Dawn of a New Prince (Star Wars/Avatar Crossover)

"Mountains, islands, anywhere," Toph agreed, with a nod. "And he lets scratch the top of his nose. Totally makes up for all the sneezing."

Katara decided not to intervene. She wanted them to sleep, but having them enjoy themselves seemed just as good a medicine. It helped keep their minds off their injuries.

"Hey, you're not the one he sneezes on all the time," Sokka told her, grimacing at all his memories of bison snot on him. He shrugged, "I suppose it's worth it, though."

"We can only hope so," she said, sighing. Her eyes closed and she fell into a half sleep. "Don't worry, Sokka. We'll be okay," she murmured.

"Definitely," Sokka told her with a small smile as he too closed his eyes and yawned a bit, "Nothing can beat Team Avatar."

Katara chuckled. "You two are unusually optimistic," she said, smiling. "Especially you, Sokka. I can't remember the last time you said something positive."

"Hey! I can be positive!!! I'm just realistic most of the time," Sokka complained, opening an eye and trying to glare at his sister, "Someone has to be or you and Aang would be playing with water or riding animals all day."

The waterbender just smirked at him. "Aha. There's the grouchiness I know and love about you. It's nice to have a constant."

"Yeah, yeah, just remember who saved you," Sokka told her with a grin as he yawned a bit, closing his eyes.

"I don't think I will. You'll never let us forget it," she teased. Katara took in the sights below them, as Appa flew over the unfamiliar land. "How are you feeling, by the way?" she asked, out of the blue. "And not just physically, Sokka."

Sokka tried giving Katara a warm smile, but it came out as more of a grimace, "I'm fine. I just.... I don't want to let this happen again. To you or Toph."

He looked over at the sleeping blind girl, a concerned look on his face.

"I understand," she said. "Believe me, I do. And I hate to think of anything happening to you, or Toph and Aang. But, Sokka..." Katara sighed. "With the way things are looking, we'll have to accept the fact that we may be in danger again."

She looked at him for a moment. Something that had been bothering her for a while rose up, and she felt that she needed to breech the subject.

"You should be careful, Sokka," she said. "With Toph, I mean. She's far more sensitive than she'd like for you to think."

Katara hoped he knew what she was getting at.

Sokka flinched, remembering the torture Vader put Toph through, what secrets about her he so casually revealed about her. That she loved him...

He looked down and the blind girl, gripping her hand. He didn't know how to feel about Vader's revelation. He just felt anger at Vader for everything he did and himself for not noticing. When the time came to break out, he was too focused on making sure Toph was safe to ask himself how he felt and when they finally escaped, he was so relieved that he just felt like resting.

"Yeah, I know," Sokka told her, serious now, "I know."

How would he and Toph be able to sort that out? He was with Suki, wasn't he? He liked her, at least, she was beautiful and he respected her as a warrior and....

He frowned. He never gave the rest much thought. She was interested in him and he was overjoyed. He reciprocated without a second thought. Now, though, he knew that his best friend loved him and he watched her get hurt by that.... that monster. He just didn't know what to feel.

"I know you would never do anything to intentionally hurt her," said Katara. "You're too good for that, Sokka. But I don't think you should let this go on for too long without talking to her about it."

Sokka paused, his eyes widening at what Katara said. He looked away and sighed, "Was it really that obvious that she liked me?"

Katara took pity on her brother. "Not too obvious," she said. "I only had a hunch... And she is good at hiding what she is really feeling. I doubt she really wanted you to know, either. She must of have thought it would just embarrass both of you."

"I wouldn't have been embarrassed," Sokka told his sister, some red appearing against his dark skin, "I mean, I'm flattered. I just... don't know how to feel. I mean, she's my best friend and with girls, I sort of just... winged it."

Katara shook her head. "You don't think I know that? I'm your sister. I think I know you pretty well, Sokka." She looked him in the eyes. "Try not to wing it with Toph, okay? I'm not saying you should go at this right away. Don't do it until you're ready, and when Toph's not so..." She winced. "Well, you know."

Sokka nodded, his face set in a serious expression. He spoke, "You know I'm going to be careful with this. I won't hurt Toph. I'll never do that."

He paused, looking down at Toph again, a slightly softer expression on his face, "I'll talk to her about it when I get things sorted out in my own head and when she feels better."

He clenched his fists, "And if I see Vader again, I'll..."

"I thought we already talked about this." Katara spoke sternly. Maybe this time she would get through to him. "Sokka, you can't take that man alone. He would kill you, just like he would any of us. We need you around, so don't do something stupid like that!"

Sokka flushed, looking a bit sheepish. He took the blaster pistol out of his robes and tilted it so it reflected the Sun's light. He spoke, "I know, but I have this now. It worked on the Dai Li, didn't it?"

"Toph also worked on the Dai Li, and look what happened to her when she tried to take on Vader." Katara was firm in this. She left no room for discussion. "Don't try and fight him, Sokka. Not without us there to help you."

Sokka frowned, taking in what Katara was telling him. He sighed, nodding at her, "Okay. I won't. But if he goes after Toph or any of you guys, I'm not going to let him get away with it."

Katara knew she would not get anything more out of him. She sighed. "I just want you to be careful, okay?" she said. "All this... It could have turned out a lot worse." She shuddered, adding, "I don't want anything to happen to any of you."

Sokka sighed, not wanting to notice how much Katara looked and sounded like their mother right now. He grinned at her, "Don't worry. Nothing will. We always get out of trouble, not matter what."

She offered a half-smile. "I like to think so," she said.

An hour or so later, it was darkening and Appa was tiring. The sky bison landed to take a brief rest. By now, Toph had woken up, and she quick scrambled to the ground below so that she could be in contact with the earth.

"Don't go too far, Toph," said Katara.

The blind girl snorted. "I'm not going anywhere."