In a bored, detached sort of way, I know that we are falling. And I know that I am screaming. But I feel as if I'm watching us from a distance, as if it is two other people who are falling from the sky, some other woman who has placed her life in the hands of a firebender. Some other mysterious, handsome stranger who is desperately trying to keep them from splattering against the hard ground that rushes towards them.

I watch, disinterested, as fire bursts from his clenched fists, slowing them but not stopping them. The woman tightens her grip, her eyes shut tightly, her scream continuingly loud in my ears.

Then, suddenly, I am jerked back to reality as we thud into the ground. The impact jars me, but Lee has it worse. His body breaks my fall, and I roll, gasping at the sky, staring sightlessly at the trees and the green against the blue, and I heave air into my battered lungs with all the force I can muster.

Beside me, Lee coughs and groans slightly, rolling onto his side. I meet his amber eyes, filled with exhaustion and pain. I drag myself to a sitting position and lean over him, worry shooting through me like a blade. "Lee?"

He coughs again, moaning something that sounds like my name, but with more sylablles. "Lee?" I brush my fingers through his night black hair, marvelling at how soft it is. His eyes slowly drift back into focus, and meet mine.

"I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

I shake my head. "No. Don't be sorry. You did right. Now come on- we're not home free yet. We need disguises. The soldiers are still after us."

He eyes me for a moment, then shakes his head, a slight smile turning up one corner of his mouth. I jump to my feet, stumbling when my legs threaten to buckle. Then Lee is there, grabbing my arm to keep me upright. I should be helping him, not the other way around. He's the one who's limping!

But he just smiles at me, and I do my best to ignore the odd fluttering in my stomach. Now is not the time for hysterics! Or whatever this feeling is.

Still leaning on each other, we make our way ever so slowly to the small building that sits on the edge of this clearing. All things considered, Lee did pretty good getting us close to where I said we needed to go.

He's a very powerful bender, and I smile to myself, wondering why that makes me feel so good inside. Almost as if... it means something?

But no- that's crazy. If he knew who I am he'd have said something when we first met. I don't know him, and he doesn't know me. Not yet, anyway.

So why do I feel more and more connected to him with every passing minute?

__________

Sooo for those of you who DON'T get the references in this chapter (which are awesome, if you ask me) go watch the episode The Fortuneteller in Season 1. ;)

Also- COMMENT and vote! :D

-Eon