She only begins coming back to the real world when she realizes that something strange is going on.

It's not a trick of the weather when she randomly feels warmth; rather, it's nearing winter again, even if the snow isn't falling quite yet. She's pretty sure it's not herself when she hears a laugh or a cheer. It's something else, but she can't explain it.

It happens randomly.

Sometimes she's around the airbending children on one of those colder nights and they snuggle up to her for warmth. Their noses and toes are cold when they press into her sides. Then she hears a chuckle, but she's not sure if it's her own.

Sometimes she's around Tenzin. She's meditating with him in the pavilion, and the wind is cold and relentless (like it has been since that day), and yet the brunt of the breeze doesn't hit her. It's like there's something blocking it, and occasionally she feels a slight shiver, but she's not sure if it's her own.

Sometimes she's probending. She's the new firebender and captain, and she's starting to understand all of the old captain's frustrations. The Fire Ferrets were cycling through waterbenders like rotten cabbages. None of them ever clicked. But when she fired that last blast in the arena, when she feels that moment of triumph, she can hear a loud cheer, but she's not sure if it's her own.

Sometimes she's with Bolin, who still is morose and droopy, but she pretends not to realize it. Instead they idly chat and joke and laugh, even though it's not even twenty percent of what it used to be. But at those times, sometimes either one of them said something really funny and they could truly laugh, like old times. But one of the laughs—she's not sure if it's Bolin's, or her own, or… someone else's.

Sometimes she's sleeping at night. The windows are all open and the blankets are tossed off and her sleeping clothes are suited for summer, and she's trying to freeze, trying so hard to feel numb, and yet all she can feel is terrible, wonderful warmth.

Sometimes she sees fire sparking out of the corner of her eye, but she knows it can't be true, because he died six months ago.

You can probably tell what I ship by now, but I'm not a crazed fangirl that tries to slaughter all the others with my armada. :C I don't know why, but it's fun writing these two. It doesn't even have to be romantic.

I'll try exploring other things, but my hands write what my subconscious brain tells them to. I actually had an idea for a more general piece… we'll see.

PS. I wouldn't mind prompt suggestions right about now. Maybe it'll heighten my productivity rate. xD Reviews do that, too…