. She had just gotten dressed in her usual Air nomad attire and started brushing her hair when there was a knock on her door. She paused in her brushing, her gaze trailing to the door. 

"Come in."

The door opened at once and Aang peered inside. The moment he noticed her, a wide grin split his lips and the next moment he had gotten inside, closed the door behind him and almost jumped his way over. Her lips curled.

"What happened?"

"Nothing," he replied at once as he stopped in front of her and when he realised there was no seat around available, sank down on the floor. "You'll tell me what happened."

She raised a brow at him as she looked ahead in the mirror and continued brushing her hair. "I did not do anything you will accuse me of."

He grinned, "So you don't check out Sokka during every moment available?"

She grinned back as she stared at her reflection. "That's nothing new."

"No, no, there is something there," he insisted as he nudged her knee. "You tell me or I'll go to him."