Book Four: Air, Part Two

"Yeah. I heard about King Bumi getting rich off of rock candy," Sokka said dryly, remembering how he was almost suffocated by it.

"Don't knock rock candy. It's pretty good," said Toph. She smiled. "One of the maids used to sneak me some when I was little. It was always a treat, 'cause usually I wasn't allowed to have sweets. They're bad for you, and all that, I guess."

"Yeah, rock candy is good," Sokka conceded, knowing what it felt like to love certain foods with a passion, "But, you try being encased in it without bending!"

She snickered. "Oh, I don't think I've heard this one. Lay it on me, Snoozles!" She leaned against a stone wall. "We've got time, since our friends aren't here yet."

"Well, King Bumi is nuts! He's so old that he knew Aang from 100 years ago and recognized right away when we were in Omashu, but he pretended not to. He put creeping crystals on me and Katara and held us hostage while Aang did these stupid tests! By the time Aang was done, I thought I was going to suffocate! Then, he breaks them with earthbending and says they're actually rock candy!" Sokka told her, animatedly gesturing with his hands even though he knew that his girlfriend was blind.

Toph laughed, long and hard, as Sokka told the tale and after he finished it. Her sides began to hurt, and she wiped tears from her eyes.

"Man... I'd have loved to hear that," she said, shaking her head. "Oh, boy, that's a good one..." She chuckled a bit more, and punched Sokka in the arm. "You're a good storyteller, Snoozles."

"Hmm... Glad to see I amuse you," Sokka grunted, folding his arms and sulking a little, though he knew he couldn't stay mad at Toph. Secretly, he was glad for any occasion she laughed, even when it was at his expense. It was a beautiful sound and he knew she hadn't had much occasion to laugh when she lived with her parents.

"You know, it's unfair. If you punch me, it's cute. If I punch you, it will be considered domestic violence," he told her thoughtfully.

"What? You think so?" Toph smiled, amused, and gestured at him. "I won't complain. Go ahead and punch me in the arm. I dare you."

Sokka scowled, "You know I can't do that. The Water Tribes are big about that sort of stuff. Azula doesn't count, though."

Toph snorted. "You used to think of me as one of the guys anyway. I don't see what the big deal is. You think I'll tell on you? Well, I won't. It's just friendly fun, Snoozles." She gave him a lighter punch in the arm. "C'mon. Show me some Toph affection."

"Oh, alright," Sokka muttered before punching her on the arm back with almost as much force as Toh usually used.

((Sorry, I have been preoccupied for long time. So I'll do a quick timeskip. ;D ))

IC: Suki

Suki came running up to the loving couple. "Sokka! Toph! We've got trouble!" Suki managed to get out between gasps of air. "Jerrel has been found out, they have him!"

"What? What are you talking about?" Sokka asked, confused.

OOC: Sorry for not posting much the past couple of days. I've been busy with end of semester stuff.

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IC: Toph

"Jerrel's been captured?" Toph swore rather colorfully. "Well that's just great. Now what? We can't just leave him in there."

(It's fine. )

"So, I guess it's up to us to rescue him," Sokka guessed with a sigh, "Our lives are never dull, are they?"

"Nah. That's not always a bad thing," said Toph. She scowled. "This time, it just happens to be a bad idea." She moved towards the large mansion. "Well, let's going. The longer he stays in there, the worse it's going to get. I bet these guys won't play fair."

"Oh, do our enemies ever play fair?" Sokka asked sarcastically as he followed behind his girlfriend, "I thought it was the norm for us to be outnumbered and face dirty tricks."

IC: Jerrel/Suki/Pao Pang

Pao Pang stood on his balcony overlooking the front yard of his mansion. "Ah, if it isn't my old student." He said loud enough for the group to hear. "I hope you don't mind, but my wrestlers need a trainnig partner so I took the liberty of recruiting your friend, at the request of my houseguest."

At that moment Hahn came forward a small smirk on his face. The sound of Jerrel getting attacked echoing through the door behind him as he came out on to the balcony. The sounds were cut off by the door closing behind Hahn.

"Hand over Jerrel damn you!" Suki said angrily.

Sokka sighed as he drew his sword, "Why is it, wherever we go, we run into people that think they can beat us? You'd think being one of the heroes that took down Fire Lord Ozai would earn you a reputation."

"Well, that, and earning us more enemies than we can count," said Toph.

Hahn shouted down at the three. "Stand down and let us pass, and maybe, just maybe, we'll decide to let your friend go." He sneered at Sokka. "You really don't want to be responsible for another one of your friends getting hurt, do you?"

"Damn it, Hahn," Sokka growled, "Come down here and face me like a man. Just you and me, rich, noble, thug!"

"I really don't see why I should," said Hahn. He shrugged. "I have all the cards here. Now why don't you play it smart, for once, and do as I asked? Unless you want your pal's throat to be cut, of course."

"Let him go first! I don't trust you!" Sokka shouted at him with a frown, grabbing the hilt of his sword. With a shudder, he realized he didn't. He wouldn't put it past Hahn to slit Jerrel's throat even if he got what he wanted.

((Sorry I havent posted in awhile. I'll post soon))

IC: Jerrel/Pao Pang/Suki

Pao Pang clapped his hands and the front door to the mansion opened, two large men exited the mansion. "Show them our guest." The two large men began to mirror one another's movements as they used their Earthbending to drag Ersher forward into the light.

"ERSHER!" Suki cried, she ran forward, but was stopped and held in place by stone arms.

Jerrel lay in a heep, cuts and bruises covering his body, and his hands and feet were covered in stone.