*ZOMG, two in one day?
I thought since my Sukka series is technically behind schedule, I might as well do some catching up. Again, this prompt is a tad weird (which is why this isn't my favorite of the ones I've written), but remembering my history lessons provided me with a definition I could work with.
Blitzkrieg- a German word for lightning. Also a military manuever utilized most notably by Hitler during WWII as a rapid strike offensive involving hitting your enemy with a single, devastating attack.
Blitz It was quiet in this part of the city after dark. Even so, Sokka knew how risky it was to use this shortcut. It was very late, he was all alone, and worst of all, he didn't have any weapon.
He wished Toph was here.
He almost always took his partner-in-crime into Ba Sing Se when he snuck in; for protection, guidance, and companionship. But today he'd convinced her to let him try coming alone. He'd used all his reasoning to get her to agree. No actual scamming, no gambling. Just retrieving the earnings they'd stashed from their last visit in the Lower Ring. A boring run, he'd promised. And better done by someone working solo.
Now he wasn't so sure. The gold was safely stashed under his clothes, and the Outer Wall wasn't so far away. But still...
"I thought I recognized you."
Sokka spun around. He'd thought he was alone in the alley. Now, a hulking silhouette stood nearby, staring straight at him. It looked decidedly menacing.
"I followed you. You have the money, don't you?"
Sokka shook his head. This was very, very bad. No Toph, and no weapon. He hadn't planned on needing one.
"Don't lie to me, punk," the man growled. "I saw you pick up the money. I don't like people like you." He advanced slowly. Shaved head. Tattooed arms. Muscles like rocks.
Oh, this was so bad.
****
Two Hours Earlier "Toph? Sokka? Don't even try and hide from me. I know where you've been; you went into the city again, didn't you?"
Suki stomped down the short hallway of the house, mentally preparing herself. If she didn't get herself properly angry, her careful façade would fall apart that much faster once she laid eyes on the mischievous duo. It kind of defeated the purpose to back up her stern words with laughter.
"You guys seriously need to--"
"What are you yelling about Suki?"
Suki rounded the corner into the main room. Toph was rocked back on two legs of her chair, her bare feet on the table, sipping a mug of something that was steaming. She turned her sightless eyes toward Suki. "Hey, what's up?"
Suki opened and closed her mouth for a moment. When her voice returned, it was confused rather than annoyed. "Where's Sokka?"
"Should have known that was what you were here for," said Toph, rolling her eyes, but her tone was good-natured. "He'll be back soon."
"Where is he?"
"Out." Toph took a huge gulp of her drink, apparently disregarding the fact that it was still steaming hot.
"Toph." Suki tried to keep her voice calm, but her mind was already thinking this situation out. She didn't like the conclusions it was coming to.
"Don't worry about it, Suki. He's just fine. Even if he doesn't have me."
"Toph Bei-Fong, I am your friend, but if you don't tell me where my goof of a husband is right now, I will be forced to get unpleasant."
"Well, we wouldn't want that to happen, would we?" Toph grinned smugly at her. But the earthbender sat up in her chair. "He went to Ba Sing Se to pick up some stuff we left. He wasn't doing anything dangerous."
"You let him go
alone?" Suki stared in disbelief.
"He's a grown-up, Suki, he can take care of himself."
Suki gave Toph a look so heavy with meaning that she regretted that the earthbender couldn't see it. But apparently Toph interpreted her pause. She sighed.
"Yeah, okay, I'm worried about him too. I probably shouldn't have let him go. Y'know, just..."
"
Because he's Sokka." The two girls said the words at the same time, and smiled ruefully at each other.
Toph got up, dusting her hands on her already very dusty clothing. "Alright, I'll go look for him."
Suki shook her head, remembered Toph couldn't see it, and said, "No, I'll go. I know my way around the city pretty well. Besides, it's been a quiet few years on Kyoshi Island."
Toph raised an eyebrow. "You think he's in trouble?"
Suki was already out the door, but she called back, "He's Sokka. Thanks Toph."
