Chapter 23: Bye

"You won!" Ty Lee jumped for joy when Sokka's dart popped a balloon.

The man behind the counter was surprised, because it had only taken one throw for Sokka, "So I won the prize?"

"U-uh yeah" the man quickly answered Sokka's question and handed the teddy bear to Ty Lee, who hugged it tightly upon touching it.

"I didn't know you were so good at these games Sokka" the girl commented with a big smile.

"I probably didn't either" Sokka commented smiling, "Well, it was a long day"

They had been at the fair for several hours: eating, enjoying some games and chatting, and it was already quite dark.

"So, do you know where you're spending the night?" Ty Lee asked curiously, as Sokka wasn't from this place and surely didn't have anywhere to be.

"I'll find a spot on the floor, it's not like I'm going to sleep much either" Sokka replied shrugging. Ty Lee reacted.

"There's no way I'm going to allow that Sokka!" Ty Lee exclaimed with a frown and grabbed his arm, "You're coming with me to my tent, okay?"

"Huh? Are you really going to let a stranger spend the night with you?" the boy asked rather strangely. Why did she trust him so much?

"You're not a stranger to me"

Ty Lee stopped, looking into his eyes, "You've been able to see in me something more than just a silly girl and circus acrobat that I am"

"Oh come on, don't say that, you're a great girl" Sokka commented with a grimace after hearing those words, "You're not stupid"

"This is what I mean" Ty Lee pinched his cheek with a smile and turned around, following the path to her tent with Sokka.

'Ty Lee really has serious self-esteem issues' Sokka thought thoughtfully, but he was not in the right to prejudge her either.

Sokka had known her for a few hours, but he could see through her for a while. And behind her usual smile he saw a masked sadness.

Then they both arrived at the tent, it wasn't too big but it was big enough for the two of them to fit in without any problems, "Do you like it?"

"I like it" Sokka answered smiling, and he lay down on the sheet on the floor, "Hey, I'm tired so I'm going to sleep"

"O-oh, I understand" Ty Lee scratched her head, because she thought she would continue talking to him a little longer, "Then good night, rest well"

"You too" Sokka was going to turn around until he remembered something, "Ah, Ty Lee... love yourself a little more, you're a great girl, and I mean it sincerely"

Then the boy lay down, turning his back to her. Not knowing that a single tear slid down Ty Lee's soft cheek.

A girl who couldn't receive love from her parents, who grew up without self-confidence... hearing those words was a balm for her.

"Thank you" Ty Lee whispered, bringing her hand to her chest and kissing the cheek of a sleeping Sokka. She also lay down and fell asleep instantly.

Ty Lee woke up after a few hours. She stretched her arms yawning, "Good morning Sokk..."

The girl was surprised not to see him there. Then, she assumed that Sokka had already left. Far from being sad, she smiled happily, "I hope to see you soon"

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Far away from this place, a hot air balloon floated in the sky. Sokka had bought one at the system store, "Another day I'll use the other one option"

He was traveling north, he didn't know exactly how much was left until he reached the North Pole but he would surely have to make a stop before to replenish the balloon.

"Here," Sokka commented, seeing some castles on the clouds, "Oh, the northern air temple, perfect," the boy declared, looking at the map.

He approached the castle and was surprised to see people flying over the place in gliders like Aang's, "What the heck does this mean?"

Then the hot air balloon landed in the central courtyard of the castle, and people immediately approached to look around and see who it was.

Sokka looked around and at the people in particular, they were dressed in green suits, "You're not air nomads..."

"Who are you?"

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Should i add Ty Lee to a posible harem?