Disclaimer: Why would I pretend these characters belong to me anyway?

A/N: This is a sort of companion to "Confused", since it addresses a scene from later in the same episode, also from Suki's point of view. It amazes me how few people seem to think about what was going on in her mind.


Leavetaking

"Whoa, hold on…why does it sound like you're saying goodbye?"

The soft surprise in his voice made her wince a little, so she was glad she had the reflex to suppress it. For a moment, she entertained the thought of staying with him. But no. The memory of his pain was with her still, his abrupt drawback. She confused him. He confused her. It all made her feel very off balance, a feeling she couldn't quite come to terms with.

But at least she had a better excuse than admitting that to him. "I came along because I wanted to make sure you got through the Serpent's Pass safely. But now I need to get back to the other Kyoshi Warriors." And it was true enough. He does need watching, sometimes, she thought to herself with wry humor, remembering his expression when he had watched her plunge fully-clothed after Toph.

"So you came along to protect me?"

She almost laughed. He's so shocked. It honestly never occurred to him, did it? Well, at least I managed to knock off a bit more of his sexism then.

He looked so funny and awkward standing there, that suddenly she felt the words come to her of their own volition.

"Listen, I'm really sorry about last night…" Why on earth are you bringing this up? Why couldn't you just have let it go? Why remind him…why remind yourself?

But she had to follow that opener up somehow. The problem was, she had no idea how. So she found herself just babbling, quite uncharacteristically, trying to communicate at least some sort of complete thought. "We were talking, and saying things…" Oh brilliant. Of course you were saying things, you idiot. You are making no sense, and it's embarrassing. She railed mentally at herself. "I just got carried away…" You mean like you're doing now? "And before I knew it I…" You need to stop this quick, you need to forget how you felt, how you're feeling now…

And then…

It took several moments for her frozen mind to register what was happening.

He had…kissed her? Was kissing her?

Yes…he was close. Very close. And his mouth was soft, gentle, unhurried. She was still too stunned to respond. Emotions pounded through her faster than she could catalogue them.

"You talk too much." His eyes were lazy, half-closed, but warm. She felt a shiver down her spine at the tone of his voice. It was almost tender. And just a little amused.

He was absolutely right. At the moment, talking seemed very overrated.

When he leaned in to kiss her again, she was ready. This time, it seemed perfectly natural to slip her arms around his shoulders and tell him goodbye properly. She didn't know what had changed from last night. But something obviously had, because there was no pain or hesitation about him now.

Sokka. Her Sokka now, maybe. Goofy, overprotective, loyal, tactless, warm, caring. Not quite the same boy who she'd tied to a pole a few months ago.

She really did have to return to the Kyoshi Warriors. And she knew just as surely that Sokka's place was with Aang.

But at least now she had something to look forward to the next time they met.