***
Sokka weighed his options. There was always the most tempting one; run away. But he didn't know if he could outrun this guy. To Sokka's extreme horror, the bandit did have a knife, which he had transferred from the belt at his waist to his hand.
The small, intelligent voice in his head told him he should simply relinquish the gold and hope the man went away. But the other one, the one that sounded more like Toph, told him that you weren't supposed to give up anything, or
for anything.
For the millionth time, he wished for his sword. Or Toph.
He supposed he could try talking...
"Um, hey, could I just talk to you about this for a second..."
Without warning, the man leaped at him. So much for talking. Sokka yelped and twisted sideways, barely avoiding the attack. He caught the bandit's breath full in the face, and gagged.
Unfortunately, his dodging had put him in a very bad position. With his back literally against the wall.
The knife skittered against the stones inches from Sokka's head. The man's rank breath blew in his face again. Part of Sokka was hoping that the man was only trying to frighten him a little bit, but somehow he doubted it.
He was about to start trying some hand-to-hand techniques when the bandit's free forearm landed across his throat, pinning him to the wall. Sokka's feet slid from under him, and he could no longer get enough leverage to kick or punch. He couldn't breathe properly.
And in the back of his mind, he was furious with himself for his carelessness and stupidity.
And then someone else spoke.
"Excuse me, sir, but I believe you're making a mistake. The man you currently have crushed against the wall is my husband. I'd appreciate it if you could let him go."
The bandit looked up. Sokka's mouth fell wide open. He knew that voice. And it wasn't Toph.
"Well, well. A girl. I guess that puts an end to my plans. I'd better run, huh?" The man laughed sneeringly, sounding like rolling gravel.
"You'd better," replied the voice with total seriousness.
"Sorry girly, but no." Sokka choked involuntarily as the bandit pressed hard against his windpipe.
"All right then. I spoke like a girl, and you treated me like one. So I guess I'd better start acting like a warrior, huh buddy?"
Sokka saw a blur leap from the roof directly behind the man, and heard the thud as she landed. And before the bandit could turn, Suki uncoiled from her crouch and landed on his back, her arms locking in a merciless chokehold around his neck.
"What I meant to say earlier," she ground out, "was get away from my husband, you slimy street-crawling jerk!"
Sokka gasped as he was released abruptly, and it took all his balance and willpower not to fall over. The bandit was staggering around the alley now, swearing and thrashing, with Suki clinging skillfully to his back like she was riding the Unagi.
All Sokka could do was watch with disbelief. Finally, Suki sprang down, light and graceful, and planted a kick straight between the man's shoulders, sending him stumbling half the length of the alley. Apparently, the man didn't want to find out any more about his strange attacker, who had a woman's voice but fought like a tigerdillo. He was gone from sight before Sokka had time to draw another pained breath.
And then only one word broke the sudden silence that fell over the alley.
"Suki?!" Apparently she had anticipated his storm of questions, and she answered them before he could ask.
"Toph told me where you were, I was worried about you, I snuck in, I heard you struggling, I got extremely angry that someone was assaulting the man I love, and I solved the problem." She smiled lopsidedly at him. "Take a couple deep breaths, Sokka. You look like you're going to pass out. It's not like you've never seen me fight."
"Yeah," said Sokka, massaging his neck, but not really thinking about the fact that it hurt. "But I always seem to forget how amazing you are."
Suki averted her eyes, blushing slightly. "If you think you can get away from the talk I'm going to give you about going into cities like this
alone..." she began, attempting once again to use that sternness.
Sokka's mouth against hers cut her off. After a moment, he drew back, saying quietly, "Can I just say 'thank you', and you forget about giving me the talk?"
"No," Suki insisted firmly, although the firmness sounded a lot less impressive because she was breathless, and not from the fight. "We can not." When she saw his face fall a little, she couldn't help grinning inside, although on the outside she restricted it to a small smile.
"But you can probably postpone it."
As usual, that was all the encouragement Sokka needed.
