Sunburn

34

Tsai was back in her own personally branded hell.

After what happened yesterday, she couldn't believe they had returned to hide in the Fire Lord's summer home in Ember Island out of all places. She had to give it to Zuko it was a clever strategy. Talk about hiding in plain sight.

Of course, that didn't stop her from complaining all the way there...

xxx

Two Days Ago...

Tsai returned to her tent were her brother lay awake waiting for her with his arms and legs crossed as he sat on top of his bed roll.

"You didn't tell him... Did you?" He arched an irritated eyebrow.

He had gone to look for his sister in the middle of the night and instead heard loud giggling from the Suki's tent and assumed things had not gone like they had planned.

"No, but I did have a grand time thank you for asking." She threw her hands up in the air in annoyance. "It's not the right time Mecha. You can't rush these things." she said in defeat before plopping on her own bed roll and hiding hands arms behind her head. "Besides we are in the middle of a war. Hello! Read the room," She sighed annoyed and rolled her eyes at him.

"So?" He retorted in a smartass tone.

"So?" She repeated in the same tone. "I'm doing this for me. Not for him. I don't expect anything to happen after." She inhaled a deep breath and exhaled cooling her head. "I just want him to know. That's it."

Mecha was silent for a moment. He didn't believe that his sister just wanted to get something 'off her chest' like that.

"Possum chicken."

She turned away with an irritated look on her face. She lay in the roll uncomfortably tossing and turning before deciding she couldn't be in the claustrophobic tent anymore. "I'm going to meditate. Nobody bother me." She called over her shoulder.

She stepped out into the day and began walking to the opposite side of the miniscule island which suddenly felt much, much smaller. On the way she saw Sokka sitting behind a medium sized bolder playing with a colorful beaded necklace in his hands. He glared at her evilly and she couldn't help but let out a little smirk.

"Have fun at your sleepover?" He said in an irritated tone.

She couldn't help but laugh a little. "Sorry you couldn't join us Sokka. Maybe next time?"

Just then a dark aura passed by the two and both turned to see Katara and Zuko walking towards Aang who was presently feeding Appa some hay. Tsai looked at the prince's retreating back and nodded to herself in determination. She would do it. She just had to wait for the perfect moment.

"I need to borrow Appa." Katara demanded when she approached the Avatar.

Aang glanced over his shoulder and looked at her before chuckling slightly. He simply turned to continue feeding Appa.

'Very funny...' He thought to himself.

"Why? Is it your turn to take a little fieldtrip with Zuko?" He joked.

"Yes, it is." Katara replied waspily.

'What?' Tsai felt her ear twitch in direction of the conversation as she blatantly eavesdropped. Sokka's shocked expression mirroring her own. Both exchanged a look before approaching the group.

Aang looked between Katara and Zuko in surprise and asked warily, "Uh, what's going on?"

"Yeah-" The girl with red hair butted nosily. "What is going on?" She asked with her arms crossed over her chest as her eyes suspiciously darted between the two of them.